Should Bob Marley be made a national hero of Jamaica?

Question

Most people outside of Jamaica think that he IS officially a national hero, but he is NOT. The award is mostly given to former politicians and civil rights people - (Marcus Garvey, Norman Manley) - and people who died hundreds of years ago.

Do you think Bob shoudl be a Jamaican National Hero? Do you think his face should be on the next Jamaican paper currency? Why?

Answer 1

YES he is a legend his music will never fade out everyone loves a bit of bob marley's music !

Answer 2

Personally.......Naaaah.

Bob Marley wasn't the only one that put reggae music on the international market....It's just that he got more credit for it. Look at Peter Tosh, for example. Mark you, I like that he sings the songs about society, lifting up yourself and love, and there was that concert he had to try to bring peace between the two major political parties, but aside from that he didn't really do much. I don't remember learning about him leading any rebellions, fighting for people's rights or starting any movement for the people. I could be wrong, though. Yes, he did it in his music, but it was a very passive approach. Let me just make clear, though, that I really Love Bob Marley's music. If the majority of Jamaicans want him to be a hero, why not?

Concerning notes: if they decide to take Michael Manley's face off the thousand dollar note and put his, I wouldn't have a problem. But I personally don't want to see a Jamaican note Over 1 thousand.

*** add*** I never said He didn't do any work, you know. I respect the fact that he did all this but at the end of the day, just like the politicians, money went in his pocket for all the hard work he did. I respect him for the fact that he didn't sing about guns and war and "marrow" like the popular artistes of today, but it was his career, never the less, and what is a career for but earn dollars in the long run? Peter Tosh wasn't a one hit. He, in fact, along with the other Wailers helped Bob Marley to get his fame worldwide until he went solo. They were known as "The Wailers" in the 1960s, before they were discovered by the international producers. I remember watching a documentary once where it was speculated that Bob Marley was made the lead of the band because of how he looked - fair skinned, therefore allowing the Europeans to relate to him better. The reason I refer to this is because it is simply unfair to give Bob all the credit. Music isn't only about the vocals, after all. (In which case I'd still say Peter Tosh had the better voice in my opinion) EVERYTHING takes work - the guitars, bass drums, keyboard--- everything has to be in sync.

Adding to that Peter Tosh made several hits, and did at least 1 collaboration with other superstars, such as Mick Jagger.

The only reason you hear about Bob Marley more than you do about Peter Tosh is because Bob's family makes it their duty to keep his name alive - in their music, in the clothing they produce, the celebration of his birthday every year, etc. (1 simple term: publicity) Peter Tosh's family is not doing half as much as that.

****  I don't want this to go on forever, so I'm just going to leave it as is, with one last point....You are right....The people who write history don't care about everything, and the people who read it do not either. I'm probably one of the few who believe EVERYTHING should be taken into consideration. We are taught to believe, for example, that Nanny of the maroons caught bullets with her a**s.  As "symbolic" as that may be, people do take stuff like that literally - we have to be careful of the messages we are sending. What exactly is a symbol other than a representation of (usually) abstract ideas and concepts.... I agree that a symbol doesn't have to be literal, but shouldn't a symbol, in the case of national heroes, be a representation of something REAL? The Nanny concept is very abstract, to say the least, but I guess the major point we get is the fight for freedom. In that sense people can relate to Bob Marley.....at least we know he is real.

As for me, I will only have one hero.....My Dad.

If you ask me, Jamaica needs a hero now....correction.....a SUPERHERO. lol. I think that's the problem with us Jamaicans....we sit around and wait on a hero before we try and save ourselves. Anyhoos, All the Best!

Answer 3

YES !! Bob has achived musically what others only dream of. Call him the Caribbean Mozart. His music is very much relevant today as the day it was first sung.

Maybe one day we can sit down and truly listen to the magic he left us. We are a lucky people to have him as our own. Note i said we because his music is embraced all over the world and esp. the caribbean where we see him as a brother.

So come on Jamaica give the man his due, infact Caricom should honour him as a regional hero. There is yet one voice that unites us all like Bob

Answer 4

I don't believe he should be a national hero. Bob Marley represents some positives for Jamaica but did not do enough to warrant the honor

He can be honored with his face on paper currency without being a national hero- Micheal Manley is a bill and is not a national hero.

Answer 5

yes bob marley should be made a national hero of Jamaica. He put reggae and Jamaica on the map.

He was a man of great integrity and passion.

He has done more for jamaica than some of the others who were made national heroes

he is still revered in the world of music as a god and legend

so yes he should be made a hero

Answer 6

yes i, Jah know,  he has done more for Jamaica than some of the other heroes, Busta and Norman create the two major political parties, which kill more people than all the natural disasters combine, that ever hit Jamaica, compare their legacy to Marley's legacy.

His Right Exellency Robert Nesta Gong Marley a bigga hero

selah.

Answer 7

Yes, he may not be the one who got the music out  there, but he sure as h**l made it a household sound all over the world.

I seriously don't think Peter Tosh is drawing more people to JA than Mr. Marley.

Answer 8

Without a doubt.  Bob Marley has been instrumental in helping to put Jamaica on the map worldwide.  If the fundamental criterion for our national heroes is how much they have helped the country to progress then Bob Marley is right up there with Paul Bogle and Sam Sharpe.  

Giving him this honour would not undermine our other heroes....in fact, I think it would enhance their international status as it might pique the curiousity of people who only "know" Bob when they see him in the company of other great Jamaicans.

The irony of this whole situation is while we have benefitted and continue to benefit from the legacy of Bob's fame and talent, Jamaicans still do not seem to fully understand and appreciate what he has done for us.  We continue to see foreign companies capitalizing on Bob's name and fame while we are busy "bigging up" Kartel and Movado, whose 'hits' have been proven to have shorter lifespans than our politicians' promises.

Putting his image on one of our currency is not a bad idea, but I don't think it wouldn't be giving him the credit he deserves.  He needs to be recognized, remembered and rewarded for being a positive force for Jamaica on the global stage.