It’s time for Rastafari Movement to wake up!

Fri, Jul 30, 2010

Editor: Blessed love in the names of His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I and Her Imperial Majesty Empress Mennen. How good and pleasant it is for us to dwell in love and unity.{{more}}

July 23rd marked the 118th Earthday (birthday) of His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie. This day is a very significant day in the Rastafari Movement.

Haile Selassie was a prolific writer and made a very significant contribution to world politics – his writings on Education, Leadership and War are all critical aspects of our present global situation.

“From truth alone is born liberty and only an educated people can consider itself as really free and master of its fate.” – Excerpt from Education speech

“Leadership does not mean domination. The world is always well supplied with people who wish to rule and dominate others. The true leader is a different sort; he seeks effective activity which has a truly beneficent purpose. He inspires others to follow in his wake, and holding aloft the torch of wisdom leads the way for society to realize its genuinely great aspirations. The art of leadership is in the ability to make people want to work for you, while they are really under no obligation to do so. Leaders are people, who raise the standards by which they judge themselves and by which they are willing to be judged.” – Excerpt from Leadership speech.

“…until the philosophy which holds one race superior and another inferior is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned: That until there are no longer first-class and second class citizens of any nation; That until the colour of a man’s skin is of no more significance than the colour of his eyes; That until the basic human rights are equally guaranteed to all without regard to race; That until that day, the dream 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 until the ignoble and unhappy regimes that hold our brothers in Angola, in Mozambique and in South Africa in subhuman bondage have been toppled and destroyed; Until bigotry and prejudice and malicious and inhuman self-interest have been replaced by understanding and tolerance and good-will; Until all Africans stand and speak as free beings, equal in the eyes of all men, as they are in the eyes of Heaven;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…” – Excerpt from War speech.

With such great messages I must call on the Rastafari Movement to wake up. It has been for sometime now that we have been somewhat dormant. Is it that the progress of the 1970s is satisfactory and we no longer have goals or objectives that we need to accomplish? Is it that we have grown tired and no longer have the energy and drive to achieve more? Is it that we are so bound down with personal development and growth that the collective is not as important? Is it that we are tired of being the social conscience of our society; we do not speak up and input our thoughts on issues of national importance? Are we so divided that we do not see our common purpose and the things that unite us?

We just saw the coming of the Earthday of His Majesty and coming soon is Emancipation day. These days pass by with limited input and participation of the masses of ones who Hail Selassie’s name as the name of our God and King. These days are intricate to our everyday lives. My brothers and sisters, this is a call for us to just band together a little more in these trying times. There is so much that needs to be done, we need cooperation between all ones who defend the Rastafari Tradition.

Some plans that need to be put in place:

• We need to start building our centres of learning. (Daycare, library, etc.)

• Collective businesses (food cooperatives, credit union)

•  Long term sustainable programs to guide and maintain our youths on the path of Rastafari. (youth camps, vocation programs, Sabbath school, exchange programmes, cultural programs)

There is a need for people to become more proactive. We are the makers of the future, so let’s start shaping the future we want our children and grandchildren to inherit. Let’s stop talking and start doing positive and up lifting things TOGETHER! One God, One aim, One destiny.

Ideisha Jackson