The Editor, Sir:

On Saturday afternoon I read one of the early reports about the top billing 'clash' between dancehall heavyweights Vybz Kartel and Mavado and felt numb. Subsequent reports have left me feeling sick.

Thousands of patrons it seems found great entertainment listening to two grown men engage in the equivalent of a standpipe, expletive-laced 'tracing' match, with each 'cussing out' the other about his 'madda', their supposed sexual exploits and bodily excretory functions.

Cassness

The smattering of discussions I heard along the streets was not about the crassness, but about who had won this 'lyrical contest'.

Clearly, people always have choices and if this is not your thing then you won't be attracted to Sting, but what does it say about our society that thousands of people, including the police on hand, apparently found this hugely entertaining, rather than turning away in disgust?

The sickness in the soul of the Jamaican society was on full display on Boxing Day, and the irony is that the entertainment media endorsed this behaviour in how they have promoted and subsequently reported on the event.

I am, etc.,

C. BARNSWELL

barnswellc@yahoo.co.uk

Kingston 6.