Quote:
"Willie Lynchism is alive in Black Movements also. U are the epitome of "Puting the dark skin blacks against the light skin blacks."

'Willie Lynchism,' well, you might catch a fool with that cliché but it is baseless. You are entitled to your views but I submit, if raising this issue divides people then they were already divided to start with.

Quote:
"This particular social issue comes forward from a personal issue. What about the social issue of having white people post on a site that is designated for members of a BLACK movement?"

As I stated this discussion developed from a post from Tyehimba, which was an extract from Diop's book about color prejudices. I saw the connection to the conduct of some. It is either you did not read the comments before responding or you are having other problems. How does addressing this issue which, as I HIGHLIGHTED was about LEADERSHIP in a Black movement, deny others from participating. I see people of other races engaging the debate.

Quote:
Generally speaking, a higher percentage of black people are in jail than any other group of people. Am I to generalize and say that Black people are savage criminals who need to be behind bars? Or do I pick and choose what to generalize? This is the tactics of Babylon itself.

Well you are bordering on the ridiculous here and your example is muted because Black people are not in jail because of savagery. I am very specific in my reasoning and I never had a problem with people's generalizations. I often responded and explained why other people generalized.

Quote:
"I dont promote threats of personal attacks on anyone"

Maybe you don't promote it and I have not personally attacked anyone. I still address the general issue, as it is much bigger than one person. Moderators and admin had a right to put an end to slander and personal attacks especially threats to a moderator.

Quote:
"How can u be so sure who is light skinned and who is dark skinned in cyberspace unless they forward a picture? The only pictures that I have seen on the forum are yourself, Mandingo, Tyehimba, Kelani, Rootsie, and Rootswoman. Rootsie is white. The others are brown toned. Rootswoman is the only lightskinned person whom I have seen in the photos. I dont know what a person has disclosed to u in private but I find it hard to discern who is light skin or darkskin on this forum."

I speak from what I observed, the images that I have seen for my self and the general history of this abuse of privilidges.

Quote:
"Yes this is your right. I am only concerned about the ones who are deciding what is a personal ATTACK and what isnt. Is questioning someone's character a personal ATTACK? Is calling someone ignorant a personal ATTACK? Or is it just profanity, vulgarity that is considered a personal ATTACK. I am sure that EVERY person that has been banned from this site didnt not threaten a moderator. Maybe the ones who have the power to delete needs to step outside themselves and acknowledge that their shyt stinks as well."

Well since you never advanced any ideas or suggestions for improvements while you were here I will suggest that you are having a problems over your failure to advance suggestions before. I will stay with the decisions of those who volunteer time to do the work.

Quote:
"I agree that threats shouldnt be tolerated. I have no problem with that. As I said, I am SURE that every person banned threatened a moderator. U can trust Iman on that."

I am satisfied that the few who were banned were those who were party to threatening the moderator and others who deliberately broke the rules that were pointed out to them.

Quote:
"Ok. It is a shame that the rules only apply to so-called disrespect to moderators."

The rules were enforced with the new set of moderators after the site deliberated on whom from the forum to give the controls. Who can be trusted with the private information of others was the primary concern. From the moment a moderator's board was set up, no one was banned as the site waited on the suggestions of the people who were asked to give ideas on improvement. Out of the few older heads, two were chosen together with another person who recently joined this forum but who has a wealth of experience.

MY Quote:
"My view stands. NO WHITE or FAIR-SKINNED PERSON is fit to LEAD any BLACK movement that is supposed to be addressing White Supremacy, White Privilege, Racism, or Gender Discrimination. (When you repeat this statement try to use the qualifiers I placed.)"

I will stay with this and you should try to prove it lacks Merit.

Quote:
"So why do u care what Ras Tafari Speaks if He is not your leader? Why align yourself with a group who has a leader in which u dont acknowledge. "

I don't do blind belief and a notice to the websites position on Rasta was posted and linked from the front page of this site. (Please see the front page) Ras Forever agreed with my position when he asked me to get involved here. As I stated you are quite entitled to your views on any issue and I cool with my own unless you can prove that I am wrong. I repeat, I AM NOT INTO BLIND BELIEF.

Quote:
"ALL dark Black people are not good just as ALL light Black people are not bad."

I know this for sure but this does not address my qualified statement and my previous posts were submitted to Rootsie's website you can check her website for them.

Below is my previous comments on Rasta in case you missed it.

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A "Dreaded" question
Posted: Thursday, June 19, 2003

Posted by: Kingston
Jun 16th, 2003

Does the truest Rasta heart belong to a Man whom has decided to wear dreadlocks?

Let Us skip the discussion about those who wear dreadlocks for fashion.

At first thought I would say no, yet upon further reasoning with a youth I aquaint with I may feel that it is so.

Naturally I am not questioning any Rasta who has a true heart and does not wear dreadlocks for there are many of Us but I look at it like this.

A true Rasta wearing locks can be likend to Jesus walking with the cross in the sense that He has chosen to walk his life with this cross, dreadlocks, upon His back.

I say this for it is the truest statement a Rasta can make. The dreadlock is the universal indicator of the Rastaman.

A dreadlocked man shuts many of Babylon's doors for Him. He is forced to live more independently because of this choice.

I leave this topic open as it stands.

Jah's humble servant,

..Kingston..

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Response: by Ayinde
Jun 19th, 2003

Rasta from the ancient point of view meant wisdom. So when our ancestors said they wish to enter the house of Rasta, they were speaking in relation to that exalted spiritual state where one attains wisdom.

The word Rasta in relation to dreadlocks is derived from the natural way people lived especially in ancient times when they deliberately returned to the forest to recapture the laws of nature. In so doing they were isolated and without grooming so the dreadlocks developed naturally. This is quite similar to when people get lost on some deserted island and are forced to survive on their own. Sometimes these people learn to embrace nature and develop the natural skills to survive in the wild. Of course, their hair becomes wild or dreaded because they are away from grooming.

In Eithopia, the word Ras evolved to mean head and since leaders then were considered to be divine then Ras Tafari was seen as another divine leader.

In essence Rasta is about developing oneself towards self-actualization, which is the only way to attain universal wisdom.

One can do many things to symbolize that they are different. I choose to simply do my best.

_________________________________________________________

Response: by ROOTSWOMAN
Jun 19th, 2003

Greetings,

Excellent reasonings brothah Ayinde. I completely agree.

We know that there Nubian Locks were worn by the Mau Mau revolutionaries. They did not wear this Traditional Afrikan style because they were "rasta". His Imperial Majesty didn't have them either. Nor did Empress Menen. What about the Saddhu (Holy Men of India) who have always traditionally worn them, not having anything to do with Ras Tafari (though the SPIRITUAL reasons are the same as Rasta).

There are plenty of WOLVES in sheepclothing wearing dreadlocks. Plenty of hippies with them too. Nothing whatsoever to do with Rasta.

The "locks" one wears upon their SPIRITUAL CROWN and HEART mean alot more then the hairdo. Though they ARE our Spiritual Antennas, they are NOT SO for everyone.

ONE AFRIKAN LOVE

ROOTS