"RASTA TIME: the return of Jesus Christ" by

Michele Ujut Solinas
RASTA TIME
The Return of Jesus Christ
I and I give Thanks and Praises
to the Creator Jah Rastafari
I give thanks and praises unto the Creator Jah Adonai, His
Only Begotten Son Haile Selassie and the Holy Spirit Who
lives within our hearts. Thanks to my family, all the Brothers
and Sisters I met over my life, Art, Music, Poetry and the
Plant of Wisdom (GanJah). I pray Allah, the Most Merciful,
to bless this word and all my works. Amen... M. U. Solinas
INDEX:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
-
RASTA
NO RELIGION
THE USEFULNESS OF PRAYER
KARMA
WHY DO PEOPLE SUFFER AND DIE ?
PROPHECIES AND EVENTS
HOW CAN WE SAVE THE WORLD?
PERFECT LOVE
THE DAY OF JUDGMENT
Michele Ujut Solinas
www.ujut.altervista.org
[email protected]
1 - RASTA
The term "Rasta", commonly associated with hairstyle, Marijuana and Bob
Marley the famous singer, is a contraction of the name of the last emperor
of Ethiopia, Haile Selassie Ras Tafari I. According to the so-called
"Rastafarians" this historical figure, paladin of anti-fascism and human
rights, is actually Jesus Christ in person, back to Earth to fulfill the
prophecies of'the "Apocalypse of John", the last book of the Bible.
Rasta faith is thus the historical continuation of Christianity, but differs from
it for the countless innovations that the return of the Messiah brings. If the
early Christians had sensational feelings to receive the news of God
becoming human, in this era we can see through our own eyes photographs
and videos of the Almighty Creator, we can know his work in the history of
the twentieth century and read his speeches in a clear a modern language,
which is different from the language of the typical allegorical parables of
the Gospel.
The pictures that are contained in this book we will show Christ in different
situations, while holding the machine gun to defend his empire of Ethiopia
from the Italian army of Mussolini, or playing table-tennis with his son (yes,
in His second coming he had a wife and children). It is important to point
out that Haile Selassie never claimed to be God in person, but He has
always been a humble Orthodox Christian: asked about the Rastafarians, He
said: "Who am I to disturb their belief?", without confirming nor denying His
own Divinity
Born in 1892 ("reborn" for those who consider Him as the risen Christ), His
coming marks the end of a terribile famine that had killed about a third of
the Ethiopian population. His reign, characterized by a deep interest in the
education of young people and the modernization of his ancient agricultural
nation, lasted from 1930 to 1974; then it was his disappearance, following a
communist revolution: the new dictator Mengistu Haile Mariam had him
imprisoned, but he mysteriously disappeared. Then the red government did
kill the soldiers guarding him, it persecuted his family (very reminiscent of
the biblical character of Herod the Great) and declared his death. The lack
of evidence of the emperor's death pushed the Rasta movement to
proclaim his immortality, for Jesus Christ died on the cross and rose again
two millennia ago, and no longer He has to die, but to live and reign forever.
In fact, we speak of "voluntary concealment", with the persuasion that He is
hidden from the eyes of men, in order to hand down the government of the
world to people of good will who, with the help of God the Father, will finally
achieve power and transform earth into a paradise of eternal happiness.
Meanwhile, the new messianic doctrine has continued to spread throughout
the planet thanks to musicians like Robert Nesta "Bob" Marley.
2 - NO RELIGION
Many people have asked me if Rastafari is a religion: I could answer "yes"
because our Messiah Haile Selassie is a religious person, a Christian
Orthodox, but I prefer to say "no" because it is a relationship of love
between Creator and creature. Despite the existence of various
associations, the Rasta movement is not an organized religion, and also,
following the example of Christ, the faithful often show interest in other
spiritual traditions, being considered "Ways of the Living God." In our life,
we deal with different people and each of us can get a different feeling, but
all of them are related with the same real Person: similarly, people of
different religions are connected with the same God when they pray. The
mystics of all traditions have always preached the same message of Love
for Life, but organized religions have often become a big scam and a
serious threat to world peace. They have moved away from the Faith many
men and women of good will, proposing a corrupt image of the Creator. In
this age we should not believe in God but we should know He really is: it is
not a religion, it's a relationship, an exchange of messages, a concrete total
and totalizing experience. Let we see what Jah Rastafari seh...
"The temple of the Most High begins with the human body, which houses
our life, essence of our existence. Africans are in bondage today because
they approach spirituality through Religion provided by foreign invaders
and conquerors. We must stop confusing religion and spirituality. Religion is
a set of rules, regulations and rituals created by humans which were
supposed to help people grow spiritually. Due to human imperfection
religion has become corrupt, political, divisive and a tool for power
struggle. Spirituality is not theology or ideology. It is simple a way of life,
pure and original as was given by the most high. Spirituality is a network
linking us to the most high, the universe and each other. As the essence of
our existence it embodies our culture, true identity, nationhood and
destiny."
Rasta faith raises Christianity to a scientific level, because you can convince
yourself of the divinity of Haile Selassie examining countless evidences,
signs and coincidences, showed unto us by history. However, I am not a
historian nor a scientist, and I prefer to speak first how we can actually
meet God, even in everyday life: I think it is more important to seek a
connection with the Universe rather than accumulating knowledge. In fact,
the King of Kings said that the love of God cannot be found through a series
of questions and answers. Later, in the sixth chapter "Prophecies and
Events", I will tell the tale of the Black Messiah and Rastafari Movement.
From the speech of Haile Selassie to the Mosque of Asmara, 1952:
"Both Christians and Moslems believe alike in God, spiritually, and sa God is
always with those who believe in Him, there is harmony in man who is one
in flesh, blood and soul. Therefore, Ethiopians are all one, and they do not
differ one from the other. We are all one in Our belief in God. As we rever
Him and believe in Him so do you. Christianity and Islam are not the only
religions in the world; there are many different religions. However, among
believers, there are no differences when they serve their country, and We
respect everybody's religion without partiality.
Did we not respect the Moslem, We would not have come to this place
to visit the mosque. As prayers are said in churches, the same is done in
mosques. The house of God is open and welcomes those who come with
charity. Following this principle, since as Moslems and Christians all are
loyal to Ethiopia, what has
just been said is not new.
It is well known that
during the invasion of
Ethiopia by the enemy,
there were many Moslems
and Christians who
defended their country, and
We rewarded them, not the
Moslems or Christians only,
but both. Hence, if anybody
says that differences exist
between Moslems and
Christians, that person is an
enemy of Ethiopia. We
would not have come to
your mosque if such were
the case."
3 - THE USEFULLNESS OF PRAYER
"Then did you think that We created you uselessly and that to Us you would
not be returned? So exalted is Allah , the Sovereign, the Truth; there is no
deity except Him" - Quran, Sura 23 "The Believers"
Prayer is to turn towards the Creator with thoughts, words and actions. We
can pray at any time, because the Almighty loves His creatures and He is
willing to listen to their requests and thanks: it is a great honor and a great
opportunity for us men, being weak and mortal, but having an infinite Spirit,
similar to God. If we become aware that God desires to communicate with
us, it can change our lives, revealing its meaning and purpose. Some
people, however, have misconceptions about prayer: they believe it is an
alternative to good works, an excuse for cowards or a waste of time, spent
in talking to an imaginary friend. Pray or meditation does not mean to reject
action, but to seek God's guidance in order to act correctly and with more
inspiration, receiving the help of a Master like Jesus who walks on the water
and raises the dead: the same Deity who opened the waters of Red Sea for
Moses, wants to perform a miracle even in your life, do not stop Him by
doubts. We can contact the Almighty in different ways: writing letters,
singing a song, creating a work of art, reciting sacred formulas or speaking
freely with the certainty to be listened to and loved. We can also offer a
flower, a leaf, a fruit, a stone ... I invite every human being to try these
methods to find the way that best suits their personal characteristics.
When we turn to God, let we remember to thank him for every small or
great gift we have received in our lives with a simple "Give Thanks",
because all good things come from Him. After Thanksgiving, we can ask all
the spiritual and material goods we need, but if they do not come as we
desired, we should not think we have lost the support of the Lord, whose
unfailing plan is incomprehensible to our mind: "Father, Thy will be done,
not mine," said Jesus Christ. For example, tonight I could go in a public
place to get a drink, and there I could know a beautiful girl, having a very
interesting personality: in this case I probably would speak to the Almighty
God for helping me win her. I would open my mouth or I would write a letter.
At this point, Haile Selassie can answer "I will" or "No, I have a better plan,
trust Me." In both cases, all is done for my own good, even when reality
seems to prove otherwise, the divine plan is mysterious. Remember that in
addition to pray for ourselves, we can do it for others, it is good to be
attentive to the needs of others and act accordingly. Being aware of the fact
that God created the world by Word, Sound and Power, Rastafari faith
emphasizes the vibration transmitted by music and words, so that songs
and prayers would almost become like "magic formulas", which we can use
to create " benign spells ", burning the evil demons and bless humanity.
Through prayer we can send blessings to all, friends and enemies, because
our words are of immense value in the eyes of the Creator. Thanks to
Nyabinghi sacred songs and Reggae music, the adoration of Haile Selassie I
has spread around the world, but there are Rasta artists even within other
musical genres and fields: all of them are united under the motto "Word,
Sound and Power".
No one but you can
save your soul; in your
soul relationship with
God. Therefore, always
worship with your own
heart, soul and mind
when you want to
commune with God.
Make your heart, soul
or mind your altar...
Marcus Garvey
4 - KARMA
Karma, in religions and philosophies of India, is the set of actions performed
by an individual that determine his own destiny. In this historical time,
divine justice is not entirely evident, because the Lord sends rain above the
"good" as the "bad" ones, and often He gives the worst misfortunes unto
the best people. Nevertheless, we should not necessarily wait until the
Judgment Day to begin to reap the fruits of our work, because the laws of
Karma reward and punish us according to our behavior. Positive thoughts
and gestures attract good news, but hatred, selfishness, violence and
sadness attract negative situations that will ruin our lives. When Jesus
Christ "returned to judge", He began the rebalancing of Karma, still in
progress: therefore, through successes and failures, all men and women
receive the rewards or punishments they deserve. However, no human
being is right in the sight of God, and therefore eternal salvation is not
originated from a good Karma only, but also from the Divine Mercy: the
Father forgives us by freeing us from severe karmic laws. The key to
happiness is endless desire of the happiness of others, coupled with a right
conduct and the will to enjoy life.
"One can derive more pleasure from giving than from receiving."
- Haile Selassie I
“Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the
same..” - Bible, Job 4:8
In any situation in which a human being can be found, there is an hidden
blessing: those who identify that, they would achieve success and the
ability to remain hopeful in all circumstances. Although some degree of free
will was granted to human being and other creatures, together with the
terrible consequences we all know and live, nothing can escape unto the
eye of God, even a microscopical atom of what is happening on Earth. He
set the events according to His Own pleasure, with many different
purposes: certainly, one of these aims is the desire to express His love for
humanity, radically changing the lives of those who call Him.
Often we speak of suffering as a means of atonement for the sins, bringing
us closer to God, but we must remember that Jesus Christ chose to suffer in
our place: the pain is definitely a mysterious way of approach to the Holy
Spirit, but it is better to avoid it, if possible. If tribulation comes, it does not
necessarily mean that Allah is angry with us, but surely a positive karma
chases away bad luck and transforms problems into opportunities for
growth. The Almighty Haile Selassie acts in mysterious ways and can
communicate with us in various ways: through other people, through sacred
texts like the Bible, through events, signs and coincidences of all kinds. The
Holy Quran, the holy book of Islam, often invites the reader to look for and
recognize the signs of Allah, because the one who ignores them risks his
"inner loneliness", or may not find that God dwells within us and loves us as
we are, unconditionally.
5 - WHY DO PEOPLE SUFFER AND DIE ?
Journalist Bob, listen, everyday nowadays you read about famine in
Ethiopia. What you say to that now?
Bob Great! I seh great. If yuh don't know God yuh goin' suffer and dead! No
God Noh Partial, regardless weh yuh deh pon earth. If yuh deh ah Ethiopia
inna him palace and yuh don't know him is the almighty, yuh suffer. God
noh partial I. Now, I could ah starve and suffer too, but I know Jah.
Haile Selassie said that Universe was (especially) created for humans, for
them to live in peace and happiness. So where do enmities, pain, violence,
illusions and negative experiences of the creatures come from ? They are
produced by our evil thoughts and sad and from wicked works: the events
that happen in this reality are generated by the vibrations of our thoughts
because we were made like God, but we have lost touch with our deepest
part, imprisoned in the unconscious mind, becoming slaves of our own
creative power. Everyone knows the tale of our first parents, Adam and Eve,
who ate the "forbidden fruit" disobeyed Jah, so "creating" evil, pain,
death ... but few know that the Garden of Eden was in Ethiopia, the oldest
nation Mother of the whole Mankind, and that the fruit of the tree of
Knowledge of good and evil was a fig, not an apple. The snake invited Eve
to eat it, saying that it was forbidden because eating she would become like
God, and in fact, after suffering the betrayal, the Lord says: “Behold, the
man is become as one of us, to know good and evil”. In our time, this
seemingly implausible story is considered a myth, even by many Christians,
according to which the Bible is to be interpreted allegorically; Rasta faith,
however, considers truthful even the literal meaning of the Holy Book, so
there is no place for probabilistic or unprovable theories where human
beings come from monkeys. If we trust the Bible, we find that all the
negative experiences have meaning and they are caused by abuse of the
freedom which is given by Haile Selassie: then nothing happens by chance,
we are not here by coincidence but by the will of the One who loves us,
therefore our suffering is not in vain. Who does not believe in the existence
of God does not have to worry about: he will have plenty of time to change
his mind, sooner or later all the people must meet the King of Kings. The
"belief" is in the mind, it does not give us salvation, because it is useless to
believe in Lord, if He is not involved in the affairs of our life: a dead god,
that does not intervene in our affairs, has no place in Rasta faith, where
God is not an intellectual entity or a result of abstract reasoning, but He is
the living reality we deal with every day, leading us to our final destination.
Haile Selassie is not only God: is the air we breathe, the ground we walk on,
the food we eat and, above all, the infinite Spirit that lives in every human
being. If the King lives in us, we must not look for him in heaven or in
philosophical arguments, but keep our feet on the ground.
"Man never dies. Nothing dies. Man is made of body and spirit. The spirit is
God. It is intelligence. The body of man is matter. It changes from living
matter in the man to other matter in the soil. It doesn't die in the sense of
how we understand death. It changes. When man sleeps and passes away
in the flesh he goes to earth that lives one, out of which, other men and
things are formed. All matter is related, so man is related to earth and the
earth is related to man. We eat ourselves over and over again. When we
eat the apple, the banana, the fig, the cherry, the grape; when we drink the
water, we are eating and drinking ourselves over and over again. Nothing is
lost and nothing dies. Do not be afraid of death, because, what you call
death is only change and you are still in the universe either in the spirit of
God to whom your spirit goes after the change or as matter, which goes on
forever." - Marcus Garvey
"In the vilest man, there is the Holy Spirit of God and that man cannot
destroy the Holy Spirit of God because that spirit in him is the unit of God
which cannot sin and cannot die because it is everlasting goodness. The
thing that sins in man is man's individual soul, which is his mind. When man
corrupts this mind or soul, he is called bad. He is in rebellion against the
Holy Spirit of God that is in him. " - Marcus Garvey
"Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you
rest" who can resist an invitation so full of compassion?"- Haile Selassie I
6 - PROPHECIES AND EVENTS
A: THE CHARACTER OF THE MESSIAH
B: THE PROPHECY OF MARCUS GARVEY
C: THE KINGDOM OF GOD UPON EARTH
D: THE PRINCE OF PEACE
E: THE WORK OF THE KING
F: THE BURIAL OF THE LIVING ONE
G: FALSE INFORMATION ABOUT RASTA
A: THE CHARACTER OF THE MESSIAH
In the tradition of the Old Testament, "Messiah" is the one who receives the
divine anointing as king or high priest. The term assumed a particular
meaning in indicating the Messenger of God par excellence, the "Anointed
one" who had the task to save and redeem Israel, the "Chosen People". The
expectation for the Liberator was very much alive at the time of Jesus,
recognized as the Messiah by those who were then called "Christians." They
had, however, justify the lack of fulfillment of many prophecies regarding
the messianic figure: the faithful ones were waiting for political liberation
from "Babylon", i.e. the Romans, who had not yet occurred.
The Fathers of the Church teach, in fact, that the first coming of Christ is the
priestly character and the second one is regal: in the latter, the King
Messiah must face militarily the armies of the Antichrist and rule the world
for a thousand years, at the end of which the Day of Judgement shall
manifest. If in His first advent, Jesus Christ has decided to suffer and die to
be punished in our place for our sins, in His second coming our liberation is
not only spiritual but also political, social and economic. The Rasta
movement was originated by those who recognized, in the life of Haile
Selassie and the history of the twentieth century, the fulfillment of the
prophecies about the Messiah in the Bible.
B: THE PROPHECY OF MARCUS GARVEY
If the first advent of Jesus was preceded by the preaching of John the
Baptist, for the second coming there is another extraordinary person to play
this prophetic role: the Jamaican Marcus Mosiah Garvey, a Baptist Christian
who invited black people to look back to Africa, where a wise king would be
crowned, in order to guide African people towards peace and prosperity,
defeating colonialism in all its forms. Writer, journalist and trade unionist,
the prophet Marcus spoke repatriation in Africa for the "niggers" around the
world, at a time when the "white supremacy" was indisputable fact his
magazine "The Negro World" became illegal in many colonial territories,
where the possession could be punished with death. The whole life of
Marcus Garvey was dedicated to fighting for the rights of his "race". Invited
every black literate to read more books can exploiting spare time, claimed
maternity Africa from which the first humans, he founded the ferry
company "Black Star Steamship for transportation of people" of color "and
was long in the United States founded in Harlem a sort of "government in
exile" of Africans. Resent at home following a conviction for tax evasion,
died of a heart attack in 1940. Some Rastafarians, called "Bobo Shanti",
Marcus recognize in one of the Three Persons of the Trinity, but his death
proves that it was not God to worship, but he was a prophet testified to
someone bigger than him: the ruler of Ethiopia Haile Selassie.
The Black Man has a greater claim to the Cross than all other men. If it is a
symbol of Christ's triumph, then the Negro should share in the triumph
because Simon the Cyrenian bore the Cross. Simon the Cyrenian shared in
the original triumph. The shortest prayer we may give to God, even if we
never pray otherwise, is to make the sign of the cross, and say at the same
time, "In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost". It is a
powerfull prayer. It supersedes all others. If the words are repeated
sincerely and earnestly from the heart, God answers that prayer. Do it
always." - Marcus Garvey
C: THE KINGDOM OF GOD UPON EARTH
The Jamaican preacher Leonard Howell meditated the prophecy of Marcus
Garvey, and he recognized Haile Selassie as King Messiah. He also
elaborated the first elements of Rasta doctrine, expressing them in his book
"The Promised Key". The titles the Emperor of Ethiopia received together
with His Crown on 2nd of November 1930, clearly resemble those of Christ
the King ("Elect of God", "Conqueror Lion of the Tribe of Judah", "Power of
the Trinity" ...). The Empress was crowned besides Her Husband, during the
same ceremony - and Rastafarians announced the beginning of the earthly
kingdom of God and His Bride. I would like to quote the speech of a rasta
chaplain, he delivered time ago:
The Kingdom of God becomes materialized, ceasing to be a merely
theological and celestial entity, instead taking its body in history and
governing the flesh and the matter. [...] His Majesty came to announce to
us the advent of a hard famine, which is the final judgment [...]when His
Majesty will reappear and we will be in front of Him, it will be only through
the richness of good works that we will be able to face His sight. Those who
are dispersing their existence in vanity and superficiality, instead, will be
consumed by desperation of spirit. Let us pray so that His manifestation will
not catch us unprepared. To Him are due the Honour, the Glory and the
Kingdom, world without end, Amen."
D: THE PRINCE OF PEACE
A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but
as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the
anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. And ye now therefore
have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your
joy no man taketh from you. And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily,
verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he
will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye
shall receive, that your joy may be full. These things have I spoken unto
you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you
in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father". Bible, Gospel of
John, 16, 21-25
"
The African Messiah Tafari Makonnen was born in 1892. Since youthful age
He showed a great love for books and culture, He was a diligent and curious
child, who did not like to waste too much time riding horses or devoting
himself to various games and amusements; sometimes he was even
punished because he wanted to stay in school, when the lesson time was
over, thinking the work assigned by his teacher was not enough. Both his
parents were descents of the Davidic-Solomonic Dynasty, but would
suggest his own future rise to power, because of his geneological distance
from the ruling branch of the family. The education that Tafari received
included both the culture of his country and the "Western" learning from
European missionaries; with such a training and a very precocious
intelligence, He began his political career at a young age. When He was 13
he became the governor of a region called Gara Mulata, and three years
later he would judge in the courts, attracting the attention of the emperor
on His extraordinary talent. At the age of 18, He became one of the most
powerful men in the country and acquired the government on the province
of Harar; then He was elected as "heir apparent" by virtue of his proven
integrity, following the defeat of Lij Yasu, who had ruled oppressively and
attempted to "islamize" Ethiopia by force.
At that time, the future king started to promote the modernization of the
country, calling the hostility of the conservatives individuals who saw
innovations as devilish works; Tafari took inspiration from the knowledge
and experiences of other peoples to lead the nation towards progress,
having good remembrance of his many trips abroad. In 1923 he gained
ethiopian entry into the League of Nations, and during the following year He
also visited Italy and the Vatican. In 1930 Ras Tafari ("Head to be feared")
was crowned with the name "Haile Selassie" ("Power of the Trinity") and
after six months He granted the first written constitution of Ethiopia,
establishing a parliament and limiting the imperial prerogatives. The
Messiah then decided to found the University of Addis Ababa and to gave
his own palace for the academic activities, meanwhile Rasta movement was
growing on Earth, identifying the King as Jesus Christ, come to bring peace
to the world and to improve the standard of life of the poor.
The Bible states that the Lord should come back with a new name, a name
that began to distinguish Rasta people from the rest of Christianity, which
still awaits the return of the Savior. Ethiopian Christianity does not present
excessive pagan influence, because it was preceded by the Jewish faith;
thus, she has maintained her ties with the roots, as even today Ethiopian
people use to respect Sabbath rest and to abstain from pork and impure
foods. Despite this deep traditional bond, Haile Selassie abolished slavery,
an institution of biblical-Jewish heritage, and wrote a new civil and criminal
law to replace the one previously adopted by the Solomonic Dynasty, which
was providing for very severe and violent penalties, like torture and
amputation of parts of the body; in any case, the old code has remained the
main source of inspiration for the drafting of the new one. The Bible says
that the scepter shall not depart from Judah (the tribe of Israel whence
Haile Selassie descends), until the Messiah would come in majesty and
power: in fact, after the "deposition" of Haile Selassie I there has not been
any other emperor, but a communist regime and then a republic. The
Kingdom of Christ lasted from 1930 to 1974, but it was interrupted by five
years of exile, the King spent near London during the Italian invasion. The
"Duce" was acting in continuity with the Roman Empire tradition: on this
occasion (1935) Rastafarians recognized in the Fascist State the "Roman
Empire Newly Risen", which would have to fight against the King of Kings,
according to the prophecies and the spirit of the Gospel. They also saw
Benito Mussolini as the 'man of iniquity' that would occupy the temple God:
St. Paul spoke about him in the Second Letter to the Thessalonians.
Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and
by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or
be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that
the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that
day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of
sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself
above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth
in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. Holy Bible, Second
Letter of Saint Paul to Thessalonians, 2
The Italian army invaded Ethiopia and violated international agreements,
using mustard-gas and hitting the civilian population even far from the
conflict. The Emperor decided to fight at the head of his army, in
accordance with the prophecies about the Warrior Messiah, but afterwards
He had to go abroad to seek help from other powers. Haile Selassie has
always stressed the importance of the dialogue between nations, in order to
maintain world peace, but his appeal to the League of Nations remained
almost unheard, and the international community only decided to enforce
mild economical sanctions against Italy: once again Jesus Christ spoke unto
mankind in vain, despite His explict and prophetical warning about the
World War II.
I, Haile Selassie I, Emperor of Ethiopia, am here today to claim that justice
which is due to my people, and the assistance promised to it eight months
ago, when fifty nations asserted that aggression had been committed in
violation of international treaties. There is no precedent for a Head of State
himself speaking in this assembly. But there is also no precedent for a
people being victim of such injustice and being at present threatened by
abandonment to its aggressor. Also, there has never before been an
example of any Government proceeding to the systematic extermination of
a nation by barbarous means, in violation of the most solemn promises
made by the nations of the earth that there should not be used against
innocent human beings the terrible poison of harmful gases. It is to defend
a people struggling for its age-old independence that the head of the
Ethiopian Empire has come to Geneva to fulfil this supreme duty, after
having himself fought at the head of his armies. I pray to Almighty God that
He may spare nations the terrible sufferings that have just been inflicted on
my people, and of which the chiefs who accompany me here have been the
horrified witnesses. It is my duty to inform the Governments assembled in
Geneva, responsible as they are for the lives of millions of men, women and
children, of the deadly peril which threatens them, by describing to them
the fate which has been suffered by Ethiopia. It is not only upon warriors
that the Italian Government has made war. It has above all attacked
populations far removed from hostilities, in order to terrorize and
exterminate them. At the beginning, towards the end of 1935, Italian aircraft hurled upon my armies bombs of tear-gas. Their effects were but
slight. The soldiers learned to scatter, waiting until the wind had rapidly
dispersed the poisonous gases. The Italian aircraft then resorted to mustard
gas. Barrels of liquid were hurled upon armed groups. But this means also
was not effective; the liquid affected only a few soldiers, and barrels upon
the ground were themselves a warning to troops and to the population of
the danger. It was at the time when the operations for the encircling of
Makalle were taking place that the Italian command, fearing a rout,
followed the procedure which it is now my duty to denounce to the world.
Special sprayers were installed on board aircraft so that they could
vaporize, over vast areas of territory, a fine, death-dealing rain. Groups of
nine, fifteen, eighteen aircraft followed one another so that the fog issuing
from them formed a continuous sheet. It was thus that, as from the end of
January, 1936, soldiers, women, children, cattle, rivers, lakes and pastures
were drenched continually with this deadly rain. In order to kill off
systematically all living creatures, in order the more surely to poison waters
and pastures, the Italian command made its aircraft pass over and over
again. That was its chief method of warfare.The very refinement of
barbarism consisted in carrying ravage and terror into the most densely
populated parts of the territory, the points farthest removed from the scene
of hostilities. The object was to scatter fear and death over a great part of
the Ethiopian territory. These fearful tactics succeeded. Men and animals
succumbed. The deadly rain that fell from the aircraft made all those whom
it touched fly shrieking with pain. All those who drank the poisoned water
or ate the infected food also succumbed in dreadful suffering. In tens of
thousands, the victims of the Italian mustard gas fell. It is in order to
denounce to the civilized world the tortures inflicted upon the Ethiopian
people that I resolved to come to Geneva. None other than myself and my
brave companions in arms could bring the League of Nations the
undeniable proof. Haile Selassie, Appeal to the League of Nations, June
1936.
E: THE WORK OF THE KING
"Concerning the Emperor, He had an irreproachable conduct during the
battle. He has always been under the artillery fire and continuously
exposed to danger. Finally, He even reached the plain and personally
machine-gunned the enemy, causing terrible effects. " Colonel Konovalov,
russian volunteer fighting by the ethiopian side during the fascist war
1936/1941
With the outbreak of World War II, in 1939, efforts were finally undertaken
to liberate Ethiopia from the Italian regime, spearheaded by the British
during the East African Campaign. Joined by selected units of the Ethiopian
military, this liberation army came to be known as the Gideon Force and
was instrumental in the fight to retake the Ethiopian homeland. By 1942,
the Italians had surrendered and were forced to acknowledge the renewed
sovereignty of Ethiopia, with Haile Selassie returning to the capital city of
Addis Ababa. Having found little solidarity in the League of Nations,
Selassie became a major proponent of the United Nations, with its
increased provisions for international security, and secured Ethiopia's
position as a founding member in 1948.
Over the following years, Selassie continued his quest to modernize
Ethiopia through reform while also improving his nation's foreign affairs and
international recognition. In the 1960s Selassie led the Organization of
African Unity, predecessor to the modern African Union. With the goal of
creating solidarity between the independent states of the African continent,
Selassie believed that a unified voice would strengthen the people of Africa.
Although Selassie tried to establish the organization as more than just an
ideological entity, the organization was left with little authority or actual
power without the backing of a military force.
While working with the international community, Selassie was also focused
on improving the welfare of his people at home. Although his efforts to
break the nobility's hold on land ownership were met with limited success,
the initiative sparked a movement that carried on past his reign. Reforms
were also made to provide greater access to educational facilities, while
economic programs ensured a just system of taxation. Despite the goodwill
generated by these domestic programs, Selassie's efforts to increase his
own authority through modifications to the constitution resulted in an
increasingly visible dissident movement.
Late in the 1960s, Marxist ideologies took root in Ethiopia, and as the
people suffered through a famine and drought in the early 1970s, Selassie's
popularity dwindled. An economic crisis that led to soaring inflation would
be the final straw...". Civilization V CIVILOPEDIA
F: THE BURIAL OF THE LIVING ONE
Journalist: "Your Majesty, you are sending thousands of ethiopian young
people to study in URSS or in other sovietic countries. Are you not afraid
they would return full of communist doctrine to spread it throughout your
kingdom and hurt its institutions ? "
Haile Selassie: "No, I am not afraid, because it is right for them to receive
learning and training. What will be after, will be... "
"Following a terrible drought and the global economic recession, the
Ethiopian economy experienced a physiological weakening, which
determined the rising of Soviet propaganda and riots among students and
urban citizens. The refusal of the King to violently stop that movement and
leave it freedom of growth, quickly became fatal to the stability of the
country, which in 1974 was hit by a military coup. The rebellious soldiers
arrested and deposed the Sovereign, abolished all civil rights and
introduced Ethiopia within Russian sphere: they were guilty of a terrible
genocide, about one and a half million of Ethiopians. In the same year, the
ruling military board (Derg) announced the death of the King, but they
never showed the body, nor the place of burial, nor any pictures or video.
This event is still shrouded in mystery. Rather than passing away, Rastafari
religious movement has since multiplied and strengthened, particularly
thanks to its deep musical tradition (reggae - regal), flourishing even
outside the African world. Rasta are now keepers of the history and
example of the Emperor, that they consider essential for the establishment
of a divine kingdom of justice, peace and universal freedoms. "
from www.rastafari-regna.com
Regarding the death of the Emperor, the corpse was never shown and
autopsy had never been made. A funeral was held, following the finding of
certain bones under the Palace, but without DNA analysis: according with
the opinion of some Westerners scholars, the measure of the bones was too
large. The 200 soldiers guarding Haile Selassie were killed, and the same
fate befell many members of his ethnic group, the Amhara, during an
attempted genocide. Even the version of a bad prostate surgery was denied
by the doctor of the King. All these "coincidences" have strengthened the
conviction of Rasta believers, that the Messiah is still alive and simply
hidden.
"Jah Jah Live children yeah Fool say in their heart Rasta your God is dead
But I and I know,Jah Jah Dread it shall be Dreader Dread Jah Live children
yeah" Bob Marley, "Jah Live"
G: FALSE INFORMATION ABOUT RASTA
Now it is time to point out some false information circulating about Rasta,
some stereotypes that have become very well known.
"Rasta must smoke Marijuana" (FALSE INFORMATION)
The use of psychoactive flowers of Cannabis as an aid in meditation /
prayer, and it is certainly present in Rastafari tradition, as in the JudeoChristian and Islamic ones. However, the use of that substance is the result
of a completely optional personal choice. The movement has always used it
as a therapeutic sacrament and medicine, but not every individual would
take it for spiritual purposes. Indeed, its abuse is warmly condamned,
especially at a young age.
"Rasta has locks and cannot cut his hair" (FALSE INFORMATION)
The "dreadlocks" or "dreads" ("Jata" in Hindi, or mistakenly called "Rasta")
are formed tangling the hair on themselves, and can be obtained in several
ways, one of which is not to comb for a long time: in this way, we would
produce knots which are impossible to dissolve. They are a symbol of
Rastafari movement but not all the faithful ones bear such hairstyle, that
usually comes from a biblical optional vow called "Nazarite": it imposes to
refrain from meat, alcool, grapes and all its products; to cut not the hair and
avoid any contact with corpses.
”All Rasta people are vegetarians" (FALSE INFORMATION)
The Universe was primarily created for Man and Woman, but not even one
of the animals is forgotten by God, and it is therefore right to respect them
as much as possible. The meat industry forced many animals to live as
items in dramatic conditions and to lead a
life of unimaginable pain: hence, many Rasta chose a meat-free diet.
However, the Bible speaks about the consumption of meat and God
prescribes to eat certain species of animals and a method of slaughter that
makes them "pure", by invoking the name of the Lord and producing
complete bleeding: while Jews, Muslims and Orthodox Christians Ethiopians
continue to treat meat in such way (kosher/halal), Catholic Christians and
many others have totally forgotten these "customs". According with the
Holy Scriptures, evil spreads on Earth through the consumption of meat,
and only after Noah and the deluge God allowed to eat it; the destiny of
mankind is to return to their original vegetarian / vegan diet, but Rasta can
theorically eat any food, even impure, if they have reason to. Nevertheless,
almost all believers eat only vegetables, preferably self-produced, and call
their lifestyle "I-Tal " (Vital).
"Rasta are not Christians" (FALSE INFORMATION)
This statement is often used to distinguish RastafarI from the previous
Christian tradition, and to report that it has been corrupted by the passage
of time. Nevertheless, Rasta are Ethiopian Orthodox Christians even if only
a part of them attend the Ethiopian Church. The same royal title "Haile
Selassie" means Power of the Trinity, and therefore expresses the
incomprehensible Christian concept of three persons in one deity: Father,
Son and Holy Spirit.
"Rasta refuse to receive modern medical treatment" (FALSE
INFORMATION)
Despite a certain distrust against mainstream medicine and a preference
for natural remedies, it is not forbidden for Rasta to seek modern
treatment, especially if one is in danger of life. That rumor circulates
because Bob Marley refused this kind of medical care before dieing (as far
as it is known), but it is a personal matter and not the application of a
universal religious precept.
"Rasta doctrine says Haile Selassie is not Jesus Christ (the Son),
but the Father" (FALSE INFORMATION)
This statement is mainly supported by the EACIB mansion (Bobo ashanty)
and considered unacceptable by many other Rastafarians. Bobo people,
marked by a quite monastic lifestyle, believe that all three persons of the
Trinity are incarnated, and not only the Son as Christians and Rasta usually
think. Bobo Shanty worship their leader / priest Prince Emmanuel Charles
Edwards, considering Him as Jesus Christ, Haile Selassie as God the Father
and the prophet Marcus Garvey as the Holy Spirit. However, Charles
Edwards is dead and his disciples have waited a resurrection that never
happened, and also Marcus Garvey, who gave birth to Rasta movement by
his prophecies, lost for a short time his trust in Haile Selassie, terming Him
"a coward" when He retreated into exile in England during the fascist
aggression. His incredulity towards Rastafari, whose life stands in a unique
parallel with the ministry of Jesus, corresponds to the behaviour of John the
Baptist, who after recognizing the Messiah began to doubt and sent two
disciples to ask him if he was the expected Saviour or he had to wait for
someone else.
7 - HOW CAN WE SAVE THE WORLD ?
" But, alas, it is also true that the shadow of the Evil One is floating over the
earth, even if only to render more deserving the efforts of the wise.
It happens that ambitious men succumb to temptation and lead peoples
towards crime and desolation. And owing to the violations of the laws of the
international society, owing to those repeated aggressions, of which your
illustrious President spoke to you recently, the treaties which guarantee to
every people security and peace lose their character. The councils of peace
vacillate and the noble institutions are baffled.
It is the result of twenty centuries of Christian civilisation which threaten to
fall to pieces.
Then it will be the return to the law of the jungle, the return to barbarism.
In order that the work of evil may not triumph again over this redeemed
humanity, all peace-loving peoples must rally together for the reestablishment of right and peace.
It is not only war that can stop war. Men of goodwill, conscious of their
mission, and strengthened by the support of free peoples, can yet save this
precious treasure, peace, and stop war. They can reconstruct where war
destroys and desolates.
Happy Christmas, Oh American people; and please remember in your
prayers those weak and oppressed peoples who have turned their confident
gaze towards the star-spangled banner of the land of liberty, as if to discern
the star announcing redemption and peace..” - Haile Selassie I
Jesus Christ has already returned, but now we do not see His kingdom as
fully manifested; at the contrary, inequality continues to reign, poverty and
violence are the daily bread of many people, men and women are lost in
the vanity of world affairs and do not seek eternal life, nor trust in God
because they have never seen Him. In short, if the Messiah would have to
show his power, "conquer the world" and ensure respect for human rights,
then many prophecies remain to be fulfilled yet. Bob Marley said that Jah
will inspire the masses, creating a movement that will liberate the planet
from every oppressor, but the political, economic, social and environmental
impact is so dramatic that it seems unattainable; moreover, even the
spiritual and psychological reality and of the individuals must be sanctified
by the Savior, but for now we do not live in a world of ever happy and never
sad people. Meditating on this situation, we must remember that the
Creator lives beyond space and time, and His supposed slowness in acting
is actually a strategy to leave more time to repent and bring remedy, as
explained by St. Paul in the Bible.
This is not the era of Christian martyrs, despite the persecutions suffered by
many Rastafarians and the massacre of Ethiopians made by the Italian
army, we can say that in this new era the "honest" person no longer has to
suffer injustice and death, because the Lord will make him powerful to
defend from enemies. "Turn the other cheek" and "forgive 70 times 7" does
not mean giving up all forms of self-defense and dignity: in fact, if the
suffering Christ is symbolized by the Lamb, the Lion (of the tribe of Judah)
now represents Jesus Christ as Risen, who defeated death and defends His
own people with arms, while preferring diplomacy and the search for
mutual understanding between adversaries. We often hear that Jesus'
kingdom is not of this world, referring to certain statements of the Same,
but this should not be conceived as a denial of concrete political and
material liberation from evil, which is equally foretold in the Scriptures. For
example, poverty should be "almost" abolished, becoming the distinctive
sign of those who have chosen the ascetic life, without being forced by
anyone to live in such conditions. No matter how the current situation is
running for the human race, all "millenarian" Christians (like Gioacchino da
Fiore and Dante Alighieri, the favorite poet of Haile Selassie) await
perfection on Earth before the "end of time" and the Day of Judgement: the
physical presence of Jesus shall reign for 1,000 years (symbolically and /or
actually), according to the Revelation / Apocalypse of John:
"And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto
them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of
Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast,
neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in
their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But
the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished.
This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the
first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall
be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years."
Bible, Revelation of John 20,4-6
It's deep conviction of every Rasta faithful that Haile Selassie's speeches
contain, in part explicitly and in part implicitly, the solution to any individual
or collective problem. Therefore, who desires to know how to save
humanity, should listen to them.
"And the disbelievers planned, but Allah planned. And Allah is the best of
planners."
Quran, Sura III: Âl 'Imrân (The Family of Imran), v.54
" We have not limited Our education programme to what has already been
achieved, on the contrary, we are doing all We can to open thousands of
additional schools all over the Empire. Preparation is well under way for the
opening of a large University at Addis Ababa.
Education, work and diligence are the main foundations of our national
existence. We call upon all Ethiopians to send their children to the nearest
school, for, it is suicide and a crime against the responsibility which God
places on all parents not to educate one's own children.
The catastrophe which was brought about by human hands during the past
years (World War II) can be avoided in the future by religion and hope in
God which should be in the heart of the people. And this can be achieved
by education which if not borne by the youth, the effort which is made for
peace will be in vain.
We hope that at the Conference of the Peace which will be held in the near
future those who will be responsible shall be inspired with the profound
idea of justice towards human cause and human rights.." Haile Selassie.
The individual needs to find a role in society and to offer his own
contribution: the situation would be better if a minimum of economic
security would be guaranteed unto each one, so that all may be able to
develop interests other than their own material needs, and they can feel
part of a nation and think of the common good. It is impossible to take
charge of all the existing problems, but men and women who invoke God
will be guided by angels and they will find their task, like millions of ants
carrying a drop of water each to put out a fire. While I face these issues, I
remember that the laptop I am using to transcribe this book is "covered in
blood" because, most likely, some of its materials were extracted by
children-slaves in Congo, where the bloodiest armed conflict since the
Second World War is going on; later, it has been assembled in a factory
where chinese laborers work under inhumane conditions, often looking for
suicide. Then I realize to have a privileged position in the divine plan, and I
thank the Creator, writing against the system through this tool, provided by
the system itself, so that Satan the Devil could fall into his trap he had
prepared for us sinners. Haile Selassie is the one who offered protection and
military training to "the freedom fighters" like Nelson Mandela: He will have
no difficulty to give us new leaders, capable to determine the most radical
change.
If Christ has already returned, everything is possible. Mankind will know an
era of justice and collective happiness, but only if they recognizes the value
of every sentient being and his rights: we must understand that, as the
Gospel says, "Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten
before God?"; we have to look at the world through the eyes of the Creator of
all universes. So no one will feel useless or exploited, because everyone will
remember that our names are already written in the sky since the dawn of
time, that at any time someOne is watching us, He helps us with interest
and understanding, like a parent. If the Almighty allows humans to
experiment all kinds of crimes and suffering, it is not for sadism, but to see
His children ripen and mature, making all the mistakes they need to reach
the Final Destination. The disciples of Rastafari work in view of this
"progress": even Wikipedia clearly illustrates their position:
"They profess the political precepts the King has given to them, thus
completing the historical revelation. They believe, therefore, in
international morality guided by the principle of collective security, selfdetermination of peoples, equality of rights, non-interference, and
recognition of a supranational order that rejects war, for the peaceful
settlement of disputes and the resolution of common problems,
institutionally governed by the UN. They believe in the necessity of building
liberal and democratic political systems, based on the defence of human
rights and civil, economic, spiritual and cultural freedom, thus rejecting any
totalitarian ideology, that would absorb the human soul, being an exclusive
possession of God; they believe also in the need of a socially engaged
state, that does not merely guarantee freedom in negative way, but would
guide and educate mankind to respect their fellow men and the Lord. "
08 - PERFECT LOVE
"Man's egoistic motives and his selfish desire to pursue exclusively his own
individual interests, thus failing in this God-given task of following the goal
of the unity of all, witness to the feebleness of human nature, and
constitute the major obastacle for the unity of all Christians towards which
we strive."
"Our admiration for the Creator’s handiwork should not be limited to those
things He has provided us with for our daily needs, but should include all
that is good and beautiful. It is these tender feelings of deep and silent
admiration evoked from our hearts by the beauties of creation that should
find adequate expression in the fine arts."
Haile Selassie
Humans were created to love: if we do not love anyone or anything we
waste our short life. Being made in the image of Jesus, we try to emulate
his perfect, selfless and actual love, but it is impossible to do the same: the
Messiah has never sinned, even with a word, to be a universally valid
example of righteous conduct.
God loves, and does not pretend to be immediately returned, leaving to her
children the time they need to understand that they canmnot renounce to
His help. Often He abandon His
children among dangers and hardships, but He has compassion and at the
same time He is an amused spectator of all our events, because he knows
the future, he knows the happy end in which sometimes it is difficult to
hope.
"What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou
visitest him?"
Bible, Psalm 8,4
The Rastafarians have developed a concept that summarizes the unity of
the creatures under the fatherhood of God: instead of saying "I" or "We",
they often say "I and I", thus evoking a spirit of unification. Feeling part of a
single body, the body of Christ, they love each person, knowing that Jesus
died on the cross for it, they pray for their enemies and rejoice in the
successes of others instead of envy. This is the way that leads to success,
and it is in fact full of obstacles.
09 - THE JUDGEMENT DAY
The Bible and the Qur'an often speaks about the Judgment Day, the last day
of human history as we know it. At the end of time, the Creator will call
back to life all the dead to judge them. What emotions will we feel during
the 'encounter with God'? How could we react? Certainly, those who wanted
to meet the Lord while they were alive will rejoice at first, but everyone will
fear and tremble when they will be called to appear in front of Haile
Selassie. At that point the test for each person will speak: we will explain
ourselves to God as we acted and criticize our behavior, we can not lie
because it is impossible to deceive the Truth in person. "Who has done even
an atom's weight of good will see it, and anyone who has done even an
atom's weight of evil shall see it." We will have the impression of having
lived on earth a few days or a few hours, finding ourselves unexpectedly
to account for every action great or small, forced to suddenly be lawyers of
ourselves. At the end of the "trial", the wicked one will be cast into the
furnace of hell, where he will suffer endlessly, according to God's Will; those
who will be forgiven shall dwell in gardens, where rivers shall flow as full of
fine wine, the men who served and feared Allah will receive beautiful brides
and their every wish will be realized.
Humans will return to enjoy the company of God, who will forever be
present among them in spirit and body, through the Messiah. It will be just
the beginning of eternal happiness for all men, women and animals on
Earth. It's a promise that seems too good to be true, in fact prophetic
characters like Moses, Jesus, Muhammad or St. Paul have worked hard to be
believed, even when called on the people to recognize the concrete signs of
God's presence and His sovereignty over all the creation. He is not an
intellectual abstract item, but it is the reality in its totality, the Supreme
Person who rules the course of events and knows all our thoughts: this life
is a test, a trial, but also - and above all - a free gift, a manifestation of the
creative love of Jah Rastafari. Countless people have decided to bet on the
existence of God, as Blaise Pascal the French philosopher invited to do, and
this would grant two things: if you win you win everything, if you lose you
do not lose anything ... it is better to bet something finite (this life) if there
is an infinite prize.
AUTHOR:
Michele Solinas, a.k.a. Ujut, born in 1992, is Rasta writer, artist and priest of Legnano (Milano). He is
dedicated to Rap, Reggae and Dancehall music, between writings and live jams.
INFORMATION AND CONTACTS:
[email protected] or
www.ujut.altervista.org
www.wisdomtreemusic.altervista.org
COVER:
Selam Semrete Selassie
LAYOUT AND REVIEW:
Alberto Cavaleri a.k.a. Rede
Freely inspired by the Holy Spirit
I and I give Thanks and Praises to the Creator Jah
Rastafari
I thank and praise the Creator Adonai Jah, Haile Selassie His
Son, the Holy Spirit who lives in our hearts, my family, all the
brothers and sisters that I met in my life, Art, Music, Poetry
and the plant of Wisdom (ganjah). I ask Allah to bless this
work and all my works. Amen