Nasty pro-rape dancehall lyrics

THE EDITOR, Sir:

I feel it is my civic duty to comment on a very disturbing line in one of the most popular dancehall songs that is currently blazing on airwaves: "Before me tun a b-yman, me rather tun a raper."

This line is particularly disturbing, because I know too many females who have been raped or molested. This song is being played widely, even by female disc jocks.

Do we listen to what we endorse? What message are we sending to our children by playing such songs, even if abridged, on radio?

Some of our artistes need to be more responsible and creative in their writing and discard negative messages. Don't they have mothers, sisters and daughters? How would they feel about someone harbouring thoughts of raping a female family member?

We need to do better as a society and refrain from negative messages. I believe the artiste should redo this line and apologise to all the females who have been betrayed by this song.

Let us boycott this song until it is better portrayed.

T. ROACHE

tarblue01@yahoo.com

Kingston 5