The Editor, Sir:

It seems as if 17 years after DJ Buju Banton sang Boom Bye Bye, the international gay community is hell-bent on destroying everything he does. He has already apologised; he refrains from repeating any such lyrics in his songs, yet the gay community is still not satisfied. Just recently they tried desperately to attack every show that he was set to perform on in the United States.

Now gays are quick to cry out against discrimination, victimisation, and isolation, yet they refuse to forgive this man for over 17 years. How can you practise victimisation against someone and at the same time complain when it is against you?

As talented a writer as Buju Banton is, there is no doubt he could have produced many more 'wickeder' songs than Boom Bye Bye. But he did not.

Unrealistic demands

Recently, he met with the gay community in San Francisco and they tried to make unrealistic demands on him, demands such as donating all the proceeds from Boom Bye Bye to local gay group J-Flag. This is not possible and seems more like an attempt to perpetuate the strife more than to resolve it.

Many people do not condone the gay lifestyle but that is no reason to advocate the killing of gays. Gays, in the meantime, should understand that their lifestyle is contrary to what most people have been taught and they should not seek to shove it down other people's throats. We should respect everyone rights to do whatever they want as long it is in their own privacy and it is not forced on others.

I am, etc.,

ALVIN BUCHANAN

USA