If you're going to be in the Bloomington area Thursday night and want to be involved in the protest (should one take place) please e-mail iuhrc(AT)indiana.edu!

I believe that the same person that owns The Bluebird owns The Vogue as well. Tell them that they will loss your business both places.

I called the Bluebird tonight (to make sure they were open) and spoke with the guy who answered the phone. The manager wasn't around. I told him that I thought promoting a guy who advocated pouring acid on gays and lesbians was beyond the pale. He agreed with me and said he'd even told management that he didn't want to see the concert happen either. :) Even the staff supports us!

It saddens me to see such ignorance and hatred coming from a group of people who is in need of so much support from the general community in times like these. Reggae music and rastafarianism is a beatiful religion, based upon the teaching of Marcus Garvey. Yes, there are parts that some don't agree with. However, by entering another's culture from the outside and telling another man your rights have suddenly over-ridden his and the rest of ours, you have set back black rights for the sake of your own. There is no way to fight bigotry with bigotry. I am tired of seeing people on the internet bash this man for remarks made in his youth. And I also believe strongly that we have all been given the chance for reprieval at some time or another. Here is a man grown up in a culture based in slavery, which by the way, was the very same oprresors who outlawed homosexsuality in Jamaica; Britain. So, I urge everyone not to give in to this hatred against religion and allow people who want and need spiritual upliftment and positivity to hear this wonderful music. How can you hold down another to further your own cause? Allow this man to do his work!

Jamaicans society is largely Christian. Due to their religious beliefs most Jamaicans like most people of non-western cultures strongly disagree with homosexuality but they do not react violently towards gays. Many dancehall artists like most Jamaicans think that homosexuality is wrong, however they do not advocate for the actual killing of homosexuals nor do they incite violence against them. These accusations are based on a misinterpretation of dancehall lyrics and are not based on the facts.

When the lyrics of many Jamaican dancehall songs are translated into other languages they appear extremely violent. The literal meanings of these songs are in fact violent. However, these lyrics are not meant to be taken literally.

Dancehall artists discuss a number of issues with violent terms making reference to a "lyrical gun" as explained by an expert on the subject Dr. Carolyn Cooper a professor at the University of the West Indies. Artists discuss issues from sex to lyrical competitions violently. They talk about ?killing? competitors, their sexual partners,informers, and homosexuals in their lyrics. However, these lyrics are merely allegories. Similar to the one Bob Marley used in his song ?I Shot the Sheriff?.

Dancehall artists like Buju Banton, Sizzla, Bounty Killa are following in the footsteps of Bob Marley. They uplift the people with their music and encourage them to fight to improve the system. These artists should not be crucified; they should be crowned.

Tasha C.S. Rodney
Attorney-at-Law