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!