Dear Editor,

The double standards and the hypocrisy in this society get to me sometimes. I think we live in a country that is conveniently Christian. Now, granted I am not a Christian, it seems like only a few days ago we were lamenting rapes in MoBay, the murdered boys in Trelawny, when some sectors of society decided to hold Tommy Lee Sparta and the Uncle Demon phenomenon responsible for the apparently demonic and diabolic acts. The airwaves were filled with people casting out demons and songs chanting down demons.

Yet this supposed nation of Christ-like people, strong in black identity and African-centred thinking, has now opted to re-elect Tommy Lee Sparta to host the demon ceremony of ceremonies, Halloween. It boggles the mind that a Christian nation, an African-based nation, can adopt European Satanic ceremonies. We chastise Tommy Lee in one breath and call on him to perform at a demonic party the next. I love Jamaica!

Most people are ignorant of what Halloween is all about and for that matter don't care. But do you really know what it is all about? Christian or not, you need to know what you emulate and replicate.

This American/European celebration adopted by Jamaica began over 2000 years ago with people known as the Celts. They lived in what is today England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Halloween - All Saints Day, All Hallows Eve or All Souls Day - is a festival. Coincidentally, it is also the eve of the US president's election to office. It was held to honour the Samhain, the so-called "lord of death". It was a druidical belief that on the eve of this festival, Samhain, lord of death, called together the wicked spirits that within the past 12 months had been condemned to inhabit the bodies of animals. It was a pagan belief that on one night of the year the souls of the dead return to their original homes to be entertained. If food and shelter were not provided, the evil spirits would cast spells and wreak havoc on those failing to fulfil their requests. Sacrifices were offered on that night to the spirits because it was thought they visited their earthly dwellings and former friends.

Now I know some people used to be against these things: "bun dem as obeah, witchcraft and iniquity". So how do we end up worshipping European and North American demons? Are we that filled with self-loathing that we would adopt European demonic or ancestral worship and reject our own? Jamaica is suffering from serious schizophrenic psychosis.

As Rastafari, I would say this to my Christian nation: If you are a professing Christian, you have no reason to be part of this holy day of Satan. Don't use the old cop-out: "Well, everybody does it." Do some introspection and remember these verses from the Bible:

1Thessalonians 5:22: Abstain from all appearance of evil.

1Timothy 4:1: Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons.

Yannick Nesta Pessoa

yannickpessoa@yahoo.com