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The First Rasta

Time Zone: EST (New York, Toronto)

Messenger: Dreadnut Sent: 12/14/2004 4:07:53 PM

Robert Roskind is more of a hippie than a rasta. Although i read books of right and wrong I would read it just to see what he has to say. But Nyah is right we should be learning from other rasta and studying His Majesty's words. Ras Zion I

Messenger: NineMile2004 Sent: 12/14/2004 6:08:26 PM

I agree he was a hippie but he learned and teaches thru his writings a great deal about the truth as he learned it from true rastas. many people know parts of the truth not in a sense of JAH but in a sense of how to live their lifes, they just dont know yet that that is JAH way. It is impossible not to agree with the philosophy of one love especially if u know JAH because it is the TRUTH. The author didnt really claim to be rasta but after all he learned thru his journeys to JA and meetings with rasta he felt that what he really believes is exactly what true rastas live,its a life all the time thing not a sunday church thing, seen? we all agree on that i am sure. the author did draw similarities between hippies and rasta nevertheless. this definately is a good valuable book that is worth reading, just as there are many other great books and even better books. There is things to be learned and beliefs to be strengthened from any book at least within the particular subject matter we are all drawing from. the authors book is trying to show how to apply one love in a way that many rastas as well as the author think it should be lived to practice one love. it doesnt deal much with the author accepting that Selassie is Jesus in his second coming or god but does acknowledge Selassie's god-like teachings. that is a start i think that is great. this is of cuz my opinion of how I interpret the book. we all may read it differently. I think what it boils down to for me is to not just accept Selassie(which is the truth) but to live and act accordingly. But then we can of course reason that knowing the truth means living and acting it, because who can claim to know the truth but not live and act it, only then we really know the truth. Agree? Respect one love Rastafari Bergy

Messenger: Ras ElIjah Sent: 12/14/2004 9:17:04 PM

Tis true Dreadnut, that why Im going to purchase it. Besides the reviews on amazon.com by brethren says it look good. Its soppose to have alot of details on alot of things. Ras ElIjah

Messenger: NineMile2004 Sent: 12/15/2004 12:01:22 AM

Ras ElIjah, are u refering 2 The First Rasta?

Messenger: NineMile2004 Sent: 12/15/2004 12:03:25 AM

im planning 2 read it as well. rasta heart is a great piece as well. Respect Bergy

Messenger: Ark I Sent: 12/15/2004 12:42:48 AM

I have only read two books about RasTafarI people. RasTafarI: A Way of Life by Nicholas Tracy. And RasTafarI: Roots and Ideology by Barry Chevannes. I have looked at a few pages of a couple of other books, but I don't remember the names. What I have noticed is that the books usually reveal some things that are true about RasTafarI, but falsehoods are also written, especially by the authors who are not RasTafarI. And some other things that are written represent the opinions of one man, or a few people, but is not the opinion of the majority of RasTafarI. So just read the words and consider within yourself what is truly RasTafarI. If the I them listen to the Spirit of Jah, then you will see what is truth and what isn't. I have posted this next post of Selassie I many times, but I feel it is very important to know, so I will post it again: To be neutral is to be impartial, impartial to judge actions and policies objectively, as we see them either contributing to or detracting from the resolution of the world's problems, the preservation of peace and the improvement of the general level of man's living conditions. Thus, we may find ourselves now opposing, now supporting. now voting with, now voting against, first the East, next the West. It is the worth of the policies themselves, and not their source or sponsor, which determines the position of one who is truly neutral. This, We maintain, is the essence of non-alignment. Those who would righteously denounce one side on every major problem or issue while reserving nothing but praise for the other cannot claim to be non-aligned, nor can those whose policies are shaped for them elsewhere and who wait patiently to be instructed whether they are to be for or against be called uncommitted. RasTafarI was speaking on a international level, about agreeing or disagreeing with the policies and ways of other nations. But this advice is Good on all levels. So consider RasTafarI words when the I them read a book, or reason with another. Consider Jah words with all information that the I them see or hear. Ark I RasTafarI Haile Selassie I

Messenger: SisMenenI Sent: 12/15/2004 3:12:40 AM

For ones first coming into Rastafari, checking the Ites without being blessed with community or elders.. then reading certain books like those of the Roskinds may be uplifting. I have heard positive and negative things about "The first Rasta". On the other hand, for Rastafari whom have been trodding and are on a different Ites, these books may lack interest as they are typically a tourist's perspective of meeting Rastas. Naturally, one must be skeptical when someone writes a book on a culture that they do not identify with. Rastafari are a peculiar people... Blessed Love

Messenger: Bredda Alex Sent: 12/15/2004 5:57:10 AM

is the reasoning about Helen Lee's "the first rasta" ? Iman read this book. it's quite good for information about L.P.Howell times. and it's not a book about RastafarI, but about how InI movement developed and spread in jamaica. but it is said about this book that its informations are taken from bars and inns from jamaica, from no serious sources. and if one reads the book you sometimes can really see her (negative) opinion about this whole thing she writes about. but for only information it's quite good I'd say.

Messenger: NineMile2004 Sent: 12/15/2004 7:39:40 AM

There are no facts. only JAH is a fact. Roskinds books are good start to open eyes of people. even if he is not rasta in many eyes the main difference his his beliefs in Selassie not being god but god-like, this is how i understood his words. but the concept of one love he is teaching and accepting it as JAH word is a big right step and will help many people. most of the readers that are enlightened will then further seek JAH and possibly later accept RastafarI as god. I give big up for the Roskinds seeing much of the truth and trying to pass it on to others and teach others. Actively trying to make earth better in JAH way. it is a beginners book but it is a great book. It is very positive JAH RASTAFARI BErgy

Messenger: Ras ElIjah Sent: 12/18/2004 4:56:54 PM

I decided not to buy it, I may buy it later but at this time I do not need it on I journey. I bought Rastafari: Roots & Ideology by Barry Chevannes because I look at The First Rasta & the author said that thee talk to Mortimo Planno which may be thee truth. I purchased Rastafari: Roots & Ideology because ive always seen it at the store but for some reason never got it but I did and that author works for a education institute in the West Indies, I would be able to give more details but I am away from I house. I will purchase The First Rasta maybe next week if the store still has it, I am going to finish Rastafari: Roots & Ideology first. I have already read "The Rastafarians" and "The Kebra Nagast: The Lost Rastafarian Bible of Ethiopia & Jamaica". I read them over the summer that has passed. Both Excellent books "The Rastafarians" being more on the information on thee Rastafari from beginning to I beleive thee 1980's early 90's. And "The Kebra Nagast: The Lost Rastafarian Bible of Ethiopia & Jamaica" being more on the Spiritual side, helping I learn of livity and has stories from the author from self-experiences from Rasta's he befriended while in Jamaica doing his research. Ras ElIjah

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