Dear Editor,

Been following this debate that has gotten much attention.

‘Bout who should be a hero and who a guh be an icon.

This arose because of a call to honour two outstanding Jamaicans,

Who without doubt has done much to advance our island.

Some argue that Louise Bennett is great, but nuh reach hero status yet,

Although she is credited with advancing the Jamaican dialect.

Then there’s Bob Marley, who is world-renowned,

Who undisputably wears the king of reggae crown,

Some say that he was only seeking personal gain,

And it’s by the way Jamaica get some fame.

Other say that whatever he was seeking, it matters not,

Jamaica still get notice and that’s a well-known fact.

Some people are willing to back dung and look at that,

And with that in mind they will cut Bob Marley some slack.

They however asked what has Jamaica gained from patois?

And who can say from its advancement their lives are better?

At least from Bob Marley’s music there is some worth,

‘Cause nuff tourist come to visit the land of his birth.

I wanted to see the impact of Bob Marley and Louise Bennett,

So I typed in patois and reggae music on the Internet,

Bob Marley pictures and songs were all around,

But sadly nothing of Louise Bennett Was found.

I immediately realized that a we Jamaicans mess up the ting

And much of what people remember of Miss Lou is from Ring Ding.

Much of what she was doing was not appreciated is what I realised,

But she was trying to get our people and our language recognised

But we have our own definition of heroism firmly in our mind.

And her struggle across borders was not what it defined.

Those who want her to wear the hero’s crown

Call the opposers of it, wutless clown.

Is the issue with Marley because he wears locks?

Would it be different if he wore a gentleman’s hat?

Are they being rejected because a yah so dem grow,

Nuh cuss mi, a ask mi a ask, ‘cause mi really nuh know.

Some seh dem a nuh heroes, cause heroes risk dem lives,

So wasn’t it risky for Bob at the peace rally that night?

Miss Lou took our language to all parts of the Earth,

Tell me, people, doesn’t that have some worth?

Anyway, as the debate rages on about what them deserve,

I will not nuff up myself but just watch and observe,

Personally, I think they should get their just reward

For the many things they did here and abroad.

I believe the two needs to honoured right,

But it nuh need Jamaicans fi be ina dis yah cat fight.

Let us look at their track record and do what is just

I really don’t see the reason for all this fuss.

In closing, this is my point of view,

Hero status should be given to those two.

I can hear people a cuss and some a shout

But, ah my opinion, come thump mi inna mi mouth (DWL)

Courtney Whyte

whytecourtney@yahoo.ca