Dear Editor,

Firstly, let me congratulate Prime Minister Andrew Holness on his plan to bestow a “national icon” honour.

There are so many problems associated with the national heroes honour. It is also important to understand the criteria for this honour, which I am sure are qualities that go far beyond popularity.

I think it is far better to make the history of people like Paul Bogle, Marcus Garvey, and Sam Sharpe come alive using the ideas of these heroes for both formal and informal education. So many of our people, young and old, do not have a clue about our history and the significance of these heroes and their profound influence on the history of this country.

Additionally, there are questions about past selections and many calls for additional national heroes. Let us look at the calls and ask if they fit into the criteria for the highest national honour.

Miss Lou has done original and great things and has become a foundation in the history and life of the Jamaican people. Bob Marley has done well for himself and his legacy.

The article ‘Rastafari: Ja’s greatest legacy to the world’ (Keith Noel, The Gleaner, February 9, 2012) credited Marley’s creative genius grounded in the idea of Rastafari and how he became a leading exponent of Rastafari by way of his music. However, I am moved by definition. A hero is a person characterised by courage, bravery, made great sacrifice and had outstanding achievements. And these qualities transformed people and society.

While Marley’s outstanding achievements in music cannot be denied, to what extent has his work transformed people and society? Of course, he was not the only artiste with global appeal on Rastafari and African liberation. Even if he made personal sacrifices, they had to do with his development of a magnificent personal empire that is multiplying in value each day. There is nothing heroic in this history.

My issue is that Marley is neither the originator of reggae music nor the pioneer of the Rastafari movement. More than often his personality is advanced as if he is the only radical advocate of the music.

Here is one of my problems; why honour the acolyte and neglect the bishop? Leonard P Howell is the founder of the early Rastafari movement, gifting a new philosophy and religion to the world. According to Noel, the movement unleashed a new view of the world that is different from the dominant Eurocentric view.

Let us look at the impact of the Rastafari movement in Jamaica and the world and ask: How is this most influential man not recognised? Popularity is no basis upon which to name a national hero.

I support this national icon award and also encourage an exploration into some of the inconsistencies in the selection of the present national heroes.

Louis E A Moyston

thearchives01@yahoo.com