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mii find itt strange dat dem ave soo manee editorial defendinn battyism
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Re: iss de gleaner a funnee paper?
The Editor, Sir:
In his response to your editorial chiding Basil Waite for his intervention in the Senate recently on preferred family structure, Pastor Al Miller seems to have gone to great lengths to highlight his own shallowness.
1. He missed the point completely or chose to ignore the central point of the editorial - namely that Waite was not making a clearly thought-out comment on the sociology of Jamaica's family structure and family life. Rather, Senator Waite chose to use the occasion to engage in a pandering to a populist perspective rooted in bigotry.
Redefining family structure
2. Miller says 99.9 per cent of Jamaicans and 99 per cent of the world's population are opposed to any redefining of family structure to include gay people wanting to live together. Quite apart from the fact that this is a preposterous statistic plucked out of the air, if it were true, why then get worked up about this tiny minority? How are they a threat to "the preferred family structure"?
What evidence is there that societies that have decriminalised homosexual relationships have experienced an exponential increase in their gay population, that they are more dysfunctional than the highly religious USA or that people who would 'normally' be heterosexual are opting for the alternative out of some bizarre desire to be 'abnormal'?
3. As do so many others, Pastor Miller seems more interested in being an echo chamber for American cultural disputes. There is no clamour by Jamaican gays for any 'right' to get married or to form 'families'. Truth be told, many are already happily married and are raising children while engaging in that notorious Jamaican pastime - stealing love on the side.
The big tragedy for Jamaican society and the wider world is that as long as we insist that people who want to be among their own kind are legally prohibited from doing so, they will engage in 'preferred' relationships for public display, thereby increasing the potential for great emotional tragedy and dysfunction for innocent parties.
I am, etc.,
C.B. BARNSWELL
[email protected]
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Re: iss de gleaner a funnee paper?
Waite's anti-gay populist nonsense!
published: Thursday | November 20, 2008
Basil Waite, in a not untypical fashion, spouted a lot of heat in the Senate the other day. But the shadow education minister didn't generate much, if any, light. At least, not light focused on the substantive issue of the debate: The state of the Jamaican family and the proposal by Warren Newby for a commission to study the issue.
However, reflecting on the state and nature of the Jamaican family, its evolution and seemingly deepening dysfunction is a deep, complex and weighty matter that demands serious thought. And thinking is hard work.
We are not surprised, therefore, that Mr Waite, as is so often the case in Jamaica, chose to pander to the populist and the popular. So, rather than dealing with the substantive issue, he, by and large, went gay bashing.
Worse, Basil Waite, whom we believe has aspirations to the leadership of the People's National Party didn't start from the basis of fact. He instead set up his own, fluffy, weightless figures, then knocked them over.
Agitating for recognition
Mr Waite's spurious assumption is that if Mr Newby's contemplated commission didn't clearly define what comprised a Jamaican family - presumably with great urgency - then it won't "be long before we have some of those same groups (homosexuals) agitating for recognition as a family. So, we need to prevent that ... " he said.
Basil Waite, in this regard, serves as metaphor for a political class whose failure at leadership makes it malleable to a fundamentalist construct of the world, which it believes provides the route of least resistance to high office. In that regard, it is easy to buy into a bigotry that is so rampant in Jamaica, no matter how backward and regardless of the consequence. Indeed, it is this acquiescence to the loud, the callow and biblical literalists that informed Prime Minister Golding's "not in my Cabinet" declaration against homosexuals, rather than a rational, sophisticated response befitting of a modern, tolerant society.
In today's world, it is only the most backward, unsure, hypocritical or opportunistic leader who would presume to legislate the nature of people's relationships, or would want to send the state on a voyeuristic expedition into people's bedrooms. So, neither Mr Golding's hubris in that BBC television interview nor Mr Waite's barely disguised Old Testament harrumphing about gays campaigning "for specific rights" is of specific social or economic value to Jamaica.
The most extreme of harassment
It is more likely to be detrimental, serving to institutionalise the notion of the otherness of people with whose lifestyles we do not agree and fair game for the most extreme of harassment, including the usurpation of their fundamental rights, with little protection from the State. It is small wonder that two men murdered last week were killed because they were deemed to be gay.
Jamaica does not have the luxury of building a cocoon around itself and operating in splendid isolation from the rest of the world. Gays operate in all walks of life, in finance, commerce, industry and government around the world. And, who is to say who is gay in Jamaica's government structure?
In that regard, it is nonsense, if Mr Waite would care to think about it, to maintain archaic laws against homosexuality.
What, after all, is the fear? It is not as if people become gay by contagion.
The opinions on this page, except for the above, do not necessarily reflect the views of The Gleaner.
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Re: iss de gleaner a funnee paper?
Upper House targets gay marriage
published: Saturday | November 15, 2008
The Editor, Sir:
I watched news reports of a Senate hearing debating Senator Warren Newby's motion on family issues. Senator Basil Waite in his contribution was suggesting that we define and legislate the nation's "preferred family options" to prevent homosexual unions from being so defined.
What Senator Waite seems to be doing is taking the 'boom bye bye' culture of the dancehall and 'senatising' it.
Choice
Families are created due to the choice of individuals, and no amount of legislation can change that.
People cohabiting and dedicated to the (emotional, financial, etc) happiness of each other are a family, whether you choose to call them so or not. To suggest that the time of the legislature should be spent cherry-picking preferred families is ridiculous.
Ironically, the motion was to address the breakdown of the Jamaican family structure. If someone was mischievous, they could argue that the traditional family type can't be all that great if it is prone to such failure.
Matchmaking
But, seriously, government ought not to get into the matchmaking business. There are too many real issues to be tackled for us to be wasting time on fluff.
And Senator Waite, if you are against gay marriage, here is a simple solution: The next time you are proposed to by a gay man, just say no.
- Oliver Hunter, [email protected], Ocho Rios, St Ann, Via Go-Jamaica
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Re: iss de gleaner a funnee paper?
A MEMBER of the Upper House wants a clear definition of the Jamaican family to prevent homosexuals from demanding such recognition.
Senator Basil Waite told his colleagues in the Senate on Friday that there were particular groups in Jamaica, who had, over the last several years, been campaigning for specific rights.
"I don't think it will be long before we have some of those same groups agitating for recognition as a family, so we need to prevent that, and be proactive in what we are doing and define now what the Jamaican family is," said Waite.
National commission
His comments came during a debate on a resolution moved by Warren Newby, state minister for information and youth. The junior minister had recommended that the Government set up a national commission on the Jamaican family.
As part of its mandate, the commission would conduct and collate appropriate studies to ascertain the status and definition of the family in Jamaica, in terms of its emotional, economic, educational, health and legal protection needs.
The commission would also integrate government policies related to the structure and welfare of the family and to oversee the work of all agencies linked to the family. It is also expected to develop policy and make recommendations for the sustenance of the family unit.
Government's decision
Waite stridently argued that while some countries were institutionalising what he described as an "immoral definition of the family", this should be rejected by the Jamaican society.
"Not in my Cabinet," declared Waite, in an obvious reference to gays.
Earlier this year, Prime Minister Bruce Golding, responding to a question in a BBC 'HARDtalk' interview, had said gays would not be accommodated in his Cabinet.
Waite contended that for the proposed commission to be successful in conducting a study on the status of the Jamaican family, it must identify a preferred structure of the family, so that public policy could be developed to target specific needs.
He said while non-traditional families such as single-parent and common-law unions should not be excluded, it was important for Jamaica as a "Christian nation (to) define for ourselves what is our preferred construct of a family".
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Re: iss de gleaner a funnee paper?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: blugiant</div><div class="ubbcode-body">mii find itt strange dat dem ave soo manee editorial defendinn battyism </div></div>
Bun fyah pon di peeping tom Blu.
Stop the hate, learn to love.Comment
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Re: iss de gleaner a funnee paper?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Baker Street</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: blugiant</div><div class="ubbcode-body">mii find itt strange dat dem ave soo manee editorial defendinn battyism </div></div>
Bun fyah pon di peeping tom Blu.
Stop the hate, learn to love. </div></div>
diss mekk mii laff
bout mii fe lern fe to luv
wan ting yu shood knoo mii nah stapp bunninn fiyah pon battyism ann funnee peepsComment
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Re: iss de gleaner a funnee paper?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: blugiant</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Baker Street</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: blugiant</div><div class="ubbcode-body">mii find itt strange dat dem ave soo manee editorial defendinn battyism </div></div>
Bun fyah pon di peeping tom Blu.
Stop the hate, learn to love. </div></div>
diss mekk mii laff
bout mii fe lern fe to luv
wan ting yu shood knoo mii nah stapp bunninn fiyah pon battyism ann funnee peeps </div></div>
Yuh naah kaff nor laff yet; Mind di fyah yuh a bun noh deh right a fi yuh tail, and yuh a call it cool breeze.
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Re: iss de gleaner a funnee paper?
Oh Lawd
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Re: iss de gleaner a funnee paper?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><span style="font-weight: bold">A MEMBER of the Upper House wants a clear definition of the Jamaican family to prevent homosexuals from demanding such recognition.
Senator Basil Waite told his colleagues in the Senate on Friday that there were particular groups in Jamaica, who had, over the last several years, been campaigning for specific rights.</span></div></div>
de way mii seeeth de gleanar shood xxposed dem funnee group inn jamaica wey advocatinn fe recagnise funnee peeps as familee
noo same sex marriage fe gawn a yaaawdComment
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Re: iss de gleaner a funnee paper?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: blugiant</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><span style="font-weight: bold">A MEMBER of the Upper House wants a clear definition of the Jamaican family to prevent homosexuals from demanding such recognition.
Senator Basil Waite told his colleagues in the Senate on Friday that there were particular groups in Jamaica, who had, over the last several years, been campaigning for specific rights.</span></div></div>
de way mii seeeth de gleanar shood xxposed dem funnee group inn jamaica wey advocatinn fe recagnise funnee peeps as familee
noo same sex marriage fe gawn a yaaawd </div></div>
Write an oped piece and submit it to them.7/5th of all people do not understand fractions.Comment
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Re: iss de gleaner a funnee paper?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: blugiant</div><div class="ubbcode-body">mii find itt strange dat dem ave soo manee editorial defendinn battyism </div></div>
wen it come to yaad u haffi falla di education trail...if who a write it r run di paper , did go Oxford, welll u done know seh dem switch...memba seh di biggest joke a yaad pon a level was dat Oxford was di <span style="font-style: italic">seat</span> of battymanism...pardon di pun
...dats why wen man an man a go apply fi di Rhodes Scholar ting, dem haffi tink haad an long an mek sure dem go deh an come bak home , able fi siddung eena pool a water an no bubble no blow
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Re: iss de gleaner a funnee paper?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: evanovitch</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: blugiant</div><div class="ubbcode-body">mii find itt strange dat dem ave soo manee editorial defendinn battyism </div></div>
wen it come to yaad u haffi falla di education trail...if who a write it r run di paper , did go Oxford, welll u done know seh dem switch...memba seh di biggest joke a yaad pon a level was dat Oxford was di <span style="font-style: italic">seat</span> of battymanism...pardon di pun ...dats why wen man an man a go apply fi di Rhodes Scholar ting, dem haffi tink<span style="font-weight: bold"> haad an long</span> an mek sure dem go deh an come bak home , able fi siddung eena pool a water an no bubble no blow </div></div>
rotfapums. <span style="font-weight: bold"> Haad and laang</span>? Yuh think Peeping Blu problem is short and soft and
him jeluss?
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Re: iss de gleaner a funnee paper?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Pepper</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: blugiant</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><span style="font-weight: bold">A MEMBER of the Upper House wants a clear definition of the Jamaican family to prevent homosexuals from demanding such recognition.
Senator Basil Waite told his colleagues in the Senate on Friday that there were particular groups in Jamaica, who had, over the last several years, been campaigning for specific rights.</span></div></div>
de way mii seeeth de gleanar shood xxposed dem funnee group inn jamaica wey advocatinn fe recagnise funnee peeps as familee
noo same sex marriage fe gawn a yaaawd </div></div>
Write an oped piece and submit it to them. </div></div>
but mek sure it not in bluspeak doah :whustle:Comment
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Re: iss de gleaner a funnee paper?
But wait...
dem have bat-e-man ah Jamaica? 
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