THE EDITOR, Sir: I AM in full support of the British gay advocate group, Outlaw, pressing the British authorities to ban or prosecute Jamaican dancehall artistes who either seek to perform in Britain or actually perform in Britain, if they find it lyrically worthy or essential to advocate the condemnation or chastisement of homosexuals.
NOT A GAY SYMPATHISER
For the record, I am not a gay sympathiser, nor am I gay, as I firmly believe that my sexual gratifications can only be satisfied through becoming invol-ved with a female. Whether homosexuality is legal or illegal in a country does not permit an artiste to seek to lyrically incite violence against homosexuals. The laws of the country in question should be sufficient to address the issue. If such entertainers are of the view that the laws need to be amended to address the situation, then they should seek to encourage their political representatives to pass legislation to such effect.
FREE SPEECH
Here in Jamaica, we have a tendency to believe that our constitutional freedoms, especially that of free speech and expression, give us the right to say and do anything we want. But the Constitution of Jamaica does not so provide. In fact, it specifically provides limitations to these freedoms.
It is in this context that I wonder why the Jamaican government has failed repeatedly to move seriously and speedily to arrest the violence and vulgarity promoted by Jamaican artistes as music. Such "music" seems to present or has the potential to violate public morality and public safety.
PENALTIES
Appropriate penalties ought to be implemented to discourage and discipline where necessary those who choose to promote violent and lewd "music." Those caught promoting, recording, distributing or performing such nonsense as music should face prosecution.
Jamaica should, as a nation, take the stand to discourage such nonsense. Let us not sit by and allow Britain or whatever other country to do our homework for us.
I am, etc.,
KKO SANGSTER
sangstek@msn.com
Darliston, Westmoreland
Via Go-Jamaica
