THE EDITOR, Sir:I WAS amazed to see that Kingston was listed in the Daily Telegraph article as one of ten cities about which tourists should beware. My family has made seven trips to Kingston in the last two years, often travelling off the regular tourist paths of the city, and have never felt threatened or encountered any unpleasantness.
Additionally in our work as authors about the Jamaican culture, we have spoken with literally hundreds of people who have visited Jamaica and, except for an occasional aggressive hustler, they feel that Jamaica is a safe place to visit and that its image that it is not safe is unwarranted.
For our part, we are doing what we can to improve the situation. Our family, along with reggae artist Abijah, has hosted 30 "One Love: Big Up the Youths Concerts" throughout the island encouraging over 30,000 students from 42 schools to lead their island in becoming the first society to heal itself with love and forgiveness.
Here was our message to the youths:
Jamaica has already created four miracles. We are asking everyone to create the fifth.
Miracle #1: There is, and has been, only one truly global message of One Love (agape, unconditional love for all, etc.)
Miracle #2: All well-known conscious reggae artistes are Jamaican: Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Luciano, The Wailers, Morgan Heritage, Garnet Silk, Toots, Burning Spear, Bushman, Mikey General, Abijah, Dennis Brown, Warrior King, the Marley family, Don Carlos, Mikey Dread, Judy Mowatt, Marcia Griffiths, Culture, Justin Hines, etc. People worldwide listen to these artistes and are uplifted by their message of love and healing.
Miracle #3: The reason that these artistes are all Jamaican is that the entire Jamaican society has birthed this message. The music is reflecting the consciousness of the culture at large.
Miracle #4: Given what Jamaica has gone through in the last 500 years and what it is still going through, it is miraculous that their dominant message is one of love and forgiveness rather than bitterness and frustration.
The Fifth Miracle: Is to now heal the country with this love and forgiveness and make "One Love Jamaica's message to the World."
We have also launched a new initiative, "One Love: The Healing of the Nation", encouraging all Jamaicans to join us in this national healing through individual acts of forgiveness and love. This initiative has been supported by Jamaicans of all religions and walks of life.
I am, etc.,
ROBERT & JULIA ROSKIND
roskind@boone.net
