RAS OGBU SPEAKS 0058: DEFINING MY VALUES Socio-culturally, I have profound respect for African traditions and culture excluding, of course, those cultural practices that are repugnant to natural justice, equity and good conscience. The question which arises naturally is: by what standards, then, are those cultural practices deemed to be repugnant to natural justice, equity and good conscience? To this query, I respond thus: by that moral bridle that is innate in all humanity. Within this context, therefore, and within the specific context of my training as a Legal Practitioner, my devotion to the precepts of Rastafari can be explicated. Rastafari advocates the emancipation of the black race globally from all oppressive forces of imperialism and neo-colonialism and the restoration of Africa to her pristine glory. As an African, Rastafari is a vehicle to project my Africanness. Rastafari propounds the idea of an egalitarian society, the enthronement of justice, equity, fairness and love in human affairs. As a Legal Practitioner who sees the Law as a veritable instrument of social change, the ethos of Rastafari does not contradict the rules of my profession: it complements them. His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Haile Selassie is the Patron Saint of Rastafaris. Listen to him: All well ordered and modern states can only base themselves upon Courts of Justice and conduct of Laws which are just, correct and geared towards the protection of the rights of individuals. Justice is product of education. Again, he said: We believe in the peaceful settlement of all disputes without resorting to force. I am sure that many of us are familiar with the lyrics of the Bob Marley song War; but how many of us know that it was a lyricisation of the speech of Emperor Haile Selassie delivered to the United Nations General Assembly on the 4th of October, 1963 in New York? Here is an excerpt of that great speech: …until the philosophy which holds one race superior and another inferior is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned: that until there are no more first class and second class citizens of any nation; that until the colour of a mans skin is of no more significance than the colour of his eyes; that until the basic human rights are equally guaranteed to all without regard to race; that until that day, the dream of lasting peace and world citizenship and the rule of international morality will remain but a fleeting illusion, to be pursued but never attained; and until the ignoble and unhappy regimes that hold our brothers in Angola, in Mozambique and in South Africa in subhuman bondage have been toppled and destroyed; until bigotry and prejudice and malicious and inhuman self-interest have been replaced by understanding and tolerance and goodwill; until all Africans stand and speak as free beings, equal in the eyes of all men, as they are in the eyes of Heaven; until that day, the African continent will not know peace. We Africans will fight, if necessary, and we know that we shall win, as we are confident in the victory of good over evil Why, then, wont I be an I-Fari? #DefiningMyValues
Posted on: Fri, 09 Jan 2015 16:04:14 +0000
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