Bob Marley

[Ras_Legacy]

A recent book Marley and Me:The Real Bob Marley Storywritten by Bob Marley's former manager, Don Taylor, accuses him of abusing his wife Rita, carrying weapons, threatening people, and being careless with his money. As a Rasta, I find this hard to believe. How should InI react to this book? Should it be taken as truth?

[iyah360]

They did the same thing with Martin Luther King, etc. We have this really strange fascination in this culture of:

" . . . beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye . . . "
Matthew 7:3

There is a strange habit of seeing the human-ness of people and pointing it out when you want to demerit someone.

[Kebo]

None of those accusations sound criminal enough to discredit Bob as a leader and a rasta, and they could all have been exaggerated. Perhaps not, who knows.

Also I think it was well known that Bob had beef with Don Taylor, at some point in Bob's career he discovered that Don Taylor had been stealing a bunch of Bob's money at which point Bob confronted Don Taylor and kicked his *ss. .

Kebo

[out_of_Zion]

That seems ridiculous to me, as well.  You look at how his children love him still and the kind of person he was and it's difficult to imagine him being an abusive spouse.  Could he have had a heated conflict or two?  Sure.  But that happens in many healthy marriages so far as I've known and seen.  And the scripture from Matthew 7 is Oh-so-true.

Along the same lines, I like this scripture from the Gospel of Luke,

"Moreover, stop judging, and you will by no means be judged; and stop condemning, and you will by no means be condemned.  Keep on releasing, and you will be released."  -Luke 6:37

[iyah360]

" recent book Marley and Me:The Real Bob Marley Storywritten by Bob Marley's former manager, Don Taylor, accuses him of abusing his wife Rita, carrying weapons, threatening people, and being careless with his money . . . "

I am going to go out on a limb here and say I HONESTLY DON'T GIVE A RAT'S BUTT. I could care less, and I think others should do likewise. To those who which to dwell on trivialities, I say . . pick the food out of your own darn teeth. Bob Marley has inspired countless numbers of people throughout the world, what the heck have you done?

[Bantu_Kelani]

It is amazing the way, people like to keep their focus AWAY from the relevant issues. People are suffering a lot of pain due to oppression, subjection, servitude, slavery, Aids/HIV, pollution etc... But the first thing to sort out, is if Bob Marley abused his wife.
ah! Only the Karmic debt will sort these insensitive people out!

B.K

[Rootsie]

One out of every four men abuse their wives. The real terrorists in many women's lives are the men in their own homes. Stastically speaking, women are safer out on the streets than they are in their homes.

[nmichele]

i agree...it seems as if everyone is condoning the possiblity of domestic violence...this is frightening to me...the idea that a woman has been/could have been suffering from abuse is horrible...and those who dismiss it are even sicker...
nm

[Bantu_Kelani]

What an hypocrite answer nmichele. Why not spitting the same rhetoric on topics like SLAVERY, the RAPE of Black women by their white devil enslaver, the still taking of young Black girls and women as CONCUBINES in Islamic Countries... What about commenting on THE ROLE RACISM PLAYS IN GENDER OPPRESSION OF BLACK WOMEN and affects our lives more than it does the Black man's life? Also how white women work hand in hand with white men to keep Black women oppressed. That in itself should give you very horrendous interrelated issues to notice!! Bob became acknowledged around the world for his wisdom, knowledge and understanding. But the whole downward point of this thread is to bash the man!! Discussing whether or not Bob partook in domestic violence makes one more selfish, superficial, and totally devoid of any sense of reverence for this African liberation fighter who was Bob Marley. If you have time for stupidity and vilifying you are the one sick.

Bantu Kelani.

[Sa_Sutcha]

I do not think that nmichelle's response should be classified as hypocritical.  And that's a very strong response from a moderator BK.  I did not see her response as trying to waste the man, neither that of the person who brought up the topic.  

The subject is not about judging or condoning anyone.  Irregardless of whatever biblical quotations, as used in prior posts, we all judge, assess or place certain expectations of others.  For example, we all do not expect to log on to this site someday and see that the moderators have placed pornography and people "skin up" upon this site.  This is a site of high caliber and character and people would fuss.  Likewise, people would make a fuss or express great concern if a man of character is speaking about freedom in one breath and incarcerating someone in another.

Therefore, I do not agree that comments made here are fighting down Father Bob.  It is similar to the previous topic about Jesus being married.  Why is such an emphasis being placed on this? It is because of the man's character and reverence given to him.  And some who revere him will take that very personal and see it as fighting down.

"Nah dem cyah do dat to me! The people way doh love me is the people way doh love demself, the people way fight 'gainst me is the people way fight 'gainst demself" - Robert Nesta Marley - Talking Blues album

If this site is more focused on highlighting 'worldly' issues and not about any individual's personality, then the moderators should state this or remove the thread and similar 'superficial' ones.  

Personally, Bob is very dear to my heart.  His works are insurmountable and his message of liberation has reached to the uttermost regions of the earth.  I am not going to express any views on the subject matter pertaining to his personal livity, because I have no evidence.  I know of Father Bob's works in increasing the consciousness of people worldwide and I continue to pay him tribute because of this.  

Peace

[iyah360]

For some reason, people are ABSOLUTELY AMAZED when the spotlight on a thing that happens all the time around them or even in their own lives is put on SOMEONE ELSE. It is almost like a high to see the dirty deeds of someone else, more crap to talk about at the water cooler of our materialistic void of a life. Something to fill the space, a little excitement to burn, get the old juices flowing. This is the fodder which lawyers and sensationalist media FEED OFF OF because they know that this is the stuff which moves the crowd to get them to do what they want.  

We know what is wrong and love to see someone get the heat for it, but will we change our own lives? NO.

[out_of_Zion]

Sa_sutcha: "Therefore, I do not agree that comments made here are fighting down Father Bob.  It is similar to the previous topic about Jesus being married.  Why is such an emphasis being placed on this? It is because of the man's character and reverence given to him.  And some who revere him will take that very personal and see it as fighting down."

That's right on target.  We have perceived notions of men we hold in high regard and when people say things that conflict with our personal (and even spiritual) views on the matter it's upsetting, without regard to whether or not they even have "evidence."  We raise people up above certain things in a sense:  Yeshua above having carnal desires, being of divine spirit; Bob Marley above hateful desires, possessing a pure & loving nature.

[Bantu_Kelani]

You have noticed, I could fuss at times, especially if I see hypocrisy. Now, everyone is prompt to it but there are those that don't. They seek the truth, right? One day they will find out that Christianity is some fraud that white folks made up to subdue the slaves, paralyze the minds of whites and then play on both groups spiritual fears to do whatever they like, because some of them are in a cult-like state...big time. Further, I find the alleged Bob's spousal abuse matter somewhat insignificant, compared to the recurrent history of racism (white supremacy) as an integral part of the European cultural ethos. WOMEN and non-whites will continue to be the targets of racism and SEXISM until whites, specifically, white males, seek treatment for their cultural psychopathological condition. I believe it's presumptuous to think that simply concern a global..distant plane. The so-called Africanists have a responsibility to be concerned of women and Black emancipation on an individual scale!! Bob transmitted the message and reality of Black people, Black movements with embracing the imperative of Black liberation. However at Bob passing, the racist media, so-called authorities vilify him like every black man as a deviant abusive animal. By no means, am I inferring domestic abuse is fine and people are allowed, to express against it. However, I find it quite selfish for Africanists to entrust the racist media and go along with the destruction of the black male value, especially this black warrior who made his distinct contribution to Black struggle.

Bantu Kelani.

[Kebo]

All men and women are human. With good and bad, strengths and weaknesses, the ugly and the beautiful. We hope that we have just as much good in us as bad and strive to become better. And to do more right for the world than we do wrong.
Bob was a man, a human, and look at the right he did for the world. Perhaps the truth is that Bob was not all good. So let the truth be known, what is their to hide for anyone. I bet Bob's right for the world outweighs his wrong considerably and for that Bob's life and legacy will always be a great value to humanity.  

Kebo

[Bantu_Kelani]

What wrong has he done? PROVE without giving an uninformed presentation of the subject. But in fact, so-called pundits find themselves wrapped up in their own bias which they too often incorporate into their "theoretical duty" of hunting the truth..

B.K