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
Monday, May 5, 2008
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Changes Via The Democratic Process
Nathaniel Gbessagee and Patrick Sie-Nimely Tuon are advocating that the next president of Liberia in the 2011 presidential election be a "pure native" person with a "pure-native" name. That does not sit well with me:
Are you, Nathaniel Gbessagee, in your right mind, ready to deny what you read in those colorized quotes? Am I not entitled to the way I saw and continue to see things, as you have always said dialogues should be?
The changes you and your cohorts are craving for; the second chance for a "country" president that you are dreaming of will come, but they must come through a democratically induced process, void of sinister designs and desperate insinuations. For the future tells me that the next evil design after the first fulfillment is the notion of a "pure" marriage. A proposal to ban inter-tribal and inter-sectional marriages will be the next on the agenda. Who in the world knows what else is buried under those sleeves of confused machinations?
It is scary how some people come to America, get educated, enjoy freedom to say and advocate anything their minds desire, and yet go back to Liberia with the sole purpose of destabilizing the minds of our people. I despise this group and will not sit supinely by and give any credence to its evil and inflammatory thoughts.
This ends my participation in this no-head- no-tail, unending diatribe.
Are you, Nathaniel Gbessagee, in your right mind, ready to deny what you read in those colorized quotes? Am I not entitled to the way I saw and continue to see things, as you have always said dialogues should be?
The changes you and your cohorts are craving for; the second chance for a "country" president that you are dreaming of will come, but they must come through a democratically induced process, void of sinister designs and desperate insinuations. For the future tells me that the next evil design after the first fulfillment is the notion of a "pure" marriage. A proposal to ban inter-tribal and inter-sectional marriages will be the next on the agenda. Who in the world knows what else is buried under those sleeves of confused machinations?
It is scary how some people come to America, get educated, enjoy freedom to say and advocate anything their minds desire, and yet go back to Liberia with the sole purpose of destabilizing the minds of our people. I despise this group and will not sit supinely by and give any credence to its evil and inflammatory thoughts.
This ends my participation in this no-head- no-tail, unending diatribe.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Inculcating A New Mindset
Some think a name change will solve the myriad of problems Liberians face. I have a different view. And so when the dialogue got really tense, I jumped in.
OK, give me your eyes for awhile.
I read somewhere that the ACS...American Colonization Society expected the new settlers in Africa to Christianize the heathens with whom they were to co-habitate. That was when the superiority complex of the settlers from America and other areas took its root. These settlers believed and nurtured the idea that those they met in Africa were heathens to western culture. The name calling and marginalization began; and today, we are still trying to untangle the mess.
I have been wondering: Had Obama kept the name Barry or had his mom named him Chris Barry Obama, or Barry S (the S for her family name), would the majority of Americans give this man a break. I feel that the the Americo-Liberian influence on Liberia has been well established. Name-change alone for the Natives will not solve our problems.
What will be most pleasing to all Liberians is the day when Tuon Wreh, BA, MA, PhD and Jerome Halloway, BA, MA, PhD, both Liberians, can hold hands and come together to rebuild their country. What will be really interesting is the day when Samuel Elliott, now Nyema Toe, MD and James Green, MD, both Liberians, come together to figure out how to keep our people healthy. When Nepolor Sumo, BS and Matilda Giddens, BS, both Liberians, see the need to come together and teach our people how to be self sufficient in food production, that will be the day when Liberians will be proud of each others.
We should not use the high illiteracy rate of the majority Liberians to bring about name change. We should be doing better than going that divisive route. Spewing out hatred and self promotion has not helped the country or the people.
Someone chastised me and told me that I was from Pluto when I wrote that the first "Native" President, Samuel Doe, let us down big time when he blew the opportunity to be the best that he could be. He had people like Gbai Gbala (perfect native name) and John Ramsey ( an influenced native) advising him to turn the country into a Krahn entity. The Congoes dominated the political scene for 133 years. The first "native" president, with all these perfect native-name advisers, were now positioning themselves to take the country into another 133-year of hell. They started off by eliminating all those with perfect native names. Verbal intimidation and the M-16 rifle stood as emblems of the time. Things were bad before April 12, 1980; they were something else when the new roosters in town crowed nothing but tribalism in its ugliness. From the get-go, the scene was a complete disaster. Greed for power and the pomposity associated with it, dominated the fabric of the new Liberia we were supposed to get.
That's why I get extremely jittery when the perfect Native-Name thing shows its ugly head. I immediately begin to sweat profusely and fall into a trance of nightmarish proportion. The reason is simple: All Liberian names have sinned and done nothing for Liberia. All these names have been myopic in their vision and extremely corrupt in their ways. After 160 years, what can our country show for the ingenuity other countries are proud of?
What we need to pray and hope for is that Liberians keep their names; but the drive, mentality, and state of mind do a 360 for the sake of all.
Liberians are a different set of people. We should not be told to become Nigerians or Ghanaians. We must not be forced to become Malians or South Africans. Our best bet is for us to continue to be who we are, but with a new mind set for change from the past.
OK, give me your eyes for awhile.
I read somewhere that the ACS...American Colonization Society expected the new settlers in Africa to Christianize the heathens with whom they were to co-habitate. That was when the superiority complex of the settlers from America and other areas took its root. These settlers believed and nurtured the idea that those they met in Africa were heathens to western culture. The name calling and marginalization began; and today, we are still trying to untangle the mess.
I have been wondering: Had Obama kept the name Barry or had his mom named him Chris Barry Obama, or Barry S (the S for her family name), would the majority of Americans give this man a break. I feel that the the Americo-Liberian influence on Liberia has been well established. Name-change alone for the Natives will not solve our problems.
What will be most pleasing to all Liberians is the day when Tuon Wreh, BA, MA, PhD and Jerome Halloway, BA, MA, PhD, both Liberians, can hold hands and come together to rebuild their country. What will be really interesting is the day when Samuel Elliott, now Nyema Toe, MD and James Green, MD, both Liberians, come together to figure out how to keep our people healthy. When Nepolor Sumo, BS and Matilda Giddens, BS, both Liberians, see the need to come together and teach our people how to be self sufficient in food production, that will be the day when Liberians will be proud of each others.
We should not use the high illiteracy rate of the majority Liberians to bring about name change. We should be doing better than going that divisive route. Spewing out hatred and self promotion has not helped the country or the people.
Someone chastised me and told me that I was from Pluto when I wrote that the first "Native" President, Samuel Doe, let us down big time when he blew the opportunity to be the best that he could be. He had people like Gbai Gbala (perfect native name) and John Ramsey ( an influenced native) advising him to turn the country into a Krahn entity. The Congoes dominated the political scene for 133 years. The first "native" president, with all these perfect native-name advisers, were now positioning themselves to take the country into another 133-year of hell. They started off by eliminating all those with perfect native names. Verbal intimidation and the M-16 rifle stood as emblems of the time. Things were bad before April 12, 1980; they were something else when the new roosters in town crowed nothing but tribalism in its ugliness. From the get-go, the scene was a complete disaster. Greed for power and the pomposity associated with it, dominated the fabric of the new Liberia we were supposed to get.
That's why I get extremely jittery when the perfect Native-Name thing shows its ugly head. I immediately begin to sweat profusely and fall into a trance of nightmarish proportion. The reason is simple: All Liberian names have sinned and done nothing for Liberia. All these names have been myopic in their vision and extremely corrupt in their ways. After 160 years, what can our country show for the ingenuity other countries are proud of?
What we need to pray and hope for is that Liberians keep their names; but the drive, mentality, and state of mind do a 360 for the sake of all.
Liberians are a different set of people. We should not be told to become Nigerians or Ghanaians. We must not be forced to become Malians or South Africans. Our best bet is for us to continue to be who we are, but with a new mind set for change from the past.
A Perfect "Native-Name" President For Liberia
Patrick Tuon had written that in the 2011 presidential election in Liberia, a perfect "native-name" person should become president. This is what I wrote when I read his initial piece:
Tough one, Tuon. Don't Liberians already know that Dennis is from Montserrado County, Koffa is from Sinoe County, Zarwolo is from Nimba County, Zaza is from Lofa County, Varney is from Cape Mount County, Gbessagee is from Bassa or Rivercess County, Fahnlon is from Bong County, Garsuah is from Margibi, Bassa or River Cess County, Quiah is from Grand Gedeh; Nyema is from Maryland County?
The name is not the problem. Love for country and people is the incurable sore on the heels of Liberians.
Tough one, Tuon. Don't Liberians already know that Dennis is from Montserrado County, Koffa is from Sinoe County, Zarwolo is from Nimba County, Zaza is from Lofa County, Varney is from Cape Mount County, Gbessagee is from Bassa or Rivercess County, Fahnlon is from Bong County, Garsuah is from Margibi, Bassa or River Cess County, Quiah is from Grand Gedeh; Nyema is from Maryland County?
The name is not the problem. Love for country and people is the incurable sore on the heels of Liberians.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Ending The Crook-O-gee Business
I read the other day that Senators in Liberia are finding it difficult to confirm some individuals for government positions. The reason, I understand, is that paper work regarding the qualifications of these individuals are somehow difficult to decipher. Typographical errors abound especially when it comes to the disciplines associated with the degrees acquired. Sometimes the names of the Colleges or Universities where these individuals received their degrees are difficult to trace.
I wonder why is this. Why is it difficult to confirm my attendance at and my graduation in Forestry from the University of Liberia? Why is it difficult to ascertain my 12 years of work experience with the Firestone Plantations Company in Liberia? From the onset, many may say that my situation is not hard to deal with. Exactly.
How difficult is it to call the University of the District of Columbia to confirm Mr John Davies' graduation in the field of Nursing? And why would John's resume says he graduated from UDC with a BA in Criminal Justice when indeed he didn't? Why in the world would I put in my resume that I graduated from LU with a degree in Chemistry knowing fully well that was not the case? When someone tries to change the information in his or her resume, as the Liberian song has it, then "there something inside."
The government of Liberia needs a "war room" here in Washington, DC. Individuals leaving from here with these long and eye-catching resumes should first send these documents to the Liberian "war room" for confirmation and thorough scrutiny. Only after these documents have gone through the "war room", should the President even think about sending a name to the Senate for consideration.
It is indeed a disgrace that a tampered resume should be accepted by any institution of employment. It is even more disgraceful to know that the truth was not told, that an individual is already working, unconfirmed, and this individual is now waiting for the President to put her neck on the chopping board for such a person.
Networking or who knows you is a good thing. But it is equally important to back yourself up with truth and credibility. If you have to swallow your spit two or three times to explain your educational background, then you can't blame anyone if you don't succeed.
I personally would be ashamed if people kept "washing their mouths" on me because of some crook-O-gee I was trying to put into place. Liberians seeking employment in Liberia need to stop showing up with these questionable college and university papers. After all, 2008 is not 1980 or 1960.
I wonder why is this. Why is it difficult to confirm my attendance at and my graduation in Forestry from the University of Liberia? Why is it difficult to ascertain my 12 years of work experience with the Firestone Plantations Company in Liberia? From the onset, many may say that my situation is not hard to deal with. Exactly.
How difficult is it to call the University of the District of Columbia to confirm Mr John Davies' graduation in the field of Nursing? And why would John's resume says he graduated from UDC with a BA in Criminal Justice when indeed he didn't? Why in the world would I put in my resume that I graduated from LU with a degree in Chemistry knowing fully well that was not the case? When someone tries to change the information in his or her resume, as the Liberian song has it, then "there something inside."
The government of Liberia needs a "war room" here in Washington, DC. Individuals leaving from here with these long and eye-catching resumes should first send these documents to the Liberian "war room" for confirmation and thorough scrutiny. Only after these documents have gone through the "war room", should the President even think about sending a name to the Senate for consideration.
It is indeed a disgrace that a tampered resume should be accepted by any institution of employment. It is even more disgraceful to know that the truth was not told, that an individual is already working, unconfirmed, and this individual is now waiting for the President to put her neck on the chopping board for such a person.
Networking or who knows you is a good thing. But it is equally important to back yourself up with truth and credibility. If you have to swallow your spit two or three times to explain your educational background, then you can't blame anyone if you don't succeed.
I personally would be ashamed if people kept "washing their mouths" on me because of some crook-O-gee I was trying to put into place. Liberians seeking employment in Liberia need to stop showing up with these questionable college and university papers. After all, 2008 is not 1980 or 1960.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Owning Your Own
To be a refugee is not an easy experience for anybody. I almost went crazy in 1990 when I realized that my flight from JFK in New York via Amsterdam to Liberia on June 5 had been canceled. RIA (Roberts Intertional Airport) was unavailable to all flights going to Monrovia, I was told.
I came to America on May 8, 1990 with a Visitor's Visa, a BSC in Forestry, and 12 years of work experience with Firestone, an American company. With such a resume, I felt solace in the fact that even though I could not go home, the new system in which I found myself would not hesitate to welcome me with glee and open arms. O how wrong I was! O how naive my idea of America had kept me in complete darkness! O how many, I realized, had been fooled by such exuberant naivete!
What I have been hearing for the past few days is that the government of Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf should stop telling governments around the world that Liberia is not ready to accept its refugee-citizens. It is much more easier for citizens to resettle in their own country than it is for them to keep being refugees in countries that will not allow them to be part of their society. There are no refugee camps of Liberians in America or in Australia, where my aunty in-law and her family live. Refugees that went to these places were immediately given the opportunity to find work and to assimilate into society. Apparently, many of our African brothers and sisters are not fond of such gesture and generosity. If that is not the case with the refugee situation in Ghana or Guinea, then let someone come up with the hard truth.
It is time for Liberia to welcome back home its citizens. The government can reshuffle the financial cards and make room for the return of its citizens, educated or uneducated.
If I can remember well, eight of my wife's family members who came to America as refugees were all put into a two-room apartment, given food stamps, and a small amount of money each to buy other things.This was done for a year after which time it was expected that these refugees would have found work to do and become independent. It worked for many. Liberia can do the same thing. All those coming back should be resettled in their county of origin with a monthly stipend taken from the GOL Treasury and with some help from the UN.
Like I said earlier, what I am hearing is that the government of Liberia should stop telling countries around the world that it is not ready to accept its refugee-citizens. I think those who are saying this are right. Organizations around the world will surely want to help if it becomes clear that Liberia is being overwhelmed by the influx of its own citizens.
I came to America on May 8, 1990 with a Visitor's Visa, a BSC in Forestry, and 12 years of work experience with Firestone, an American company. With such a resume, I felt solace in the fact that even though I could not go home, the new system in which I found myself would not hesitate to welcome me with glee and open arms. O how wrong I was! O how naive my idea of America had kept me in complete darkness! O how many, I realized, had been fooled by such exuberant naivete!
What I have been hearing for the past few days is that the government of Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf should stop telling governments around the world that Liberia is not ready to accept its refugee-citizens. It is much more easier for citizens to resettle in their own country than it is for them to keep being refugees in countries that will not allow them to be part of their society. There are no refugee camps of Liberians in America or in Australia, where my aunty in-law and her family live. Refugees that went to these places were immediately given the opportunity to find work and to assimilate into society. Apparently, many of our African brothers and sisters are not fond of such gesture and generosity. If that is not the case with the refugee situation in Ghana or Guinea, then let someone come up with the hard truth.
It is time for Liberia to welcome back home its citizens. The government can reshuffle the financial cards and make room for the return of its citizens, educated or uneducated.
If I can remember well, eight of my wife's family members who came to America as refugees were all put into a two-room apartment, given food stamps, and a small amount of money each to buy other things.This was done for a year after which time it was expected that these refugees would have found work to do and become independent. It worked for many. Liberia can do the same thing. All those coming back should be resettled in their county of origin with a monthly stipend taken from the GOL Treasury and with some help from the UN.
Like I said earlier, what I am hearing is that the government of Liberia should stop telling countries around the world that it is not ready to accept its refugee-citizens. I think those who are saying this are right. Organizations around the world will surely want to help if it becomes clear that Liberia is being overwhelmed by the influx of its own citizens.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Bazarre Happenings In Liberia
Liberia is over run by a lot of bizarre happenings. One of the bizarre and mind-boggling nightmares is the knowledge that former war lords are teaching at Liberia's Universities. Seeing war lords who were voted into the Senate and House of Representatives to represent the same people whose family members were mimed or killed by these Representatives and Senators, is yet another bizarre thing that sends chill down the spine of ordinary citizens.
Members of the NTGL (National Transitional Government of Liberia) who were said to be the most corrupt in the history of Transitional Governments are parading the streets of Monrovia and behaving as if nothing of a corrupt nature ever happened during their tenure. That is bizarre. People who were major players in the Charles Taylor government who were said to have amassed for themselves huge sums of money from Liberia's Maritime activities, LPRC, and other lucrative business ventures, are all enjoying the beautiful Liberian sun rise and sun set, not bothered by their past or worried of ever being prosecuted. That is indeed a paralyzing and bizarre thing for the ordinary person to swallow.
Then there is the Nippy-gate incident at the Liberian Embassy in Washington, DC. This thing was so serious that the government of Liberia sent a delegation to investigate what was going on even though the government knew about a year back that strange things were being circulated in its Embassy in America. The Ambassador was unapologetic, went to Monrovia, got kudos from the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and is back at his post without further explanation. To many people, this is another bizarre occurrence.
But the mother of all the bizarre things that are happening in Liberia is the announcement by the President that her side of the war story is being told in her soon-to-be-release Memoir. I thought she would say that she wants to be the last person to say anything about her role in the civil war. I thought for sure that she would tell the Liberian people that as President of the nation, she will not say anything right now, but will take the stand after the TRC has completed its work in the 15 counties. What is more bizarre and not too ok to the ears of many is when the President assures the Liberian people that the sale of her Memoir would generate money for her retirement. I don't know the many benefits one gets for being president of Liberia. What is at least clear is that the president will not be penniless when she leaves the Mansion.
I plan to write my memoir. Most of what I want in it is already known by those who know me. How much of the country's population right now will be able to read the President's Memoir? For the sake of genuine reconciliation and remorse, the President should paraphrase her civil war story to the Liberian people long before her book comes out.
It would be very painful for me if the proceeds from the President's Memoir are seen as Blood Money or any other negative characterization. Madam President, let the Liberian people take a peek at the pig in the bag before taking it to the market.
Members of the NTGL (National Transitional Government of Liberia) who were said to be the most corrupt in the history of Transitional Governments are parading the streets of Monrovia and behaving as if nothing of a corrupt nature ever happened during their tenure. That is bizarre. People who were major players in the Charles Taylor government who were said to have amassed for themselves huge sums of money from Liberia's Maritime activities, LPRC, and other lucrative business ventures, are all enjoying the beautiful Liberian sun rise and sun set, not bothered by their past or worried of ever being prosecuted. That is indeed a paralyzing and bizarre thing for the ordinary person to swallow.
Then there is the Nippy-gate incident at the Liberian Embassy in Washington, DC. This thing was so serious that the government of Liberia sent a delegation to investigate what was going on even though the government knew about a year back that strange things were being circulated in its Embassy in America. The Ambassador was unapologetic, went to Monrovia, got kudos from the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and is back at his post without further explanation. To many people, this is another bizarre occurrence.
But the mother of all the bizarre things that are happening in Liberia is the announcement by the President that her side of the war story is being told in her soon-to-be-release Memoir. I thought she would say that she wants to be the last person to say anything about her role in the civil war. I thought for sure that she would tell the Liberian people that as President of the nation, she will not say anything right now, but will take the stand after the TRC has completed its work in the 15 counties. What is more bizarre and not too ok to the ears of many is when the President assures the Liberian people that the sale of her Memoir would generate money for her retirement. I don't know the many benefits one gets for being president of Liberia. What is at least clear is that the president will not be penniless when she leaves the Mansion.
I plan to write my memoir. Most of what I want in it is already known by those who know me. How much of the country's population right now will be able to read the President's Memoir? For the sake of genuine reconciliation and remorse, the President should paraphrase her civil war story to the Liberian people long before her book comes out.
It would be very painful for me if the proceeds from the President's Memoir are seen as Blood Money or any other negative characterization. Madam President, let the Liberian people take a peek at the pig in the bag before taking it to the market.
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