Well just as you say that author of the article was not there and could not know Selassie's intentions, neither were you... do YOU then have some divine knowledge of what his intentions were? I find your attempt at critique very poor indeed. Not once in your ‘analysis’ of the article in question have you brought forward alternative, scholarly, factual information to refute what has been stated in the article. Most of your argument has been, “the author is going on hearsay”, “the author was not there” etc. That is not critique and it is certainly not scholarly. Research; find facts that directly pertain to the article and come again. If you say the article has erroneous information, bring the information that proves this. I do not know why many here seem to have something against academia and presenting their arguments properly… (sigh)

Listen… this thread started with Rasifree questioning why this article should be contained upon a site that is Rastafari (within his view of what rastafari is and should be). Kelani responded that we do not deal with blind faith here and that the article shed direct light on a view of the behavior of Ethiopian rulers toward indigenous Ethiopian people. That to me was enough justification (not that we need justification for what goes up on OUR site). If it is anything that our African leaders should have taught us is to QUESTION our leaders, ALL OF THEM. Tear apart their actions, look at their behavior critically and then reassemble as you see fit, or abandon as you see fit. Some on this site are in the process of doing this, some have already abandoned what they cannot believe or condone, and some have chosen to stick to their original belief. All are free to do this and all will be allowed to share their views.

I know it is hard for many to see flaws in whomever they sight as God, but what differentiates them from Catholics and Christians who venerate the Pope or their local pastor and refuse to look critically and honestly at the history behind them? What is supposed to differentiate Rasta is a willingness to be critical and seek freedom, of thought and of action. I do not see this coming out here. Ones come and attempt to distort from the issue in all kinds of ways. They say that the site has changed its agenda, that we want to kill Rastafari, calling the faith that they do not share or understand “ Rasta come lately”, all kinds of ugliness, and even go so far as to assert that those who were banned from the site were banned for personal reasons. All this is kicking and screaming is a result of an unwillingness to see and confront the issues. If you do not want to confront them, fine. But allow those who wish to, to do so.

If I were the gambling sort I would bet money that the ‘tone’ of Kelani that ones have complained about and the running of the site that ones complained about would never be an issue if all the site did was praise Selassie whole day and did not examine the evil that was perpetrated under his rule and is still being perpetrated today. I would bet money that if this site just focused on Rastafari (in the way some here see it) and ‘white racism’ and the evil of ‘Babylon system’ without looking at our own complicity with racism, through colourism in our community, no one would complain about ‘tone’ or the rules of the site. Feel free to challenge me on that one, but I am pretty certain of that; it is aptly manifested in ones conduct.

Anyway, kick and scream all you like, the moderators and administrators will continue to present the issues from various viewpoints for those who wish to engage them.There is no way around that. I have seen only very few on this site attempt to bring real reasoning to defend their faith and their belief in Selassie and to reason on the issues. Good reasoning is what I appreciate and what we should all want to engage. If in order to present alternative views some have to have their beliefs challenged a bit, then that is an acceptable risk. Continue posting your Selassie speeches, and all else that pertain to his veneration. Those who are interested will read them. Others who have alternative views will continue to post what they believe. Who want to reason could reason, who want to continually distort these views and tamper with facts could try to do so, but be aware that we have rules here and all must abide by them.