Something About My Friend, Rasta (Jahmaica), OBM, and The Rasta Movement

I want to point out that many Rastas, and my Brother Jahmaica, in particular, incorporated the following of Jesus, the Christian Messiah, into thier belief system.

The following article gives some background to the Rastsa movement, and I present it here as a sign of remembrance and love to my fallen brother, who always fought for, and cared for, the poor, of all races.

 

Rastafari Religion.
Rasta Spirituality and Religious Beliefs

Rastafari: The Rasta movement emerged in Jamaica among working-class and peasant black people in the early 1930s, arising from an interpretation of Biblical prophecy. Rastas see themselves as conforming to a vision of how Africans should live, reclaiming what they see as a culture stolen from them when they were brought on slave ships to Jamaica, birthplace of the movement. The Rasta movement accepts Haile Selassie I, the former emperor of Ethiopia, as Jah. This is the Rastafari name for God incarnate, taken from a shortened form of Jehovah found in Psalms, and part of the Holy Trinity as the messiah promised to return in the Bible. Rasta, or the Rastafari movement, is a new-religious movement that accepts Haile Selassie I, the former emperor of Ethiopia, as Jah (the Rastafari name for God incarnate, from a shortened form of Jehovah found in Psalms 68:4 in the King James Version of the Bible), and part of the Holy Trinity as the messiah promised to return in the Bible. The name Rastafari comes from Ras (Duke) Tafari Makonnen, the pre-coronation name of Haile Selassie I.

Haile Selassie I, the former emperor of Ethiopia.

The movement emerged in Jamaica among working-class and peasant black people in the early 1930s, arising from an interpretation of Biblical prophecy based on Ras Tafari Makonnen having been the only African king in the world, and his titles of King of Kings, Lord of Lords and Conquering Lion of Judah. Other factors leading to its rise included black social and political aspirations, and the teachings of their prophet, Jamaican black publicist and organiser Marcus Garvey, whose political and cultural vision helped inspire a new world view. The movement is sometimes called Rastafarianism however, this may be considered an improper reference.
The Rastafari movement has spread throughout much of the world, largely through immigration and interest generated by Nyahbinghi and reggae music—most notably, that of Bob Marley, who was baptised Berhane Selassie (Light of the Trinity) by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church before his death, a step also taken later by his widow Rita. By 2000, there were more than one million Rastafari worldwide. About five to ten percent of Jamaicans identify themselves as Rastafari. Most Rastafarians are vegetarian, or only eat limited types of meat, living by the dietary Laws of Leviticus and Deuteronomy in the Old Testament.

Jahmaica, One Love

Writing about my Friend Jahmaica is one of the hardest things I have had to do, in a life filled with challenges and hardships.

It's hard because the friend that was always there, that has been an integral part of my life for the last five years, is gone.

He spoke Jamaican patois, which I could easily understand, at least after the first few months.

When he and I were together, which was virtually all the time at work, and others were around, they would often say to me, “What did he say?”

He almost always wore camouflaged military style long sleeve shirt and pants, and a Rastafarian knit cap which contained his  long dreadlocks, which he called a crown.

He was born in trenchtown, Jamaica, the toughest part of Jamaica, the home of Bob Marley, who Jahmaica revered as a saint.

Jahmaica was a “Christian Rasta”.

A follower of “Jessus” Christ.

He didn't eat red meat or pork, just vegetables, chicken and fish.

He was full of life, he loved life, everyday, at some point, he would look up to the heavens and shout “What a beautiful day! Thank you Jah!”, even when it was snowing and the wind was blowing and we were close to freezing.

Jahmaica loved his mother and his brothers and his children, and women.

He always had a beautiful girlfriend, he loved deeply, even when it seemed apparent that the love wasn't reciprocated, at least, not in the way he offered love.

His love was unconditional, and, because of his openness, and trusting beliefs, there were times that he was taken advantage of by women who didn't have the same interests in a relationship that he did.

And although he was hurt, he moved on with optimism towards the next challenge.

Jahmaica landed in NYC when he was 20, he made his way across the country, through the south, where he experienced racism at its worst, spent a couple of years in Texas, and finally moved to Albuquerque, which is where we met.

We soon became fast friends.

At some point I built a computer for him, although initially he was reluctant to get into it,

“I will never have a computer!” he'd said.

Once he learned how to operate it, it became his most prized possession.

“I love my computer.” he would say.

“I thank you for it, I will never forget that you gave me my first computer.”

Sadly, it was his last computer, as well.

To be continued

Limbaugh: "I sincerely apologize to Ms. Fluke "

Let’s not forget: The man complaining about women taking control of their health and their bodies is the same creep who was busted at the border a couple of years ago carrying a bottle of Viagra prescribed in someone else’s name. 

We might also add that Rush has been married four times and has no children. So either someone is using birth control or he’s sterile or, more likely, impotent,… that would explain his hatred towards women.

Rush Limbaugh’s attacks are pathetic .

He makes misogynist, comments on his radio show all the time.  

Today on his website the Drugster made an abject apology:

“I chose the wrong words in my analogy of the situation. I did not mean a personal attack on Ms. Fluke

My choice of words was not the best, and in the attempt to be humorous, I created a national stir. 

I sincerely apologize to Ms. Fluke for the insulting word choices.”

Governor Scott Walker trailing Democratic candidates

MILWAUKEE- A new poll shows Governor Scott Walker trailing Democratic candidates in a potential recall.

When this same poll was taken last October, Walker only lost to Russ Feingold, but in the new poll, Walker is behind three potential Democratic challengers.
On the heels of the Governor Walker's decision not to challenge any recall signatures -- it's more good news for Democrats.

Three potential challengers would beat Governor Walker according to the latest Public Policy Polling survey.

"I'll leave it to the pundits to interpret what polling shows.  Polling changes from one day to another," Governor Walker responded.

"It's why people are ready to have elections.  Walker's ways haven't worked," said Democratic challenger Kathleen Falk.

In head to head match-ups, Governor Walker would lose to Russ Feingold, who has said he will not run.

Walker would also lose to Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, which is a change from just October.  In that poll Barrett would have lost to Walker by two points.

Mayor Tom Barrett hasn't announced a decision, but says he's still considering a run against Walker.  Barrett's campaign adviser sent this statement about the poll, "Tom is grateful for the tremendous outpouring of support from people in Milwaukee and across Wisconsin."

In the poll, Falk would beat Walker by one point.

"I'm running hard. This election is coming up in just a couple of months.  Governor Walker is going to have more money than he could possibly have.  I'm on the side of a million people," Falk said.

Falk and Barrett's numbers are within a margin of error, which could make the race a dead heat.

When asked about challengers leading him in the poll, Walker argues he's not worried.

"The number one opponent I'm worried about is neither of those two.  I'm worried about the out of state money coming from Washington," Walker said.

Neither the state Democratic Party or Republican Party would comment about the polls. The other interesting finding was that Wisconsinites are split evenly on whether they think the recall election is a good idea.