September 11 is of course the notorious date of the criminal murder of thousands of men and women by unknown perpetrators, the full details of which have thus far been obfuscated rather than investigated by the so-called official commission appointed by the government which supposedly represents the people, as well as by all of the mainstream media outlets which are supposed to be free to practice unimpeded journalism and reporting according to the human right described as "freedom of speech."
This anniversary marks the sixteenth year since the horrific attacks committed on that day, which were subsequently used as false justification for illegal wars of aggression which have continued without pause right up to the present moment, as well as for false justification for illegal abridgment of the individual rights both in the united states and in many other countries around the world, to violate the rights of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures without warrant and without probable cause -- including, as we have all seen, their cellphone data, their reading habits, their phone calls and phone contacts, their personal location and pattern of daily life, and many more details on a constant and ongoing basis.
This day also marks another notorious anniversary, also of a terrible crime by unknown perpetrators, the full details of which were similarly obfuscated rather than investigated by the so-called representatives of the law -- that crime being the murder of the artist, songwriter, poet and social activist Peter Tosh, who was killed on September the 11th thirty years ago this day, in 1987.
Of the three (or more) men who broke into the home of Peter Tosh and tortured and then murdered him along with Wilton Doc Brown, only one was even named and prosecuted. The other two were never even named and were basically ignored by the authorities, and it was later claimed that they had been killed in unrelated street violence -- a highly dubious claim since their names were never even released. This pattern of data regarding the murderers is extremely suspicious and raises the possibility of collusion at some level by the authorities.
Peter Tosh was a brilliant musician and a hard-hitting songwriter on issues of social justice, economic oppression, and spiritual empowerment. Along with Bob Marley and Bunny Wailer, he formed the original Wailers in 1964 (they began playing together as a band in 1962), with Tosh playing guitar and keyboards and other instruments, as well as singing.
All three of the Wailers contributed lead vocals to different Wailers songs. One of my all-time favorites which Peter Tosh sings is "One Foundation" from their Burnin' album, which declares the unity of all men and women despite the segregations and denominations which are used to divide them. Other well-known songs from the Wailers era on which Peter Tosh sings lead vocals include "400 Years" and "Stop That Train" (both from the Catch a Firealbum). The unmistakeable voice of Peter Tosh can also be heard in the critical verses in the middle of "Get up, Stand up," which is also found on the Burnin' album (a song which Peter Tosh wrote, along with "400 Years" and many other hits for the Wailers).
After the Wailers disbanded in 1974, Peter Tosh went on to have a brilliant solo career in which he was seemingly unable to record a single bad song. All of his solo albums are worth owning.
Peter Tosh was also an outspoken opponent of the crime of apartheid in the Republic of South Africa, which was not officially ended until 1992. The crime of apartheid was declared to be a crime against humanity in 1972 by the UN's Apartheid Convention, which was approved in 1973 (with the US casting a vote, along with the Republic of South Africa, against the resolution of the Apartheid Convention).
His final album, No Nuclear War, was released in 1987, and contains some of his hardest-hitting songs. The lineup on the first side of the album is particularly heavy, with "No Nuclear War," "Nah Goa Jail," "Fight Apartheid," and "Vampire" in that order.
It is certainly an awful possibility that the murder of Peter Tosh was perpetrated by those wishing to silence his powerful voice, especially since two of the perpetrators were essentially allowed to go free and unnamed.
But it should be equally clear that Peter Tosh's inspired message and soaring musical talent were flowing out of his inspiration from a source beyond the ordinary realm -- and that this message will continue working itself out through men and women despite the best efforts (or, more appropriately, the worst efforts) of those who would try to stop it.
As the ancient wisdom entrusted to humanity makes evident, the gods work out their will and their purposes through individual men and women (see for instance the discussions here, here and here).
The immortal Peter Tosh is certainly a powerful instrument of that divine will, against oppression and injustice and for uplifting and spiritual connection. His message lives on, thirty years later -- and is more relevant now than ever.