Where it is written that people from all over the world have to like everything Jamaican? I'd like to know because the last time I checked, people were free to like and dislike what they want. I think it's called free will.

Earlier this week, there was a story published in the international media in which New Zealand singer/songwriter Ella Maria Lain Hellish-O'Connor said she hated reggae music. The 17-year-old singer, who most of you know as Lorded, reportedly said "I hate reggae. Reggae makes me feel like I am late for something." The minute that statement got out there, a tidal wave of angst from Jamaicans started building and heading towards the shores of New Zealand.

The madness eventually got on to my Facebook page and I was like, "What the heck? So, what if she doesn't?" Life really does go on. Look. Days have already passed since her comments came out and the dollar is still sliding and murders are still happening at a rate of four to five a day.

I understand that the child is a star. She has a big song out there called Royals that was named 'Song of the Year' at the recent Grammy Awards. So anything she says is going to make the news, but what was lacking from the reporting of the comments, was context.

The offending comments were made in a video that I eventually found and watched and you know what, I came away from watching it actually liking her. She was funny and interesting. The reggae-related comments were almost secondary.

In the three-minute video quite aptly, 'The world according to Lorde', featured the mature sounding singer talking rather candidly about the things she liked and those that she didn't. She was even self-deprecating. "I like rap music because it makes me feel way cooler than I actually am," she said.

At the end of it, all I got from the video that she likes Kendrick Lamar, Kanye West and dogs. She doesn't like girls who scream at parties, corny gross dudes and, yes, she hates reggae. She almost kind of said it tongue in cheek. And having watched it, I still don't have a problem with it.

too serious

I know a lot of people who don't like reggae or dancehall, or music for that matter, and I am alright with that too. I don't like some reggae songs, but I love others. I like everything Dennis Brown, Freddie McGregor and Bob did. Does it make me evil that I don't like the stuff that other people have done?

Some of us who got all hot and bothered because Lorde said she hates reggae need to get a grip. How many of us here hate the classics, or jazz, or rock. If we expressed those feelings aloud would other countries think it necessary to ban Marley music? Seriously, people, we tend to take ourselves too seriously. It's not even that she said she hates Jamaicans, which could be another thing but still, she would be within her rights to do so. Heck, there are some Jamaicans I really don't like myself.

There is no law that says everybody has to like reggae. There is no law that says everybody has to like Jamaica. Some of the things we do are considered charming by the rest of the world. However, there are other things that make people hate us. It is what it is. Not everybody will like us, not everybody will hate us.

This child, for the time being, doesn't like reggae. Maybe when she gets older she will come to appreciate it; maybe not. Either way, I am cool with it and really, we should be too.

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