Dear Editor,

The root of the recent violence in the streets of Kingston is the same root of the violence that my country, the US, exports daily afar to Iraq and Afghanistan. This root is the “love of power”. In Jamaica, it expresses itself through an unholy alliance of inner-city drug dons and the politicians who need these dons’ support to get and stay in power. In the US, it expresses itself through an alliance of greedy corporate leaders and corrupt politicians who need the corporations’ money to get and stay in power. Most countries are ruled by people intoxicated with this “love of power”. Their intoxication has been the source of much of humanity’s suffering.

For over 30 years, Jamaica, through the music of Bob Marley and many conscious reggae artsistes, has been delivering a musical message revealing this “love of power” among the world’s leaders. Equally important, it has been reminding us of another dynamic – “the power of love”.

My family has witnessed the ability of this uniquely Jamaican expression to remind people of the assignment every human being was given – to teach and learn unconditional love for all. This is the assignment that many have forgotten. This forgetfulness is fostered by lewd, unenlightened music – Jamaican and otherwise.

Through your music, culture and people, Jamaica has done much to heal the hearts of people all across the planet. Hold your head high, Jamaicans. Continue to play your part in “advancing the welfare of the whole human race”. Do not grow despondent because violence, greed and exploitation continue. None of us are being asked to solve it all. We are just being asked to heal our one/six billionth of the planet by getting up each day and being as loving, forgiving and compassionate as we can. And as we do that, we are taking a well-lit and divinely guided journey “from Babylon to Zion”.

Robert Roskind

North Carolina, USA

roskind@boone.net