THE PRICE OF SILENCE

This is a very moving and well-done video. I did wince to see it kick off with Stephen Marley, since it's odd for a song about world peace and unity to be sung someone from Jamaica, a violently homophobic country where gay-bashing and even killing seems to be a cherished national pastime. Maybe I need to let go of my old prejudices and heal and come together as the video suggests, but I can't help but wonder if Stephen Marley considers ME his brother or his sister. If he did, he probably couldn't even sell a record in his own country. There is a Jamaican area in the garment district I passed through with another obviously gay person and with 5 minutes, we were threatened and insulted three times--one guy put a gun to his head as if that's what he'd like to do to us. It's tough to be charitable to someone who openly curses and threatens you with imaginary weapons. But hopefully things are changing, said the begrudgingly chipper drag queen cynic.

"The Price of Silence"

Created in 1948 the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) set forth the basic rights of every human being, yet 60 years later in places the world over, violence, poverty and oppression hold sway.

To commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the UDHR, and to remind the world that violations of Human Rights are unacceptable anywhere, at any time, Link TV has produced a video, "The Price of Silence" for Amnesty International.

Set in the United Nations, the artists appear on the stage of the General Assembly, flanked by huge screens whose images reflect the lyrics, or project performances from foreign locations. Starting with just Stephen Marley, the performance grows until a full band occupies the stage, singing and rapping, and the delegates are out of their chairs, cheering and dancing.




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