Letters

No gunshots

THE EDITOR, Madam:

I would like to take time out to send commendations to Canadian artiste Fred Cash, who is currently on vacation here in Jamaica. I had the privilege of talking to this artiste quite recently and he said that despite the frequent murders in Jamaica, he still does not fear coming here, but knows that Jamaica is absolutely a great country that produces talented people especially in sports.

He said he even did a song titled No Gunshots which relates to the killing of our own. He lamented that the younger youth must look into them themselves and come to self-realisation. Why can't they see that it is not benefiting them anything by killing their same poor brothers and sisters? He mentioned that he is always in touch with the Jamaican news, both the print and the electronic media, and that is what inspired him to write that song.

I would like to see more Jamaican artistes start producing more conscious and meaningful music. What I have noticed is that children quickly learn the words of certain music, some as small as five years old, you would be surprised to know. Music is very influential in the society. Nowadays people are very afraid to attend dances basically because of the danger they face. I was invited to a dance quite recently and the majority of the persons there were mainly young people. Everything was going well until the selector started playing 'sound specials'. Gunshots started to 'ring' in the air. One of the songs that was being played was suggesting that if "yuh have yuh gun and nuh fire it, yuh worthless". Ten minutes later, a young man was seen running because of gunshots that he was suffering from. He died on his way to hospital.

Please young people, why do you have to carry guns to dance and you are supposed to be there to enjoy yourselves? In the days gone by, everybody used to just 'go a dance fi enjoy themselves'. I would like young people to take in Vintage shows. Vintage shows have always been successful in regards to being crime free. I would like to see peace and joy in the dancehall.

Speaking to Fred Cash, he said he would like to see more Jamaican artistes producing more conscious music which will speak more to the solution of what is going on in Jamaica regarding unemployment and violence in the society. It's creating a bad image on us Jamaicans when you are abroad and hear the bad things that happen on the news.

According to Fred, he always tries to market something good about Jamaica verbally, especially when he is on tour to other countries. I would just like to encourage him on his endeavours. What we need to sing about is love and the future. I would like to see more songs the likes of which remind us of Dennis Brown, Bob Marley, Beres Hammond, Abijah, Paul Elliott, Luciano and other conscious artistes. Upcoming artistes should follow these artistes' footsteps. Remember the children are listening and learning because entertainers are like teachers in this society. One Love!

I am, etc.,

MARK BELL

53 Gilmour Drive

Kingston 20