The Frustration of 2008 and My Hope for 2009!

I try to end each year with a positive note for Liberia, the country of my mother and my father; the country in which I was born and in which I spent most of my adult life. I love America but the thought of this tiny West Africa country continues to occupy my mind. With two day to go before 2008 ends, my mind got very itchy to spew out something:

As we end 2008 and turn over the leaves of our new calendars to 2009, I am shocked to realize that the more we gnash and grind our teeth about the things that consistently tend to keep humanity at a grinding halt, the more these things remain the same. As we throw the year 2008 into the bank of memories, I want to satisfy myself by mentioning those things that really made me feel terribly uncertain about our future as a whole.

I feel extremely helpless when a leader like Robert Mugabe will consistently keep his people down by reminding them of the war against colonialism that happened some 40 or 50 years ago. I am also shocked that African leaders themselves will buy this gimmick and refuse to condemn the likes of Robert Mugabe and their cronies.

I am dismay and frustrated that the people of Darfur continue to suffer under their rulers in Sudan. What is more helplessly frustrating is the fact that nothing of a meaningful impact is being done to alleviate the people of Darfur of their miserable conditions. What is even more eye-catching is the fact that China, because of its interest in the oil in Sudan, is propping up the government of Sudan while totally ignoring the cries and the concerns of the world.

I am sick and disturbed that the people in the Middle East expect Barack Obama to bring an end to the conflicts between the Israelis and the Palestinians. From time in memorial when the Israelis bombs have fallen and caused to much death and destruction, out comes the children of Gaza, kicking and examining the ruins of war. What is that? Why are the children coming into the streets in droves in the aftermath of air attacks? Haven't the world seen these same occurrences before, many, many times? I love Israel but at times, I am saddened by the overwhelming air strikes on innocent civilians by its war machines. I remember when Arafat was held up in a 4 x 4 enclave during one of such air attacks a few years ago.

After 60 years of war with an enemy that throws stones and launches a few missiles, Israel, the super power of the region, needs to accommodate the Palestinians by granting them self rule. And to the Palestinians, it's time to reconsider the strategy. Whatever is in place right now, from all indications, is not working. It is time to end the suicide bombings and rock throwing and missile launching. If Barack Obama is expected to bring peace to the Middle East, he has to start off with a clean slate, augmented by a mindset shifted in the direction of the 21st century. The world is so fed with the Israelis-Palestinian quagmire.

And now, my frustration in 2008 with what is going on in Liberia, the only place in the world that I know so well. The first thing that caught my attention was the behavior of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Johnny Lewis is in the habit of behaving erratically. The first thing I heard was that he got furious when he saw that his name was misspelled in some newspaper. I have no statistics to show how many Liberians went through therapy during our war time. Personally I feel that the Almighty God is extremely good to Black Folks. My son, who goes to Martin Luther King, Jr Elementary School where we live, gets counselling and therapy for school shootings in near-by counties. Did I get anyone to talk to me when rebels landed in Butuo, Nimba County in 1989? Did I get a call to go and see a therapist when we heard that rebels had crossed into Bong County and another group had been spotted in Grand Bassa? No way. Liberians of all kind and of different means kept their cool and accepted their fate as it came. Even when I came to America as a visitor during the war, no one cared whether I was traumatized or not. Whatever was happening in Liberia was my problem.

What I am saying is that Johnny Lewis, who I know was well off during the war, must have gone through therapy for property lost and good times snatched away. He should be better off mentally than many of us who were like chickens without heads. And yet, we did not go around jumping in front of trains and snatching purses and cameras from their owners! Chief Justice Johnny Lewis, the grand interpreter of the laws of Liberia, needs to behave like the man of great stature that he is.

The next thing that had me dizzy in 2008 is the news I heard that soldiers from Camp Kesselly and police officers of the LNP were fighting each other at the ELWA Junction. The government of Liberia wasted a lot of money on training both the new soldiers and the new police. The training was done to protect the people of Liberia. It pains out hearts to see our tax money go to waste. Those who did the training put in a lot of precious man hours to prepare you soldiers and police officers. It was indeed a big disgrace to see soldiers who are supposed to be so disciplined, refusing to obey the law.

Here in America where plenty Liberians live, when there is road work going on, you will see the signs from far off, telling you to slow down and the fine you could end up paying if you are found to be going over the speed limit in such a work zone. There should be no questions asked when the police signals a motorist or a motor cycle rider or a bicyclist to go one way or the other. It is the law and all must obey it. Not because the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court is not a role model, so the rule of law of the whole nation should collapse. I hope this will not reoccur in 2009.

Another disturbing thing that happened in 2008 that has me a bit flabbergasted is the news that our President has now put in place more reasons why should not appear before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Since I read this and since Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf has not appear to tell the Liberian people what role she played in the war, I feel funny inside.

Look at what has happened so far at the TRC. Even Charles Julu, the man whose name sent cold chills down the spine of ordinary Liberians in the 80s, this man has refused to acknowledge his role in all the killings that occurred in Nimba County and in other parts of the Country. Slangar and George Boley who held up M-16s and other weapons over the dead body of General Quiwonkpa on ELTV in 1985, announcing the capture and the killing of the General, all these people can't remember now who stood where and who did what. There are other modern-day killers who have instructed the Commissioners to go to the Hague if they want to know more about the blood diamonds and other unspeakable acts that occurred in Liberia during 14 years of hell.

So you see Madam President, you could be the most credible person to appear at the TRC. I do not want you to lie to the Liberian people.The people will cheer you up if they feel that you are telling them the truth and nothing else but the truth. I keep hearing this rumor that if the United Nations troops left Liberia today, you and Prince Johnson and others will be "put away" for a long time for what you did to President Doe and the "raze-down-the-Mansion" gaffe you made some years ago. If weapons from the war are still hidden in under ground caves in Liberia, waiting to be used again against the Liberian people, then I hope those who know where these weapons are will come to Liberia in 2009 and help the country reclaim its rightful place in a more peaceful and civilized world.

A lot of terrible things happened in our country since 1979. After 30 years of uncertainty and a confused humanity, it is time for us to turn our war materials into shovels and diggers and cutlasses and wheelbarrows. It is time, like never before, to teach our people to be self sufficient in the production of the food they eat. Many Liberians are hurt that only one of the master minds of the war is in International custody. The truth of the matter is that those who made it possible for the Grand Master to be in the Hague are the same ones who have made it possible to have a government in place in Liberia. If what they had gathered were of the magnitude that warranted all players of our lives to be at the Hague, I am 100% sure that Prince Johnson, Charles Julu, Alhaji Kromah, George Boley, General Butt Naked, General Snake In The Grass, General Peanut, Ellen Johns-Sirleaf, and a host of others would be standing trial in Liberia or in some other country of the world.

Not all the people just mentioned killed President Tolbert or President Doe. But those they influenced were involved in the killing of future presidents and first ladies. Those they had the means to support in the quest for power raped our sisters and mothers; they extracted living babies from the wombs of mothers that had nothing to do with the greed we all hear about at the end of 2008 and before. That is why it is important as we leave 2008 behind for us to think about the future of our country. We all must stop our bleeding hearts and move forward with our lives.

And finally, I saw too many Fs as the GPAs(Grade Point Averages) for those who are in the trenches in Liberia trying to make sense of the challenges of reclaiming our country from our own errors and self promotion. It is abundantly clear that to break down is far more easy than to rebuild. The little things I continue to observe, especially those things that relate to the economic collapse in the great United States, these little things I observe, tell me that we are too greedy for wealth and power. We over-kill in everything we do. In the end we are all losers.

Corruption and the rule of law must be given a laser-beam focus in 2009. If Liberians traveling to their country are not harassed at the various ports of entry by police officers or Immigration officers or soldiers, then 2009 will show hope. If the Police Department and the Department of Defense can work in harmony and coordination, respecting the responsibilities of each entity, then kudos to 2009. If more and more Liberians can be trained to become owners of their own destinies, then I will be able to say to 2009, welcome!

President Barack Obama

My wife and I went to the groceries store. As she browsed through the many books that lined the shelves, she realized that the front side of some of the books had been turned to the wall of the shelves. Being curious she turned the books around. The books that were turned around belonged to Barack Obama's...Dreams from My Father. That was a few weeks before November 4, 2008, the day Barack Obama was elected the 44th President of the United States.

The election of the first Black Man to the presidency of the United States of America had me whistle-blowing the entire night of November 4, 2008. I couldn't keep the excitement inside of me. I immediately got on the computer to palm kernel-crack the following piece:

In 2005 I was constantly driving between Silver Spring, Maryland, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Reston, Virginia, following Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf everywhere she went to give support for her run for the presidency of Liberia. Three years later and two weeks before the election of Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States and the first black man to hold that position, I went through my own special ritual and meditation, hoping with all my heart that Barack Obama would be the next President of the United States of America.

For one and a half month I decided to let my hair grow. Two weeks before November 4, 2008, the day of the elections in America, I decided to stop eating rice, stop drinking coffee, and desist from drinking soda or soft drink. These personal actions of mine may not be a big deal, but that was my way of sprinkling water from my mouth unto the feet of Barack Obama for good luck, just like my father did to me when I graduated from high school and told him that I was leaving his house to start my own journey into the world.

Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf was elected president of Liberia and my special and personal activities for Barack Obama became meaningful, for he too was elected President of America. The feeling I am feeling is a feeling that is so difficult to explain. It is the same feeling, I think, the people of Israel felt when they heard that one of the sons of Jacob had become a ruler in Egypt. The feeling in my heart is similar to the feeling the people of Israel felt when they were told that one of their own was a prince in the house of Pharaoh and that he had come down to where the Israeli slaves were and had helped to protect one of them.

The feeling I felt on November 4, 2008 and the feeling I continue to experience is similar to what was felt when David killed Goliath or when the city of Jericho fell to the frightened Israelis after crossing the Jordan River on the journey to the promised land. Yes, my people, I feel the same way people felt when it was told that the Redeemer had risen from the dead and that mankind was forever saved.

I don't know why any black man who could vote in America not vote for the first black person who had the best chance to make history. There was a time when I personally became the most prejudiced black man in America. Anything that was said of Barack Obama that had the slightest hint of negativity was considered by me an evil and an unforgivable act. I wonder to myself why would any black man not remember the Emancipation Proclamation, the Selma, Alabama beating of black people; I wonder why any black man would forget the lynching and the injustice meted out to black people for hundreds of years and the notion that blacks were only good as slaves. I wonder why anyone, in his black mind, whether a Republican or a rebel in Africa, would think that America was not ready for a Black President.

For Black people all over the world, the election of Barack Obama as President of the United States of America gives us a special place on the ladder of human events. Millions of black children, especially those in America can now say that they too can become President of this great land.

As I celebrated with my black American workmates and told them how happy I was, they said to me: If you are so happy just imagine how we feel. "We African-Americans have not had a Black President before, but you have had many black Presidents." I dropped my head and replied, yes, right. The people of Africa have had and continue to have Black Presidents, many of whom are tyrants, lack vision and very corrupt.

President Obama will be too occupied with the problems of America. Other problems around the world may not be given the extra attention required of him. But I feel that a few demands from the President of the United States to the leaders of Africa will definitely be in place: The leaders of the Congo, Sudan, Zimbabwe, Guinea, Gambia, Somalia, Equatorial Guinea, Egypt, Uganda, and all those countries whose leaders continue to suppress their people, these leaders need to be invited to the United Nations, shown videos of the horrible conditions of their people, and be told to put in place a time line for democratic change. People in these countries are the ones mentioned in Obama's acceptance speech as being "huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of the world."

Although Liberia was not mentioned above, I definitely know that people in many parts of that country live in abject poverty. They too are huddling around radios in forgotten corners of their own country, and this has been going on for the past 161 years. Their lives have not changed since 1847. Their hopes and dreams continue to be that one day their Obama will come to give them hope, inspiration and to know that their children too can aspire to being the best that they can be.

President Ellen Johnson_Sirleaf is 70!

The discontent brewing in Liberia is reaching high pitch. President Sirleaf is determined to bring relief and much needed development to that country, but in her midst are people who honestly see things differently. Even though I am discouraged with the pace of good things happening for the masses of the people, I had to wish the President God's speed as she celebrated her 70th birthday.


The President of Liberia, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, just celebrated her 70th birthday. Congratulations, President Sirleaf. You made it. Psalm 90:10: The days of our years are three scores years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be four scores years, yet is their strength labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off and we fly away. I wonder whether after 27 years of rule and at age 70, I wonder whether the thought ever occurred to President Tubman that the country needed new leadership and that it was time for him to leave that Executive Mansion in one piece.

After 1000 days as President of Liberia, your assessment is that a lot of the deliverables did not come through as expected. The first 500 days were tough. You had to bring into government people you thought you could trust to help you take this thing off the ground. Many of those you brought in are close to you. You expected them to give you advice when necessary; but most of all, you wanted these close friends to see in their minds' eyes a new Liberia, a developed Liberia, an educated Liberia. To your utter amazement, most of your close friends do not see what you see. Your vision for Liberia and its people is far different from their vision and mindset.

Dr Dunn talked about the plant in the pot that was brought from America many, many years ago. That plant, according to the story, never left the pot.The soil and the new environment, the story goes, wasn't rich enough, from the perspective of those who brought the plant. So, the pot was made larger with more American soil so that the tree grew and produced siblings from the roots and seeds that fell into the pot. Those siblings, never transplanted, continue to have enormous influence on the government, most times choking to death the efforts of visionaries and those who care for the welfare of the people and the country.

As I read Psalm 90:10 I felt happy for you, knowing that you had reached a milestone in your journey. Yet, I began to wonder what could you be thinking or planning for the country as you take the next step into the next decade of your journey. I wonder what are the president's plans with regard to changing the mindset of those who continue to stifle progress, encourage corruption, and who prefer to continue living as potted plants in this vast area of land given to us my our forefathers.

Like you said, Three years (1000 days) is a long time for an on-the-job training. Three years is just too long a time for people to steal from government. Anyone who has not been able to deliver after three years should not be given another chance. No company, no matter how battered, will allow its managers to under perform for three year and still have these managers roaming around the plant, bluffing and carrying on. Because of the war the three-month probationary period was extended to 18 months! Wasn't that enough time to for these educated people to demonstrate some type of ability to manage a specific project? The Liberian people have not heard any complaints from these managers or ministers. However, John Morlu did not take long to give his verdict about the unabated corruption in the government. The reception to that verdict was negative throughout the land. Some people even promised to get rid of the poor boy.

The next three years should see bold new steps by you, Madam President, to transform the lives of the people of Liberia. The next three years should see the infusion of a new generation of Liberians participating in the governance of their country. It is indeed time for the old guards to make way for a more energetic and patriotic group of Liberians, ready to move their country forward into the 21st century. Liberians are tired of living in squalor and degradation.

After 161 years, Liberians from all 15 counties want to see and live the difference under an Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf government. They, for the first time in their lives, want to be proud of their country and be able to boast to their neighbors about it. That will be the best legacy that you, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, can leave for your people as you celebrate your 73rd birthday in 2011.

Again, Happy Birthday, Madam President.

Surviving Under The Same Roof

It has become clear that testimonies given at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission cannot just be about the tragedy of Liberia from 1979 to 2003. Something went terribly wrong 130 plus years before. Some of what happened before 1979 were mentioned by Elwood Dunn. He talked about the potted plant in American soil that was supposed to be transplanted into an African soil by those who left the United States as free slaves in search of freedom in Africa.
That plant was never transplanted, for those who brought the plant felt that they were more classy and more civilized than the "heathens" they met in Africa. Until we can resolve that particular issue of class in Liberia, a feeling of pessimism regarding genuine reconciliation is beginning to take over my impartial mind. I am expressing my feelings below regarding the potted plant:

I read Elwood Dunn's testimony to the TRC and realized that he went deep--far back into Liberia's history. Even though he touched base with happenings in 1979 that brought about the rice riot and its aftermath, he could not have gone forward without mentioning the process that had been put into place long before 1979.

The settlers had been given an American potted plant to be transplanted into the African soil. Settlers were expected to come to Africa and join those they met to form a union beneficial to both groups. Because those from America felt that they were more civilized and more advanced, they refused to effectively be a part of a greater Liberia. They left the potted plant as is...in the American soil.This ingrained self-promotion and self-worth on the part of those who came to Liberia from the United States, tremendously affected the psyche of the majority of the people of Liberia.

After the incident of 1980 and after 14 years of civil war, we still see an air of dominance being perpetrated by those whose forefathers felt that the potted plant of old should remain just as it was intended to be. We see those who were blessed to have been spared the wrath of 1980 sneaking back into the country and doing a series of back door deals and carrying out multiple corrupt activities. These acts do not fare well for the new Liberia that all of us are struggling to establish. There are many of the old order who seem to believe that Liberia should continue to be dominated by those whose forefathers arrived in Africa many years ago. "Do not forget the pioneer's children" seems to reflect a phrase of reality, not mere gossip.

I feel sorry that our country has such a very long way to go when it comes to uniting the people. Besides the reconciliation needed between tribal groups, there is this Herculean task faced by the minority to accept as equals the majority of the people of Liberia. Our brothers and sisters who consider themselves more classy and more civilized and more educated will definitely have to shift the long-held mind set. The mind set of C L Simpson, Sr, former Vice President of Liberia...that mind set that caused him to believe that people with roots in America and other slave-held areas should remain a distinct and separate class from the majority "country" people, can no longer hold water. If such a belief was cast in stone, the 14 years of war shattered everything.

To rewrite the Liberian history so that it reflects everything that must be known, major players in the governance of the country need to go and testify to the TRC. Clarence Simpson, JR, whose father was Vice President and who was adamant about keeping the potted plant in American soil, needs to tell the Liberian people why his father and many others felt they way they felt. Why was it that even after more than 100 years in Liberia, the majority of the people were still considered heathens? Estrada Bernard and Willie Knuckles and Harry Greaves and George Tubman and the Tolberts, all of these people and many others who have embedded themselves in the government and are causing havoc, cannot just sit in Monrovia and act as if they have clean hands and know nothing; these Liberians need to be fair to the God they serve, to the country, to the people of Liberia, and to themselves and help rewrite history for their children and the next generation. They must come out and tell the world and give the Liberian people one reason why they think that they are better than the rest of the people they share the country with, even after more than 161 years of cohabitation.

The people who were considered less intelligent and third class citizens were made to fight amongst themselves in order to make way for the elites to return and exploit the country, just like the good ole days. How many of the 200,000 or more Liberians that died in the civil war were sons and daughters of the settlers? What does the country get back after such an ultimate sacrifice? Is this how we are going to reconcile amongst ourselves to build the country? Is reconciliation only intended for the people of Grand Gedeh and Nimba Counties? Is reconciliation only intended for Alhaji Kromah and the people of Lofa County? Is this reconciliation-thing only intended for the indigenous people?

If we must come together as a people with the same aspiration for a better future for all of us, we the Country people and the Congo people and the Americo-Liberians, all of us must shift our mind set and embrace a common destiny devoid of tendencies bent on keeping us apart and stifling progress in the 21st century. We all must develop the necessary love for country and respect for each other. The truth being told, there is no other way out, if we must survive as one people under the same roof

Nimba And Grand Gedeh Counties Must Lead The Country To Genuine Reconciliation

After Prince Johnson gave his testimonies at the TRC, the brother of President Doe, Jackson Doe and some of the deceased president's family were furious. President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf was quick to bring the two people together to tune down the rhetoric and consider peace and reconciliation. It was a good move by the president. I had to give my support:

Frontpageafrica cannot be commended enough for the good job the online news outlet is doing for Liberia. Since Medina Wesseh came out supporting the president and since Frontpageafrica released her email soliciting help from uncle Willis regarding the importation of cement, I can imagine how many people in the government are now concerned about what they have done and what they have written since the Old Ma appointed them to help her run this government. "I wonder that man got any emails from me," many are wondering to themselves.

The husband of Medina is being sent to the UN to represent his country. Commany Wisseh's wife is sitting right near the president and trying to do the same corrupt stuff her husband fought against. This reminds me of something that another warrior of the "rampant-corruption" era told me when I asked him why the people were still complaining of hardship and about the shortage of certain basic commodities on the Liberian market? "What people are you talking about?" The answer to my question came back to me in the form of a question. I felt terrible, for this guy along with Baccus Matthews and many others, had made us to believe that they knew better and that they would make life better for all Liberians. In the cause of the people the struggle continues, was the battle cry then and is still today. Now we know that "in the cause of the people" is just a devious slogan and a mere rhetoric.

I am happy to hear that the President is trying to bring Jackson Doe, the brother of President Doe, and Prince Johnson to the table of peace. The genuine friendship that existed between Samuel Doe and Thomas Quiwonkpa turned sour when the greed for power took center stage. From rumors and recent testimonies, Thomas Quiwonkpa insisted that his buddy Samuel Doe head the People's Redemption Council on the night of April 12, 1980. The agreement to turn over power to a civilian government after a short period of military rule became a contentious issue. Things began to fall apart from there: Demotions and major transfers began to happen; discontent and the struggle for power muzzled normal behavior. The end result is something the country and people have suffered for greatly.

In August of last year I wrote to say that the people of Grand Gedeh County and the people of Nimba County will have to take the lead in the reconciliation process. The people of these two counties were very good friends before 1980. Tribalism put a wedge between these two groups. Threats to wipe out the other became an ominous battle cry. No one who was in Liberia in the 80s can forget this, no matter how hard one tries to play this down.

The death of Thomas Quiwonkpa devastated the people of Nimba County. Like Elvis, Nimbaians and many others thought Quiwonkpa had escaped, even though his riddled body was boastfully shown on ELTV in Monrovia. As Grand Gedeans celebrated, the people of Nimba County feared for their lives. Where could they go? It was a nightmare. Both counties have suffered much pain; Nimba County has suffered the most because of the misdeeds of those who were supposed to protect the people and country.

If Liberia and her people are to benefit from genuine peace, the people of Grand Gedeh and Nimba Counties, under the guidance of Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and the government of Liberia, must meet in that border town that separates the two counties and come to terms with the reality of today. Nimba County is not a winner neither is Grand Gedeh. As both counties take the lead for the future of their country and people, other counties will follow.

As for the 133 years of bribery and kickbacks and overwhelming inequality that continue to haunt and rob the majority of Liberians of any kind of improvement in their daily lives; as for those who continue to undermine development and demonstrate zero tolerance for patriotism, I can only say, sadly and with hanging head... the struggle continues!

Getting Rid Of The Unrepentant Ones

Frontpageafrica, the online news medium, published a series of emails written by friends of the President of Liberia. These emails are extremely heart-breaking and show that no matter how many people died because of the evil committed by those who ruled our country of Liberia, there are many alive who find no reason to change for the better of the country. Everything that went wrong continues to go wrong...and there is no end to our nightmare. Read why I am sickened at heart:

"Kesselly father founded our party he is now deceased. He is a little boy from america he is hungry and desperate so trust me. He will do what we say. I think you should start him of with two thousand we don't want him to get greedy yet. The only problem now is the gratuity promisecd. How soon can the funds be put in the account ? Ellen has promised that LISCR will get the deal but only on the basis if the transfer is made to the account. Please advise she is depending on me and I don't have enough preliminary information to give her."


After reading the Exclusive on Frontpageafrica of the many emails from people associated with the president of Liberia, a feeling of sadness and helplessness came over me. The email that said that the president has to pretend to be transparent because it is all a show off, breaks my heart. A lot of questions, like waves of mad ocean water began to splash on my consciousness. I began to wonder what else could be done for Liberia to be free; what else must happen before certain people will stop doing the same thing over and over and over again. What will it take, I continuously wonder, for some people to learn from the mistakes of the past.

The quoted email above is a sad, sad thing to read. The young people of Liberia are bent on changing the way things have been..the way every government of Liberia we can think of has operated; the John Morlus of Liberia want to see change, but the Willis Knuckles of Liberia will never let it happen. Remember how Harry Greaves was very vocal about the mindset of John Morlu when Morlu said that the Ellen government was three times more corrupt than the previous government? How will Liberia ever be developed? When will the 468,000 people of Nimba County ever get to benefit from the Liberia they are part of? When will the 67,000 people of River Gee every get a new court house or paved roads in their county?

What was the purpose of the civil war? What was the purpose of April 12, 1980? What was the purpose of the Accra Peace Accord? Rampant corruption was the battle cry of the 80s. Yet, corrupt practices gained a lot of weight in those ten years that Samuel Doe was the man. The Accra Peace Accord gave war lords and their associates, who did not benefit from twelve years of rule by Charles Taylor, a chance to grab their own before an elected government came into play. In three years, that group of war lords and associates was known as the most corrupt in the history of Liberia.

I am amazed that people who have been disgraced; people who by the grace of God are still alive to tell the story; I am amazed that after 14 years of civil war and 133 years of inequality; I am dumbfounded beyond belief that after all of these great events that are so fresh in the minds of Liberians, that the sons and daughters will forget so easily and continue to do things that 13 Liberians were crucified for in 1980. I thought the ultimate sacrifices of those who died in 1980, in 1990 and the 250,000 or more who perish in 14 years would serve as springboards for progress and love of the country and the balance survivors.

The emails from the PR men and other close associates of the President of Liberia and published by FrontPageAfrica, are all wake-up calls that Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf needs to clean house and disconnect herself from these people. These people who think that the president of Liberia is a showoff, preaching one thing and doing something else; these people who think that the president is also a Trojan horse....these people will bring you down disgracefully, Madam President.

What else can FrontPageAfrica do to help the government of Liberia? What else can the embedded "Anti-corruption Monsters" do to help EJS see the light? The President mandated the people of Liberia to expose corrupt activities and cold-water emails. The people are responding gradually. It's time to act to remove these stooges, evil vampires and bribe-taking individuals who are obviously bent on taking Liberia through another century of poverty and zero development. It is time for something drastic to happen, Madam President; and that something must begin to happen now!

Eliminating A Political Trojan Horse

Harry Greaves, the untouchable fellow who works as Managing Director of LPRC in Liberia has said and continues say things that are very offensive to many people. A released email by this man is causing a buzz and I could not wait to give some solace to all of us:

“This Sieh man has escalated his rhetoric and is now challenging our future. Despite what he said in conversation yesterday, it is clear that he is a Trojan horse with a mission and I am so mad at all of us because it is so easy to get rid of that country boy.”

Harry A.Greaves, Jr., CPA
Managing Director
Liberia Petroleum Refining Company (LPRC


I
t is apparent that getting rid of a "Trojan Horse" is no longer a mission for the many plotters of evil, for it has become clear that many of those who were considered Trojan horses turned out to be nothing but innocent people who wanted freedom and the same opportunities that were set aside for just a privileged few.

Many of us in the Diaspora are waiting for a dream in which God Almighty will assure us that everything is fine and that we can go home to Liberia without fear of the Herods of our day.In Matthews 2:13-15 the Christ child was to return to his own country only after the death of King Herod, the man who was bent on killing the Savior of the world. I am not saying that many of us carry the characteristics of Jesus Christ. I am not saying that we even come close to being Christ like. What I am saying is that Almighty God works in such mysterious ways that the email above from Kwi-man, civilized-man Harry Greaves couldn't have come out without the handiwork of God Himself.

It is just impossible for the Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf government to succeed in Liberia if her views about progress in this worn-torn country is diametrically different from that of her foot soldiers. Corruption, which has been called enemy number one, will not be eliminated as long as these "civilized boys" continue to threaten those who continuously put their feet to the fire.

Talking about a Trojan horse: In computer science and according to Charles Pfleeger, a Trojan horse is a program that overtly does one thing while covertly doing another. A Trojan horse, in other words, is a special type of virus that spreads its infections from computer to computer.

From administration to administration, Harry Greaves has made headlines. If a Managing Director of a major and lucrative entity in the country has so many stooges and head workers embedded in every agency of government, then who is the real Trojan horse? Who is the carrier of this infectious virus that is bent on eliminating those who are trying day and night to expose such overt and covert activities?

Liberia and its President and people cannot wait to hear and read about this political Code Red worm that is bent on keeping us idling in poverty and disgrace. FrontPageAfrica must not relent in exposing and helping to remove the real Trojan horse from the Liberian society.

The Whole Truth And Nothing But The Truth Will Set Us Free

Leaders and distinguished participants in the destruction, one way or the other, of Liberia, are now appearing before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in Monrovia. Some of these people who were known for being vicious and inconsiderate in their actions are now weeping bitterly and prostrating themselves before the Liberian people. Some are genuine in their utterances and some same to be keeping the most heinous secrets in the belly of their consciences.

Personally and for most Liberians, the truth told will help all of us to heal 161 years of inequalities, massive corruption and horrendous crimes against the people of Liberia. My gut began to boil; I had to let out some of the steam:


Even though I left Liberia before the carnage that took away the lives of more than 250,000 of our people and the situation that kept me and thousands of others in exile, even though I have nothing to explain to the TRC, there are butterflies flying around in my stomach. There is a feeling of sorrow and empathy for those who have been asked to come and explain their role in the terrible and horrendous things that happened to our country and people. To those who suffered and went through hell as a result of the unspeakable actions of their own people, the feelings I carry are difficult to explain, especially when I know that perpetrators of these heinous acts are still roaming our neighborhoods and sit in every institution in our society.

Never in the history of Liberia have its citizens seen anything like what they are seeing in this 21st century. Never before have Liberians seen those who once reigned over them become so emotional in testifying to what they did or did not do to bring the nation to where it finds itself today. Liberians worldwide are at a point in history where lying or keeping things secret...things that happened to us that have eventually taken us back hundreds of years..trying assiduously to leave some stones unturned, will not work. And that is why I continue to quote John 8:32 to those who are now facing the people they once gave little or no regard to. That is why it is necessary for the truth and the whole truth to be told to the Liberian people and the world. For it is when the whole and genuine truth is told that the people will feel the need to forgive and forget.

I understand that some of the people on the TRC commission were also deeply involved in the story that's being told. I also understand that Clarence Simpson, Jr and Estrada Bernard, men who once prosecuted Henry Fahnbulleh, his family and others, are now in Monrovia and trying to make ends meet and have not been asked to testify before the TRC. No one should be left out. No one is immune from testifying, especially if you were part of the problem. I don't want to believe that it is true that people of the True Whig Party can sleep in peace in a situation like this. I can't believe that any one connected with 133 years of inequality can sit happily and say that all is well with his or her soul.

Someone called me and asked whether I had read the Fahnbulleh testimony. "Did you see how arrogant that man was?," my friend continued. I told my friend that the Fahnbulleh testimony sounded more genuine and credible to me. I even wondered why Bishop Warner did not mentioned in his testimony what Fahnbulleh talked about. I was even unimpressed with the prostration of Oscar Quiah and the lamentation of Chea Cheapo. I felt that the name of God was called too many times during Mr Cheapo's testimony. I hope that both Quiah and Cheapo said everything that was hidden in the recesses of their being. That will help in the healing process.

As we await the testimonies of the others who participated in this dark history of our country, we as a people must see the complexity and overwhelming nature of our situation and resolve to take actions that will unite us and not further divide us. I know there is no explanation anyone can give for keeping a people down for 133 years. I know there are those who think that the administration of President Samuel Doe was the best thing that ever happened to Liberia. I have heard the argument that 250,000 of our people had to die in order for us to be where we are today. Whatever the argument, the average of the sum total is that all Liberians, no matter what part of the country we are from... we are hurt, we are resentful and we are understandably vengeful. Nevertheless, we must begin to chart the course of how we can move on, capturing the beauty of our diversity and focusing on the progress we can all make together for the good of our country.

Nurturing The Mistakes of The Past

Corruption, lack of vision, and disregard for the rule of law have all haunted the nation for the last 161 years. After years of one party rule, military dictatorship, and massives killing of the people of Liberia and the destruction of the country, PhDs and highly educated sons and daughters of the soil continue to suck the life blood out of our country. The government of Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf continues to make mistakes. My heart boils everytime negative vibes eminate from Monrovia. Here's my gut feelings about the situation:

Liberia announced its Independence 161 years ago. For 133 of those years, 90% of the population was left in complete darkness: Lack of serious development, satisfaction with the high illiteracy rate of the masses, educating to the fullest sons and daughter of the ruling class, massive corruption, and a complete lack of vision for the country...all characterizing a way of life that was bound to collapse some day in the future.

A military coup and fourteen years of war that killed hundreds of thousands of Liberians and displaced many more, same to have had no impact on the psyche and behavior of some of the most educated and prominent citizens of the country. One would think that after what the country and its people have gone through, a new page in our history would be flipped over and the many mistakes of the past would be history.

A few months back, Mr Harry Greaves of the Liberian Petroleum Refining Company could not explain to the people of Liberia how an oil deal was finalized with Nigeria. A handshake, some arm twisting, and a lot of headwork sealed the deal. For an experienced, educated, and well known personality of Mr Greaves' caliber, such an explanation did not at all satisfy even the ice seller doing business down Waterside. The LAC deal with the Minister of Agriculture, did not sit well with the people of Grand Bassa County.

A few weeks ago the rumor was that government officials were sending huge sums of money abroad by way of Western Union. A strong statement came out to ridicule such bogus claim. That story was calmly put to rest because no fruit of such a crime was exhibited.

Some time way back, it was learned that Richard Tolbert, the head of the National Investment Commission, was being groomed to be the next president of Liberia. There is no denial that Mr Tolbert is a smart and well educated person. There is no but, if, or and that with all things considered, Richard Tolbert could be on anyone's short list for the presidency of the country. After the fiasco with BRE and a 100% duty- free incentives for a company that buys a rubber tree for $0.50, the chances that Richard Tolbert will be a president with the requisite vision for the country and the people are now very close to zero.

The government is under great stress to deliver. 85% of the people are out of work. What seems to be in the interest of the people, continues to turn out as just the same gimmick, especially so if the policy to oversee certain aspect of a transaction is deliberately ignored. Why are we continuing to repeat the same old corrupt tactics for which many lost their lives in 1980? Why can't we learn from the mistakes of our fathers?

When the president finds a transaction of this magnitude null and void, a transaction that was implemented by someone who came back to the country after almost 30 years of absence, one wonders whether the return of Mr Tolbert to Liberia was genuine or just a trip to grab and get out.

Here is something we used to say in high school, right there in Liberia: Mistakes are allowed to made, but not in every capacity. Those working for the present government of Liberia are making too many mistakes. Those of us who support the president are becoming weary of the many wolves in sheep skin. Giving one company $150 Million duty free privilege at this time in the history of Liberia is just ridiculous and mind boggling. What else is going on in the government of Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf?

Liberians do not want another military government..a government with no inclination to the rule of law. Those who are calling for the immediate arrest and detention of government officials who err, are doing so out of pure emotion. Samuel Doe and Charles Taylor introduced us to such tactics. Those tactics did nothing for the country. We are still one of the poorest countries in the world. Let the rule of law take its course

The first semester of this governing has not gone too well. The PhDs and those with long work experience from abroad are doing more damage to the government than expected. Corruption and greed continue to hamper progress and the Liberian people are incessantly complaining. I hope the second semester will allow all participants in government to wipe the cobwebs from their eyes and to see the dire needs of the people. And that the mistakes that continue to haunt the nation will begin to dissipate once and for all.

The War Against Incompetence and Blind Following

For the past 18 years that I have lived in the United States, I have not participated in any election staged by the Union of Liberian Association in the Americas (ULAA), the Liberian organization that was intended to introduce me, a new arrival to America, to what I needed to do to survive in this country. My family and I were left to fend for ourselves, the hard way.

This year's ULAA election has captured my imagination, especially so that a lady who has given her all for the Liberian community, is a candidate for the presidency of an Organization that should mean something to the Liberian people, world wide. To change a system one must be a part of the change process. It is fabulous to sit and watch from the sideline. It is wonderful to sit and whine and allow others to fight for a shift in the mindset of those who prefer the status quo. Not me. The talent that just got ripened to allow me to express my gut feelings, continues to drive in high gear:

This memo goes out to Liberians who are begging for a tsunami-type change in the history and operation of ULAA (The Union of Liberian Associations in the Americas).


Fellow Liberians:

If all goes well, this will be my first time voting in a ULAA election...and I have been in this country for more than fifteen years...and in the Nation's capital, for that matter. ULAA's portrayal has not sat well with me...and if all was said and done, many, many people in the Diaspora will vouch that ULAA has been and continues to be dubbed as an elite organization. ULAA has been the springboard that catapulted many of its leaders to positions of power in Liberia. I hate to think that that was the original objective of this organization.

Most Liberians are frustrated and disgruntled with the ULAA leadership. The umbrella under which the thousands of Liberian organizations in America are supposed to find refuge, is riddled with holes...leaving Liberians soaking wet... like drowned rats..fending for themselves. Charles Taylor, past president of ULAA, did well in promoting the real image of the organization and its ideals. I was not here but I know Mr Taylor ended many of his speeches..to rousing ovations... with the words: In the cause of the people, the struggle continues.

In the cause of the people, the struggle continues were words that deafened the ears of Liberians in the 70s and 80s, and even the 90s. The PEOPLE of Liberia, 80 % of whom are illiterate and helpless, embraced and fell victims to the charade of a few. The dancing in the streets of Monrovia and other cities in Liberia; the elated feelings generated after hearing tricksters and war lords talk of a glorious tomorrow on BBC...all these and many others, turned out to be a farce and a great disappointment to the masses of our PEOPLE.

The end result of all the talks and the many great speeches was the killing of thousands of our PEOPLE, the people for whom the struggle was intended and for whose livelihood and welfare the drum beat could be heard far and wide.

I have never understood why the Bong Mines-Kakata highway was never paved. The distance is about 20-30 miles. The rumor mill had it that the government of Liberia took the money intended for the road and used it on something else. This brings me to the money collected for Liberian refugees in Ghana who were in dire need at a particular time.

Transparency and accountability have been the Achilles' heel for almost all Liberian Organizations in the Americas. Most Liberians are fed up with the destructive and corrupt politics of those who call themselves community leaders.The money that was collected for the Ghana Refuge crisis, with Mariah Seaton at the head, has not been accounted for and with great disrespect to us Liberians in the Diaspora, ULAA and its leadership has determined that a bunch of fools like us need not know what happened to the money that was collected by concerned members of the community. This is the kind of misstep that sends credibility down the abyss of no return. This is the kind of compunction and audacity that continue to drive away Liberians who are anxious to help.

Let's stop the joke. The real PEOPLE of Liberia are those in River Gee who continue to walk bare footed and can barely sustain themselves. The children in RockTown, Maryland County who are unable to buy uniforms for school, are the real PEOPLE we should be concerned about. The real PEOPLE whose livelihood we keep falsifying are those living in Belle Yalla, Gbarpolu County whose lifestyle have not changed since 1847. Yes, the real PEOPLE we should be talking about are those refugees who came to America and fell through the cracks all because ULAA was AWOL.

The time for politics as usual is over. The time and moment for social reawakening is now. Liberians around the world are in search of genuine and caring leaders who will see the great need to lift the PEOPLE of Liberia up from the state of destitution in which they find themselves. Character assassination and leaving no stone unturned at undermining those who are willing to sacrifice for the real cause of the PEOPLE, will not auger well for those of us who are bent on bringing about real change in the lives of the PEOPLE of Liberia.

Liberians, we are now at a cross road. We can either decide to continue to stand still and look around or, we can choose someone on ULAA's election day who will move this organization in the direction of the 21st century. That is why the same old, same old is just sickening. That is why the first half of the 21st century belongs to women who have long held the view and vision of a better society. That is why it is the right thing to do...on election day...to vote for Dr Mariah Seton...to take ULAA and the rest of the organizations under the umbrella to a completely different level of experience and existence.

The time for Liberians to mince words and ideas is history. We need to see things as they are and muster the courage to kick against evil tendencies. We should not continue to promote falsehood and blind following just for our own convenience. We are so shamefully backward in development projects that it is a shame we are the last to see this major ill.

Dr Mariah Seton has shown that she is a capable, trustworthy, and caring person who means well for Liberians in the diaspora and the motherland. That is why my battle cry at this time in history is: Seton/Curtis all the way to victory!

Why am I so optimistic? The reason has been pounded into recesses of my mind by the late Robert Kennedy, in his own words: "Some people see things as they are and say why. I dream things that never were and say why not?"

Kweme
7/21-22/08

Running For A Second Term

Some people are bent on promoting nothing positive about the administration of Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf. Their only goal is to incite bad feeling amongst the people, majority of whom are vulnerable to lip service and the noise of empty drums. To buttress their whims, they are calling for the president to abandon any notion of running for a second term, forgetting big time, that the constitution of Liberia gladly gives Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf the option to run or not to run, whether detractors like it or not.

With this as a backdrop, it was just not me to sit and allow my stomach to swell from the bitterness being perpetrated by individuals the likes of whom the Liberian people have already had. I had to spew out what my guts were rumbling about:


Arthur David's letter to Frontpageafrica was good reading. As I was reading through I was also praying that he would give a few names...a few potential presidential names... that Liberians could ponder over from now until 2010. Arthur flipped in his mind's eye by telling himself that Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf should go for a second term as president of Liberia. He then flopped when he began to suggest that the old ma should not run after 2010 but that someone else should be the next president of Liberia. Arthur did well by reminding us that the 21 remaining presidential candidates of 2005 have not, so far, shown the characteristics and zeal that would change the minds of the Liberian people. Those presidential candidates who scored 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 percentage points respectively in the 2005 presidential election would still maintain the same results come election day, 2010.

Nelson Mandela became President of South Africa in 1994. Besides the terrible social conditions of the majority of black people in South Africa, the country's economic status in the world was way up there. If Mr Mandela had to work hard to change anything it had to be the improvement of his people's social decadence. After five years, it was OK to turn over the reign of power to a younger and stronger generation. If everything in South Africa was as bad as is today in Liberia, Mandela would have gone for another term.

I am not a part of the present Liberian gravy train. I was never a part of any past Liberian gravy trains. I am bitter that I had to leave my country. Yet, I am of the opinion and strong conviction that it will be good for the country that the Old Ma run for a second term. Our country is in ruins. Our people are out of work. Monrovia is littered with electric generators huffing and puffing bad air into the lungs of our people. Those who want to be presidents of Liberia are not sharing the wealth they have with the people they want to govern. These presidential aspirants live in their gated homes, ride their huge SUVs as ordinary Liberians struggle to maintain their basic sanity.

Investors coming to Liberia at this time are doing so because of the security and investment climates they see under a democratically elected Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf..a person that they can trust. These investors are not prepared for the unknown. From what I have been hearing, some of those who want to see someone new as president are also advocating major changes in how Liberians see themselves. For example, there is this crazy notion out there that under a new administration, Liberians with certain names will have to abandon their names to make them more Liberian than others. Rodney Sieh, for example, will have to struggle trying to change from Rodney to Tappeh Sieh. Cooper Kweme would be known as Gongbay Kweme and so forth and so on.

These and many other funny and trivial changes would cause confusion and start the beginning of another chaotic situation that someone said could have occurred if a George Weah had been elected president of Liberia. That's how we missed the boat in 1980 when Samuel Doe was overwhelmed by the advice of people who helped to bring us to where we are today. The time we take to make sure that Sumo Nyama and Mydea Zoega are definitely from Bong and Bassa counties, we could be using that time wisely to bring investors to build the cities of Gbarnga and Buchanan.

If I were an investor I would avoid places where names and county of origin were more important than substance. If it will take serious Liberians...young and old..twelve years to come to their senses, then I would prefer a 77-year old Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf to take us to that realization. We need someone..a president...who will transcend bitterness, sectionalism, and tribalism and bring our people together for a common purpose.

We cannot dwell on the past. Nelson Mandela did not dwell on the past. That is the most important characteristic of him that Liberians must inculcate and emulate. We cannot and should not force our first lady-president to run away from the huge task of trying to build a country and reconcile its population. The Constitution gives 6 years and talks of a second term. Is the second term 4 years or another 6-year? That is something Liberians need to look at. But for now, I feel very uncomfortable replacing my best hunting dog in the middle of a sure kill.

We all flip-flop once in awhile. There was a time when Nelson Mandela himself refused to negotiate with the South African Authorities. That was a big flip. Most of his colleagues in jail with him were upset when he decided to reconsider his stance, after 27 years. To them that was a major mistake...an ominous and deceptive flop. We all know what happened when the mind of Nelson Mandela changed for the good of society. If circumstances dictate that Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf must run for a second term, what's the problem with that? Why can we let freedom ring and give the Liberian people the chance to decide for themselves? Why must some us go around inciting indifference and falsehood amongst a vulnerable people?

As for me, as long as the knight on the white horse continues to elude me, I am going to stick with EJS all the way to 2016.

Ending The Step-Child Mentality

Liberians, old and young, see no reason why the United States of America is bent on not giving unprecedented and unconditional help to Liberia, even in time of great turmoil and mishap. The notion that Liberia is America's step child became a cancer in the minds of Liberians to the point that they expected America to save the country during its senseless civil war. America did what it could do, but it came very late in the game.

Liberians or the leaders thereof have not shown any sense of serious responsibility to the development of their country or the inclusiveness of the entire populace for the general good of the nation. I could not sit supinely as the thought of accusing fingers began pointing west.


We all know that Liberia announced her independence to the world in 1847. We all know that this piece of land situated on the West Coast of Africa, that was once the size of the State of Ohio and is now compared to the size of the State of Tennessee in the United States, has had 22-23 Presidents. We also know today that the country known as Liberia had a population that stood at 2.5 Million people for many years and that after 14 years of civil war, that nation can now boast of an addition of 500,000 more people just after that horrendous episode in its history.

Over the years, Liberia has been called by many different names: Little America, America's Step Child, Star of Africa, and many more that I can't recall at this particular moment. I have not been able to figure out whether Liberia's attachment to America was something allowed my the United States or whether this was a fantasy engraved in the minds of Liberians by those Liberians who enjoyed some special or cordial relationship with Uncle Sam. Why was Liberia considered America's step child when Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Ghana or Kenya was never mentioned as Britain's adopted daughter or step anything? Why is Cote I'voire, Senegal, Morocco, Togo, or Cameroon not considered a step child of France?

Liberia or those who have been in charge of the country have had their share of ridicule from the step father. I remember President Doe being called Mr Moe by President Reagan. I also remember President Tolbert being talked about when a microphone was left open in the hall of Congress. From experience living in America for more than 15 years, I can put my head on the chopping board and say that Liberia's step father has had and continues to have serious kitchen-table conversations about how far Liberia has come since 1847.

This brings me to some of the comments made to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission by Secretary Cohen in Minnesota. When asked why was it necessary for the United States to sit by and allow Liberians to eat each other up for 14 years, the Secretary said it was because the United States did not want Liberia to “become a ward of America.” In a more forceful explanation, Secretary Cohen shared with Liberians the attitude of the then National Security Advisor. Hear him: "National Security advisor Scowcroft said that the US could not intervene in the Liberian crisis because doing so would have meant that Liberia would perpetually be a ward to America.”

I know what a ward is but I felt the need to refresh my memory. So I googled the word. In a church, a ward is the local congregation; in a country, a ward is an electoral district. Even in mechanics, I found out that a ward is a mechanical lock. But the meaning that I felt meant a lot to America was the legal implication. In law, a ward is someone or something placed under the protection of a legal guardian. This last meaning has a huge responsibility attached and America did not want anything to do with it. I wonder whether this was the same feeling the great United States had when Rwanda was going through its share of hell.

It did not take long for the former Yugoslavia to get help from America. The people of Grenada did not have to call for help. Uncle Sam was in the streets of that country in a jiffy. In recent times, Iraq saves its money why Uncle Sam spends $10 Billion a month (or a week?) in that oil-rich country. Am I mad that America tolerated our inhumanity to each other for 14 long years? Am I pissed off that our presumed step father/mother took so long to wipe the tears from our eyes and to help heal the wounds we incurred during the war years? Am I that vexed? My emotions are mixed.

Liberians were made to believe that America would do anything for the country, no matter what, no matter when. I don't know how this notion came about, but for the downtrodden and less fortunate ones in Liberia, that perception and assumption worked. My father told me once...and this was a man who never set foot in a classroom...that if anything should happen to Liberia, America would be there instantly to protect the country. Unprovoked attack on Liberia by another country may generate some interest in the United States; but to say carte blanche that Uncle Sam would be willing to take up arms for a tiny, little country in Africa is just wishful thinking; or like my Togolese Principal used to say: A figment of our own imagination.

With my mixed emotions I am seriously tempted to ask: What have Liberians done for themselves lately? Do these people really love their country? Are Liberians willing to sacrifice their all for the best country in the world? Have those in power been truthful to the people they have governed over the years? Are Liberians patriotic enough to sacrifice for the country their forefathers left behind?

In times like these when I see Antoinette Sayeh leaving Liberia for a job in Washington, DC, I can not join those who celebrate her departure. I mourn the fact that here is a woman who could have a tremendous impart on the financial transparency of a country in distress. Yet, she has chosen to abandon ship that is in stormy seas. This means that those who can change mindsets are quick to develop cold feet at the least distraction. John Morlu at Auditing came under great threat and stress. He is still on board. Many others like Kofi Woods, whose origin is being questioned by an old mindset, remains committed to changing the way we have done things for ages. Banks, Gongloe, Toe; all of these Liberians are sacrificing something to make life better for the people.

If Liberians can demonstrate that they mean business when it comes to seeking the interest of their own people, then others like Uncle Sam will see the dire need to come to the aid of a people determined to change; the United States of America will not be afraid of being a guardian of anything hopeful. For as the Bible says: God helps those who help themselves. Maybe America gets her cue from the Great Book.

Africa's Woes

The disgraceful happenings in Zimbabwe with Robert Mugabe continue to pick on my consciousness. The delay on the part of African leaders to condemn this man is appalling and insane. The unstoppable mayhem in other parts of Africa that has taken forever to twig the nerves of Africa's leaders continues to amaze me...and I am mad as hell:

Robert Mugabe has forced his people to go to the polls against their wishes and the wish of the international community. He is twigging his nose at all those in power, especially in Africa. We wait to see those who will point accusing fingers at him at the African Union Summit in Egypt this week.

Mr. Mugabe's logic is that since most of Africa's leaders refuse to give up power, he saw no reason why he, the poster boy, should give up his rule when he has not completed his term of office or has been voted out of power.

Is Mugabe saying that no leader of Africa has the guts to ask him to step down seeing the gravity in the lifestyle of the people of Zimbabwe the agony they are going through both at home and outside it? Is Mugabe telling the world that the Presidential Club in Africa has swore and is bent on seeing the people of Africa suffer forever and ever? Is Mugabe, in his last days on earth, letting the secret of Africa's presidential detente out of the bag?

There was the Organization of African Unity (OAU). Let's call it the organization that kept African leaders in power for ever. Some cases in point: William V.S. Tubman of Liberia; Ahmed Sekou Toure of Guinea; and Kwame N'Krumah of Ghana. The three sat in a dusty town of Sanniquellie deep in Nimba County, Liberia, and proposed the OAU. The rest of the leaders of Africa agreed to this farce and that organization was born.

Tubman remained in power until death. Sekou Toure remained in power until his death. Our man from Ghana would have been in power today had he not been overthrown by his country's military! What benefits did the Liberian people get from being part of the OAU? One benefit I can think about is this: No Africa country, not even Liberia, should interfere in the internal affairs of another African country. From such well-written agreement, Tubman, Toure and N'Krumah and the rest of the pack were sure to remain in power until hell froze over. If you think I am lying, check out all the African leaders that came into being after the old boys had gone. Conte of Guniea is still hanging in there with a dialysis machine attached to his side.

The OAU has changed to African Union (AU). From the OAU, they have now shortened this acronym to AU. Let's be real here. Isn't this just new wine in an old barrel or old wine in a new barrel? What I realize is that to keep this phenomenon going, the majority of Africa's people must remain illiterate. The more people are illiterate, the more likelihood they would remain at the mercy of the educated.

The Case of Liberia

The majority of the people of Liberia were kept in literacy - darkness for as long as possible - 133 years, give and take. Those in power made sure their offspring got well educated to perpetuate the governing of the state. In order not to be seen to be cruel, wicked and unmindful of the needs of the people, a few lucky ones among the indigenous were chosen and educated through the master-servant setup. It worked but not to the benefit of the country - masses. For today, the Government of Liberia is importing auditors from Ghana and Zambia to do what Liberians should be doing, even after a civil war.

The African Scenario

The world's second largest continent is the least developed. Every other continent is doing better than Africa. We cannot protect our people from our wicked leaders. Check out Sudan. Darfur is an eyesore to the whole of Africa. Look at the Congo. Uganda has been at war since Idi Amin ran away. Somalia is a no-man's land. Listen to the man in The Gambia. By looking at a victim and uttering unintelligible pronouncements, the President of that country can cure HIV/AIDS. What a joke!

Look at South Africa. Even after Mandela, the people of South Africa continue to struggle for black supremacy. The black population has been relegated to townships with little or no amenities; they live in dirt and squalor. Universities in South Africa are still segregated. South Africa leads in frequency of crime upsurge in the world. The country appears to be sitting on time bomb; even worse than what we see in Zimbabwe. This is simply because foreigners have forcefully taken over the land of the indigenes. The dumb policy of seeing wicked things happen and not being able to raise a voice is highly depressing. It leads to sudden and uncontrollable upsurge of civil upheaval.

Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe is now telling African leaders to commit themselves to term limit as they seek the presidency of their countries. It is a big shame that it has to go this far before the people can finally understand that the OUA or AU was never and has never been in the interest of the people. African leaders set this thing up to keep themselves in power indefinitely.

New Breed of Leaders

The next rung of the ladder to Africa's future must be put together by a new breed of African leaders. These leaders must be prepared to see green and call it green, unlike the attitude of their forebears.

The new leaders must see the need to obviate any future upheavals such as what discerning political observers foresee in South Africa and in other places on the continent.

The Crisis In Zimbabwe, Etc.

A myriad of things are going on in Liberia and in the minds of Liberians world-wide. The situation in Zimbabwe is shameful and uncivilized. I had to say something:


I will start this letter by asking: What's up Liberia? What's up Liberians? What are we complaining about now? Here are some of what I've been hearing around town:

Mr James Hunder gave a statement at the TRC hearing here in America. As an SSS officer at the Executive Mansion he was assigned to the Post Stockade at BTC in Monrovia after the coup of 1980. Mr Hunder revealed that he was there when General Wehsen and others were killed. He talked about how traumatized he was when these people were killed right before his eyes. As an SSS officer, Mr Hunder also revealed that he used to take messages written on toilet papers from AB Tolbert to some of AB's friends. Mr Hunder was attending one of those errands when he came back to the prison to find out that AB Tolbert and others had been taken away and butchered.

I would be so scared carrying messages from one person to another if I knew that as an SSS officer, I was being watched by members of the People's Redemption Council, who, like Joseph and the new Pharaoh in the Bible, did not know me. I believe Mr Hunder, but many others have doubts about his testimonies. Some are asking: How did Mr Hunder know that AB and others were killed in Schefflin and buried in unmarked graves? Skeptics never sleep!

Another revealing thing at the TRC was a statement given by the American Ambassador, Mr Cohen. Mr Cohen talked about how Prince Johnson was "wild and incoherent" during the period of the civil war when President Doe wanted all his Krahn soldiers to leave the country through the Liberia-Sierra Leone border. Personally, I feel that it is wrong for any President of Liberia to take his entire tribal group out of the country, especially so if the president is supposed to be for all Liberians. Why would Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf want to take the whole of Montserrado County and Gbarpolu County to Ivory Coast after she leaves office?

For his part, Prince Johnson is so mad by the statement of Mr Cohen that he, Senator Johnson, has threatened to expose and tell everything that happened, especially the roles America played in Liberia's civil war. Won't that be wonderful? We have all heard the rumors and they-say about the parts Uncle Sam played to bring us where we are today. Like Ross Perot, I am all ears to hear the Senator from Nimba County. But again, America is our mentor. Liberians love America like nobody business. In the end, with Liberians so in love with America, we can only sit and say: Dat som there. Again, what can water do with rock?

Maybe, not everyone is complaining about the situation in Zimbabwe. I am, and I want Liberia to take a stand. I want Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, who has an Award for Freedom, to take a stand for freedom in Zimbabwe. Liberia should condemn President Robert Mugabe in no uncertain terms and call on the International Community to bar this crazy man from traveling outside of the country. If Robert Mugabe is saying that only God can take the presidency from him, then all God-fearing nations of the world should get together and march an army into Zimbabwe and cage this mad, 82-year old tyrant. This is where George W Bush comes in handy.

Lastly, Liberians in America are very skeptical about the security situation in their home land. Besides the police stopping some of us for speeding, we are not used to Senators instigating the massacre of their own people. Senators are law makers and should be law keepers. It is just inconceivable to think that those who are clothed to protect are the ones finding great pleasure in the demise of the innocent.

I remember when armed robbers, on a weekly basis, faced firing squads after the Nigerian civil war and when military coups were a yearly past time for Nigerians. I know people are doing everything to prove that the government of Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf is out to kill the Liberian people. Senators and armed robbers who are found guilty of their crimes must be given a new home at a new Belle Yalla some where in the Sapo National Forest. This government should not be the one to spill the blood of any Liberian for the six or twelve years of its reign. The temptation to kill those who find pleasure killing others is all over the place. Unity Party must not take the bait. All death penalties must be commuted to life imprisonment. After the killing of 200,000 of our people, it is time that we give ourselves a break.

It is good to know that we are now 3.5 Million people. All during my high school years and many others to follow, our population was always 2.5 Million. I wish the census had asked each household how many family members were killed during the civil war. That would have given something close to the actual number of Liberian lost during our years of destruction and mayhem. Those counties that are least developed need to be given priority. To have a million or so people in Montserrado County, especially in Monrovia, is insane. As serious focus is given to Maryland or Grand Kru or River Gee, people will begin to migrate out of Monrovia. Stealing and armed robberies could be highly reduced.

Life's Starnge Happenings

The country from which I originated seems to be going downhill every day of my adult life. This has weighed me down with great and considerable dismay. The death of 14 individuals on the account of a land dispute has given my mind a task to perform for Liberia:

After 14 years of civil war, most Liberians would think that the killings and mistreatment of their fellow citizens ended when the Peace Accord was signed in Accra, Ghana some years ago. Most Liberians would think that after the country's traumatized people voted war lords and rebel leaders into power, these blood-thirsty individuals would reevaluate their past and thank God that they are in Monrovia and not in the Hague, where the big, big boss presently resides.

My heart is broken to hear that so many people were massacred in Kakata for land business. And to know that the person behind this grotesque act is a Senator, causes chills of despair over my entire being. The entire nation should be outraged, especially now that it is clear to all that mass killings and other acts of brutality ended when the people of Liberia decided to elect their leaders instead of power-hungry individuals imposing their will on them.

I am very depressed and it is just incomprehensible for any normal person to lay their hand on any good reason why rebel leaders were elected Senators and Representatives of Liberia. I thought the days of "you know who I am?" was over. I thought the elections of 2005 were held so that law and order would prevail in a country that had heard all and seen all. I thought rebel leaders who were given a second chance would consider their past wicked ways and change for the general good of society. I thought rebel leaders and war lords had washed their hands clean of the blood of innocent Liberians. I thought war lords and rebel leaders now Senators and Representatives would be calling for peace and reconciliation every day of their remaining days on this earth, especially after what they have done to their own people. O how mistaken I continue to be!

The elimination of 14 innocent Liberians whose only crime was trying to make a decent living, sends an ominous message to the many who plan to come to Liberia to do business to help relief the struggling masses. And the sickening thing about this whole episode is that the perpetrator is a man who is supposed to be making laws to govern the country.

There is something strange about this world that I am still trying to figure out: We are taught to love God with all out hearts and minds and to love our neighbors like we love ourselves. Yet, with all that nice teaching banged into our heads by our pastors and parents, we turn right around and massacre as many of our neighbors as we can...with little or no regret whatsoever. It is just amazing how killing is so easy for so many. Where do we all end up when it all said and done? I wonder where will General "Bush Shaking" go when he finally leaves this world. Will someone else pick up the tab for General "Snake in the grass" when he is no more? At 82, will Mugabe of Zimbabwe continue to be pampered by African leaders until he has killed half of his people who no longer support him?

Life's strange happenings continue to amaze me.

Encouraging A Reconciling-Mindset

The Liberian people are a forgiving people. They have been fooled and bamboozled over the years by their own leaders. 15 years of senseless civil war brought untold destruction and unspeakable atrocities upon their existence. There are some out there who want nothing but to hatch more confusion. The dilly-dallying has been continuous. I will not let it go without challenging this divisive war-cry:

I just forgot. What is this thing that is interred in one's bones after death? Is it good or evil?

Majority of the people of Liberia were let down when it came to educational opportunities and other qualities of life. This state of affairs lasted for 133 years.This is no new news. But in 10 years of majority rule (?), the people of Liberia experienced and suffered the most vicious inhumane acts ever. We were fooled and made to believe that the angel on stage was far better off than the devil we had known for years.

That is why all Liberians must see reason to reconcile. All Liberians must preach reconciliation, no matter which camp you belong to. From what we know, and under these circumstances, none of us shall see God; for none of us has a pure heart.

I hate to think that this is an insurmountable undertaking. I hate to think that a few misguided ones will prevail in their assessment of the reality that must be embraced.

I have tried to punish myself by trying to abandon this constant dilly-dallying and vacillation. I just can't. There is something in the catacombs of my mind that continues to remind me of the obligation I have to the people of Liberia...not to allow a few to bamboozle the reconciling-mind set of the most vulnerable in our society.

Molding A New Future For Liberia

The evil that man does lives after him. To the supporters of President Samuel Kanyon Doe, he did no evil, we heard no evil, and he introduced milti-party democracy into Liberia! I strongly disagree:

The Presidential Election of 1985 in Liberia was rigged. History recorded that. We can crunch the numbers, glorify the moment, whatever. Military governments are usually forced to have elections in order for their countries to continue getting international recognition and benefits. Military leaders appease those calling for civility by faking the democratic process. This is what Mr Samuel Doe did. This is what Mugabe has done in Zimbabwe. A showcase of such demagoguery can be seen world wide.

So, I find it indeed crazy for some to be celebrating today the nightmare of 1985. I find it unthinkable for some to espouse the notion that what went on in Liberia from 1980-1990 is cause for celebration. What is the essence of introducing a multi-party system that resulted in chaos...a chaotic and suppressive situation which later led to the destruction of a country?

We all have the right to see things differently to satisfy whatever we think we are trying to satisfy. But to say that President Samuel Doe, by himself, willingly introduce multi-party democracy into Liberia in 1985 is a farce. If Mr Doe really wanted his country to prosper, he would have sat back and let the democratic process work. Unfortunately, the gravy seekers were not yet satisfied. Their elbows were still dry after five years.

We are all losers in this cat and mouse game. The good thing is that Liberia is still there. Let's tell the darn truth without pussyfooting and move on. Like the Bible says: All men have sinned and come short of the glory of God. All past leaders of Liberia, I might add, have done our country and people injustice. They did things that would eventually take our country back to 1821. The vision was absent; 200,000 plus of Liberia's people perished; the skeleton of a nation remains.

Let those who survived...those who lived to tell the story of this holocaust..this brutality against haumanity...let those who are well-meaning in their hearts, begin to mold a new mindset and a new vision that will take Liberia into the future...a future that our children and grand children can give some positive meaning to. Let's work toward that end.

A Comment From The Bishop

My piece on Mary Broh , A Diamond in the Rough, got this reaction:

Sent: Fri, 9 May 2008 7:36 am

I strongly support your idea. I know Mary Broh personally and know of her integrity, and honesty. I taught her at the Gbarnga Methodist Mission School, in Gbarnga, Liberia. I am very proud of her and the work she doing for our country. She is a shining example and model for many other Liberians. Thank you for your piece.

Bishop Bennie D. Warner

The Washington, DC Metro-Area Inauguration

After being in America for more than 18 years (May 8, 2008), I was, for the first time, part of an inauguration process to induct a newly elected president and his crew of officers into office. It was a successful affair and I was indeed impress. Here is how I saw things during the festivities:

Nothing impresses more than to see my Liberian people coming together to have fun after working so hard and spending some tight dollars for a cause. I know deep down in my heart that we can be the best of the African organizations in America.

I was at the inauguration of Ernest Johnson, the new leader of the Liberian Community in the Washington, DC Metro Area. The program was to start at 8 PM. The guest speaker called and said he would be in by 8:15. That call gave me some relief, for I was worried all along that we would blow it; the Liberian tradition dictates that 8 o'clock, whether morning or evening, means 10 o'clock. We expected at least 300 guests, sitting and waiting for the guest speaker to arrive by 8 PM. That did not happen and I was slowly beginning to feel scared, embarrassed, and ashamed.

How do the Americans do it? How do the Chinese do it? These people respect time so much. If a program is set for say 4 PM, everyone who is invited is seated at 4 PM. We see this at school functions, weddings. concerts, every occasion. For Liberian functions, it's a different game plan. Will Liberians ever overcome this particular handicap?

Anyway, the program that was supposed to begin at 8 PM on a Saturday evening actually started an hour and thirty minutes later. The guest speaker came in at 8:15, mingled with the few that was present, took his seat, and waited for his hosts! Justin Ross, the guest speaker, is a delegate of the 5th District of the State of Maryland. He looks like a guy in his late 30s. He did not show it, but I knew in my heart this man was saying something like... why am I just sitting here, near this speaker that's emitting such loud music, when the program hasn't even started? Is this thing ever going to begin? I thought the DJ would be considerate of our Guest Speaker and at least lower the volume. There was no sound of such a gesture. I mentioned this to the DJ. His response: The man not complaining!

I have attended many events hosted by white people. The atmosphere at these events is quite different. The music is usually soft and mellow. When we invite them to our functions, we need not impose our way of playing music on them, especially when it's not dancing time.

All in all, the inauguration of Ernest Johnson and his crew of officers was a blast. The attendance was exactly what was expected. I saw Wette and Dr Seton; I saw Marselley and Kesselley. I was also privileged to meet the leader of the Minnesota Chapter of the Liberain Association, Keper Dwanyen. The big Whigs of ULAA were all present. Did anyone see me? Maybe. I was the guy at the bar serving the people. I bought a Patron Ticket but ended up serving the Liberian people at the bar!

I pray that we forget the evils that continue to hinder the progress that is desperately needed in our communities and in Liberia. I pray that we come together and build a vibrant Liberian society for all of us and our children to enjoy.

I am always ready and willing to contribute my quota, whether as a patron or a peasant.

Whinning Against Progress

The President's statement that those who were accused of plotting against the government of Liberia and were found not guilty should, including the judge, go and sin no more, has generated a mild tsunami of criticism. Of course, I had something to say; for those accused had been previously involved in despicable acts against the people of Liberia. I just had to react:

Julu and Dorbor are free to go and to stop hatching sinful activities against the people of Liberia. Likewise, we should stop inciting our people into believing that nothing is going on right after 15 years of brutality.The track record of these brothers from the East has not been as white as white rice. If we all can at least admit this, then we can begin to move forward in a more positive direction.

The sins and wickedness that a man does should always be well documented and put on a pedestal for all to behold. It's time for this one-man-crying-in-the-wilderness-of-normalcy thing to stop, praise God, and move on.

We've read your concerns. Everything will be alright. Read the Ellen interview on Frontpageafrica. She is literally begging us to go home and help make history. Criticizing her every move is tantamount to hatching evil in a society that is trying to move on with life.

Spotting A Diamond Out Of The Rough

The Free Port of Monrovia, one of Liberia's main outlets and inlets to the world is said to be the center of uncontrollable corruption and unbelievably illicit activities. When an online news medium reported that the opposite of what I just mentioned was being practiced at the Bureau of Passports in Monrovia, it was impossible for me to just sit and admire . My thoughts began to flicker:

There is always a diamond hidden in the heap of rough gravel at the edge of a deep pit. At times the urge is to shovel back into the pit what was once considered a treasure-trove of good promises. Sometimes nature takes its course by washing and blowing away that which it considers to be occupying valuable space.

Mary Broh, along with 9 women and 4 men are seen in a perfect photo shot, smiling. The story about the Passport Bureau in Liberia is heart-warming and welcoming. The story tells me that in the pile of corrupt news from Liberia is a group of people that is committed to carrying a special torch for emulation.

All Liberians are Ellen's buddies. I personally do not know the President. If for some odd reason she picks me to run the Free Port of Monrovia and in the end the Liberian people, especially investors struggling to free their goods, are no longer going through hell because of some positive initiatives I undertook to open up the bottleneck or catapult the bureaucracy, then of course the president would be pleased to have me in her camp.

When things used to get a bit frustrating at my house, I used to hear my father say: You born the child, you don't born his heart. The same could be said about those the President chose to help her run the government of Liberia. She must have had this gut-feeling that the people she was putting into positions of trust would have learned the lessons of history and work differently and effectively and honestly for the country and the Liberian people.

People are moaning and groaning about the situation at the Free Port of Monrovia. I know a huge chunk of the government's revenue comes from that entity. That being the case, why do they have all these middle men or brokers stifling the smooth operations of the Port? Is there nothing that can be done to end this nightmare? Is the government unable to fully and effectively take over the operations of an area that is so critical to revenue generation? What recommendations for drastic improvement are out there from the Board of Directors of The National Port Authority?

Mary Broh and her small band of effective staff have brought new life to the Bureau of Passports. Mary Broh needs to go to the Free Port of Monrovia and do what she did at the Bureau of Passports.

Liberia should not keep a good trend-setter down. The National Port Authority needs a Mary Broh to shake up things and bring pride to the country.

The rumor I keep hearing is that as soon as the United Nations troops are withdrawn from Liberia, civil war will return to the country. What an ominous and pessimistic thought! I will not buy this notion and I am expressing my gut feelings about this doomsday scenario:

The United Nations has about 15000 troops in Liberia. These troops are there to protect the same people everybody seems to be brouha-ha-ing and hullabaloo-ing about; they are there to protect the same Liberia everyone seems to love so much. These troops are in Liberia to stop the killing of the same Liberian people and give them back the peace that the country enjoyed before 1979. Enjoying peace before 1979, some die hard may say, is relative. No matter how the term peace is dissected, decrypted, analyzed, hypothesized, or theorized; no matter how one may feel about Liberia before 1979, the bottom line and the truth of the matter is, that before 1979, Liberians had not experienced such a chaotic wind nor had they been terrorized by their their own people in a manner seen during that year and beyond.

I saw a polling being conducted on the site of the Daily Observer online. Any time you see a question like the one being asked a people, it becomes obvious that rumors about something ominous are circulating around and about. The burning question that has many feeling sick in the stomach is, do Liberians, once again, want to live the nightmares of the 80s, 90s, and early 2000? Here is the question: After Ellen's term in office, will Liberia return to normal or turn back to civil war? One should answer Yes or No.

The figure is between 200,000 and 300,000 deaths. The number of Liberians that suffered injuries is not known. The number of people that went into exile during this period of chaos is yet to be given an actual figure.No matter what the final numbers in our tragedy come out to be, tiny Liberia suffered a modern day genocide and a complete self destruction.

As of the time I began writing this piece, the results of the poll show that 33% of respondents said that there is a likelihood that Liberia will return to civil war after Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf leaves office. 40% of those responding are optimistic that the democratic process that was begun in 2005 will prevail and that Liberians have had enough of the shenanigans and the lies and the self promotion and the corruption and the dee-dee-ba; that Liberians are fed up with the head work and the midnight handshakes that lead to deals that are difficult to explain; and, that Liberians want to move on with their lives, looking to a future filled with opportunities and possibilities for generations unborn.

When America and the United Nations went into Somalia in the early 90s to help bring law and order to that country, they were shot at; helicopters were shot down and some Americans were killed. The humanitarian efforts were snubbed and today, almost 20 years later, Somalia is still in chaos. Are Liberians really serious when they go around and boast that when the United Nations leaves Liberia they would prefer to go back to killing their own people and destroying their country? I understand that Julu and Dorbor are innocent, but do we still have Julu and Dorbor clones out there who have drawn blood and tasted fame through the barrels of guns and are lurking in the dark and waiting for democracy to collapse?

Will the people of Nimba County, a county that has been vilified and blamed for even the flies that perished in Liberia, be willing to sit by and allow invaders or local war enthusiasts to plunge our country into another war? Will the people of Cape Mount or Lofa County sit again and cry foul from war mongers who prefer to destroy and pillage their motherland than to promote peace? Will the people of Grand Bassa or Grand Gedeh county be willing again to allow rebels to invade their counties and strip the men naked, rape their wives and daughters, and forcibly enlist their young sons into rebel groups to destroy their country? Will the the people of Sinoe or River Gee or Gbarpolu County ever again sit and watch their counties go down in flame because they sat and thought that those who came into their towns and cities were their own people? Will Liberians in the Diaspora stomach the idea of another war after all that has been done by the international community to bring Liberia back into civilization?

I know without a doubt, because I am Liberian, that Liberia was a divided country before 1979. I know that 5% of the population had complete control over everything that a country and its entire population are supposed to enjoy. I know that while we the "country" people were struggling to make ends meet, the "congo" and "America-Liberians" could afford to send their children to the best schools, colleges, and universities that money could pay for. I know that all these things happened and they were dangerously wrong. Separating your own people into big time haves and haves-not and endowing the haves-not with a sense of inferiority complex is, as we all found out, a recipe for an avalanche of disasters.

I know in my heart that there are some Congo people who are very sorry for what they or their parents did to the majority of their own people. If it were not for the ego and bigity, as we say in Liberia, members of this minority group would come out openly and apologize to their fellow Liberians for the great wrong done. But as I see it, the notion and expectation are that the majority should apologize to the minority for what happened on April 12, 1980. Ten years of hardship and indifference are pale in comparison to 133 years of pomposity , high-hat bluff, massive corruption, underdevelopment, and all-time illiteracy.

Liberians do not need to resort to another civil war. The process that was experienced in 2005 was and is the most exciting way to elect those who are supposed to run any country. Let those who want to be president or senators or Representatives throw their hats into the election ring. Let the people decide who is the best to be employed for these positions. Let the people of Liberia be the ones to decide who goes into the Executive Mansion and who becomes a Senator or a Representative. That is the most civilized and democratic way to elect your leaders. Forcing one's way into power with guns and bombs is uncouth and uncalled for.

Vlee-ma in the Gio Language means threatening or pretending to frighten or coerce. After 15 years of war and say, six years of relative peace, I am confident that Liberians are ready to move on with their lives. Threats and rumors of another civil war will neither deter nor detract our people's focus from the bigger picture that is clearly in their sight.