January 30, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.
Why is Collie Buddz used to promote Bermuda abroad?
His very name sends the message out that marijuana, though illegal, is acceptable
I began to thumb through the pages. I figured out that this magazine is certainly not about Bermudians but much more about who is in Bermuda and what they do in Bermuda. I reached page 34. Yes, I knew I recognized that young man. Mr. Collie Buddz. Once again, he is being highlighted as a Bermudian star.
James 1:8 - A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
Perhaps, I am really missing something here. In an era when we are trying to teach and train our youth about the importance of education and clean living, we highlight a man whose songs speak the total opposite of that which we desire to instill in our children.
Bermuda, we are experiencing unstable times. The economy is unstable, as we begin to now feel the pinch and the punch of the American recession. The educational system is unstable as we try and figure out how we can stimulate the minds of our children away from frivolous things and towards far more beneficial things. Our streets are unstable as we see a record number of victims to road accidents and road fatalities. Our political system is unstable, as many cannot tell the difference between the policies of one party from the other.
In short, Bermuda is unstable and therefore a double-minded society. We preach one thing and permit another thing. We want our youth to respect themselves and others and then we promote a person who promotes that which we desire the youth to stay away from.
To my knowledge:
The use of marijuana is illegal.
Persons can be arrested and jailed for marijuana use.
Persons, who are caught using or selling marijuana near schools, stand to receive a harsher punishment than others.
Marijuana is not healthy.
Bermuda, if marijuana is so bad (and it is), why do we highlight and promote someone who esteems the use of this drug? How many families in Bermuda are yet suffering due to the ravages of this drug? How many of our citizens are being controlled by the consequences of using this drug? How many of our children have no parent around because of the effects of this drug.
In spite of all this, we promote (spend tax-dollars) making more visible a young man whose very stage name smacks of the very thing we say we desire to rid the island of. Have we gotten to the point now, where the "gateway" drug of marijuana is now no big thing?
How hypocritical we are. We will arrest you for possession, but promote you for your talent. Bermuda, we cannot have it both ways. How hurtful it is to see this advertisement in this magazine. Can it mean that tourists (who may listen to his songs) may think we are a society that is truly unstable?
Bermuda, I have come to the conclusion that we cannot expect anyone to truly operate with integrity, if they do not have a divine relationship with God. I am disappointed. Why aren't schools crying out about this? Why aren't our radio stations boycotting this "star"? Why has the Department of Tourism chosen to highlight this young man?
Let me be clear. I believe that a person's ability to sing and play an instrument is a beautiful thing. I believe that all gifts are ultimately from God. However, how we choose to use the gift is a personal choice.
As much as our children may not want to study and learn, believe this, our children will learn that because singing about an illegal drug is acceptable and honoured by leaders of this country they have the right to indulge in the use of this drug. We must teach our children right from wrong, and not about shades of grey.
Leaders of Bermuda, what are we doing? These times are already unstable enough, should we now put our hands towards making them more unstable, or supporting that which makes these times unstable?
Churches, we need to cry aloud and spare not. We are representatives of God and must aim to hold up a godly standard. This will not be easy and we will not gain "brownie points", but we are accountable to God. Our words may fall on deaf ears in this earth realm, but God will be well pleased with our stand. Respice finem.
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