Of course, the term Babylon refers to the history of Babylon/the Babylonian kingdom, a powerful kingdom mentioned in the Bible, enslaving Israelites, after capturing them. Historians found that the ancient "Babylon" was historically located in what is now Iraq - around the river Eufrate, about 80 km from Bagdad. It has become a source of nationalistic, historical pride in greatness among Iraqi people, including as part of the rhetorics of politicians (like Sadam Hussein), similar to how historical Rome is still viewed in Italy.
The history of Rastafari, and of Afro-Jamaican people, already explains the use of the term, relating to the obvious parallels: Africans were likewise enslaved, after being captured, and brought to another powerful kingdom to work as slaves, like the Israelites in the Bible. These Africans were brought to the "Babylon" of European colonies, and their oppressive systems, since the 16th c.
That same Bible also mentioned other kingdoms and powers, such as Egypt, of course also enslaving Israelites. Maybe it was seen early on by the early Rastas that using the term "Egypt" would be problematic for being an African country, or more abstract: to literally a place on the map, elsewhere than present-day Babylon (Europe/the West and its American colonies) the term normally refers too.
The long history of Babylon - which can be found elsewhere on the Internet - is in itself insightful. It represents - in a sense - also the history of big cities, urbanness. In certain epochs - at the peak of its power, such as between 1770 and 1670 BC - Babylon was the biggest city of the whole world, and according to some historians possibly the very first city in history with more than 200.000 inhabitants.
BIBLE
Its figuring in the Bible is also interesting, even confirming Babylon's metaphorical use in the Bible. Babylon was an enslaving power of Israelites, but also the counter-kingdom against God and godliness: immoral, corrupt, and evil. Due to these Biblical referrences, including about the Babylonian captivity, - relatively many in the Book of Daniel, by the way - also in the Jewish tradition, Babylon represents for present-day Jews still oppressors and hostile nonbelievers, while in the Christian world it came to symbolize vane worldiness (i.e. greed, vanity, lust) and evil.
By comparison, Babylon is as such referred to much less in the Quran and Islam, and mostly related to stories about Abraham and thus older Judaic stories. This referrence is partly neutral (geographical), and partly condemning (like in the Bible), contrasting the "magic" Babylon was known for, as well as te worldly power of king Nimrod, to the true Abrahamic God, in the same vein as the Bible.
RASTAFARI
So, one might argue, the symbolic use of "Babylon" in these major religions (notably Judaism and Christianity) is comparable to its use in Rastafari terminology. In that sense it follows on the Biblical influence on Rastafari, since the movement arose in Jamaica in the 1930s. This includes, though, a "reinterpretation" of the Bible from an African perspective. Terminology like "Babylon" and "Zion" (Sodom and Gomorrah, walls of Jericho, and more) are part of that, as well as many general referrences to Bible texts, stories, and psalms. As said, reinterpreted by Africans in a (former) colonial and downtrodden situation.
This reinterpretation is quite interesting, I find. The Rastafari, I contend, "amplified" the term Babylon both culturally and philosophically. It "updated" it also for the present time. More on this later.
The meaning of "abstract evil", as Babylon has in Christianity, or "enemy oppressors" in Judaism, both fed into the Rastafari definition of the term "Babylon". In fact, it is an excellent example of the Hegelian "thesis-antithese- then synthesis" principle. The Rastafari use of the term "Babylon" therefore can be seen as a "synthesis" of earlier Biblical refrences, shaped by the history of the African diaspora, including slavery, oppression, and poverty in the present.
Some say, Rastas mean with Babylon really only "the West", i.e. Europe and North America: the modern, wealthy, economic powers in this world, whereas some associate the term, specifically with "capitalism", and capitalist exploitation, world wide, but dominated by the West.
The truth is, that there is no "one authorative" definition among the Rastafari of "Babylon" as term, mainly because Rastafari is not a strict, rigidly organized or centralized religion, and many not even call it a "religion", but rather a "(spiritual) movement", loosely connected.
Many Reggae lyrics, especially since the 1970s, express Rastafari ideas, and therefore the term "Babylon" recurs a lot in Reggae lyrics. In many, many lyrics, too much to count. It spread that Rastafari term internationally, especially since Bob Marley's rise to fame in the course of the 1970s.
A common term among Rastafari adherents, and in (Roots) Reggae lyrics, its use is not only broad, but also "wider" and more varied than one might think.
I find intriguing, and almost beautiful, didactically, how "expressive" and communicative" the term Babylon is within the Rastafari movement and ideas. It brings the message across, including nuances, in a single term that seems "vague", but in reality captures all dimensions. This adds to its deep, philosophical meaning. It relates to the relatively free and "loose" and not-so-rigid structure of the Rastafari movement, when compared to "mainstream", over-organized (a personal opinion) religions, connected with dominant power structures (Christianity, Islam etc.).
Its figuring in a variety of Reggae lyrics include "Babylon" referring to "oppressive authorities", sometimes quite specific state forces or police officers, sometimes a level above that (political structure, economics). In other lyrics even levels above that are referred to as "Babylon": evil systems keeping poor people down, and fighting against the Rasta people, not just locally in Jamaica, but worldwide. It then represents a "system", without an explicit geographical reference.
GEOGRAPHY
I contend, however, that the interesting about the Rastafari use of "Babylon" is that, even as literally referring to a "system", of e.g. capitalist exploitation, it suggests geography indirectly. Being an Afrocentric movement, the Rastafari see "Babylon" as the enemy of African people, as Rastafari seeks the upliftment of and for many repatriation to Africa, in the line of Marcus Garvey's teachings.. Babylon thus implicity also represents "the West", with its developed and invading (mostly capitalist) economic dominance, going against Africa-focussed Rastafari values in Jamaica itself, as well as increasingly intruding and invading the African continent itself, with corrupting effects on original cultures.
This is the unique, amplified meaning of "Babylon" in the Rastafari definition. Its utility lies precisely in its "vagueness" or, otherwise said, multi-interpretability: from a "place" that you can leave, to a state of mind, an (oppressive) system, authorities, confusion, and corruption in a more abstract sense. It is also associated with "captivity", and therefore contrasted with freedom.
COPING WITH BABYLON
The breadth and depth of this definition of Babylon also is discussed in the 2007 documentary Coping With Babylon, including the different (often personal) interpretations and definitions by Rastafari adherents (including artists), either specific or general. Some in the documentary perhaps simplify its meaning, as relating it to one world power, the US, or New York, at the time of the documentary involved in a controversial invasion of Iraq. Broader - deeper - definitions also got a place in the documentary, though.
Similarly, in Reggae lyrics - of which I heard a lot throughout my life - Babylon is used clear, but also wide: Babylon the state/authorities in Jamaica, Babylon system, policemen, a place keeping you captive and limited (trampling rights), as well as an international phenomenon. Recurring is "Babylon" standing for the modern "Western world", including capitalist exploitation and modern technology.
The Biblical allusions to the ancient Babylon, refer to greed and lust. Especially regarding the latter, in most Reggae lyrics and Rastafari utterances, another Biblical loanword "Sodom and Gomorrah" tends to be used more often. The connection with "confusion" of Babylon kingdom (the story of the tower and the many languages) in the Bible, is however still maintained among many Rastafari. Also in the documentary Coping With Babylon some associate Babylon with "confusion": confusing righteous people.
ETYMOLOGICALLY
While linguists are not sure about "Babylon's" etymological origins, a connection with the Semitic term for "gate" (Bab) seems confirmed. In present-day standard Arabic, the word for "gate" is pronounced as Bawwaba.
Some historians point out, though, that this was a later term/meaning added to an older, perhaps even nonsemitic place name. The added "El" refers in the Semitic tradition to "God", as known of course in many Biblical names (Daniel, Gabriel, Michael, Elijah, Ezequiel, Israel, etcetera), though it might have been meant plural in the case of Babel/Babylon ("gate of the gods").
The informal term "babbelen" in Dutch (for: chatting) seems to derive from this Biblical story, and there are similar examples in other European languages. The term "Bable" for a dialect in NW Spain (Asturias , northern León) might be one, but that might be coincidence (formal "Castilian" Spanish would after all be "habla" - speech - with the first H unpronounced).
DEFINITIONS
In this by the way recommendable documentary Coping With Babylon, a Jamaican scholar on Rastafari (Barry Chevannes) at the University of the West Indies, justly pointed at the wide, varied meaning with which Babylon is used among the Rastafari: a wider powerful, economic system, exploiting poor people, African people, and all its collaborators. A lot of "wrongs" in this world fit in this in general, yet - at the same time - its meaningful and specific enough.
In the song Who Art Babylon, Reggae singer Ricky Grant specifically addresses how to "define" the term Babylon, rather than using it in his lyrics in some ways (as many Reggae artists do). Grant sings that Babylon consists of: "not only oppressors", but also "the clothes you wear etc.": i.e. the wider economic system we are all made to depend on, and "all things of vanity"..
Burning Spear in Mek We Yadd (and some other songs as well, like This Man) sings as lyrics: "in a time like now, any man could be Babylon..", pointing thus at the psychological "collaborators" (to use a war-time term) with an oppressive system, even if not directly recognizable as such. Indirectly referring to the "confusion" associated with Babylon.
When I was in Jamaica (in 2006 and 2008), I heard differing definitions among Rasta-adherents and -sympathizers. A Jamaican said to me: "Jamaica is nice. Not much Babylon here.. there is still some here and there, though".. Away from the geographical - Jamaica being a former slave plantation island where Africans were forcibly brought to - it has here come to mean something like an ideology, evil influence, or universal "economic corruptive force" that is everywhere, but can and should be avoided, wherever you are.
Others, like many Reggae singers, use it as such too (corrupting system), but also often as "place", "location": "down here in Babylon", "leave Babylon" (and go to Zion/Africa).
The common recurrence of the expression "Babylon must fall (or Go Down)" in many Reggae lyrics, combines several meanings: that of a wicked place, as well as of a wicked system, "falling" both physically and, more, metaphorically, i.e. its power stopped and broken.
BOB MARLEY
All these varied meanings are also heard throughout the lyrics of the internationally best-known Reggae artist: Bob Marley.
Some, like myself, have pointed at some commercializing aspects of Marley's music, led by Island boss and producer Chris Blackwell, aimed at catering to White tastes (openly stated as goal by Chris Blackwell, himself a White Jamaican).
This was noticeable in the aspects Blackwell had most influence on (production, "sound" etc., instrument choice), yet, overall, Bob Marley kept his authenticity. Muiscally in part, but even more so lyrically. Admirably, Bob did not compromise his message, and continued with his rebellious message against oppression of African and poor people, standing up for rights, Black and African pride. Criticizing and fighting of "Babylon" was certainly part of this.
Maybe not all people who got to know Bob's songs worldwide knew immediately what Rasta people mean with "Babylon". It does not seem to be a "racial" reference, maybe helping the spread of the music among easily scared White people. If Bob used "white racists" instead of Babylon in some of his lyrics, some would stay away of Bob's music. Yet, these are the fans one should not want to have, I argue.
However, this was neither a "mincing" of words or a deliberate cowardice eschewing "code word" Bob used, to not offend his potential public (or to use an uglier word "market"), or to not thwart producer Blackwell's commercial goals. No, Bob Marley with the common use of "Babylon" just followed the common Rastafari terminology, as it got known before him, and simply followed that spiritual/rebellious tradition.
Like other Rastafari adherents, he also found that Babylon wickedness goes beyond mere racial features, but is a mentality and system, albeit racially unequal. The fact that Bob was half-white (he had a White father) also relates to this, but also full-black Jamaican Reggae artists, of course use Babylon beyond mere race.
CURRENT TIMES
Scholar Berry Chevannes in the documentary Coping With Babylon says something interesting about the use of Babylon, as I mentioned before, pointing out that Rastafari adherents do not just live in the past, but go with their times, and refer to current, contemporary times and events too, thus in a sense re-applying and updating the term "Babylon" to present-day circumstances and situations.
Here it becomes even more intellectually challenging, I think.
Some questions I would like to ask, in relation to this, questions I tried to answer for myself.
2020
The fact that I write this in January 2021, short after a disrupted, odd "coronavirus"/pandemic-dominated year in the whole world, is certainly relevant in this regard. The official story of a bat virus spreading to humans causing a later international pandemic, mankind needeed to confront jointly, was naively believed quite internationally.
Over time, this was questioned more and more by critical thinkers. First these (like David Icke) were considered as fanatical "conspiracy thinkers" who tend to mistrust everything politicians say (justly or not). Yet over time, many reasonable, nuanced - and even medically and scientifically knowledgeable people - came to the conclusion that "things do not add up".
From the natural origins among bats (if so, why does the Chinese state obstruct research into how the virus came about, and the relation to a lab in Wuhan?), to the use of a "pandemic" for economic, elitist goals, with an undemocratic, unexplainable role of a nonelected, nonmedical entrepreneur as Bill Gates as in time main funder of the World Health Organization. This raised in my opinion just suspicion.
Later figures about the actually more limited mortality of this Covid-19 virus, as it got known, than first stated, especially as the virus matured after April 2020. In fact, regarding mortality, it got to similar levels as a medium- to severe flu virus in previous years.
The draconian "lockdown" policies international governments chose supposedly to halt the pandemic throughout the year, - with devastating effects - seemed absurdly dictatorial and disproportionate, in light of these objective facts. The damage to economy, and culture!, and the increase of poverty it caused were even criminal, with the "remedy" proving to be much worse than the cure.
2020 was the first year in modern history that "healthy" people were massively confined/locked in at home for health reasons, with the excuse of a new infectious virus. This was - to make matters worse - presented often in a patronizing manner, as if citizens were all children. The fact that in some countries, like Spain, people could not leave their own house for periods (not even across the street) under threat of stationed police officers, night curfews, the closing down of all clubs, restaurants, theatres (from one day to the other) in many countries, banning of free social gatherings, all led to an absurd dystopia in many countries across the world (to differing degrees), only supported by a stimulated, media-wide irrational fear (for a relatively mild virus!).
Moreover, the fact that in many poor countries, the "stay home" orders also disregarded (or ignored) that many people have to leave their house, simply to eat, to survive.
More people died because of all these policies, than ever would have of Covid-19, is the sad conclusion, I am afraid we must come to after 2020.
This is gettng discussed now openly, also because of increased open objections of (imparcial, uncorrupted) doctors and scientists. Despite increased dictatorial tendencies in many countries calling themselves "democratic" (even here in the Netherlands, where I write this from), there is still a free press and internet, even if now more harassed and bothered by (even paid) proponents of these corona policies.
Let's say it is a "plandemic", as some say. Evidence seems to suggest this, but let's keep the question a bit open. If it is indeed a "plandemic", would the Rastafari people call it (part of) "Babylon" too?
The ones benefitting seem to confirm that it is indeed a "Babylon plan" as Rastafari would define it. A rich economic elite, rich White people in Western countries, controlling most wealth in this world, are connected to the World Health Organization (WHO), and these policies. Bill Gates, but also Rockefeller (starting the WHO once), and others, sometimes are even mentioned condemningly in Reggae lyrics. Sizzla spoke of "Rockefeller handcuffing the world" in his song Babylon Judgement from 2016, a bit - even very much! - predicting the current situation.
In fact, many Reggae lyrics seems to have predicted this odd 2020 "pLandemic" (as it can be seen), referring to wealthy elites, o/downpression, curtailing popular movement, trampling rights, limiting freedoms, of poor Jamacans, Africans, but in fact all poor people. In fact, already since the 1970s.
This is all defined more or less os "Babylon" or "Babylonians", in Reggae lyrics, referring to systems, politicians, elites, inequality, injustice, a.o..
ISMS
Critics of the corona policies - seeming to have the facts more and more on their side - compare them sometimes with Fascism, others with (Chinese-style) Communism, both totalitarian systems, disregarding individual rights. The lab in Wuhan, and the annoying secrecy of the corrupt Chinese state - and their links with Bill Gates and the WHO - seem to support this, while many aspects and policies once in place in Fascist states (under dictators like Hitler, Mussolini, and Franco) have remarkable - and frighteningly - many similarities with present "corona" policies and restrictions, trampling of human rights etcetera. So in my opinion, such comparisons are not totally out of order, nor nonsensical. A good reminder of history.
CUBA
I asked these questions myself years before this "corona crisis". I went several times to Communist-ruled Cuba, between 2001 and 2006. As a Spanish-speaker, I got to know and talk with many Cubans, and made some close friends. I more or less "integrated" in Cuban society, you might say.
Cuba was known as dictatorship, and indeed, there were no "open" elections, and Fidel Castro's rule as president unquestioned and (presented as) unchangeable, when I went there in 2001-2006. In line with this, there were certainly totalitarian aspects in Cuban society, including censorship, "state snitches" (informers) on the neighbourhood level, "informing" the government (unless paid, so corruption too) of unwanted behaviour (including allowing foreign influences), that all Cubans knew to be careful with, especially when having (intimate) relationships with foreigners.
On the other hand, there were during periods of Socialist rule in Cuba after 1959 some positive changes, that seemed to make society more equal, especially for poorer people, including Afro-Cubans.
This came with a price, though: the limited freedom of speech and of choice, had more to do with Fascism than with claimed "Socialism". As Bob Marley sang: "Never make a politician grant you a favour.. they will only want to control you forever.." (song Revolution).
Also, the beneficial role Castro's communist rule had for Afro-Cubans must be put in perspective, as Cuban authors like Carlos Moore (whom I discussed on this blog, in 2016) - once translator for Castro, later critical of him and exiled - , and Castro's, for Castro's "implicit Eurocentrism and racism".
Indeed, despite some equalizing policies in the early stages, white or Euro-Cubans maintained their favourable position. Also the so "equal" Communist leaders and party members were and still are disproportionately, dominantly white/of European of descent or near-white, in a country with a population of over 70% partly or mainly of African descent. A discrepancy Malcolm X also noted, when he visited Cuba, among other things to meet Fidel Castro.
I noticed all this. Added to this were my experiences of the many controlling police officers on the streets (and the said informers and snitches), and stories told by Cubans, of sudden, random arrests on racial grounds, often with the excuse of crushing prostitution. An Afro-Cuban woman with an obviously non-Cuban White, male foreigner/tourist got in the danger zone, though haphazardly, as the police at times turned a blind eye to the obvious - if you want to call it that - prostitution (some call it: "sex tourism"), perhaps because of the needed tourism income for the Cuban economy. Fidel Castro even referred to this sex tourism frivolously: "because of our good health system, our prostitutes are healthy and clean", while the official communist party line in theory opposed it, as all "private businesses" (in whatever form) ..
Having noted all this repression and hypocricy - and the poverty and limited freedom of many Cubans - I had to conclude, being already a Reggae fan then: "this is also Babylon.. just another ISM than Capitalism or Fascism", but similarly repressing humanity and freedom, as so many Reggae lyrics lament.
So, "Babylon" includes alls "ISMS" - as also referred to in Reggae lyrics (often as "isms and schisms"), with "ism" being in reality a linguistic translation of "system": capital is money, capitalism a system, "commune" is a community, communism a system, etcetera.
BACK TO 2020
So is this Covidism or Coronaism/Coronism of 2020 more like Communism (with an influence of a corrupt Chinese state), Capitalism (obvious vaccine company/pharmaceutical interests, Bill gates as entrepreneur), or like Fascism (totalitarian, limiting rights and freedoms, cultural destruction, with "lockdowns" possibly having been "wet dreams" once of dictators like Hitler and Mussolini)? In fact: these dictators have enacted during their reign policies in that "lockdown" direction, e.g. Mussolini once suddenly (by command) forbade "nightlife and clubs" in Italy - they say due to a Vatican influence -, effective immediately, like those lockdowns today..
All these historical comparisons with earlier political "isms" make sense to differing degrees, but they all can be placed more beauitifully and sensibly under the umbrella of "Babylon", as the Rastafari use this term. This shows clearly the strength and utility of the term "Babylon", also for present times, as scholar Barry Chevannes hinted at: the "same old Babylon", as it is referred to in some Reggae lyrics.. Nothing new under the sun.
CORONISM
This "coronism" is quite new and fresh, and the debate surrounding it quite polarized and confused. As a friend of mine said it: "if it is a wicked "plan" (instead of an actual pandemic), it is a very smart one, also psychologically". "Smart" in the wrong sense of the word: trampling physical integrity rights, but at the same time calling for 6 feet/1,5 m distance. Isolating old people in hospitals, yet claiming we do it for them, referring to the love for our old ones ("think of your old mother or grandmother") seems a cheap trick, but is remarkably effective, especially since many citizens feared the new virus.
An infectious diseases has for "Babylon downpressors" furthermore the advantage that it gives an excuse or pretext to outlaw "social gatherings" and thus unwelcome protests, joined protests, popular uprisings, etcetera.. A smart, crafty plan, indeed.
That is probably also the reason why it is not recognized as such unanimously. Even if it is "typically" oppressive Babylon and a PLANdemic (not a real one anymore) as (like me) some argue, the "health policy" focus is effective in scaring people, or convincing of "keeping healthy", and therefore of good intentions of governments. This is evident internationally, in many countries (oddly even securing support in some countries with very repressive lockdown policies, such as Spain), but also in Jamaica itself.
JAMAICAN ARTISTS
Buju Banton's recent outburst against "masks" against corona, and his calling for "freeing his/the people" seemed sincere to me, but was criticized even by some other Rastafari adherents, not just paid or corrupted government officials and politicians. Even Buju's own daughters were used against him (one of them a JLP politician), calling his remark against forced masks "unwise" and irresponsible.. The facts: there is no scientific proof that those proscribed nonmedical masks actually protect against virusses.. Facts do not seem to matter anymore, apparently, in this polarized debate.. Fear does..
Another Rastafari-adhering reggae artist was from the start critical of "coronism/covidism".. Already around March and April - when much of the world was still trying to figure out what went on -, that one being Chronixx..
A relatively young, talented, and by 2020 quite popular Reggae artists, Chronixx had several big hits in Jamaica and in the international Reggae scene. His nice Skanking Sweet became almost a club or summer anthem in 2019. In relation to a "charity event" in 2020 for then spreading Corona/Covid-19 pandemic problems, he called it a (media) "hype" in which he not wished to participate, preferring to release his music on his own terms.
Especially remarkable is Chronixx pioneering "(media) hype" conclusion: it took many, even university-edcated intellectuals in the West, several months before they drew (in other terms) the same conclusion about corona-related policies.. Wisdom of the Rastaman? Knowing what "Babylon" is all about and being prepared? Who knows?
Also other artists, like Sizzla, Lutan Fyah, or Tanya Stephens began to critique harsh corona-related policies or the "hype" , especially as " lockdowns" also meant no or limited "live music", and thus affecting their life choice, livelihood, and sense of purpose directly.
Some of these expressed this directly or indirectly in some songs, of course in the Rastafari tradition of social comment, including references to, yes, "Babylon", such as in the song Nuh Trust Babylon by Lutan Fyah..
All good and well, but overall there seems to be quite some popular support for the corona policies in Jamaica as well. That someone like me, or other critics, do not understand this, does nog negate this support. Protecting one's health and avoiding deadly diseases seem a good idea - also to me - , so maybe for that reason one is less psychologically inclined to question the logic or efficacy of governments, even if negatively affecting one's life and goals. "This is what needs to be done now.. later when it is "fixed" (vaccination?), we'll party again", is a common opinion I heard expressed in many countries, also here in the Netherlands. Mostly by people not exactly experts in "virusses", I must say, but governments are advised by virologists, claiming to be trustworthy and knowledgeable.
There are for these reasons some, but not very much critical lyrics in Reggae, yet, about the coronacrisis specifically, or the ill-informed (and also not proeven to work against virusses) "lockdown" policies so many governments choose to put in place, even if they remind of "captivity" and colonialism for many Caribbean people.
2021
Unfortunately, these corona policies have been taken to the year 2021, so maybe more lyrics in Reggae will be released, criticizing them.
In the Netherlands (and several other countries) the year 2021 started with a continued "lockdown", keeping all bars and clubs closed, restaurants only for "take-away", museums and theatres closed, and with the city of Amsterdam at a Saturday night almost a ghost town, safe small groups of walking friends passing by closed, now unlit bars and clubs, and a few cars of which many were police cars.. This felt to me like a police state, a dictatorship, but also like a ghost town. The latter was not the case in an actual "police state" I have been to, namely Cuba. Always liveliness, music, joy, people, and, okay, also many men in police costumes between all this.
Amsterdam is colder, especially now in winter time, playing a role, but the nightlife always went on. Now its dead. This for a virus now hardly more deadly than a common flu in previous years (Infection Fatality Rate of Covid-19 now around 0,23%, science says, flu just a few years ago around 0,21%), and with hospitals in the Netherlands seeming now capable of dealing with extra patients (according to hospital workers themselves).
"That was a very aggressive vaccine marketing campaign", I recently joked to someone about the last year 2020.
A serious joke, because it is also a guess of mine of why these repressive and draconian policies are still in place, and so much of the civil rights and freedoms limited in the process, often even ressembling Fascist dictatorships, or what I heard my Spanish mother tell me of her growing up in the Franco-ruled Spain that she left around 1966. Ressembling a dictatorship, or "going towards it", which is equally bad and worrisome.
THE BEST WORD
For the sake of argument (others may differ in opinion), I will state now boldly that what was a mild pandemic up to April, became an abused PLANdemic, with other reasons and goals than health.
Capitalist-Communism China-style? Old US/Western merciless exploitative capitalism (Big Pharma, etcetera)? A return to Fascism?.. New World Order? Great Reset (even a public goal)? Elements of all these, combined?
Difficult to tell or define as yet, although the expression "Isms and Schisms", by Rastas, captures its essence well.
What's more, "Babylon" in my opinion adequately and fully describes what is wrong with these (Babylonian) international corona policies.
It is in this case not - as the saying goes - "for lack of a better word"..; rather, in my opinion, the Rastafari term "Babylon" is the best word to describe the entire complexity of this current situation and corona-related crisis, including its historical context, spiritual meanings, and the other connotations the term "Babylon" has, and which I have discussed in this essay..
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