Lesbian injured at gambling table brawl

typical crown & anchor gambling table

A woman from the east Kingston area is nursing injuries to her face, back and hands in the form of cuts after a brawl at a lively gambling table on East Queen Street around three in the afternoon. The incident occurred as a series very lively games of corn seed bingo, crown and anchor and cards with money involved were in session at the four tables respectively; an accusation however of cheating or mishandling of the game by one man led to an argument which quickly grew into a brawl, the woman who tried to calm the tempers was in essence turned against by one man at first but it quickly moved to three others joining the fray as harsh words and expletives were thrown around at each other.

According to a witness things got really heated when two of the men got physical with each other and what appeared to be one of the men bumping into the lesbian woman who in turned bumped into another man sent the verbal clash into another place. The corn seeds used for the games were scattered, the gambling tables were shifted out of place and a crowd had gathered by the top of the lane adjoining the location of the incident with some looking puzzled or laughing dependent on what they saw.

The woman who is seen as a friend to several of the men suddenly found herself the subject of Lesbophobic verbal abuse as she and ‘her kind’ was accused of taking away ‘good woman’ an accusation used in such melee to stigmatise and vilify butch identified women, the usual ‘man royal’ term accusation seemed missing from this one when I queried if it was used. As the fight continued a knife was pulled by one of the men on another and the outcome of the bumping became evident, the woman got in a tussle with another man apart from the one who had bumped into her after she reportedly made a threatening remark to him which he did not take kindly. 

the typical 'thug' look that heterosexual men sometimes tolerate: also see Lesbian rapper to perform in Jamaica

He grabbed her locked hair as they fought for about half a minute but was parted by a hefty bleached face woman who was her friend (none intimately) who owns a nearby food establishment of which the lesbian is a regular customer alongside other persons. She sustained cuts to her hands inflicted by the knife as she sought to defend herself and a necklace she was wearing was damaged and was on the sidewalk. Threats from all angles were heard as the brawl cooled to a standoff, persons attempted to go to the nearby Central Kingston police station after proclaiming their intent but they were dissuaded from doing so. The visibly upset woman and others vowed that ‘it wasn’t over’ and in Jamaican thinking some sort of retribution is implied. Things cooled eventually and the woman and others were seen conversing at a bar across the street.

A similar challenge occurred in Half Way Tree Square by the bus/taxi bay in 2015 also had as one of the injured parties an identified lesbian who was once seen as one of the boys given her mannerisms. The origin of that one was unclear but the disruption led to her shirt being grabbed by another man, her face being slapped up even as she also managed to deliver blows to her assailant much to the delight of a cheering crowd of passers-by comprising school children and adults alike.

Though there were no major injuries or known ones similar Lesbophobic terms were flying around then and always seem to come to the surface whenever there is a disagreement then one hears one is this or that. In 2016 there was another such clash though short lived in downtown Kingston along Barry Street at the infamous bleaching cream and street side hair dresser area where men and women buy and use or have applied creams and have their hair extensions added for a small fee. A fight broke out after one accused another of having them wait so long for services, butch identified woman who was among the crowd clashed with other women after she blasted them for being too petty allegedly. One woman sustained a cut to the face and police who were patrolling on Princess Street eventually came by to quell the melee.

The issue of using or resorting to violent reactions to solve simply quarrels comes to the fore and it happens all too easily. While butch identified or masculine acting women suffer way less challenges turning into violent episodes that does not discount the possibility of those such incidents occurring. The often ‘one of the boys’ phenomenon mentioned on this blog usually carries through as sometimes surprisingly men almost welcome them into their social circles. The women take on or display similar traits in behaviour such as ganja smoking and mode of dress and or even go as far as ‘looking women’ for sexual favours for mostly the men involved. There has been this old belief by some that having a ‘man royal’ friend can bring benefits of having more women for sex so the man somehow tolerate known lesbians in that regard. The mannerisms of the women only add to the tolerance level as the language and slangs are adapted or adopted by the lesbians probably to fit into the group.

Strangely our homosocial yet homophobic culture accommodates this type of union with lesbians and heterosexual men but when things go sour that tolerance level is thrown out the window and suddenly her sexuality becomes a problem and is used against her to demonise or belittle her. The ‘one of the boys’ phenomenon includes partying, flossing, skin bleaching and similar modes of dress. Lowered pants, exposed underwear or boxers and other identifying markers or masculinity and or bravado linked to thuggery or thug life that projects some sort of strength. In presenting those physical traits or presentation the lesbians who subscribe to such are easily subsumed into the male social circles while strangely or uniquely the other women (femme types) are not allowed that kind of close access or intermingling in a male circle. In other words to lesbians be like one of us and our circle and you’ll be accepted in a sense.

An earlier phone stealing ring matter in court in 2016 for example had implicated in the mix a butch identified woman so much so that the very judge hearing the matter quizzed the woman as to her mode of dress as she was little hard to identify her, the poor judge must have been puzzled not used to the presentation before her. Her (lesbian) association with a group of men in the ring was also questioned in court at the time but what the judge was not mindful was that she was able to ‘fit in’ (outside of assimilation) and have a cordial relationship with her male accused.

More anon

Peace & tolerance

H

also see:

Homosocial yet homophobic 2008 

Butch finds herself in some trouble for "non disclosure" 

The Butch Dynamic/mystique becoming a problem? 2011

Lesbian rapper to perform in Jamaica ..............

Event manager and record producer Zum has announced that he will be bringing lesbian rapper Young M.A to Jamaica for Brit Jam 2017.

The event is slated to take place between March 8 and 14. According to the promoter, his target audience is excited about the rapper's visit and people are not concerned about her sexual orientation.

"People don't care about her sexual preference. They just like her music. This is the first lesbian rapper to dominate the rap scene, so this is history in the making, and Brit Jam is the first to bring her to Jamaica," he said. I wish it was always like that we could save ourselves a lot of grief.

Zum

Zum also said that based on his market research, male and female fans alike welcome the rapper's visit. He, however, admitted that if he had booked a male gay rapper, then, perhaps, his audience would have raised serious concerns.

"We tend to accept females in Jamaica. Once it's a woman, it's fine with us. But if it was a man, I know some people wouldn't like that," he said.

Young M.A is known for songs like Quiet Storm and Ooouuu, which peaked at number 19 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart last year.

LOCAL ACTS

The event will also feature other international acts such as Genuine and Bernice. There will also be performances from local acts, including Ding Dong, Tanto Blacks, Tifa, I-Octane, Konshens and Shenseea.

"Brit Jam only does the hottest, and we are feeling Young M.A's vibe. When you go to events and see how people react to her music, it is amazing. People literally wait until the second verse of her song, and nowadays, that is rare," he said.

Zum did not wish to disclose how much it will cost to book the rapper for Brit Jam. However, he did reveal that her booking fee is not cheap.

meanwhile the performer's profile includes:

Early life

Young M.A was born in 1992 in Brooklyn, New York. At the age of 9, she began rapping.For over nine years, she has been in Virginia, although never staying in one place for long, moving to several cities while in the South. At the age of 16, she moved back to Brooklyn.

Career Music

Young M.A began to embarked her music career, when she was self-funding its recording studio with local record producers, after she was working at Shake Shack and T.J. Maxx. In 2014, she gained notoriety, when a Facebook post criticizing her song, called "Brooklyn Chiraq" that went viral. The post's author, pundit Boyce Watkins, said the song promoted "violent, negative, genocidal energy", but the controversy expanded Young M.A's name recognition and brought in some new listeners to her work. In 2015, Young M.A released a new song, called "Body Bag", which became a "YouTube hit" said Rolling Stone, along with the release of her mixtape, called Sleep Walkin', which MTV describes as a "thoughtful debut project".

In 2016, Young M.A released her official debut single, called "Ooouuu" which peaked at number 19 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. In September 2016, the song nearly had 7 million plays on Spotify[8] and was widely remixed, with other rappers and hip hop artists such as French Montana, Remy Ma, Jadakiss, Uncle Murda, A$AP Ferg and Tink, who all of them were putting out their versions to that song. At Stereogum, Tom Breihan said "Ooouuu" was "a brash, intense, hard-as-fuck piece of rider music...the song feels like it marks the arrival of a major rap talent." The Fader said Young M.A has "establishe[d] herself as a quintessential New York MC", and at MTV, Doreen St. Félix said, "This summer, the atmosphere belongs to Young M.A and her single 'OOOUUU.'" The song's popularity drew attention from labels, though M.A remains an independent artist.

At the 2016's BET Hip Hop Awards, she did a freestyle on a cypher and performed her single, "Ooouuu", giving what XXL Magazine described as "show-stopping freestyle...one of the best freestyles of the night"; despite the enthusiasm for her performance, Young M.A expressed disappointment, saying BET cut out a portion of her performance.

Other projects

In 2016, in an interview with Rolling Stone, Young M.A said she'd been offered the role of Frieda Gatz on Empire, but turned it down, preferring to pursue her own career as a rapper instead of being known first as a fictional character.

Personal life

Young M.A is a lesbian, a topic that she includes in her music. She told Vogue that coming out had been an important point in her artistic development, saying "I held in being sexually attracted to women for so long that once I got that out of me, the music became easy."

In 2009, Young M.A's brother died.

She is of Puerto Rican and Jamaican descent.

Peace & tolerance

H

Intolerance Day of Tolerance ............

The United Nations is committed to strengthening tolerance by fostering mutual understanding among cultures and peoples. This imperative lies at the core of the United Nations Charter, as well as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and is more important than ever in this era of rising and violent extremism and widening conflicts that are characterized by a fundamental disregard for human life.

In 1996, the UN General Assembly (by resolution 51/95) invited UN Member States to observe the International Day for Tolerance on 16 November. This action followed up on the United Nations Year for Tolerance, 1995, proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1993 at the initiative of UNESCO, as outlined in the Declaration of Principles on Tolerance and Follow-up Plan of Action for the Year.
UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize for the Promotion of Tolerance and Non-Violence

In 1995, to mark the United Nations Year for Tolerance and the 125th anniversary of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi, UNESCO created a prize for the promotion of tolerance and non-violence. The UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize for the Promotion of Tolerance and Non-Violence rewards significant activities in the scientific, artistic, cultural or communication fields aimed at the promotion of a spirit of tolerance and non-violence.

The prize is awarded every two years on the International Day for Tolerance, 16 November. The Prize may be awarded to institutions, organizations or persons, who have contributed in a particularly meritorious and effective manner to tolerance and non-violence.

The 2016 winner is the Federal Research and Methodological Center for Tolerance Psychology and Education (Tolerance Center) of Russia.

Bearing in mind that the United Nations Charter states: 'We, the people of the United Nations determined to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, ... to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, ... and for these ends to practice tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good neighbours',Recalling that the Preamble to the Constitution of UNESCO, adopted on 16 November 1945, states that 'peace, if it is not to fail, must be founded on the intellectual and moral solidarity of mankind',Recalling also that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights affirms that 'Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion' (Article 18), 'of opinion and expression' (Article 19), and that education 'should promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups' (Article 26),Noting relevant international instruments including:
the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,
the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,
the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination,
the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide,
the Convention on the Rights of the Child,
the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol and regional instruments,
the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,
the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment,
the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance Based on Religion or Belief,
the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities,
the Declaration on Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism,
the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action of the World Conference on Human Rights,
the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Summit for Social Development,
the UNESCO Declaration on Race and Racial Prejudice,
the UNESCO Convention and Recommendation against Discrimination in Education, 

Bearing in mind the objectives of the Third Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination, the World Decade for Human Rights Education, and the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People,Taking into consideration the recommendations of regional conferences organized in the framework of the United Nations Year for Tolerance in accordance with UNESCO General Conference 27 C/Resolution 5.14, as well as the conclusions and recommendations of other conferences and meetings organized by Member States within the programme of the United Nations Year for Tolerance, Alarmed by the current rise in acts of intolerance, violence, terrorism, xenophobia, aggressive nationalism, racism, anti-Semitism, exclusion, marginalization and discrimination directed against national, ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities, refugees, migrant workers, immigrants and vulnerable groups within societies, as well as acts of violence and intimidation committed against individuals exercising their freedom of opinion and expression – 

all of which threaten the consolidation of peace and democracy, both nationally and internationally, and are obstacles to development, Emphasizing the responsibilities of Member States to develop and encourage respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction as to race, gender, language, national origin, religion or disability, and to combat intolerance,Adopt and solemnly proclaim this Declaration of Principles on Tolerance

Resolving to take all positive measures necessary to promote tolerance in our societies, because tolerance is not only a cherished principle, but also a necessity for peace and for the economic and social advancement of all peoples

1.1 Tolerance is respect, acceptance and appreciation of the rich diversity of our world's cultures, our forms of expression and ways of being human. It is fostered by knowledge, openness, communication, and freedom of thought, conscience and belief. Tolerance is harmony in difference. It is not only a moral duty, it is also a political and legal requirement. Tolerance, the virtue that makes peace possible, contributes to the replacement of the culture of war by a culture of peace.

1.2 Tolerance is not concession, condescension or indulgence. Tolerance is, above all, an active attitude prompted by recognition of the universal human rights and fundamental freedoms of others. In no circumstance can it be used to justify infringements of these fundamental values. Tolerance is to be exercised by individuals, groups and States.

1.3 Tolerance is the responsibility that upholds human rights, pluralism (including cultural pluralism), democracy and the rule of law. It involves the rejection of dogmatism and absolutism and affirms the standards set out in international human rights instruments.

1.4 Consistent with respect for human rights, the practice of tolerance does not mean toleration of social injustice or the abandonment or weakening of one's convictions. It means that one is free to adhere to one's own convictions and accepts that others adhere to theirs. It means accepting the fact that human beings, naturally diverse in their appearance, situation, speech, behaviour and values, have the right to live in peace and to be as they are. It also means that one’s views are not to be imposed on others.

Antigua Gov’t denies turning a blind eye to LGBTI community

ST JOHN’S, Antigua and Barbuda (CMC) – The Antigua and Barbuda Government has denied allegations that it turns a blind eye to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) community and warned that a recent report by a member of the community to the international media could have negative repercussions for the island.

“All persons, irrespective of sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity, are entitled to enjoy in Antigua & Barbuda the protections provided for by our constitution and by international human rights law,” according to an official statement issued here.

The statement, titled ‘Policy on Protection from violence and discrimination of persons of the LGBTI community,’ further notes that “Antigua & Barbuda does not tolerate any acts of violence or discrimination against members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex community, and maintains their right to protection under local law and international law.

“The government of Antigua and Barbuda upholds the core legal obligations of states with respect to protecting the human rights of LGBTI people.”

Information Minister Melford Nicholas, speaking to reporters at the end of the weekly Cabinet meeting on Thursday, said that the Gaston Browne Administration has taken the initiative to counter the comments made by Canada-based LGBTI activist Tasheka Lavann.

In an interview with the US-based Huffington Post, Antigua and Barbudan-born Lavann, who identified herself as a lesbian, said she feared violence as a member of the LGBTI community.

But while she later retracted the statement, saying they had been taken out of context, there has been a growing call for the government to respond to the allegations.

“We do not want to wait until there is such a development,” Nicholas told reporters, after indicating that St John’s was not willing to wait to hear from Canada first on the issue before taking action.

“If it is given currency, and by the State refusing to indicate what indeed is its position then we run the risk of something then happening and then we have to undo it,” he said, adding, 

“This is not to say that person or persons may not have had… things meted out to them which will not be cause for concern.”

He said when such incidents do occur, the LGBTI community has recourse to the law just as any ordinary citizen.

“The laws of the State are sufficient to protect, and should it be brought to the attention of the authorities, including the Cabinet, that there is any degree of prejudice towards any particular one…we would certainly would like to be made aware of it.

“This Government and all preceding governments have pretty much adhered to the process of law,” he said, noting 

“The Cabinet is of the view that if left untreated and Antigua and Barbuda were to be found in breach to the extent that one of our citizens would be required to achieve refugee status in a country, it would do some harm to the validity of our State and the validity of our passport.”

Christians should apologise to gay people — Pope Francis

I can only imagine the antigay religious fanatics such as Dr Wayne West, Shirley Richards and JCHS with Jamaica CAUSE, must be squirming in their skins when they saw this one; an appropriate start to reconciliation indeed and also the clerical abuse black eye that has smudged the Catholic church's image over hundreds of years.

a previous quote from the Pontiff 

ROME, Italy (AFP) — Pope Francis said Sunday that Christians and the Roman Catholic Church should apologise to gay people and seek their forgiveness for the way they have been treated.

Speaking to reporters as he flew back to Rome from Armenia, the pope was asked if he agreed with comments by German Cardinal Reinhard Marx that the Church needed to say sorry for the way it has treated the gay community.

"We Christians have to apologise for so many things, not just for this (treatment of gay people), but we must ask for forgiveness. Not just apologise — forgiveness," he said.

"The questions is: if a person who has that condition, who has good will, and who looks for God, who are we to judge?" the pope added, repeating his famous "Who am I to judge?" remark about homosexuality made early in his papacy.

That comment was one of the first indications that the Vatican under Pope Francis' leadership would take a more conciliatory approach to the gay community, but also prompted criticism from the Church's more conservative members. This is the healing that is so needed in these times to gain true tolerance as I think Jesus would approve and indeed extend to all.

Francis expanded his apology to also include other people who have faced discrimination.

"I think that the Church not only should apologise... to a gay person whom it offended but it must also apologise to the poor as well, to the women who have been exploited, to children who have been forced to work."

The comments come just two weeks after the Orlando massacre at a gay nightclub in which 49 people were killed.

At the time the Holy See condemned the attack as a "homicidal folly and senseless hatred".

The CNN carried the story as this in part:

Groundbreaking Moment

"I believe that the church not only should apologize to the person who is gay whom it has offended," he added, "but has to apologize to the poor, to exploited women, to children exploited for labor; it has to ask forgiveness for having blessed many weapons."

The Rev. James Martin, a Jesuit priest and editor at large of America magazine, called the Pope's apology to gays and lesbians "a groundbreaking moment."

"While St. John Paul II apologized to several groups in 2000 -- the Jewish people, indigenous peoples, immigrants and women, among them -- no pope has ever come close to apologizing to the LGBT community. And the Pope is correct of course. First, because forgiveness is an essential part of the Christian life. And second, because no group feels more marginalized in the church today than LGBT people."

The Pope's comments came in response to a question about a German Cardinal who said the Catholic Church should apologize for being "very negative" about gays. The Pope was also asked whether Christians bear some blame for hatred toward the LGBT community, as horrifically demonstrated in the Orlando massacre at a gay night club that killed 49 people on June 12.

'Immense Blessing'

Francis first uttered that rhetorical question -- Who am I to judge gay people? -- in 2013, also during a news conference on the papal plane. His comments were hailed as a breakthrough for a church that has historically condemned homosexuality, often in harsh terms. Francis has not changed church doctrine that calls homosexual acts sinful, but he has shown a more merciful approach to people on the margins, including gays and lesbians.

Francis DeBernardo, executive director of New Ways Ministry, a Catholic gay rights group, called the Pope's remarks "an immense blessing of healing."

"No pope has said more welcoming words to LGBT people than when Pope Francis today offered his recommendation that the Church -- indeed all Christians -- should apologize for the harm religious traditions have caused to LGBT people. The pope's statement was simple, yet powerful, and it fell from his lips so easily."

As is often the case, the Pope's press conference encompassed a number of controversial questions. Here are the Pope's answers about Brexit, former Pope Benedict XVI and why he used the word "genocide" to describe the murder of more than 1 million Armenians in the early 20th century.

Let us see if this pivotal moment in the Catholic church's history will resonate deeply especially here in Jamaica.

Peace & tolerance indeed

H

Ian Boyne on Grow Up On Gay Intolerance!

So Ian Boyne erudite commentator has hit the nail on the head again in what I see as a fair commentary; others in the LGBT circles are up in arms over his criticisms of the arrogance and reverse intolerance. It is not the first time though he had sought to point it out as posted here on Gay Jamaica Watch: The Intolerant View Of Tolerance .............

now comes his latest salvo:

flag at the US Embassy on Hope Road

No Jamaican law was violated or disrespected when the United States displayed the rainbow flag of the LGBT community on its own territory in Kingston. And rather than showing disrespect to Jamaica, the act indicated its acknowledgement of the vibrancy of our civil society and of our democratic 'articulate minority'.

Jamaicans have pointed out that the Americans dared not put up a rainbow flag in a country like Saudi Arabia or other Islamic states with Shari'a law. But that is precisely the point: The Americans know we have a strong democratic tradition and that no violent action would follow, despite the vast majority of Jamaicans' strident and visceral opposition to homosexuality (which, strictly, is not criminalized; only anal sex). They knew the dominant voices in media would push back against any popular dissent and that they could, of course, count on the visa-hungry masses to hold their tongues and violent implements in hope of entering paradise!

the tweet that started it all (not included in the Gleaner excerpt)

They were right. The attorney general has never regretted any action of hers as she has those few words proclaimed on Twitter. She has been clobbered internationally and everywhere in cyberspace. But some brave soldiers of the Gospel have come to her defence, though. I admire their courage but am less impressed with their reasoning. Helene Coley-Nicholson, president of Lawyers' Christian Fellowship (LCF), says the flying of the rainbow flag "sends an overt symbol that the United States Embassy in Jamaica is aligned with those who would break our laws".

First, Helene, embodied in the first principle of diplomacy and international relations - mutual respect - is the notion of tolerance for diversity. States do not only have relations with those whose laws, customs and ideologies are compatible with theirs. Jamaica did not break off relations with the United States when it legalized gay marriage, even though we are not aligned with that at all.

TOLERANCE, RESPECT

America has relations with countries with laws that penalise adultery, alcohol, and pork consumption, homosexuality, and which practise Internet censorship and a host of authoritarian laws. This is what happens every day among states. It is not disrespectful for friends to uphold their beliefs and practices in contradistinction to others. That's what tolerance and respect really mean: That I can freely engage my expression of preferences even when they clash with yours. This is at the heart of the democratic ethos and of respectful relationships.

LCF makes the following statement, which, on the surface, seems benign but which is deeply offensive: Conceding the fact that "the embassy is considered American territory in international law," the Fellowship nevertheless goes on to say in its release that "the LCF asks US Ambassador Luis Moreno to immediately take down the flag and in so doing eliminate potential misunderstanding", and - note this -"barriers to the natural outpouring of sympathy and support for the United States and those who have suffered". This is reprehensible and deplorable. Our people's "natural outpouring of sympathy" would be constrained by the presence of that gay flag? If that is true, we should hang our heads in shame. That is not complimentary and is not something we should broadcast. That is advertising our moral and cultural backwardness.

I submit we have a deeper problem not just in Jamaica but in the world: It is a problem of a deeply illiberal, anti-democratic, anti-pluralistic spirit. It not only afflicts conservative Christians.It afflicts supposed liberals, leftists and gay activists. The issue is not primarily hate. It is an abhorrence of tolerance, a despising of opposing views, a cherishing of bigotry. It is not only among fundamentalists. Some of these gays activists are among the most arrogant, bigoted, and democracy-averse people you can find. I declare a plague on all the houses.

The Christians in Jamaica who rightly recognise that this issue of gay rights is a political one must know how to fight political battles. They must be intellectually and strategically sharper than they have been and not keep playing into the hands of those who are enemies of the Church.

The Jamaica Coalition for a Healthy Society, like its sister organisation which Coley-Nicholson runs, also concedes that "the US Embassy is considered to be on US soil", but goes on to say in its release that "the embassy is still a guest of the Jamaican Government and is expected to conduct its affairs in a respectful manner".


GROW UP, JAMAICA!

No, it is the Jamaican people who must grow up and start respecting people's civil liberties and right to their own way of life. We don't have to force the Americans to agree with us that homosexuality is an abomination worthy of punishment in an eternal hellfire.

They should be free to proclaim their solidarity with fellow citizens who are gay, some of whom lost their lives in the nation's biggest mass-shooting massacre. They chose to grieve by showing haters that they stand in solidarity with a community they see as oppressed and despised. We can disagree and feel those people should repent of their sinful ways. That is our right to believe that. But we can't impose that on our guests, Dr Wayne West. We must show some respect and regard to our guests.

I am a conservative Christian who follows a Bronze Age book written by nomadic tribes who deemed homosexual practice unethical. But I don't believe we have any right to impose the Kingdom of God on anyone in this age. I believe we must maintain this free, pluralistic society, and we have no right to ban non-Christian expressions.

We should strive to penetrate the society with Christian ethics and to convince people that our views are right. Lucien Jones is doing a valiant job in that regard. But we must resist the temptation to theonomy and theocracy. We must learn from the excesses of the fanatical Muslims who are a threat to civilisation everywhere. (Notice I did not say 'Muslims', but 'fanatical Muslims'.)

Pastor Al Miller, in his response, was equally flawed. He pleads in a letter in theObserver on Thursday that "diplomacy requires respect and the art of understanding the customs and beliefs of those with whom one engages. The diplomat makes every effort not to offend".

So a diplomat must show respect and honour to the custom of female circumcision, Indian caste traditions, child brides, Shari'a law? In earlier times, should respect have been shown to foot binding, duelling, etc? Should apartheid have been respected because it was law? Was Mandela immoral to defy it? Al Miller feels that the flying of the rainbow flag "can only be interpreted as a deliberate act of provocation". Provocation to what? You realise what you are saying, Rev? He says it was a "deliberate slap in the face of the Jamaican community". Well, again, we should be ashamed if that is so.

It's no slap in my face if someone wants to affirm his homosexuality or show solidarity with the gay community. As long as I am allowed to have my Stone Age belief that homosexuality is wrong and worship my Invisible Friend in the sky, the Flying Spaghetti Monster, as the New Atheists would say, that's okay. Fly your gay flag anywhere but my premises and I am okay. Problem is that it is not just the Christian fundamentalists who pose a threat to liberal values. Increasingly, so-called liberal societies are free-speech terrorists.

The June 4-10 issue of The Economist has a cover story, 'Free Speech Under Attack', which makes interesting reading. In its editorial, it notes that "the idea has spread that people and groups have a right not to be offended. That may sound innocuous. But if I have a right not to be offended, that means someone must police what you say about me or about things I hold dear such as my ethnic group, my religion." Gays are principal offenders, wanting to insulate themselves against so-called hate speech and offensive language.

Some gays would just as soon shut down all opposition, citing homophobia and hate to mask their own intolerance. An illiberal, intolerant spirit is growing on all sides. It must be firmly resisted. Let a hundred flowers bloom - along with the weeds. Democracy detractors, go home!

- Ian Boyne is a veteran journalist working with the Jamaica Information Service. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and ianboyne1@yahoo.com.

also see:

Gays' Threat To Free Speech ........... veteran journalist Ian Boyne .. 2012

There goes Dr Orville Taylor again! .............. Increase In Gay Hatred? Get The Fact Out!

So Dr Orville Taylor decided to go to town via RJR’s radio talkshow Hotline which he hosts on a Monday and Tuesday following his article appearing in the Sunday Gleaner regarding the recently reported on study commissioned by JFLAG on Attitudes and Awareness on homosexuality. I had only commented on one such report as to the drip drop method of sharing the study when previous such studies were released in full via PDF for public review; such a method of release as done this time around only serves to raise the very cynicism and stigmatization that JFLAG et al are supposed to be counteracting, oh how the ammunition is so easily handed to the opposition. Other public commentators have said or asked where is the full study so as to compare it to the previous two and sometimes I wonder if the goodly folks at the J are really thinking and that their actions are closely scrutinized for any flaw.

Dr Taylor did not go down his regular route as he normally would by opposing the efficacy of reports of homophobia or the perception that lobbyists are lying by riding the wave of the Time Magazine article questioning whether Jamaica is the most homophobic place on earth; but instead he went after public displays of affection while pretending he is against violence towards LGBT people but declaring days later on Hotline if a man calls to him he would just say to him no but if he got physical then that would be another matter.

The feedback via text messaging and call in were clear as usual as such topics evokes far more attention and ratings than other subjects do.

Here is the article published on Sunday April 17, 2016 in the Gleaner, see what you make of it:

Increase In Gay Hatred? Get The Fact Out!

I don't like beef, chicken, goat and pork. Cheese and milk make my stomach sick. Eating hot dogs is nasty, and I would never put even a Vienna sausage in my mouth. And yes, seafood is a big source of protein for me, but swallowing slimy oysters is gross and no one can make me suck the conch from its shell.

So, what does that make me? And I make black jokes, and fun of Jamaicans, Chinese, Africans, Indians, women, men and almost anybody or anything on creation. Indeed, I even offered my blind friend Floyd Morris my car keys. And, of course, I make gay jokes, too.

True, it is a thin line between humour and humiliation, but I'm an equal-opportunity satirist. By the way, I tell the Ras to remove the cloth from his head and stop smoking that nasty-smelling bush weed. So what if smoking the 'ishen' is an integral part of the 'livity' (lifestyle) of Rastafarians? It is hazardous activity and carries a small but significant risk of mental illness and lung disease.

So tell me. Do I hate eaters of meat or the animals themselves? And am I Rastaphobic simply because I disapprove of a something that the Natty Man does?

Last week, one of my colleague reporters cited a study carried out by the reputed Don Anderson-led Market Research Services Ltd and published a story with the headline that began, 'Study says Jamaicans hate gays ... .' However, they can be converted. The major finding reported that since the last study done in 2011, there was a 50 per cent increase in 'hate or rejection' of gays in Jamaican and, therefore, that community should expect higher levels of intolerance in the near future.

This story was very disturbing because, growing up in Catholic schools and with a father who acted as a consultant to God, I was taught that one should never hate any other human. 'Hate', a verb, is 'to feel extreme enmity towards or to have a strong aversion to.' Christians take comfort in saying that they hate the sin but not the sinner.

SIMPLY DISINGENUOUS

Being repugned or repulsed by people of the same sex 'doing the nasty' cannot mean that one hates them. It is simply disingenuous to conflate dislike for homosexual activity with hatred of gays.

As a member of the Gleaner fraternity, I got a small glimpse of the survey and saw nothing to convince me that we 'hate' gays any more than we did. Some of the findings are not surprising. Around 90 per cent of Jamaicans believe that anal sex between a man and woman is wrong. Similar numbers report the view that homosexuality is a sin. It, therefore, is not unexpected that 75 per cent of us believe that homosexuality should be outlawed. However, it is significant that the same three-quarters of Jamrockers believe that two women to one man sexually is also wrong. So what do we call this nominal disapproval of multiple partners? 'Promiscuophobia?'

Let's be honest: Hatred and dislike are not the same. Hatred must be accompanied by a feeling that something material should be done to the persons. In law, that is called malice, even if without the 'cut eye'.

In fact, there might be more evidence that we are a much more tolerant society towards gays than is being portrayed. More than 60 per cent of Jamaicans do not make any effort to avoid gays; almost 60 per cent say they would not respond violently to being approached; 82 per cent do not tease or make fun of gays; around 80 per cent do not speak bad things about them; 93 per cent have never threatened to damage property of gays; and 86 per cent say they would never stop talking to our friends if they found out that they were gay.

SCIENTIFICALLY DISHONEST

By the way, Jamaican employers are even more tolerant, and 64 per cent of them indicate that they have in place anti-discrimination policies at the workplace. Indeed, how often do you hear that people are dismissed based on sexual orientation? For good measure, in more than 30 American states, one can legally fire workers for being gay. Surprised?

So, tell me where is the hatred? In social research, we recognise that flawed concepts and definitions give incorrect and spurious results. The survey includes the faulty Riddle Homophobia Scale, which equates rejection of homosexual relationships with hatred of them. This is academically and scientifically dishonest.

Regarding the buggery law, less than 40 per cent feel that it either should just remain, or they were unsure or had no opinion. It would have made much more sense if we knew what actual percentage opposed its repeal.

Seven years ago, when I completed a study and made recommendations to the Government regarding protection of Jamaican workers from discrimination based on HIV status, my position was that the emphasis should be on action and not attitude. Trying to 'normalise' anal sex, which is the most efficient means of transmitting HIV (which infects 33 per cent of gay men), is a waste of good resources. True, it got my colleague Brendan Bain fired, but fact is fact. More important is to prevent discriminatory acts.

Nevertheless, the buggery law is stupid and an ass. Two men can legally do all manner of sexual repugnance, including fellatio, as long as there is no penetration. However, if a freaky pastor decides to procure entry via the alternative route, he is guilty of a crime, although it is not a sin. And lesbians are scot-free under the sheets and the law.

By the way, another major finding is that most Jamaicans believe that gay people can be changed. In another article, I will address the 'born gay' argument, but let me ask my gay friends: When you proposition someone who has been straight all his/her life, aren't you also accepting that sexuality is changeable?

- Dr Orville Taylor, senior lecturer in sociology at the UWI and a radio talk-show host, is the author of 'Broken Promises, Hearts and Pockets'. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and tayloronblackline@hotmail.com.

ENDS

So much for changing hearts and minds with persons like Dr Taylor lecturing at one of our major Universities.

Sigh

previous related entries with Dr Taylor:

UWI Sociologist on Buggery And AIDS: A Lot Of Bull (GJW)

J-FLAGging A Dead Horse? (Gleaner article) 2013

Fish, Foul Swimmer And Scammers ...... 2012

Jamaica tolerates rape and child abuse but not homosexuality - Diana King

Though she is known for her hit song, Shy Guy, she is far from shy and never refuses to let the world know exactly how she feels.

Diana King, has found herself in hot water on social media because of a slew of posts she made in regards to Jamaica’s attitude towards homosexuals.

“JAMAICA is TOLERANT of RAPE & SEXUAL ABUSE of CHILDREN even INCESTS but NOT of SEX between CONSENTING #LGBT ADULTS,” King wrote.

That post infuriated social media users who vehemently denied her accusation of rape and sexual abuse being accepted among Jamaicans.

One user berated her for post.

“@DIANAKINGDOM this is nonsense--rapists and child molesters get beheaded before the cops come get them--nonsense--don’t speak ill of JA.”

Another user questioned King’s method of speaking on Jamaica’s attitude towards the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

"@DIANAKINGDOM your way of speaking out on a issue is to attack the entire country to gain what? hostility, more resentment toward LGBT?”

Tweets laced with expletives, were used to bash King for her perceived attack on Jamaica.

The 45-year-old was not phased by the persons who denied her allegations.

“I DON'T NEED SURVEYS • IF U CONSCIOUSLY OBSERVE U WILL SEE the TRUTH • ITS UP to U IF U CHOSE (sic) to ACCEPT IT or DENY IT,” she tweeted clearly not deterred social media users.

In 2012, King declared on her Facebook page that she was a lesbian, much to the attention of Jamaicans, with a number of persons reacting in a positive manner.

She is the first Jamaican artiste to publicly declare a same sex preference.

She also replaced Beenieman in November 2015 in New Zealand.

also see: Beenie Man off lineup, replaced with lesbian singer.

Gotta keep pushing on. While I understand there is a need to vent and the comments sometimes tests anyone's patience Miss King needs to also be mindful that she is in a position to teach; given her reach and visibility. 

Peace & tolerance.

H

Lesbian fined for property damage of neighbour’s house despite lesbophobic provocation

In one of those cases that we could conclude justice was split in a sense a twenty seven year old woman of a Portmore address was fined some $63,000 in total at Spanish Town RM court last week for damage to a window after a stone throwing and a protracted spat with her neighbour who is said to be a church person. The incident had its genesis from 2014 when after a night of entertaining female friends the lesbian found herself the subject of taunts, one off comments even when none was solicited which grew over time to the September 2015 encounter with the woman who was singing a popular gospel song and interspersing her vocalizations with the chant of fire! The term of course suggests the hellfire and brimstone condemnation often used by Rastafarians and some Christians to condemn sinners especially homosexuals in the ever so visible religious homophobia.

The morning of the incident September 20, 2015 around 8am the lesbian had awakened and was about to throw away her garbage and other stuff from the lyme activity before when the homophobe made insulting remarks and proceeded to suggest she saw strange activity in her eyes of women supposedly kissing in the yard; bearing in mind this is private property and if any activity was on it was not her business and according to the lesbian one would have to outside near the fence or transfixed on her house from the angle the woman could see to actual witness any activity; which suggest deliberate prying by the mischief making neighbour.

The judge was also told this by the lesbian who in turn asked the woman whether she was prying on her alleged lesbian neighbour; she reportedly answered yes saying she had a right to stop evil and sinful behaviour. The judge reportedly intervened and told the woman she was wrong in as far as interference with a neighbour’s existence and peaceful, uninterrupted enjoyment of their property. The judge also continued that while the woman is entitled to her view she must temper those with live and let live as her current situation would not have occurred and a court case following.

The argument between the women continued for hours at a time on the same day until the lesbian lost her cool with the woman deliberately and persistently badgering her with taunts and slurs. The angered lesbian reacted and warned the woman to leave her alone to which the woman threatened to call the police and implied she would encourage them to treat the lesbian as a man since she wanted to become one. It was that comment that triggered the response from the lesbian and the stones flew (three of which) that broke the side window to her house which is the woman’s kitchen. The woman raised an alarm supposedly to have the other neighbours join her in her cause but surprisingly they were reticent and one even suggested she was an old trouble maker. The lesbian had only rented the house some eight months before so she was not aware of the history preceding her arrival. Some even suggested the lesbian was free to conduct her private business in her property she was paying rent for; a far cry from similar support being sought by other homophobes to support their hate.

The police were alerted and upon arrival asked the woman to go back to her property as she was in the yard of the lesbian making all kinds of unsubstantiated allegations; both women were asked to accompany the cops in separate vehicles to the Gregory Park precinct where a report was filed and some further interrogation. 

The cops were said to be fair for the most part and urged the women not to let it go further in terms of an encounter. The court date was made in January and the second hearing after estimates were presented and so on was where the fine was ordered by the judge with a warning to the lesbian to control her temper and patience as even though she was in the right she lost her high ground by snapping on the woman. The judge also told her she could have reported the annoyance to the cops as a matter of record as the stone throwing may have been treated differently as self defence in a sense.

The lesbian has reportedly said she is looking for somewhere else to rent so as to avoid the woman altogether. This is how it can be so easy from provocation that tempers can flare and unintended outcomes follow. The woman as far as I am concerned was fortunate as if it were some other women she may have had a far worse outcome as a four year old case came to mind where a lesbian actually drew her machete and warned her enemy in Kingston; the guilty party was eventually chopped and the lesbian ended up serving a short sentence for the injury.

John Public also needs to understand that LGBT people or at least not all of us are easy cherry pickings and are not prepared to put up with taunts, verbal assaults and abuse and are even prepared to go further if necessary either by deliberately responding or as in this case a snap loss of temper with a physical response.

Peace & tolerance

H

more on tolerant cops:

Gay man saved by cop (GJW)

International Day of Tolerance 2015

On the day of its fiftieth anniversary, 16 November 1995, UNESCO's Member States adopted a Declaration of Principles on Tolerance. Among other things, the Declaration affirms that tolerance is neither indulgence nor indifference. It is respect and appreciation of the rich variety of our world's cultures, our forms of expression and ways of being human. Tolerance recognizes the universal human rights and fundamental freedoms of others. People are naturally diverse; only tolerance can ensure the survival of mixed communities in every region of the globe.

The Declaration qualifies tolerance not only as a moral duty, but also as a political and legal requirement for individuals, groups and States. It situates tolerance in relation to the international human rights instruments drawn up over the past fifty years and emphasizes that States should draft new legislation when necessary to ensure equality of treatment and of opportunity for all groups and individuals in society.

Along with outright injustice and violence, discrimination and marginalization are common forms of intolerance. Education for tolerance should aim at countering influences that lead to fear and exclusion of others, and should help young people develop capacities for independent judgement, critical thinking and ethical reasoning. The diversity of our world's many religions, languages, cultures and ethnicities is not a pretext for conflict, but is a treasure that enriches us all.

How Can Intolerance Be Countered?

Fighting intolerance requires law:
Each Government is responsible for enforcing human rights laws, for banning and punishing hate crimes and discrimination against minorities, whether these are committed by State officials, private organizations or individuals. The State must also ensure equal access to courts, human rights commissioners or ombudsmen, so that people do not take justice into their own hands and resort to violence to settle their disputes.

Fighting intolerance requires education:
Laws are necessary but not sufficient for countering intolerance in individual attitudes. Intolerance is very often rooted in ignorance and fear: fear of the unknown, of the other, other cultures, nations, religions. Intolerance is also closely linked to an exaggerated sense of self-worth and pride, whether personal, national or religious. These notions are taught and learned at an early age. Therefore, greater emphasis needs to be placed on educating more and better. Greater efforts need to be made to teach children about tolerance and human rights, about other ways of life. Children should be encouraged at home and in school to be open-minded and curious.

Education is a life-long experience and does not begin or end in school. Endeavours to build tolerance through education will not succeed unless they reach all age groups, and take place everywhere: at home, in schools, in the workplace, in law-enforcement and legal training, and not least in entertainment and on the information highways.
Fighting intolerance requires access to information:
Intolerance is most dangerous when it is exploited to fulfil the political and territorial ambitions of an individual or groups of individuals. Hatemongers often begin by identifying the public's tolerance threshold. They then develop fallacious arguments, lie with statistics and manipulate public opinion with misinformation and prejudice. The most efficient way to limit the influence of hatemongers is to develop policies that generate and promote press freedom and press pluralism, in order to allow the public to differentiate between facts and opinions.

Fighting intolerance requires individual awareness:
Intolerance in a society is the sum-total of the intolerance of its individual members. Bigotry, stereotyping, stigmatizing, insults and racial jokes are examples of individual expressions of intolerance to which some people are subjected daily. Intolerance breeds intolerance. It leaves its victims in pursuit of revenge. In order to fight intolerance individuals should become aware of the link between their behavior and the vicious cycle of mistrust and violence in society. Each one of us should begin by asking: am I a tolerant person? Do I stereotype people? Do I reject those who are different from me? Do I blame my problems on 'them'?

Fighting intolerance requires local solutions:
Many people know that tomorrow's problems will be increasingly global but few realize that solutions to global problems are mainly local, even individual. When confronted with an escalation of intolerance around us, we must not wait for governments and institutions to act alone. We are all part of the solution. We should not feel powerless for we actually posses an enormous capacity to wield power. Nonviolent action is a way of using that power-the power of people. The tools of nonviolent action-putting a group together to confront a problem, to organize a grassroots network, to demonstrate solidarity with victims of intolerance, to discredit hateful propaganda-are available to all those who want to put an end to intolerance, violence and hatred.

also see and hear previous rantings from me:

International Day of Tolerance 2012 ............... How Can Intolerance Be Countered? & more

Perkins scolded for his "tolerance"

Leighton Levy on Gays are not our problem .... JCHS told to check the mirror

Tolerance Doesn't Mean Agreement (Gleaner opinion) 2011

The Walk for Tolerance ...... scenes and more part 2 2010

Is mere tolerance enough? 2010

Tolerance or acquiescence? 2009

'Homosexual has right to life' says DPP assistant 2009

Why is "FUNNY" so funny? 2009

remember this poll from TVJ:

Christians say ... Don't force gay agenda on them ........ lol

Hardened Positions by Religious Fanatics & Their LGBT Detractors Will Only Leave More Blood on the Floor

We have some way to go with all the hardened positions out there I am wondering how long it is going to take to change hearts and minds; with poor crisis communications from advocacies and a strident anti gay movement I am still hopeful.

Peace & tolerance

H

Dancehall meets house music part 2: Artistes, Producers Willing To Try EDM

So a full five years has passed since my first post on this fusion I saw from way back and where I questioned whether some tolerance could come from same? my post then was Dancehall meets house music: Is Tolerance already there in the fusion but unrecognised? and a follow up entry that same year Jah Cure goes techno with Never Say Never ..... remember the dancehall meets house post? with the upcoming EDM Festival in Jamaica finally some pundits are saying persons are just riding the trend for now until it changes again.

I have been spinning dancemusic for some twenty years now and had stopped playing dancehall because of the murder anti gay elements of it; it just turned me off and I zoomed in on house (which I already was a HUGE fan of) and ballroom with Euro Techno and nowadays Electro, Trance, Nu Disco, Filter and Deep Tech alongside the bootleg community's output.

The Gleaner carried this yesterday:
Now that it has been confirmed that EDM (electronic dance music) originated in Jamaica and with a steady increase in the popularity of EDM parties and festivals locally, The Sunday Gleaner has sought to find out from artistes and producers if more of them would now be willing to branch out into the genre.

DJ Sunshine: I would consider producing EDM rhythms. For me, music has no colour. I don't set limits or boundaries on my creativity. I'm open to new ideas of expressions. I just let the music take me wherever. Given the fact that EDM was created in Jamaica, I would definitely explore the option of producing music with that flavour.

Macka Diamond: I think I did an EDM style song a few years ago, but if it's the new thing coming in, we have to work with the flow. We can't just stay back and flop. Music changes over time. Artistes have to keep up with what is going on. Mi fit inna everything. A me name water.

Stacious: I love EDM and the vibe and energy that come with it. I did an EDM track with a Swiss-based artiste called Fat Cat which we are currently promoting. I think a lot of music forms originate in Jamaica. We have influenced reggaeton, rap, hip-hop, etc. We are the mother of music.

CeCile: I didn't know that the origins of EDM could be traced back to Jamaica. That's actually very exciting to hear. I've always done EDM and I've performed at EDM festivals also. It's not new to me.

It's something that I've already done, been doing and will continue to do.


Seanizzle (producer) : I'm a lover of music. I enjoy every genre. If you listen to Bugle's Rasta Party, which I recently produced, there are traces of EDM in it. It's something I've been messing with a while now.

ENDS

The interviewer did not it seem approach the real caustic artists such as Elephant Man, Beenieman (despite his dancehall queen song with Chevelle Frranklin being remixed by the house music prince remixer Maurice Joshua) and Capleton, I guess artistes would be against it as the old beliefs that dancemusic overall is gay music which in truth is so as it was founded by the DJs then. The Gleaner played it safe and spoke to friendly acts to the LGBT community it seems but it would have been good to balance it out.

There was a dancehall riddim some years ago that easily could be considered dancehall/house as I played it in my house sets at parties. The $20 Bunch riddim has artists like Macka Diamond 

Just speed up the BPM settings and it becomes a nice house bouncer, the Scoobay Riddim was another riddim I and other DJs would speed up while time stretching the vocals etc to avoid the Mickey Mouse or chipmunk voice. Unfortunately Beenieman's murder music track which is still available "All Battyman fi Dead (All gays are to be killed)" was released on that riddim. Here is one of the most popular tunes on that riddim.

another track I used to mix with songs like Rosabel's Cha Cha Heels sped up to 132 BOM both with tribal/Jamaican revival but house music feel.

perfect combination of dancehall and house/dance includes the infamous tracks:

 and the hard to find Johnny P's Look Good Metro Club Remix go HERE of HERE

Embracing the genre is one thing but the fusion so early in the years has not really slowed the homo-negativity in a large sense; I hope the EDM festival will enhance that part of the discourse and I want to go to see the DJs especially King Jammys who is a dancehall veteran but was asked to spin EDM see Many Battle To Be First - But Paradise Lost Takes Dibs On Three-Day EDM Festival In Ja from the Gleaner.

Also hear some of my set mixes:

DJ Howie's Pussy DaaaaHlinG! Vogue Battle Bitch Femme RunWerQables for a Cunty Setmix April 2015 by Djhowiejam on Mixcloud

DJ Howie's Peter Rauhofer 2nd Annivesary RIP Tribute Set May 2015 

DJ Howie's Please Don't Turn Me On Nu Disco, Deephouse, Progressive Set July 2014 

DJ Howie's More Entourage, Heavens & Loft Favs Set 03.05.14

DJ Howie's Club Entourage Quick Review Pass Set 17.04.14 

DJ Howie's Push Me & then Just Touch Me Till I Can Get My Satisfaction SambataSet August 2015 

DJ Howie's Dutch House, Filter House, Electro, Discohouse, Nu Disco & More Set Oct 2015 

Let there be HOUSE as they say and enjoy. I can be reached on 1-876-841-2923 or email lgbtevent@gmail.com

Peace & tolerance

H