Awarding Bob Marley Jamaican National Hero Status
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Bob Marley for Jamaican National Hero
This has been a burning passion for me for quite some time. As a kid growing up in Jamaica, I was always fearful of some of Bob Marleys songs. To me, a few of his songs were very eerie. There is one song in particular with the line that said, Old pirate yes they rob I, stole I from the merchant ship. Minutes after they took I from the bottomless pit. I had many childhood nightmares because of that song. Bob Marleys dreaded appearance and that continuous serious look on his face did not help my fears one bit. Equally important was the song, One Love, which brought a smile to my face and I am sure to millions around the world. Looking back and trying to understand why I was so fearful of this reggae artist, I have come to realize that it wasnt the person that I was afraid of. It was the effects that his songs had on the people who were listening. And when I say listen; I mean the atmosphere changed when certain songs started to play. As a little boy, I used stand at the domino table and watch the other Rastafarians smoke their weed and doing the, Rude boy dance. When Bob Marleys voice came through the speakers, they would close their eyes, inhale deeply and let out a cloud of strong Ganja smoke, which set the scene for the scary image in my mind. Imagine being a seven year old kid, seeing men with hair like tree roots and eyes bloodshot from the strong herb they were smoking, then hearing words. Theres a natural mystic following through the air. If you listen carefully now, you will hear. Tell me, would you be scared?
Obviously I did not know any better, I was only a kid. The years have passed and since being away from my native land of Jamaica, I have grown to appreciate my childhood that much more. Back then when I was growing up on the mean streets of Hart St, in Montego Bay, we took his prophetic messages for granted. It took hearing people from other nationalities and cultures describing what this powerful figure meant to them for me to take a second look at this Icon we all come to know as Bob Marley. He is considered by many to be a prophet, a title which undoubtedly came from some of content in his songs. There is no need for me to tell, The story of Bob Marley that has been done many times in the various documentaries that have been made about his life.
My task is, to have as many people as possible sign a petition to implore those that have the ability to award Bob Marley the status of Jamaicas National Hero, to do so.
Why now:
Whether its his presence on stage or his calm, cool, collective swagger that he carried off stage. Either way, you were captivated by what this man had to say. No matter how you slice it, Bob Marley came into this world for a reason. I am no genius and some may say I am not qualified to write this article because I do not have a Phd or any other letters behind my name. At the very core, I am just a simple Jamaican boy sitting on the edge of a rock on a beach in Montego Bay Jamaica, looking up in the sky asking God to give my life meaning. You see, for me its not enough to go through the motions, to be born, get a job, go to church, grow old and die.
But I digress; thats my story, not Bobs, back to the task at hand.
I have always asked the question, Why is it taking so long for the Hon, Bob Marley to be awarded the status of a Jamaican National Hero.
Obviously, I do not have the answer to that question. One would think there must be a very good reason why this title has not been bestowed. So since I do not have the answer, I can only come up with possible scenarios as to why this gracious gesture still hasnt taken place.
While driving to work one late evening in December 2010, I felt like listening to Bob, because I havent done so in sometime. Lately, I am finding it a bit strange when I listen to him, even through I heard the songs many times before, something sounds different. The lyrics are the same but the message takes on a more powerful tone. Maybe its in my head or its the changing world around me that caused me to gravitate to his music. So much so, that it has driven me to take up this quest to see Bob Marley become a National Hero before the end of my life.
So there I was, listening to No woman no cry and asking the question why is it taking so long for the powers that be, to bestow this honor upon a human-being who, through his music, has created an entire culture and in his own unique way has shown the world a new path to trod. Then the thought occurred to me. If everyone is waiting for other people to start the ball rolling, then it is a strong possibility that the dream of seeing an icon elevated to hero status in my native land may never be realized. I wanted to make a strong case for Marley, which to me, making a case for this special individual was an easy one because of his legacy and what he has done throughout his life. So here are two possible reasons that maybe hindering the process of giving Bob Marley this status.
Reason # 1 There isnt enough support
There are millions of people around the world who may not know anything about the island of Jamaica, but they definitely know the name Bob Marley. Take a walk down any main street of Miami or any major city in the world and you would find Bob Marley products in the store windows. College students are often adorned in Bob Marleys T-shirt as they embraced the Rastafarian culture. Though Rastafarians were around long before Bob came on the scene, it was he who made the Rastafarian culture widely accepted by the masses. They are many of those who do not know too much about the religious side of this culture. But what they do know is that they wanted to look like this high-stepping, guitar playing, dread locks following man on stage. Maybe it was his rebellion against the system that had his people in bondage or its the common sense language he spoke that ultimately captured the worlds attention. Whatever it was many wanted to be like him, and many have accepted the culture and in so doing changed their lives. Which helped spark a huge following one that is very noticeably in Europe and in other parts of the world.
Reason # 2 He hasnt done enough to attain this status
Here is where the rubber meets the road. Before I layout this mans illustrious achievements. I would ask this simple question which is, Has anyone else from that area of the planet done more?
I will not go through the task of naming all of his accomplishments, but I will highlight a few statements made by some of the worlds greatest media entities.
The New Times: said of Bob Marley, He is the most influential artist of the second half of the 20th century.
The song One Love was chosen as the anthem of the millennium by the BBC.
Time Magazine: Chose the album Exodus as the best album of the 20th century.
Above are the statements made about Bob; below is a statement made by Marley, himself which to me, sums up his lifes mission.
If my life is for me, myself alone, then I dont want it. My life is for people.
-Bob Marley
I have read somewhere where it was said, that a national hero has to be selfless and possess a sacrificial attitude. Well, Bob Marley got that area covered, as was evident during the 1980 elections where a concert was held titled Smile Jamaica. The title was warranted because of the very violent and hostile environment where 800 Jamaicans lost their lives fighting on behalf of their political parties. When other people of stature would pack up and leave the island, fleeing the hell that broke out, one man stepped up. After seeing his beloved people killing themselves over party colors, Bob took matters in his own hands. I should mention that the night before the concert, gunmen shot the Marleys apartment. He was shot in the elbow and was rushed to the hospital. Needless to say that it was strongly suggested that he did not go through with the concert. But as the above statement states, he did not fear for his life - his people were more important. If that is not selfless, I dont know what is.
This was a sight to behold, to see this dread locks reggae artist standing in between the Prime Minster and the Leader of the Opposition, as if to show the people these are the men you are killing yourselves over.
What more can anyone ask from a human-being. Here is someone who has touched the entire world, changed the culture of many nations and placed his beloved country and its people on the worlds map. Yet he hasnt attained the highest honor his country can bestow. The time has come for Jamaicans and the powers that be, to say a collective Thank you to the worlds greatest reggae superstar.
He has given us his best. Let us give him our best and place the status of the, Order of Jamaica National Hero on the Rt. Honorable Robert Nesta Marley.
Description of the - Order of National Hero (Jamaica)
The highest of the five Jamaican Orders of the Societies of Honour, the Order of National Hero is given only to Jamaican citizens for "services of the most distinguished nature" to the nation. It can be awarded either posthumously or on occasion of the recipient's retirement from active public life.[1] Recipients are permitted to wear the insignia of the Order, and they are given the style "Right Excellent".[2] They are also traditionally honored with a tomb or monument inNational Heroes Park, as well as a plaque or shield displayed in some prominent national place, such as the Institute of Jamaica.[1]
The Order of National Hero was created by the "National Honours and Awards Act", which was passed by Parliament in 1969. This act also designated Paul Bogle, George William Gordon, and Marcus Garvey as the first three recipients of the honour.[1]
The insignia of the Order of National Hero is a twelve-pointed gold and white star, centered on a black enameled medallion. The medallion features the Jamaican Coat of Arms in gold relief, and it is encircled by the motto of the Order, "He built a city which hath foundations." It is typically displayed on a neck ribbon in the national colors of Jamaica (black, yellow, and green), along with a laurel wreath of gold and green enamel.[1]
This has been a burning passion for me for quite some time. As a kid growing up in Jamaica, I was always fearful of some of Bob Marleys songs. To me, a few of his songs were very eerie. There is one song in particular with the line that said, Old pirate yes they rob I, stole I from the merchant ship. Minutes after they took I from the bottomless pit. I had many childhood nightmares because of that song. Bob Marleys dreaded appearance and that continuous serious look on his face did not help my fears one bit. Equally important was the song, One Love, which brought a smile to my face and I am sure to millions around the world. Looking back and trying to understand why I was so fearful of this reggae artist, I have come to realize that it wasnt the person that I was afraid of. It was the effects that his songs had on the people who were listening. And when I say listen; I mean the atmosphere changed when certain songs started to play. As a little boy, I used stand at the domino table and watch the other Rastafarians smoke their weed and doing the, Rude boy dance. When Bob Marleys voice came through the speakers, they would close their eyes, inhale deeply and let out a cloud of strong Ganja smoke, which set the scene for the scary image in my mind. Imagine being a seven year old kid, seeing men with hair like tree roots and eyes bloodshot from the strong herb they were smoking, then hearing words. Theres a natural mystic following through the air. If you listen carefully now, you will hear. Tell me, would you be scared?
Obviously I did not know any better, I was only a kid. The years have passed and since being away from my native land of Jamaica, I have grown to appreciate my childhood that much more. Back then when I was growing up on the mean streets of Hart St, in Montego Bay, we took his prophetic messages for granted. It took hearing people from other nationalities and cultures describing what this powerful figure meant to them for me to take a second look at this Icon we all come to know as Bob Marley. He is considered by many to be a prophet, a title which undoubtedly came from some of content in his songs. There is no need for me to tell, The story of Bob Marley that has been done many times in the various documentaries that have been made about his life.
My task is, to have as many people as possible sign a petition to implore those that have the ability to award Bob Marley the status of Jamaicas National Hero, to do so.
Why now:
Whether its his presence on stage or his calm, cool, collective swagger that he carried off stage. Either way, you were captivated by what this man had to say. No matter how you slice it, Bob Marley came into this world for a reason. I am no genius and some may say I am not qualified to write this article because I do not have a Phd or any other letters behind my name. At the very core, I am just a simple Jamaican boy sitting on the edge of a rock on a beach in Montego Bay Jamaica, looking up in the sky asking God to give my life meaning. You see, for me its not enough to go through the motions, to be born, get a job, go to church, grow old and die.
But I digress; thats my story, not Bobs, back to the task at hand.
I have always asked the question, Why is it taking so long for the Hon, Bob Marley to be awarded the status of a Jamaican National Hero.
Obviously, I do not have the answer to that question. One would think there must be a very good reason why this title has not been bestowed. So since I do not have the answer, I can only come up with possible scenarios as to why this gracious gesture still hasnt taken place.
While driving to work one late evening in December 2010, I felt like listening to Bob, because I havent done so in sometime. Lately, I am finding it a bit strange when I listen to him, even through I heard the songs many times before, something sounds different. The lyrics are the same but the message takes on a more powerful tone. Maybe its in my head or its the changing world around me that caused me to gravitate to his music. So much so, that it has driven me to take up this quest to see Bob Marley become a National Hero before the end of my life.
So there I was, listening to No woman no cry and asking the question why is it taking so long for the powers that be, to bestow this honor upon a human-being who, through his music, has created an entire culture and in his own unique way has shown the world a new path to trod. Then the thought occurred to me. If everyone is waiting for other people to start the ball rolling, then it is a strong possibility that the dream of seeing an icon elevated to hero status in my native land may never be realized. I wanted to make a strong case for Marley, which to me, making a case for this special individual was an easy one because of his legacy and what he has done throughout his life. So here are two possible reasons that maybe hindering the process of giving Bob Marley this status.
Reason # 1 There isnt enough support
There are millions of people around the world who may not know anything about the island of Jamaica, but they definitely know the name Bob Marley. Take a walk down any main street of Miami or any major city in the world and you would find Bob Marley products in the store windows. College students are often adorned in Bob Marleys T-shirt as they embraced the Rastafarian culture. Though Rastafarians were around long before Bob came on the scene, it was he who made the Rastafarian culture widely accepted by the masses. They are many of those who do not know too much about the religious side of this culture. But what they do know is that they wanted to look like this high-stepping, guitar playing, dread locks following man on stage. Maybe it was his rebellion against the system that had his people in bondage or its the common sense language he spoke that ultimately captured the worlds attention. Whatever it was many wanted to be like him, and many have accepted the culture and in so doing changed their lives. Which helped spark a huge following one that is very noticeably in Europe and in other parts of the world.
Reason # 2 He hasnt done enough to attain this status
Here is where the rubber meets the road. Before I layout this mans illustrious achievements. I would ask this simple question which is, Has anyone else from that area of the planet done more?
I will not go through the task of naming all of his accomplishments, but I will highlight a few statements made by some of the worlds greatest media entities.
The New Times: said of Bob Marley, He is the most influential artist of the second half of the 20th century.
The song One Love was chosen as the anthem of the millennium by the BBC.
Time Magazine: Chose the album Exodus as the best album of the 20th century.
Above are the statements made about Bob; below is a statement made by Marley, himself which to me, sums up his lifes mission.
If my life is for me, myself alone, then I dont want it. My life is for people.
-Bob Marley
I have read somewhere where it was said, that a national hero has to be selfless and possess a sacrificial attitude. Well, Bob Marley got that area covered, as was evident during the 1980 elections where a concert was held titled Smile Jamaica. The title was warranted because of the very violent and hostile environment where 800 Jamaicans lost their lives fighting on behalf of their political parties. When other people of stature would pack up and leave the island, fleeing the hell that broke out, one man stepped up. After seeing his beloved people killing themselves over party colors, Bob took matters in his own hands. I should mention that the night before the concert, gunmen shot the Marleys apartment. He was shot in the elbow and was rushed to the hospital. Needless to say that it was strongly suggested that he did not go through with the concert. But as the above statement states, he did not fear for his life - his people were more important. If that is not selfless, I dont know what is.
This was a sight to behold, to see this dread locks reggae artist standing in between the Prime Minster and the Leader of the Opposition, as if to show the people these are the men you are killing yourselves over.
What more can anyone ask from a human-being. Here is someone who has touched the entire world, changed the culture of many nations and placed his beloved country and its people on the worlds map. Yet he hasnt attained the highest honor his country can bestow. The time has come for Jamaicans and the powers that be, to say a collective Thank you to the worlds greatest reggae superstar.
He has given us his best. Let us give him our best and place the status of the, Order of Jamaica National Hero on the Rt. Honorable Robert Nesta Marley.
Description of the - Order of National Hero (Jamaica)
The highest of the five Jamaican Orders of the Societies of Honour, the Order of National Hero is given only to Jamaican citizens for "services of the most distinguished nature" to the nation. It can be awarded either posthumously or on occasion of the recipient's retirement from active public life.[1] Recipients are permitted to wear the insignia of the Order, and they are given the style "Right Excellent".[2] They are also traditionally honored with a tomb or monument inNational Heroes Park, as well as a plaque or shield displayed in some prominent national place, such as the Institute of Jamaica.[1]
The Order of National Hero was created by the "National Honours and Awards Act", which was passed by Parliament in 1969. This act also designated Paul Bogle, George William Gordon, and Marcus Garvey as the first three recipients of the honour.[1]
The insignia of the Order of National Hero is a twelve-pointed gold and white star, centered on a black enameled medallion. The medallion features the Jamaican Coat of Arms in gold relief, and it is encircled by the motto of the Order, "He built a city which hath foundations." It is typically displayed on a neck ribbon in the national colors of Jamaica (black, yellow, and green), along with a laurel wreath of gold and green enamel.[1]
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