[rface]

Dateline: April 1966 - Time Magazine

Thus last week did Haile Selassie, Emperor of Ethiopia, Lion of Judah, King of Kings and Elect of God, begin a week's visit to the three tiny Negro countries of Trinidad-Tobago, Jamaica and Haiti. .......

At Selassie's second stop, in Kingston, Jamaica, the airport was mobbed by 2,000 members of a minority Negro cult called the Rastafarians, who worship Selassie as God and want the Jamaican government to send them "home" to Ethiopia. Prrime Minister Sir Alexander Bustamante, 82, has discouraged such repatriation, saying wryly: "We must protect them. They would just get out there in the jungle and be trampled by elephants and eaten by the lions." Undiscouraged the Rastas showed up at the airport waving placards reading "Hail to the Lord Anointed" and chanting "Selassie is Christ" and "Welcome to our God and King." Somewhat taken aback, Selassie was quickly bundled into a waiting car and rushed to a reception, where he observed politely that he had found the welcoming demonstration "beyond my expectations."

[Citizen James]

"there are millions of Christians throughout the world, your Imperial Majesty, who regard you as the reincarnation of Jesus Christ.

Selassie's answer: "I had heard of that idea. I also met certain Rastafarians. I told them clearly that 'I am a man,' that 'I am Mortal,' and that 'I would be replaced by the oncoming generation, and that they should never make a mistake in assuming or pretending that the human being is emanated from a deity.'"

They wont even listen to their own God's instructions, what does that tell you?

[LauraleeBraswell]

They are harmless, Pot heads are just too high to pose a threat to anyone.

[cyborg]

rasta ping

[Mears]

Thanks for posting this. I had no idea that The Rastafarians were followers of Haile Selassie.

[fortress]

In the early 70's I went to a Bob Marley concert here in Portland. I just liked his music, but didn't know much about Rastafarians and we were greeted by people carrying signs: to beware of false prophets.
I had no clue at that time that he really was one (a false prophet)
BTW the music was great, but the air was quite heavy there.
Rein

[Coleus]

What are these Rastafarians about? I see them everywhere with their dreadlocks.

there's some tech guy I see on NBC whose wearing them, I think they are fake and are sewn on.

[SMARTY]

Haile Selassie was wonderful when he spoke at the UN. I saw the film of that speech and it was touching and powerful speech. He was an elegant little man who was dignified in defeat. He knew what he was talking about too.

[Constantine XIII]

The Emperor did in fact discourage the Rastas. He specifically charged the head of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church with the task of evangelizing them. :)