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.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Friday, May 16, 2008
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.
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.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
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
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
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
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.
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.
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.
Friday, May 9, 2008
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.
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.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
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.
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.
Monday, May 5, 2008
Imagining Vain Things
Rumors are a mainstay of life. Rumors flourish both in good times and especially so in bad times. Many a time rumors do manifest into truths; many other times rumors are just what they are...rumors.
Rumors are not a strange phenomenon in Liberia. When the President was rumored to be sick and may be dying from her illness, I thought to write the below piece:
"Why do the heathen rage and the people imagine a vain thing"? This Bible verse, found in Psalms 2:1, could mean different things to different people.
In the 1980s the rumor was that President Doe never slept in one place. Then Gabriel Kpolleh, a teacher who participated in the 1985 presidential elections, said he too was being harassed by Doe's agents and could not have a restful night in his own bed. There were also rumors of coups and the desires of many to get rid of Samuel Doe, who too, had eliminated many of those who would have protected him and the nation from outside threats.
Some people are so gifted and lucky in life that rumors literally fall in their laps.The past weeks have had its share of rumors and vain imaginations. A guy from Minnesota literally begged the Liberian people to give Nimba County a chance in 2011 to produce a son or daughter of Nimba to be the next president of Liberia. He said Nimba County had been the cause of the situation in which the country finds itself today. He said the people of Nimba County had been the cause of numerous deaths and the massive destruction that the war produced. Because it was Nimba County that destroyed Liberia, Nimba County should be given the chance in 2011 to fix the mess.
Mr Gonkarnue is very serious, for the saying in Liberia is: You spoil it, you fix it. The logic here is that no matter what development comes to Liberia during the Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf administration, it will mean nothing when compared to the development that will overwhelm the entire country of Liberia when a Nimbaian becomes president.The imagination here is that the days when the presidency of Liberia was given to individuals on a silver platter, are still alive and kicking.
Frontpageafrica is being rumored as having a disdain for the present government of Liberia. Is this hearsay or vain imagination? I have known Frontpageafrica for awhile now. I have not seen or talked to any of the people behind the scene of this online news medium. What I have observed, however, is that Frontpageafrica gives the public the raw gut feelings of those who write. FPA does this without fear or favor. Even those who vehemently accuse Frontpageafrica of hating Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf are surprised to see their own work published without comments.The President herself has heard this rumor. She does not believe it. Frontpageafrica is not a government paper.
Another rumor was that the Oldma is sick and is in the process of putting together a transition team to run the country. I am not too familiar with the Liberian Constitution, but I read somewhere in it that said that if the President were to become incapacitated, the Vice President was the person to take over. The Oldma is 69. Tubman was 70 when he passed. People are living longer now than in 1970. So, the rumors will continue for awhile. Who knows tomorrow? Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf could be around for a long, long, time; even after her term as president is long over.
Besides the plead for a president from Nimba County, there is also this advocacy group out there that thinks it is now time for Liberia to have a "native" president with a complete native name. For example, it is indeed true that my mom and dad were not born in Montserrado County. In that case I am consider in Liberia as a "country" boy. I stand a good chance of becoming president of Liberia in the new dispensation being advocated. However, I will have to change my name to Senfeiju Kweme inorder to fulfill this future change.
Senfeiju means void or empty in the Kpelle language. I wonder whether a change in name will change the mind set of Liberians or whether this is just another empty endeavor.
Cooper Kweme
Rumors are not a strange phenomenon in Liberia. When the President was rumored to be sick and may be dying from her illness, I thought to write the below piece:
"Why do the heathen rage and the people imagine a vain thing"? This Bible verse, found in Psalms 2:1, could mean different things to different people.
In the 1980s the rumor was that President Doe never slept in one place. Then Gabriel Kpolleh, a teacher who participated in the 1985 presidential elections, said he too was being harassed by Doe's agents and could not have a restful night in his own bed. There were also rumors of coups and the desires of many to get rid of Samuel Doe, who too, had eliminated many of those who would have protected him and the nation from outside threats.
Some people are so gifted and lucky in life that rumors literally fall in their laps.The past weeks have had its share of rumors and vain imaginations. A guy from Minnesota literally begged the Liberian people to give Nimba County a chance in 2011 to produce a son or daughter of Nimba to be the next president of Liberia. He said Nimba County had been the cause of the situation in which the country finds itself today. He said the people of Nimba County had been the cause of numerous deaths and the massive destruction that the war produced. Because it was Nimba County that destroyed Liberia, Nimba County should be given the chance in 2011 to fix the mess.
Mr Gonkarnue is very serious, for the saying in Liberia is: You spoil it, you fix it. The logic here is that no matter what development comes to Liberia during the Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf administration, it will mean nothing when compared to the development that will overwhelm the entire country of Liberia when a Nimbaian becomes president.The imagination here is that the days when the presidency of Liberia was given to individuals on a silver platter, are still alive and kicking.
Frontpageafrica is being rumored as having a disdain for the present government of Liberia. Is this hearsay or vain imagination? I have known Frontpageafrica for awhile now. I have not seen or talked to any of the people behind the scene of this online news medium. What I have observed, however, is that Frontpageafrica gives the public the raw gut feelings of those who write. FPA does this without fear or favor. Even those who vehemently accuse Frontpageafrica of hating Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf are surprised to see their own work published without comments.The President herself has heard this rumor. She does not believe it. Frontpageafrica is not a government paper.
Another rumor was that the Oldma is sick and is in the process of putting together a transition team to run the country. I am not too familiar with the Liberian Constitution, but I read somewhere in it that said that if the President were to become incapacitated, the Vice President was the person to take over. The Oldma is 69. Tubman was 70 when he passed. People are living longer now than in 1970. So, the rumors will continue for awhile. Who knows tomorrow? Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf could be around for a long, long, time; even after her term as president is long over.
Besides the plead for a president from Nimba County, there is also this advocacy group out there that thinks it is now time for Liberia to have a "native" president with a complete native name. For example, it is indeed true that my mom and dad were not born in Montserrado County. In that case I am consider in Liberia as a "country" boy. I stand a good chance of becoming president of Liberia in the new dispensation being advocated. However, I will have to change my name to Senfeiju Kweme inorder to fulfill this future change.
Senfeiju means void or empty in the Kpelle language. I wonder whether a change in name will change the mind set of Liberians or whether this is just another empty endeavor.
Cooper Kweme
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