Rasta

[Peace]

http://www.overgrow.com/edge/images/smilies/rastaopt.gif Rasta http://www.overgrow.com/edge/images/smilies/rastaopt.gif

[freedbypeace]

Hey you're my age? -cool. Are you Rasta?

[weaselpop]

Just want to say - if you're white a rasta it must be really confusicating. Trying break free of the suppression of yourself and your family and probably most of the people you know is quite a challenge.

[NatureFreak412]

Its sounds interesting what is it?

[daisys]

hey if we dawned upon the suppression then we would be miserable people - there gets to a stage where we get over it.
Besides, loving Jah is all that's important.

[daisys]

nature freak.. I am unsure of your question. Are you asking what Rasta is?
Peace x

[NatureFreak412]

Yeah I know its a religion, and Bob Marley is part of it(gotta love him) but exactly whats it about and all, like beliefs.

[geckopelli]

I can give an answer.

But let's see if anyone else can first.

One of these poser rasta, maybe.

And not a text book answer- a true rasta answer. Straight from the heart.

[hess]

Its sounds interesting what is it?
Blessings

what is RastafarI??

well let I start with, RastafarI, is the name of HIM Haile Sellassie before his corontation.

Rastafari Makonen

Ras meaning head, or governer, by using Ras, Rasta's overstand there position and take up there crown from times in Africa, realising there true place as Kings and Queens.

but as Geko says, thats all text book.

RastafarI to the InI is I's search for love and overstanding. Fighting Babylon back, realising there intentions, and overstanding that them is DESTROYING this beautiful planet that Jah created for us, for his children. RasTafarI is not a religion, but a way of life! iman am not very good at describing Rastafari because iman still not see InI as a Rasta, though iman still sight Sellassie, overstand his teachings, and care much for the world that Jah created for us.

[geckopelli]

Thank you, Hess.
--------
This is an excerpt from Jack Meadow's Logs. It describes a reasoning session in Jamaica in '84:


(sorry about the font)
At one point this 20 year-old kid named Amboog or Amburr or something like that, asked me why a white man was here. He didn’t wait for an answer. He answered himself. “I and I is here because Iand I is the people. What business does the white man have living and eating with Rasta? I overstand the evil money is necessary for my brothers and sisters to live in the evil white man’s world. But must the white man invade I and I’s’s true life? The white man comes to bring repression and death to the world.”



Or something like that. I understand the lingo, but that “I and I”, and “I” means you and me and God stuff gets confusing to follow in conversation. Rob and Ian talk like that, but not to everybody.



Rob is a real Rasta, an original. They say when he was a kid he met Marcus Garvey. Still, he’s a pragmatic individual, and has that “be flexible” attitude [GKP’s dad] is always preaching. He sent all his kids to college in England or the States, and Ian speaks Rasta, American, French and Spanish. And not Spanglesh like, I do.



So anyway, Ian speaks up, “Jack and I are brothers. Not blood—Brothers. Jack’s white skin is no more his fault than Rastaman’s black skin! Jah! [God!]”



At that point, I automatically relaxed for violence, even though I knew such a thing was unthinkable in the circumstances. I swear it was just an instinct. But Rob didn’t get miss a beat. “I and I’s friend and little brother Jack lives a dangerous life. I and I must forgive him for his transgression!” he said with a grin.



One of the other guys spoke up, “Jack’s transgression of having white skin?”



“No,” replied Rob, “for the moment when Jack nearly forgot where here is and almost gave Amborg a first hand lesson in the white man’s oppression!”



Ian and a few others that know me busted-out laughing—something not usually looked upon too well in a reasoning session.



I took another spliff out of the box and lit it. The kid still seemed pissed so I ask him if he was going to hate all white’s all the time the rest of his life. He said, “Yes”.



This visibly bothered Rob, so we got a lecture. This is the best I can reproduce what he said:



“Rastafarism is not about hate.

Babylon rules the world, and white men rule in Babylon, and do the bidding of the Devil. The Devil bids hatred and oppression to all the people of the world.

To be a follower of the Ras Tafari requires only that I lead a proper life- a path available to any man through the book. To be oppressed by Babylon requires only that I be a man.

Jack is a Man- and an enemy of Babylon. Jack is not a Rasta Man it is true. But Jack is a man worthy of respect and friendship. I and I trust Jack with the life of Ifamily.

In the old days at Pinnicle, oppression came from men both black and white. The Locksmen grew the dreads and dreaded they were. With the power of Haile Selassie’s mane of the lion, I and I came to be recognized and Rastafarianism began to spread throughout Jamaica and the world. Sometimes the spread is met with violence, and sometimes Rasta’s must fight back.

Unfortunately, Some Rasta’s have slipped in to the way of Babylon; hatred, and the longing to take revenge rule the lives of too many Rastafarians. One is too many.

The words of Haile Selassie ring as true today as yesterday and tomorrow: "It is not only war that can stop war but men of goodwill, conscious of their mission can deal with such deadly a enemy."



Rob has that leadership quality that makes men willing to die for him. Ambourg stood and shook my hand.



But my religion is staying alive; I don’t trust the fucker one bit.

[marquee]

geckopelli, i am by no means a rasta. i simply show interest in the subject so dont go calling me a poser. who is jack meadow? are his logs published?

[geckopelli]

Nothing personal,

But you should make that clear in the begining.
---
Jack Meadows is My best Friend and a professional Smuggler since '77.

I have what's left of his logs, and they are fascinating.

I posted what I had transcribed in the old forums.

I'd be happy to e-mail you a copy of what I have now.

The transcriptions will be marketed when complete.

A producer has expressed interest in the film rights.

[marquee]

Nothing personal,

But you should make that clear in the begining.
---
Jack Meadows is My best Friend and a professional Smuggler since '77.

I have what's left of his logs, and they are fascinating.

I posted what I had transcribed in the old forums.

I'd be happy to e-mail you a copy of what I have now.

The transcriptions will be marketed when complete.

A producer has expressed interest in the film rights.
gecopelli, that would be awesome if you could send me whats done so far. id be really interested in reading it. my email is elemeno_peep@hotmail.com

[NatureFreak412]

Rasta is pretty interesting, does race matter?

[geckopelli]

To be a Rasta...

is to be a Rasta.

No church, no initiation ritual.

One must merely live as a Rasta.

But take this warning: Rasta women are treated as chattle of the men.

[daisys]

And so chattle we shall be geko. I don't understand... were you just trying to put us women off? What a silly thing to do :)

I don't think you can judge a right or wrong answer. Stop waiting for other people to answer so you can judge them. What makes you so righteous to judge us? Jah can judge me for who I am but certainly not you. For you do not know my heart. Or any of ours.

This is how Rasta becomes turned into a religion by such folly rules. If you do not say this correctly you are not a Rasta etc it's just stupid. Truly loving Jah is all that matters. Not these rules and regulations you keep enforcing to decide who is false and who isn't.

[geckopelli]

Daisy,
I'm just telling you how REAL honset to god Jamaican Rasta I have known since Marley was alive act and what they've taught me.

So get over yourself Little cousin.
---
There was Jah, and then the devil broke the peace and isolated "you" from jah.

And thus "you" and "I" were created by the devil. A Rasta is never you, and only "I and I", not "I", with "I and I" meaning "Jah and I" - for god is always with a Rastaman.
"Iman" has become acceptable, but is not formal.
------------
As a man who believes in political equality, I don't like women waiting on me and putting my needs ahead of thiers just because I am a man.
Would you hide this aspect of a Rastaman's existence?
A Rasta engaged in subtrefuge is beyond my experience.

[Ital Lightning]

And so chattle we shall be geko. I don't understand... were you just trying to put us women off? What a silly thing to do :)

I don't think you can judge a right or wrong answer. Stop waiting for other people to answer so you can judge them. What makes you so righteous to judge us? Jah can judge me for who I am but certainly not you. For you do not know my heart. Or any of ours.

This is how Rasta becomes turned into a religion by such folly rules. If you do not say this correctly you are not a Rasta etc it's just stupid. Truly loving Jah is all that matters. Not these rules and regulations you keep enforcing to decide who is false and who isn't.
Right On sister! a true rasta treats everyone with the same love and respect. Anyone who stereotypes does not know Jah!
Jah blessings ever faithful, ever full.

[geckopelli]

Does love and respect include smacking one's wife?

[hess]

Geckopelli stop these lies and follyness, which Rastaman hits his wife? his beloved Empress? his Queen? iman see LIES and FOLLYNESS teachings from yuh, teach not that Rasta tells a man has the right to hit a wombman.

When yuh sight that Rasta is a PEACEFUL movement fo JahJah idren, to sight up Selassie, pray to Jah, overstand InI for truth, love, and raspect.

then yuh would see than Rasta has NO VIOLENCE! which man has the right to hit his Empress? when the I's sight that everyman is EQUAL in HIS eyes, then them no they have no right to downpress!

iman MUST ask yuh nah teach these lies!

Blessings

[Ital Lightning]

Have you ever heard of a false dread. those are the rasta's that beat women, and tell lies and so forth. I'm sure there are a ton of them out there, that doesn't mean that is what rasta is about. Rastafarism is based on the bible and is a type of christianity. So I'm sure there are christians that beat there women too, but does that mean that all christians do? I think not!

[freedbypeace]

I went to Bobo Hill in Jamaica and there was even cacausion men there. The high preistess told me it doesn't matter what color you are, for them it is just like going back to where their anvestors are from. The whole "back-to-africa" philosophy applies more to im a gorillia

[freedbypeace]

I went to Bobo Hill in Jamaica and there was even cacausion men there. The high preistess told me it doesn't matter what color you are, for them it is just like going back to where their anvestors are from. The whole "back-to-africa" philosophy applies more to than just to thoose who have ancestors in Africa.

[freedbypeace]

sorry my brother who is a military man, (ya i know,) is here for the week and is fucking with the computer so sorry about that gorillia thing.

[hess]

yesI, InI have no ancestors in Africa, Iman is original from Iran, the Back to Africa movement was started by Sir Marcus Garvey, which calls for reparations and repartriation for ALL black people abused by Babylon, and calling for the truth to be sighted, for Babylon to lay down them high Crowns and throwns and LET JAH PEOPLE GO!

how could religion have colour? when Jah look upon yuh did him think, white man is evil, or black man is evil, him nah see NO COLOUR IN OUR SKIN! because thats all it is seen? colour, does ur blood run red? does ur heart bleed pure? yesI, Iman feel JahJah care not about colour, HIM SEE US FOR WHAT WE ARE!

Blessings

[marquee]

I went to Bobo Hill in Jamaica and there was even cacausion men there. The high preistess told me it doesn't matter what color you are, for them it is just like going back to where their anvestors are from. The whole "back-to-africa" philosophy applies more to im a gorillia
hahahahahahahaha. your brother is hilarious!

[daisys]

Ital Lightning I sight what you say and apprecilove your point and I was talking to my friend about this and he says:

really and truely, rasta is not a religion. Still some rastas claim to be christians.

"There are as many versions of christianity as there are believers" - Marcus Mosiah Garvey

Some people do in fact try and limit Rasta to a form of christianity, and yes there seems to be many different beliefs among various people claiming "Rasta", but really and truly Rasta is INIVERSAL RULE everywhere in every corner of the earth and on EVERY PLANE, seen?

[Ital Lightning]

Truth, although if it was based on the bible it would seem that it would technically be considered a form of christianity. I am not into labels, I do not consider myself christian nor rasta. Although I feel Jah speaks to us all and it is up to us, his children to listen and do all the good things we need to do. But names and classifications do not exist to me, I was just using that as an example of why its not right to say rasta's don't treat women well, Seen?

[Levi]

I was a member of the TTOI. When I was, my then-husband used the verses from the New Testament where Paul says that the man is the head of the woman like Christ is the head of the church to tell me why I should obey his every stupid decision. (That's in Timothy, I think.) I realized, though, that clearly not every man is wiser than every woman all the time, because my husband made some idiotic decisions and treated me and the kids like shit. I told him so. I was a prisoner in my home and marriage. I don't mean that I wasn't allowed to see other people, I mean I wasn't allowed to leave the house sometimes, even to go to meetimgs at the HQ, and I couldn't work or go to school. Sometimes he took the phone with him when he left the house. Jackass. (I'm not claiming that all of this is because he was a Rasta. He IS an @ss*0le. But he used the bible to defend this abuse.)


Some members of the TTOI treated their wives and kids like crap and hit them, some never ever would do that. I would say the violent kingmen were definitely in the minority. In a lot of churches it's like that.

With Rasta, which I was a part of for years and years, as with other spiritual movements, there is a lot of variety, like someone quoted Marcus Garvey as saying about Christians. In my family there are Buddhists. My mom and my brother are Buddhists of very different traditions and my mom works at a school of an entirely different tradition, with radically different practices and values, yet to an outsider they're all Buddhists. Same thing with Rastafari. So, in a way, you're all right. But nobody can accurately deny that there aren't some really sexist Rastas.

[Spacer]

Just want to say - if you're white a rasta it must be really confusicating. Trying break free of the suppression of yourself and your family and probably most of the people you know is quite a challenge.
Haha, well said I always thought any white person who considered themselves a Rasta was just a fake who liked the idea of having dreadlocks and smoking joints.

[peace_sells]

Oh man you've got a LOT to learn about Rasta!


Let me quote you what HIM Haile Selassie I said! :

"that until the philosophy which holds one race superior and another inferior is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned; that until there is no longer any first-class and second-class citizens of any nation; that until the color of a man's skin is of no more significance than the color of his eyes; that until the basic human rights are equally guaranteed to all, without regard to race -- until that day, the dreams of lasting peace and world citizenship and the rule of international morality will remain but a fleeting illusion, to be pursued but never attained. And also, that until the ignoble and unhappy regimes that hold our brothers in Angola, in Mozambique and South Africa in subhuman bondages have been toppled and destroyed; until bigotry and prejudice and malicious and inhuman self-interest have been replaced by understanding, tolerance and good-will; until all Africans stand and speak as free beings, equal in the eyes of all men as they are in Heaven -- until that day the African continent will not know peace. We Africans will fight, if necessary and we know that we shall win, as we are confident in the victory of good over evil"

Rasta is Universal (or Iniversal) - this means it is for everyone, no matter what their skin colour! They are a peaceful faith. I mean yeah our descendants did bad things, but 1. that's not our fault and 2. I am sorry for what happened to my fellow brothers in Jah and 3. I see race as something man created, a way to separate people - it is NOT something Jah created!!

[Peppy]

all this race stuff, i was going to quote that same speach cheers. one other thing though, if you aren't jamaican even more so if you aren't black, don't put on an acent and again even more so don't type down in an acent, sometimes i ras and clat, and on the ocasion i have been know to call some one a crazy bal' head but they didn't even know what i was talking about. i will speak I and I if the person i'm talking to understand what i mean but i don't change i for me and me for i as this just confuses people because the majority of people don't understand jamaicanisms.

as far as race goes, i think there is one problem with what people are saying, and that is that the white man shouldn't have pride. we should all have pride in the way Jah has created us. weather that is white skinned of black skinned or anywhere in between.

[Spacer]

Rastfarianism is a black pacifist movement, try to attain freedom from the white oppressor and a return to Africa. Why would a white person join?? I'm not being racist at all, I'm just saying it makes no sense and most white people that do join all just do it because they think it's cool cos Bob Marley was a Rasta aswell.