Banton Fans Continue to Whine and Close Their Etes to Reality

Personally, I thinks it's wonderful that Buju Banton was convicted on drug charges in Florida and may well find himself in prison for many years. Like too many celebrities - many of whom are legends in their own minds - Banton got too arrogant for his own good. His hatred and ridicule of gays in his murder reggae are but a symptom of Banton's over sized ego. Meanwhile, Banton's delusional fans rant and whine that their false idol was framed and/or a victim of some kind of gay conspiracy. Anything rather than face the truth that Banton is anything but a victim. Voice Online has coverage of the ongoing whine fest. Here are some highlights:
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[M]any thought Buju had it all. Fame, fans and the freedom to make the music he loved. But all of those privileges now hang in the balance as the beloved deejay, devout Rasta and father of several children faces up to 15 years in prison after being convicted on three counts of drugs and weapon charges.
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Buju, along with two others, was initially arrested in 2009 for an alleged cocaine trafficking deal, after video recordings, reportedly showing the star tasting cocaine, were taken by an informant and by Drug Enforcement Administration personnel.
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[I]n the second trial, held last week, the 37-year-old – who, last month, won the Grammy award for best reggae album – was convicted of conspiracy to possess five or more kilogrammes of cocaine with the intent to distribute. He was also found guilty of possession of a firearm, and of another drug trafficking offence.
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[T]here have also been many – particularly in Jamaica – who have condemned the deejay, insisting that he simply got what he deserved. One comment on The Gleaner website read: “This whole idolizing of Buju just shows how our society glorifies wrong doers. So what if he is a said to be a good musician? He did wrong and has embarrassed honest Jamaicans and fellow hard-working musicians, as well as his religion.”
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[T]here has also been a considerable amount of suspicion. Many believe that Buju was set up and even suspect that it’s the star’s history of homophobia that has landed him in this predicament. Ever since the release of his 1992 hit Boom Bye Bye, Buju has famously been lobbied by gay rights campaigners, who have protested against the deejay’s homophobic lyrics. Many believe that it is Buju’s negative reputation within the gay community that has influenced the outcome of the trial.
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However, gay rights organisation OutRage!, which has long campaigned against homophobia in reggae music, rubbishes the idea that the gay community has somehow influenced the guilty verdicts in Buju’s case.
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Let's face it. Banton acted like a thug and exalted violence in some of his music. Gays did not need to do anything to create a bad image for Banton - he did it all by himself.

Buju Banton Convicted on Three Felony Drug Charges

While I have enjoyed some reggae music for many years, I'm no fan of Mark Myrie a/k/a Buju Banton whose lyrics glorify and advocate the murder of gays. Banton, in my opinion is symptomatic of a toxic mindset that is all too prevalent in Jamaica. While Jamaica is a physically beautiful country, the anti-gay hate and bigotry that seems to have intensified since I visited the country decades ago make it a place that I would not visit even if offered money to do so. As regular readers know, I strongly advocate boycotting nations like Jamaica where religious based bigotry and ignorance is encouraged by the government and the local laws. Banton has yet to be sentenced but could be easily facing 15 years in prison. If there's any divine justice, he may get a small taste of the treatment has encouraged his listeners to inflict on gays. Better yet, maybe he'll end up being someone's bitch. No one should be allowed to laud and encourages violence against others. Indeed, giving Banton a Grammy sent a very sick and perverted message. Here are highlights from the Miami Herald:
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Grammy-winning reggae singer Buju Banton was convicted Tuesday of conspiring to set up a cocaine deal in 2009, a verdict that elicited anguish and disbelief among supporters in a crowded courtroom and from other artists in his native Jamaica.
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A federal jury deliberated for 11 hours over two days on the fate of Banton, who won a Grammy last week for best reggae album for his work entitled "Before the Dawn." He was found guilty of three of four charges, and his attorney said he's facing at least 15 years in prison.
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Banton was found guilty of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense and using a telephone to facilitate a drug trafficking offense. He was acquitted of attempted possession with the intent to distribute cocaine. No date has been set for his sentencing.
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For those not aware of Banton, one of his songs has a refrain that in part chants: “Boom bye bye inna batty bwoy head.” Translation: “Shoot and kill a gay man in the head.” He's one nasty piece of work in my opinion.

70 Percent In Jamaica Oppose ANY Rights For Gays

For some time now I have argued that gays need to really start using their immense financial clout to punish anti-gay businesses and tourist destinations. Based on a recent poll, Jamaica should be at the top of the list of targeted destinations. I truly cannot understand the violent dislike of gays that seems to have swelled to huge proportions in that country. This attitude - despite all the advertising trying to depict Jamaica as a wonderful destination - to me shows a general populace that is more than alittle bit f*cked up. With the poverty and many problems that the average the Jamaican lives with daily, it would seem that there would be much more pressing things to get emotionally over wrought about. Who and what - besides gangster Reggae performers - is feeding this extreme and violent hatred. Any gays that travel to Jamaica or makes any expenditure that helps the Jamaican economy is a fool in my opinion. Such hatred needs to carry a severe financial price and LGBT individuals should exercise a 100% boycott of Jamaica and Jamaican products. Moreover, they should encourage others to do likewise. Note that this poll isn't about gay marriage - its about gays having ANY CIVIL RIGHTS. Here are some highlights from 365gay.com:

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Kingston) There is little chance laws against homosexuality will be repealed in Jamaica if a public opinion poll released Friday is any indication. The survey found that 70 percent of Jamaicans do not believe gays and lesbians should have any civil rights.

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Last month Prime Minister Bruce Golding condemned Britain and other Commonwealth countries for criticizing the treatment of gays in the Caribbean nation. ''Jamaica is not going to allow values to be imposed on it from outside,'' he said during an interview broadcast on the BBC. (story). Jamaica has been described by human rights groups as having the worst record of any country in the New World in its treatment of gays and lesbians. . . . . More than 30 gay men are believed to have been murdered since 1997 J-FLAG says. In most of the cases the killers have never been brought to trial.

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In 2004 Brian Williamson, Jamaica's leading LGBT civil rights advocate was brutally murdered. He had been stabbed at least 70 times in the neck. A 25 year old man is currently serving a life sentence for the murder. In December 2005 Lenford "Steve" Harvey who ran Jamaica AIDS Support for Life was killed. Harvey was shot to death on the eve of World AIDS Day. (story) His organization provided support to gay men and sex workers. Four men were arrested almost a year later. In 2006 the bodies of two women believed to have been in a lesbian relationship were found dumped in a septic pit behind a home they shared. The killers of Candice Williams and Phoebe Myrie have not been caught.

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In February, 2007 three men in "tight jeans" and wearing what some witnesses described as makeup were cornered by a mob of 2000 in a drugstore. There were yells of "kill them" along with gay slurs and demands the three be sent out "to face justice". Police had to fire teargas into the crowd to rescue the three. Reggae, or Jamaican dancehall music, is blamed for fueling homophobia. Reggae star BujuBanton's hit song Boom Boom Bye Bye which threatens gay men with a "gunshot in ah head".