The Editor, Sir:

Several persons have taken me to task for daring to question the rectitude of the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission's (JCDC) holding a wake for Herb McKenley two Friday evenings ago. And they particularly think that I am wrong in daring to question parts of our cultural heritage that have pagan practices that I think a Christian majority country should not be supporting, much less publicly promoting.

First, I should point out that my last name is COOKE not Coke. This is a frustratingly common error made concerning the spelling of my name.

The responses have accused me of rejection of my culture because of brainwashing by the colonialists; of adopting "European notions of superiority, i.e. of civilising the savages"; and of disrespect for the customs of some of our ancestors.

Importance of our heritage

I don't suppose that it would make any difference to my detractors that I have studied much in the area of multiculturalism and taught others the importance of understanding and respecting a people's heritage. It is true that many European missionaries wrongly disrespected and ignored people's cultures, and often imposed westernisms in the name of teaching Christianity. But that is not to invalidate the message they bore, or the great number of benefits that accrued from missionary work. They, like all of us, were fallible humans and thus, made mistakes.

It is a truism that no culture is static; all cultures change, just as languages also change. Cultures are not by themselves inviolable, nor are cultural practices all necessarily to the benefit of a people. Cultures are not of divine origin, but are the accumulation of the world view, belief and practices of a people. Outside influences and happenings impinge on and challenge practices and beliefs of people, often leading to change. People are, therefore, free to change their culture. It is to be assumed that the changes they make are because they are convinced that these are for their betterment.

Most of our people changed their African religious beliefs and practices because they became convinced that the new was better. While I agree that not everything that the Europeans brought was better, or even always good, it is true that both Africans and Europeans influenced and changed each other. The result of this interchange is our present Jamaican culture. This has later been changed by the influence of Indians, Chinese, by Revivalism, Garvey, Bedward, and now the Rastas. It is therefore fallacious to argue that we should never question the validity of aspects of our culture. Also, to raise questions about aspects of our culture is not the same as rejecting our culture.

Our ancestor spirits

Most of the writers thought I was wrong to say that dealing with the spirits of our ancestors, or possession by the spirits was demonic possession. I hold with the Scriptures that "the gods that the heathen worship are demons." Spirit worship and ancestor worship are aspects of nearly all religions, not only those of African origin.

All writers that I have consulted about Myalism, Revivalism, Kumina, etc., acknowledge the spirit possession aspect of them. Melville Cooke's report on the JCDC-sponsored wake for Charles Hyatt "'Wake-ing Charles' set-up for Hyatt" (Gleaner January 15, - Entertainment section) very clearly reveals the demonic nature of what transpired there. While there is a mixture of the pagan and the Christian at these wakes, that does not sanitise the practices and make them acceptable to all Christians.

As argued above, cultures are not sacrosanct; they are not of divine origin, and should not be held up as absolute. All cultures fall under the judgement of God and of truth, as will individuals. Only God is absolute; only to Him do we have to finally answer. Therefore, His word should be the standard by which we judge all things - even our culture.

I am, etc.,

LLOYD A. COOKE

Royal Flat

Box 642, Mandeville P.O.