April 12, 1980

After someone wrote about the missteps of the 1980 coup in Liberia, I couldn't resist adding my observation to the conversation:

I learned something new today. I had no idea that the person Samuel Kanyon Doe, President of Liberia, was once known as Samuel Kupti Doe. This is like opening the file to a classified document, to me.

So G Baccus, Tipoteh, and the other progressives were asked to take over the ship of state during the early hours of the coup of April 12, 1980? And the progressives refused or chickened out? That was a big disgrace, though. And these same progressives or remnants thereof are today begging to rush into the same Executive Mansion? Give Liberians a break!

If the Progressives could not take over the government through the ballot box and the opportunity came up through a military coup, why did they squander that golden opportunity? Why did the progressives put the Liberian people through the hell of 1979 and then failed them a year later? Why?

I know one thing: If Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf had been part of that native-elite group, she would have agreed to grab that bull by the horns with the military "backing" her. Was there a woman in that group that we know of, anyway?

Kollie's frustration is shared by many. It is difficult to admit, but whatever mistakes were made on the morning of April 12, 1980, those mistakes and many others following the days and years after, set the stage for the trouble the country faces today. The so-called progressives failed the Liberian people, big time. They were afraid to step up to the plate or to implement what they had been preaching across the country, inciting the youth as they canvassed the country side with false political and economic rhetoric. Or, let's just say that Boley and Gbala wanted something else, especially since SKD was from Grand Gedeh. Is there more to this story? Like Tolbert and the True Whiggers, was SKD pushed to remain in power by the gravy seekers surrounding him?

Should the same Liberian people therefore listen to the same nonsense today? Of course not. Once a failure, in my mind's eye, always a failure. Imagine turning the country over to the likes of Choppie Charlie and these big-mouth, plenty-talking gravy seekers of today. These are remnants of a failed group looking for a new groove. Those of us who witnessed chaos at its max should not allow the new generation of Liberians to be bamboozled by empty rhetoric from "progressives."

What's the way forward? Get on the ship that is headed for progress and a better day for the nation and its people. Learn what is involved in running a nation; learn how to overcome the huddles of nepotism and tribalism and Native-Liberianism. Twenty one parties or twenty one candidates clamoring for power will not bring progress and development to Liberia and its people.

Join and help the real Progressive presently occupying the Mansion. Be humble like the one who just visited the President in Monrovia. Go and look the Madam straight in the eyes and tell her what you will do differently if given the chance, especially in these difficult economic times. In other words, look at reality and the humongous failure of the past. Dig into the crevices of your soul and ask yourself: Is there really a better alternative out there, even with all the bad news of corruption in Liberia? Can any other group do better in so short a time?

The irrational exuberance of April 12, 1980 and that of December 24, 1989, left our mouths bitter and feeling like we had drunk jo-lo-gbo. We do not want to experience that feeling anymore, especially from inexperienced individuals who are ready to jump ship at a moment's notice.

Getting rid of 133 years of one-party rule by a tiny population of the country may have been embraced by 95% of of the population. It was the right thing to do, but did 95% of the people benefit from such a daring move? No. The new wine got polluted and contaminated by the old barrel. It will take sometime to replace the old barrels. And that is what is going on in the Liberia that we all want to see prosper.

The mistakes of the past will be talked about and archived in libraries and on television sets for years to come. The urgency of now requires that we roll up our sleeves and our pants and work toward a brighter future for our children. Liberia has not done well for itself.