Dear Editor,

What is happening to Rankin Pumpkin in the Magnum Kings and Queens Season 10 happens to regular humans, and especially Jamaican children, every day. They are ridiculed, ostracised, maligned, and generally discredited. There is always someone to tell them they can’t. Some people even commit suicide because of it.Rankin Pumpkin came with love but many have taught her hate. She has used it to her full advantage. Many of the talkers do not know enough about Jamaican music and its real origins. Let those who are old enough recall the entertainment tabloid called The Merry-Go-Round. It was the main medium which carried Jamaican music to the masses, which were largely youngsters back then. Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, and others, including Bunny Wailer, were promoted in

The Merry-Go-Round. At that time, many people called Bob Marley “di dutty Rasta!” They did not see his talent. That ‘dutty Rasta’ got up; he got out and conquered the world.I’m no longer the follower of the Jamaican music genre the way I used to study it in my more youthful years, but I can assure you that if Rankin Pumpkin were your child, talent or no talent, you would be proud of her. I can support her without taking anything away from her competitor Suspense because they are two equal human beings at the top of their own game, whether others want to like them or not.I’m not a voter and don’t carry one above the other because my main interest in the show is just to pass time and find simple entertainment that relaxes my mind if I want. But Rankin Pumpkin’s naysayers are doing more for her career than they can imagine. The negative thrust is what sells the music. Many more are going to pay attention because they want to see her in action and find out why Jamaicans are so big on this deep-seated ‘bad mind’ that allows them to tear down one, even when they offer no support to the other.Let them both contend, and may the one who fits the guidelines of the competition win. After all, it is a competition and Rankin Pumpkin is there to win. So is Suspense. If you are so full of angst there is a place to fix that; sell your house, car and all other assets, take out a full mortgage on Suspense because you want her to win. The Asian community is doing that and their contestant has cleaned the Magnum Stage, save one. The tag line of the competition is Tek charge! Clearly Rankin Pumpkin has come and done just that. She is not struggling to win, but Suspense is.This fight against Rankin Pumpkin is sad. How is that for good measure in a society where we claim to love people and our music. This is the lesson that we teach our children everyday. We don’t notice it because it is so ingrained in our consciousness. We find it in every sphere of Jamaican life. Instead of looking at and dealing with the issues as they present themselves we tear down the people. Pay attention to the show in all its parts and stop bullying Rankin Pumpkin. She is an excellent looking glass for Jamaican music. CWJmikcelvon@yahoo.com