The reasons we (Liberians) are dying slowly in America!

Ever wonder why our people in Liberia look better, younger, and happier then we in America do even with the high poverty and jobless economic going on in Liberia? Well its simple, they are eating better foods, drinks and work less stressful jobs unlike us in America.
FOOD: I checked many of the food we eat in Liberia and compared it with the average food in American restaurants, it no amazement why as soon as we enter this country, our blood, sugar, and heart rate shoot straight to the sky. This is why the older we get the more medications we find ourselves on in America. The average adult age 45 takes at lease four different types of medications per day in America. We Liberians love to “when in Rome do as the Romans” so therefore we are joining the ban wagon and hopping on the medications train in America. We are having high blood, strokes, heart diseases, mental illness (ok, this one is from the white folks stressing us out) and diabetic. Then there is the weight gain and gain and gain. The average person weighting 150lb should have no more then 50g carbohydrates, 1,200 mg sodium, 5g saturated fat, 5g fat, 1,800 calories and 0g trans fat per day. Look at this meal in America - Applebee’s Appetizer Sampler - 2,500 calories, 49g saturated fat, 6,520 mg sodium, 157g carbohydrates. And to think you have not had the real meal yet, this is just the appetizer to get you started. Let add the actual meal, Applebee’s Quesadilla Burger - 1,820 calories, 4 g saturated fat, 4,410 mg sodium. This one meal is enough to cause the average 50 years old male a stroke or heart attack. And this is just lunch. Add breakfast, dinner and snacks and you are a walking dead man/woman living in America.

EXERCISE: The most unloved E word in America. The reason it takes our people a long time to gain weight in Liberia is they walk a lot and most of the time they are carrying something or someone while walking. Liberians exercise in America, please! Every Liberian I know in America has a car or two or three, so walking is out of styles for us, not so? There are few of us that show our faces at a gym here and there and pay the monthly fees and take our medicines each night before bed. But look at our people in Liberia, they get their exercise and it’s free and they don’t even know they are exercising.

BEHAVIORS: We Liberians need to go back home or start living the way we do at home here in America so we can get the opportunity to eventually retire and move to Liberia and not die here. We need to leave some of the American “way of life” behaviors and continue our Liberian way of living, like walking, eating more boiled foods like our soups, instead of running to the pharmacy, run to the African food store. Instead of eating out, eat in and cook it your Liberian way. Instead of Applebee, go to Kendajah you will live longer. Instead of vegetable oil use your palm oil and don’t believe anything the white man told you about your country’s food, its all lies!

REST: Stop working two to three jobs to pay for a house you hardly live in, its unhealthy and add years to your life. Instead of living in a big house you cannot afford, down size your home to fit your one-job income. One of the best moves I ever made in my life. I do not do the “two-job” thing because I love my sleep and my Guinness on weekends. I see a lot of my friends living in large homes with 4 – 5 bedrooms, 3 ½ bath, large oversize TV but when you call their homes they are never home. The kids are raising themselves why, they are doing weekend or weekday live-ins or at some minimum wage job to earn extra money to buy gas for work because their mean job can only pay the mortgage. Get rid of people, places and things that ill you. If they cause you pain and stress, they are not good for you no matter what you think you are gaining from them? Get some sleep, the parties were there before you were born it will be there when you die, get your rest.

FAITH: If you are a Christian/Muslin and your church is not fulfilling you, find another church, there is one on every third corner in America. Say your prayers daily; say it out loud sometimes so you hear what you are praying for. Call a pray line, a friend of mind introduced me to one and I love it. Call a pastor for prayers, Lord knows Liberians have a lot of pastors in our mist, call on them. If you have not been to church in a while, this is the perfect time to go back. If you love God, admit it, for peace sake, say it loud, let God be your Alpha and your Omega in everything you do. When I am about to do something or say something I am afraid of or not sure of or I am somewhere I am not comfortable, I repeat Psalm 23rd out loud, by the third times I feel like someone took a warm blanket and wrap me up in it. At the point nothing moves me or get in my way because I know it is well with my soul!! My boss said when he hears me repeating Psalm 23rd; he stays out of my way. I really don’t know what he means by that and have never care to ask!

INCOME: Pay yourself FIRST, meaning save your money and stop wasting it on needless things. Why are we buying $300.00 purses or shoes and suits, do you think the white man will love you more if your total outfit you are wearing cost you a thousand dollars, I think not, actually he will most likely think of you the same way I do – you are a stupid idiot and should be slapped. Look at how Michael Jordon dresses and compare it with how Bill Gates dresses. From their looks can you tell who has the most money? No, you cannot because Bill Gates pays himself first and does not waste his money; Michael on the other hand, pays Christian Dion first.

LOVE: This word scares the piss out of most Liberians especially our men because it was never taught to us, we learn it as we got older in life or accidently felt into it. When was the last time you told your spouse you “love him/her”? I am sure most men reading this are saying to themselves, “what does she means I am paying the bills am I not?” Great, pay the bills, but also tell him or her how you feel and why you feel it. If your marriage is not working fix the problem, if the kids are pulling your hair out, (boy can I relate) seek help for them and for yourself as well. We all need a place to go and just spill our guts from time to time. Find your “happy” place and go there as much as you need to. Have sex; in fact have plenty of sex, best stress medicine there is. Now, I did not say go cheap and crazy, I am talking about you and your mate, I also did not say “mates”. Anyone that ever had a good relationship with me will tell you, if I can have sex every day or even twice a day I will. Have it in the kitchen, living room, bathroom, outside, in the car, have sex. Enjoy each other every day of your life, we will take the “thing” with us when we died so enjoy it before it gone, have sex with your mate! You know the old saying “if you are not with the one you love, love the one you are with”. Humans are the only creatures that shy away from love and sex. The animals have sex anytime and anywhere, we see them doing it all the time why not humans???

Every Liberian wants to come to America whether to live or visit. If only they knew what we know now they would get their acts together and stay home and enjoy their lives because there are actually living better then we are. Liberians are very smart people, we are not born smart, we do not work that hard really, it’s because we have limited resources to work with that makes us smart before we get here, not so? Now, why do we come here and join the ban wagon……….Let stop this kind of living and do what is necessary so we can retire and go HOME to LIBERIA!!! Everyone have a great weekend and remember God loves you!

If you are interested, take a look at what you are actually eating in American Restaurants:
The 20 Worst Restaurant Foods in America
20. Worst Omelet

IHOP Colorado Omelette

1,890 calories
47 g saturated fat
4,200 mg sodium
130 g carbohydrates

19. Worst Breakfast

Cheescake Factory French Toast with Bacon

1,849 calories
65 g saturated fat
3,114 mg sodium
98 g carbohydrates

18. Worst Sit-Down Appetizer

Applebee’s Appetizer Sampler

2,500 calories
49 g saturated fat
6,520 mg sodium
157 g carbs

17. Worst Thai Salad

California Pizza Kitchen Thai Crunch Salad with Fresh Avocado

2,238 calories

16. Worst Pizza Slice

Sbarro Stuffed Pepperoni (1 piece)

960 calories
42 g fat
3,200 mg sodium

15. Worst Wrap

T.G.I. Friday's BBQ Chicken Wrap

1,720 calories

14. Worst Tacos

On the Border Dos XX Fish Tacos with Creamy Red Chile Sauce

2,350 calories
152 g fat (31 g saturated)
4,060 mg sodium

13. Worst Sit-Down Burger

Applebee’s Quesadilla Burger

1,820 calories
46 g saturated fat
4,410 mg sodium

12. Worst Sit-Down Kids' Meal

Cheesecake Factory Kids' Pasta with Alfredo Sauce

1,803 calories
86 g saturated fat
876 mg sodium
70 g carbohydrates

11. Worst Chicken Sandwich

Chili's Buffalo Chicken Crisper Bites

1,620 calories
100 g fat (21 g saturated)
5,380 mg sodium

10. Worst Food Invention

Domino's Chicken Carbonara Breadbowl Pasta

1,480 calories
56 g fat
(24 g saturated, 1 g trans)
2,280 mg sodium
188 g carbs

9. Worst Chinese Food Meal

P.F. Chang's Crispy Honey Shrimp

2,110 calories
70 g fat (10 g saturated)
1,815 mg sodium
290 g carbs

8. Worst Fast Food Seafood Meal

Culver's North Atlantic Cod Filet Meal (3 pieces)

2,121 calories
135 g fat
(21 g saturated, 2 g trans)
2,568 mg sodium

7. Worst Sit-Down Ribs

Outback Steakhouse Baby Back Ribs (full rack)

3,021 calories
242 g fat
(90 g saturated fat)
4,648 mg sodium

6. Worst Pasta Dish

Cheesecake Factory Bistro Shrimp Pasta

2,819 calories
77 g saturated fat
1,008 mg sodium
184 g carbohydrates

5. Worst Steak Dinner

IHOP Top Sirloin Steak

2,380 calories
42 g saturated fat
5,220 mg sodium

4. Worst Fries

Five Guys Fries (large)

1,464 calories
71 g fat (14 g saturated)
213 mg sodium

3. Worst Side Dish

Jack in the Box Bacon Cheddar Wedges

760 calories
53 g fat
(17 g saturated, 13 g trans)
963 mg sodium

2. Worst Sweet Drink

Cold Stone PB&C Shake (Gotta Have It size)

2,010 calories
131 g fat (68 g saturated, 2.5 g trans)
880 mg sodium
153 g sugars

1. Worst Sit-Down Dessert

Outback Steakhouse Chocolate Thunder from Down Under

1,911 calories
88 g saturated fat
135 g carbohydrates

Roberta Williams
Dec 2009

Is education failing Africa?

Education is not Liberia problem, it’s the idiots that have it and don't know how to use it, that's the problem. Liberians get educated for titles, nothing else. If you were to take the titles away from a lot of them, they will not show up to work the next day.




For starters, why are we calling our boss in Liberia Ma and Pa and bossman and bosslady? If we worked in the same department and I have to call you Dr. so and so or Mr. so and so something is serious wrong! Each degree a topical Liberian has makes them think they are closer to God, and the more we glorify them the more they will expect the godly treatment.



We need to stop glorifying these idiots and let them roll up their sleeves and take care of mama Liberia.







Roberta Williams




On 9/9/09, ZumoAmos@aol.com wrote:


See below for an added view.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-KfKxCaDVA


Zumo

-----Original Message-----
From: Chorphie Charlie
To: Nagbe Sloh ; ulibsaaforum@yahoogroups.com; J. Nagbe Sloh ; onliberianmedium@yahoogroups.com; Association of Liberian Journalists
Sent: Wed, Sep 9, 2009 8:37 am
Subject: [OnLiberianMedium] RE: Is education failing Africa? NO!



It is MISEDUCATED Africans failing Africa!!!


On the altar of Jehovah, I pledge undying resistance to tyranny






--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To: ULIBSAAforum@yahoogroups.com; OLM_Adm04@yahoogroups.com; OnLiberianMedium@yahoogroups.com; alja1@yahoogroups.com; everyliberian@yahoogroups.com
From: rbdavies56@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 9 Sep 2009 05:11 :44 -0700
Subject: [EveryLiberian] Is education failing Africa?


Let put Liberia under the microscope. What are your comments?



##########################################################

Is education failing Africa?
BBC listeners Osman Samura and Barnabas Asamoah have one thing in common. They share a deep concern about the state of education in sub-Saharan Africa.

This week students and teachers head back to school for another term. But will it be a happy and fruitful experience for any of them?

Barnabas, from Ghana, thinks teachers are not given the respect -- or the pay -- they deserve. And that, he says, is part of the problem Africa faces.

But is it just about that? And what can we as Africans do to revive the education system, asks Osman from Sierra Leone?

Have education standards fallen in your country? If so, what do you think is responsible? Are schools producing students that can transform the nation? What are you doing to ensure your children are getting the education they need? Is the teaching profession seen as a last=2 0resort, which then so attracts the wrong people? Send us your views.


If you would like to join Africa Have Your Say to debate this topic LIVE on air on Thursday 3 September at 1600 GMT, please include a telephone number. It will not be published. You can find us on Facebook at facebook.com/africahys or follow us on Twitter @bbcafricahys. You can also send an SMS text message to +44 77 86 20 20 08.


Published: Wednesday, 2 September, 2009, 12:29 GMT 13:29 UK
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Added: Friday, 4 September, 2009, 14:32 GMT 15:32 UK
Yes,it is.Mainly due to brain drain.We have many educated Africans living and working in western countries.The20politicians are to blame because of lack of reforms,corruption,crime and many other issues affecting the society.I have never seen people thirsty for education like africans.We have many students qualify to further their studies but due to limited vacancies they end up giving up or going abroad.
Pat, Kenya

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Added: Friday, 4 September, 2009, 14:31 GMT 15:31 UK
African education is nothing to write about, the rich send there kids to foreign country to be educated, while the poor send theirs to commercial school which there no enough facilities to teach the pupils, I believe that our problem is all about corrupt leaders who doesn’t care. They are supposed to reform the education sector and invest heavily for the benefit of the poor masses.
Ufuma, Port=2 0Novo

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Added: Friday, 4 September, 2009, 14:22 GMT 15:22 UK
We blame poverty yet the real reason behind a generation of dunderheads Africa might fast export is our inability to transform in the first place.

a. Corruption has drained resources destined for research

b. We view technology with suspicion

c. We have great affinity to black collar training & hope to develop in an industrialized world

d. Teachers/ faculty have absconded their duty

e. Parents think schools re there to PARENT their kids

With the above flourishing, we are DOOMED!
Joe, Nairobi, Kenya

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Added: Friday, 4 September, 2009, 14:14 GMT 15:14 UK
YES;its really failling in Nigeria as i know,imagine in most universities in Nigeria,you have about 700student to receive lecture at a time in a small single apartment.imagine if you are not a girl friend to the lecturer in the university.u cant have a good result.sometimes you study without food to eat.you pay so much money for your school fee and no provision is made for you,sometimes you pay for a car parking place without owing a car.and the worst part of it is cultism.
ayandeji, flehingen

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Added: Friday, 4 September, 2009, 14:04 GMT 15:04 UK
I have always argued that, one of the main factors to our underdevelopment is our colonial educational system. The system was designed to meet the short term needs of the colonialist. But we cannot continue blaming them. they have left decades ago. It is our leaders who have collectively failed us. we need to shape the system to be more responsive to our current needs. we also need to emulate other countries such as India and Malaysia in adopting our own languages in favour of the Europeans.
Musa Bah, London

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Added: Friday, 4 September , 2009, 13:33 GMT 14:33 UK
Yes, education standards have fallen. This is due to the fact that the various Governments are not putting money in things that matter like Education, Health, Infrastructure development, etc
tunde ajao, London, United Kingdom
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Added: Friday, 4 September, 2009, 13:07 GMT 14:07 UK
Have you noticed, a lot of the comments are from Africans educated in Africa, but now live in the west?
So is the educational system failing? Since there is a huge brain drain, what we then have left are uneducated Africans who are brought up in large families and believe you always but yourself first. Hence high level corruption?

Africans=2 0need to stop winging, take matters into their own hands , make their government more accountable for their actions.
N, Lagos

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Added: Friday, 4 September, 2009, 13:01 GMT 14:01 UK
In Uganda, teachers have been troden upon by politicians,some of whom are acedmic failures. Because they hold some office and have access to stolen money, every Tom Dick and Harry can abuse teachers, calling them lazy. Un yet the primary teachers earn a mere 100 dollars a month. How do you expect them to perform, and how can education not fail Africa?
David Labeja, Gulu

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Added: Friday, 4 September, 2009, 12:31 GMT 13:31 UK
In the case of Algeria, the massive arabisation and brutal islamisation of the education system instigated by the defunct president Boumediene, is largely responsible for the long decade of horror we've been through.
Lamine, Algiers

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Added: Friday, 4 September, 2009, 12:30 GMT 13:30 UK
The simple uncomfortable truth is that most African countries are, in effect, failed states - and these include the resource-rich ones. The reported lack of investment in education is merely a symptom of this man-made tragedy. The chief culprits are our idiotic and corrupt rulers, but we mustn't forget the role played by the international donor "industry" who persistently absolve them of the need to be accountable to our longsuffering people.
AKPAN, Canterbury, UK/Nigeria

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Added: Friday, 4 September, 2009, 12:29 GMT 13:29 UK
Everything failed Africa including Education.
Youngsenator., Nigeria

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Added: Friday, 4 September, 2009, 11:28 GMT 12:28 UK
Yes education is failing Africa. For instance here in Kenya, the backbone of our economy is agriculture but the education system in the country does not emphasis agriculture in schools. The current youths know everything latest about computers but not farming. So the policy makers need to make radical changes or else Africa will remain where it is no matter how people read.
Zaphan Nyambaka, Nairobi

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Added: Friday, 4 September, 2009, 11:04 GMT 12:04 UK
In Malawi primary school eduction is free, but secondary and higher learning institutes are not. Also we don't have enough higher education institutes we only have 3 universities and the rest are private colleges. One school of Medicine, One school of Accountancy we need more of these as it's difficult to find a space if you are a student in our country.

The Cameroon President and his entourage hiring 43 rooms per night since 15 August in France at $40,000 is disgraceful, out with him.
N G
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Added: Friday, 4 September, 2009, 11:00 GMT 12:00 UK
Contrary to what others have thought, I would rather say that Education has been improved and getting appreciable momentum in many African countries. For instance, in Ethiopia the numebr of schools have increased in thousands, while tens of new universities have come up with diversified fields of studies that equip new generations to compete on the global employment markets. Therefore, this could be taken as exemplery for other nations as well.
Kurkura, Finfinne

TRC shouldn't be handle the Liberia way

Question – What if we (Liberians) were to find out the names and countries of all those who had their hands in the “cookie jar” of the Liberian war, is Liberia in the position to take those involve to court? Or will we only reconcile with them as well? Personally, I don’t think Liberians can handle the truth regarding the war because no two sides will agree on whose to blame.

Sometimes I think the reasons we are getting help from the outside countries in rebuilding Liberia is their way of saying “we are sorry for what we started in your country and to your people” nothing more. I don’t think they really care, do you? All of the assistances we are getting from the USA are only a mere “we should not have let Charles Taylor out of jail, we made a mistake” gesture. Then again, one can only wonder what was in it for them, the diamonds or to reduce the population of an African country or both.

Some of the things I see and hear happening in various African countries I think are all plans to hopefully reduce the African populations. The sad part is we (Africans) know this all too well but still take the bribe for our own selfishness and greed. Africans are known to sell their own for a buck dating back to the biblic al days. As much as we are reconciling, it will take only one person to sell us back to 1979 or 1989. We always claim to want help with our day to day and long term lives in Liberia but the minutes someone comes along and present us with a dollar, we will sell whatever and whoever for that buck no matter what the short or long term consequences are.

To reconcile is to be willing to forgive and acknowledging that no one groups or tribes is to be blamed. We also need to acknowledge that we deserve a second chance. We need to know that we are valuable to the world. We need to start by showing respect for ourselves and our countrymen and women. One can not love their country and steal from it and break it down to nothing. It is impossible to love someone you do NOT respect; we have to learn to respect each other and take pride in our country first. We have to stop wearing our emotional on our sleeves and genuinely work on our feelings for one another.

We need to de-program ourselves to connect the dots, meaning we need to use what we learned in school in our personal everyday lives. We have psychologist using and abusing women emotionally and don’t see sleeping around as a sign of uselessness towards one self; we have medical doctors sleeping around without protections but go to work everyday and give advice on protections. We have RNs sending for over the counter drugs (street drug) from Liberia to use when they are sick, by the time they realized the Liberia street drug is not working, it’s too late. We have accountants who can not count but know how to steal but at the same time never want to be accountable for their actions; and lawyers who are more of a criminal then the guys on the streets but yet practice the law everyday. We have educated, well rounded Liberians still believe when they are sick someone must have witched them. We have PhD holders acting like third grade dropouts but know how to present themselves at work. We have food specialist that are over weight and eating large amount of fufu and soup at 11pm at night; shouldn’t they all know better or was their schooling only for “name sake” to say I have a degree. Why are Liberians not connecting the dots, education and life should go hand in hand, why can’t we use our education to live better lives?

By the time we Liberians are 45 – 50 years old, we have multiple kids by multiple women/men; multiple marriages; many illnesses; and no real family connections; no dependable friends around to lean on and we looked 20 years older then our peers from another country…..and then we died before our 55th birthday, why, only two reasons…

1. We wear our feelings on our sleeves meaning our feeling do not go beyond the present moment, when you are out of sight, you are out of our minds, we don’t care what we do or say to or about you.

2. We do not apply our education in our personal life, we spent 4 – 12 years reading for a good job but when we get home from work, our minds and behaviors are as if we were never in school!!!

All the reconciliations in the world will not get Liberians to:
Respect each other
Make real peace with one another
Love the land call Liberia
Stop the hate
Stop the envy
Stop the unnecessary greed
Think of what they can “do for” Liberia and not what they can “steal from” Liberia
Seek counseling for ourselves and our love ones
Mentally change our mindset of what we consider the word LOVE to be.

We have a long way to go my friend!!

Roberta Williams



=0 D Liberian TRC: Reconciliation before the Truth?


(Jun 15, 2009) By: Dr. Abdoulaye W. Dukulé

Like many people in the country, I was surprised by an announcement last week that the Liberian Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), the institution set up by the Accra Peace Accord to investigate the Liberian civil war and foster national reconciliation, would organize a national reconciliation conference, at the Unity Conference Center, in Virginia, starting June 15, 2009. A gathering of such magnitude takes long preparatory efforts and the participation of many in stitutions. According to press reports, the conference will bring together some 400 people, 20 representing each of the 15 counties and 100 people representing diverse organizations. The broad agenda seems to center on “reconciliation.” It is hoped that the conference will end with resolutions calling for the implementation of many decisions that could impact the national reconciliatory process.

As it has happened for the greatest part of the existence of the Commission, this conference will not go without controversy. First, according to news reports, the media event where the conference was announced was attended by only a few members of the Commission. It is said that one member, Counselor Pear Brown Bull who claims to represent the Western counties disrupted the press conference and later “held” her own media briefing in her office. Her pronouncements were almost the opposite of what the TRC Chairman said in the other event, whom she accused of carrying out his own agenda.

Personality differences exist in any organization where people, from different cultural and political backgrounds have to work together. The task of the TRC involves highly charged emotional issues which can exacerbate those differences. The challenge for those involved in the process consists in elevating the national interest above their own preferences and dislikes. However, with accusations and counter-accusations that marred its work from the beginning, the TRC seems not to be able to move away from the personal to embrace the national. The question now is whether people who could not put aside their petty issues to work as a team could reach any level of cooperation to bring about national healing.

In our traditional setting, under the Palava hut – now Peace Hut – elders judge quarrels and misunderstandings. Everyone trusts their judgment, based on a lifelong experience. They don’t allow their personal feelings to get involved when they are seeking the truth. Their decisions and judgments are accepted by all because they are “after a ny personal gain” in the process. In order words, their age and the wisdom they acquired put them above suspicion. The South African TRC worked mostly because nobody could doubt the sincerity and impartiality of Bishop Desmond Tutu.

The other problem facing the Reconciliation process comes from the fact that for the past few weeks, the leadership of the TRC has introduced another word that was not its mandate and that is the word “justice.” This had led to speculation that the TRC was recommending and emphasizing the establishment of a war crimes tribunal. The mandate of the Commission, inscribed in its name, was to find the truth about our national upheaval and lead us onto a path of national reconciliation. It may be that Liberians, after knowing the truth, could decide to seek justice or simply move on.

We believe that the tru th about what happened between 1979 and 2003 is yet to be told on many levels. We have heard personal stories from many Liberians, including the President but we are far from knowing the truth.

We do not know who did what on the fateful day called the Rice Riots in 1979. We do not know how many people were killed and who gave the order to shoot. We do not know who actually killed President William Tolbert. Conspiracy theories abound in all directions. Was Master Sergeant Samuel K. Doe really the mastermind behind the coup? Why then, on the morning of the coup, after the President was “assassinated” – the exact word used in the first press statement read by Samuel K. Doe – were the soldiers wrangling about leadership? If we fast forward to 1985, we may ask who funded the Thomas Quiwonkpa coup attempt. Who helped Charles Taylor escape from jail? Who financed his movements in the sub-region as he traveled and organized his military group? How did he get to Burkina Faso and Libya?
& nbsp;
Beyond those issues, we must also find out the level of responsibility of other state agents: Cote d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Libya, Nigeria, Guinea, France and the United States. Who did what and when? In each of those countries, there are people who have taken active part in what happened. For example, what is the level of responsibility of Burkina Faso and Libya who made no secret about training and arming Charles Taylor? What kind of relationship existed between General Ibrahim Babanginda and President Samuel Doe? Why did Herman Cohen, the then Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs at the US State Department “re-assured President Houphouet-Boigny that the war would not spill over and would be contained inside Liberia?” Mr. Amara Essy who affirmed this fact was Foreign Minister of Cote d’Ivoire and in charge of the Liberian dossier and is well and alive. The questions are many and their responses could lead Liberians to understand what happened to their country.

The primary condition for rec onciliation is the truth, not necessarily justice. After a fight of any sort, two people can decide to reconcile, especially after each recognizes their part of responsibility. There is always the possibility of one party deciding to go to justice. If Liberians do not know the truth about what happened how could they reconcile? Is justice more important than national reconciliation? What is the ultimate objective of the TRC? Is-it in its mandate to lead Liberia towards a war crimes tribunal or a genuine reconciliation process?

There is no way to prejudge an event that is yet to take place. The National Reconciliation Conference could lead to another stage in our search for the truth… Maybe, one resolution could be that we must go back to the drawing board and start all over. We deserve to know the truth, the whole truth before we can reconcile or taken anyone to court…

Peace Be Still

Let not throw rocks at each other this month. We have more important things to think about and do. This month I am begging all Liberians around the world to please, no fussy, no rock throwing, no cursing, and no names calling. This month is the beginning of a new year, a year we started with grave grieves in our hearts, and our mind will never be the same in Philly again. Our hearts are with the family but at the same time we are all saying to our self “I could have easily been there that night” or this could have happened to my family”. We need to take this time to thank God for each other and be grateful we have each other.



There are so many of us that got up this morning with at least one thing or person missing out of our lives; some of us are sick to no avail, some of us lost love ones via deaths or divorces, we are still at lost. Some of us didn’t know where our family members were in this world during the holiday and prayer to one day see them again. Some of us will never see them again; some of us will leave this world without our wish ever coming true. Some of us have great plans for this year and years to come but we might not make it to see it through. Some of us missed opportunities right before our eyes and are now regretting it. Some came to this country for just few months or years and are been bury here. Some of us have loves one in their lives and don’t appreciate them, while some have none and think this is the best the world have to offer them.



We need to scratch that year long itch this year in our lives, we need to push a little harder in whatever goals we have for ourselves and never forget who we are and where we came from. This is not the time to boost about your titles, houses, cars, educations; this is the time to be part of the movers and shakers, while at the same time this is the time for peace. Let peace be still in all of us this month and count our blessing for what we have.



We need to hold our brothers and sisters hands and help them cross whatever road they are trying to cross. We need to have fun amongst ourselves, we need to laugh a lot this year, maybe last year wasn’t so funny to us. We need to stop worrying and stop fussy over small stuff. We really need to let peace be still my friend.



Happy New Year and may God continue to bless you and yours!!