A Brief History of Women in Power-This is what happen when girls are educated!

1. Sirimavo Bandaranaike, Sri Lanka
Fifty years ago, Sirimavo Bandaranaike was elected, becoming the first female head of government the world had ever known. Her victory was so groundbreaking; no one knew what to call her. "There will be need for a new word," London's Evening News wrote the day after she was elected as Prime Minister in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). "Presumably, we shall have to call her a stateswoman." Bandaranaike assumed the role of party leader after her husband was assassinated by a Buddhist monk in 1959. When her party won the July 1960 election, she took the country's reins and held them until 1965. She would serve as Prime Minister again from 1970 to 1977 and from 1994 to 2000. It was her daughter, who had become the country's first female President in 1994, who appointed her to her final term, though the position had become largely ceremonial at that point. She stepped down in April 2000 and died later that year — on the very day she cast her ballot in the country's elections.

2. Indira Gandhi, India
She was the nation's daughter, brought up under the close watch of both her father, who was India's first Prime Minister after decades of British rule, and her country. The TIME magazine cover not long after her election in January 1966 read, "Troubled India in a Woman's Hands." Those hands led India for much of the next two decades, through recession, famine, the detonation of the nation's first atomic bomb and a civil war in neighboring Pakistan that, under her guidance, saw the creation of a new state, Bangladesh.

3. Golda Meir, Israel
Once called "the only man in the Cabinet," Golda Meir was a formidable figure in Israeli politics. Tall, gaunt, blunt and determined, to the world she embodied the steely stubbornness of the Israeli spirit. "There is a type of woman," she once said, "who does not let her husband narrow her horizon." After an illustrious political career, including service as Israel's Labor Minister and Foreign Minister, among other high-level positions, she was called out of retirement at age 70 to lead her country as Prime Minister from 1969 to 1974.

4. Golda Meir, Israel
Once called "the only man in the Cabinet," Golda Meir was a formidable figure in Israeli politics. Tall, gaunt, blunt and determined, to the world she embodied the steely stubbornness of the Israeli spirit. "There is a type of woman," she once said, "who does not let her husband narrow her horizon." After an illustrious political career, including service as Israel's Labor Minister and Foreign Minister, among other high-level positions, she was called out of retirement at age 70 to lead her country as Prime Minister from 1969 to 1974.

5. Corazon Aquino, Philippines
After the assassination of her charismatic husband, the pious Catholic widow Corazon Aquino won over the public and overthrew the dictatorial regime widely blamed for his murder. In a spectacle that added the phrase people power to the global lexicon, millions of supporters took to the streets to ensure Aquino's eventual rise to the office of the President in February 1986. Though tested by several attempted military coups and other setbacks, she managed to preserve the democracy her husband had died for. She was named TIME's Person of the Year in 1986 — the first woman to receive the designation since Queen Elizabeth II in 1952.

6. Benazir Bhutto, Pakistan
A daughter of the Pakistan dynasty, Benazir Bhutto followed her father into politics and died because of it. Young and glamorous, she was a refreshing contrast to the male-dominated political establishment. She led her country as Prime Minister from 1988 to 1990 and again from 1993 to 1996 — both times, she was dismissed from office by the President for alleged corruption, charges she steadfastly denied and called politically motivated. She was assassinated in 2007 while campaigning to bring back democracy to the then military-ruled country; her husband, also tarnished with allegations of graft, is now President.

7. Angela Merkel, Germany
Angela Merkel is a rarity in German politics: she's the first Chancellor to have grown up in communist East Germany, the first female to lead and the youngest-ever incumbent. She spent decades being underrated but never took it to heart. "You could say I've never underestimated myself," Merkel told TIME in January 2010. "There's nothing wrong with being ambitious." One hundred days after taking office in late 2005, a poll named her the most popular Chancellor in German history.

8. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, Liberia
In April 2006, First Lady Laura Bush described Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf as a woman who has never stopped working for her country. "[Her] courage and commitment to her country are an inspiration to me and women around the world," Bush wrote in TIME. Johnson-Sirleaf started her political career as a Liberian Cabinet Minister in the 1970s, went on to become a senior United Nations administrator in the 1990s and, when elected President of Liberia in 2006, became the first African woman to be elected head of state. Since taking the helm, she has pushed to reclaim what her nation lost during years of civil war. With strong will and determination, she has vowed to fight against corruption and move "forward into a future that is filled with hope and promise." To honor her triumphs, then U.S. President George W. Bush awarded her a 2007 Presidential Medal of Freedom. As Laura Bush wrote, "Johnson-Sirleaf is an example of what can happen when girls are educated."

Liberian TRC: Reconciliation before the Truth - hummmm?

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

Rituals Killing in Liberia

Make up your mind, one minute you want culture rituals to continue in Liberia the next minutes you want culture rituals (killings) to stop. Isn’t this the culture rituals that you, Nat G. and others want to continue in Liberia? Live with it!!!!



You can’t have both my friend!



Thank you,

Roberta Williams

"What other people think of you is none of your business."

________________________________

From: ULIBSAAforum@yahoogroups.com [mailto:ULIBSAAforum@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Joe Morris
Sent: Wednesday, March 10, 2010 12:58 PM
To: EveryLiberian@yahoogroups.com; OnLiberianMedium@yahoogroups.com; Every Liberian; NEKTAA; olm_04adm@yahoogroups.com; olm_adm04@yahoogroups.com; olm_admo4@yahoogroups.com; progressinunity@yahoo.com; robertsfieldreunion@yahoo.com; ulibsaabforum@yahoogroups.com; ulibsaaforum@ahoogroups.com; ulibsaaforum@yahoo.com; ulibsaaforum@yahoogroups.com; University ofLiberia; University of Liberia
Subject: [ULIBSAAforum] Fw: LIB govt. ignores ritual killings







--- On Wed, 3/10/10, Joe Morris wrote:


From: Joe Morris
Subject: LIB govt. ignores ritual killings
To: EveryLiberian@yahoogroups.com
Date: Wednesday, March 10, 2010, 12:54 PM

Fellow Liberians,

Please do not be surprise if the government of Liberia decides to investigate the recent conflict in Lofa without pursuing the perpetrators of the ritualistic killing of the young girl that ignited the violence.



When did it become legal in Liberia to kill people especially those belonging to low economic class?



There have been series of death reported around the country with ritual intend and the very good government has never been moved or the nation stopped to pursue the perpetrators and bring justice to one more forgotten soul that leaves the living few.



For the sake of common sense, you will think that after losing 250,000 of your citizens, you will be distraught when one more of the living is gone.



Most frustrating of all; The family of the slain young girl will now be heard only because it sparked tribal and religious conflict.



What a sad nation!



God bless our nation.



Joseph Kalapele Morris

Connecticut - The Constitution State











--- On Sun, 2/28/10, George Kpator wrote:


From: George Kpator
Subject: [EveryLiberian] FrontPageAfrica's ACCOUNTS OF WHAT HAPPENED IN LOFA COUNTY
To: "Every Liberian" , "Liberian Journalists" , onelofa@yahoogroups.com, "George Kpator"
Date: Sunday, February 28, 2010, 1:30 AM



L

iberia’s northernmost county of Lofa is unarguably one of Liberia’s counties that continues to heed to the effects of the evils of a post-conflict environment which continues to see the residents of the county challenged with the task of co-existence and religious tolerance in the midst of all its Christian-Muslim domination in addition to its many tribal arrangements, begetting a recent violence in two of its major towns that have led to deaths and destruction of properties that occurred in less than 24 hours.

What began as a student protest against the death of one of their colleagues named Korpu Kamara later turned into a somewhat religious violence that reportedly left four persons dead and over 50 injured that left some churches and schools burnt down.

The violence coincided as the Liberian National Bar Association was holding its first quarterly-session of 2010 in Voinjama which left one of its councilors’ vehicle burnt down in the aftermath of the violence after an entrapped Vice President Joseph Boakai had to be airlifted to Monrovia following hours of his convoy being held hostage by the angry protesters.



Sen. Kupee & other Lofa lawmakers a town hall meeting Saturday to discuss the religious tension in Northern Liberia.

Reports emanating from the county said the students’ protest was sparked by the discovery of student Korpu’s corpse, an eleventh grade student, who had gone missing for days but was found dead later reportedly lying next to a mosque in Zorzor, thereby leading to some of the students suspecting that their colleague’s death was tied to the Muslims of the mosque.

Lofa County Superintendent, Galakpai Kortimai, told a local radio station Friday night that misinformation from Zorzor of a mosque being burnt down rapidly spread to Voinjama which led angry Muslims to go on the rampage, reportedly burning down churches and Christian-run schools with the Catholic and Lutheran schools in the provincial capital being reportedly burnt down.

Further reports speak of shootings from single barrel guns in the provincial capital leading to the deaths of four men as confirmed by Representative Moses Kollie who told FrontPageAfrica that the bodies of the four killed so far were all men and were found with bullet wounds, a situation that has caused more attention to be drawn to the fragility of not just the county but Liberia in its entirety.

Representative Kollie said the bodies are deposited at a local hospital in Voinjama.

The late Korpu was also reported to have been found dead with bullet wound, though yet to be fully established.

Late Friday evening, troops from the Emergency Response Unit (ERU) of the Liberian National Police (LNP) were seen being airlifted from the Springfield Airport in Sinkor, Monrovia, to the troubled zone to help calm the situation along with stationed troops of the United Nations Mission In Liberia (UNMIL) who have come under strong criticism of biasingly protecting only mosques and ignoring the protection of churches, something that again surfaced during Saturday’s mass meeting.UNMIL, in a press release issued late Friday afternoon stated it was aware of the situation and that UNMIL Formed Police Unit and military components were sent on the ground in assistance to the LNP in Voinjama where the incident took place.



Saturday's meeting came a day after violence erupted in the county; beginning from a town named Konia and later spreading to other parts of the county including the provincial capital of Voinjama.

The UN Mission said that the troops will work in close coordination with the local county authorities and the security apparatus on the ground to keep the situation under control and UNMIL will contribute the necessary specialists to assist in the investigation of the incident.

In the midst of the recent violence in the county that has seen scores of damages taking place in Zorzor and Voinjama, a mass meeting of Lofa citizens residing in Monrovia and its environs was held Saturday at the Capitol Building upon the invitation of the Lofa County Legislative Caucus.

The meeting came a day after violence erupted in the county; beginning from a town named Konia and later spreading to other parts of the county including the provincial capital of Voinjama.

Saturday’s meeting that was organized by the county’s legislative caucus saw several views and suggestions made by citizens of the county which resulted into the formation of two committees with the responsibilities of investigating what really transpired and soliciting funds to aid with the repairs of the damages caused respectively.

The meeting was headed by the Caucus’ Chairman, the county’s Senior Senator Sumo Kupee (Coalition for the Transformation of Liberia-COTOL) while Senator Fomba Kanneh (All Liberian Coalition Party-ALCOP) , Representatives Moses Kollie (COTOL), Malliam Jallabah (ALCOP) and Varflay Kamara (ALCOP) were present as Representative Eugene Fallah Kparkar’s absence (Liberty Party) was noticeable.

Lofa citizens during the meeting who were drawn from all tribal and religious sectors of the county agreed on ensuring that the committees comprise of three representatives from each of the county’s seven administrative districts with one female and two males comprising of each set of the three representatives: namely, Foya , Kolahun , Salayea , Vahun , Voinjama and Zorzor District s.

‘A Shame To All Lofaians’

“What is happening in Lofa County is a shame to us all”, noted one of the citizens before adding his recommendation during the meeting.

The county in recent time has been engulfed with several mysterious deaths, most of which are ritualistic and the students had thought that it was time for such to be halted with immediacy.

The death of little Vawuu Kesselley whose death has linked Senator Kupee and that of another police man have been reasons why the students thought to demand justice that unfortunately turned out to be violent than they had thought.

Representative Kollie told FrontPageAfrica after Saturday’s meeting that the citizens of the county need to go back on the drawing-board in identifying and acknowledging that there are still problems in the county.

“The death of this little girl tells us that there are still problems in our county”, Representative Kollie said.

I’m Bitter More Than You”: Deceased’s Uncle Laments

PAINFUL LOSS

Jefferson Nyandibo, an uncle of the late Korpu Kamara whose death sparked the violence, in an attempt to restore quietude to the meeting that was being disturbed by some of the citizens said he was bitter more than any of them in attendance and that there was need for any disturbance as they sought to find the solution to the problem of their troubled county.

Jefferson Nyandibo, an uncle of the late Korpu Kamara whose death sparked the violence, in an attempt to restore quietude to the meeting that was being disturbed by some of the citizens said, he was bitter more than any of them in attendance and that there was no need for any further disturbance as they sought to find the solution to the problem of their troubled county.

“No one, as I stand before you is so more grieved than me, but again, with your presence, my sorrow has gone away” Jefferson said.

Jefferson told the gathering that the deceased was actually the child of the late Paramount Chief, Joseph Nyandibo. Jefferson narrated that his elder brother married Korpu’s mother, Viamah Nyandibo Kamara, who has gone to Konia, Lofa County to bury their daughter.

“What we have come to say to all of us is this: there’ll be situation that will always create forum for another situation”, he said or otherwise he would have gone to the Capitol Building and stop Senator Kupee not to speak until they provide circumstances leading to the death of his niece who he referred to as daughter, Korpu.

Jefferson urged his fellow citizens to stop asking who is going to keep peace for them in their county.

“No one order than you can keep peace in Lofa”, he said as he made reference to a remark from one of the citizens who suggested that UNMIL be drawn into whatever investigation that would take place amid claims that the UN Mission was biased in protecting mosques and not churches.

“Dangerously, for all us of is to ever live with pretense. I was in Voinjama, when we did the traditional cleansing, funded by USAID. Elders that ever went to that traditional cleansing can attest”, he continued as he lamented the fact that there exists some differences among citizens of the county that need to be settled and instead of pretending that all is well.

He reflected that during the “traditional cleansing”, people from every segment of the area were present.

“We killed cows, we put libations, we went to the mountains, we did all. But this action, I’m convinced that was done was under pretense”, Jefferson further observed.

Lofa’s On Time Bomb

He told his fellow Lofa citizens that it was fortunate for them to realize that they are sitting on a time bomb in the county.

He further asserted it was unfortunate that his niece, Korpu died in the way and manner in which she died and left the podium weeping deeply. Jefferson frowned on his compatriots that they pretend so much, which will do them no good.

Joke of the day

GIRLS OF THREE COUNTIES IN LIBERIA!

Three friends married women from different parts of the Liberia.....

The first man married a woman from Bong County. He told her that she was to do the dishes and house cleaning. It took a couple of days, but on the third day, he came home to see a clean house and dishes washed and put away.

The second man married a woman from Lofa County. He gave his wife orders that she was to do all the cleaning, dishes and the cooking. The first day he didn't see any results, but the next day he saw it was better. By the third day, he saw his house was clean, the dishes were done, and there was a huge bowl of fufu and soup on the table.

The third man married a girl from Sinoe County. He ordered her to keep the house cleaned, dishes washed, cooked, clothes washed, and soup with every meals on the table every day. He said the first day he didn't see anything, the second day he didn't see anything but by the third day, some of the swelling had gone down and he could see a little out of his left eye, and his arm was healed enough that he could fix himself smoke fish and rice and wash his own bowl. He still has some difficulty when he pees!!

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?



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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!!

female creature is the most power creature in the world

Ladies, ladies,

Its not that the men only want us in the kitchen, they prefer we stay in the bedroom as well. But ladies the truth of the matter is they are frightened of us. The average male know very well that to go against a women in any aspect of the world he has to come three times as strong to come close to winning; you notice I did not say he will win. Our strong will, open heart, caring and our contribution to the world make us very intimidating. They know we know their way of thinking, which can be scary at times. Look around the world do you think if women had been in charge from the beginning all the wars, hatred, killing would have happened, NO. A man will kill his brother over a piece of chicken wing where as a woman will simply share it with her sister so why should we even care if they prefer we stay away from the listserv.

The female creature is the most power creature in the world and they know it. Who else can do what we do? Not another creature. Who else can bleed for 5 days and not fall over and die, not a man, he will die. Who do you know can carry another living creature inside of them for 9 months and still live to tell her story, again not a man, if a man had to go thru one hour of labor pain, the world would have only 10 persons in it? Who else do you know can work 8 hours outside of the home, another 8 hours in the home and still never let them forget they are men when the lights goes out, not a man. We all know when they get home, the only thing on their minds are food, TV and bed.

Ladies, like my grandmother always say, there are always more then one way to skin a cat. If we feel strongly they do not want us to participate on those listserv by the treatment we receive from them, then by all means, we can build our own “female only” listserv. And to really get our point across to them, we will give them “view only” access to the site. This way, they can read about the great and important things women have to say but they will not be allowed to participate. Let me know ladies and I will start working on it this weekend!

Wait a minute, why are we waiting for them to “let” us write anyway? Ladies, write whatever you want to write, I do. I have no intension of letting anyone stop me but God. If they don’t like what I have to say, click the delete key its that simple, but please don’t stop writing because if you do, then they got what they wanted.

As I was writing this, a thought came to mind, “what would the world be like without women?” It was so ugly; I had to quickly erase it completely out of my head……that was a scary thought…..never again should I think of that, never!!!

Be blessed and have a great weekend.

Roberta

When you think your life is bad, read this and count your blessing!

I was walking around in a Target store, when I saw a Cashier hand this little boy some money back. The boy couldn’t have been more than 5 or 6 years old. The Cashier said, I m sorry, but you don t have enough money to buy this doll.



Then the little boy turned to the old woman next to him: Granny, are you sure I don t have enough money? The old lady replied: You know that you don t have enough money to buy this doll, my dear. Then she asked him to stay there for just 5 minutes while she went to look around. She left quickly. The little boy was still holding the doll in his hand. Finally, I walked toward him and I asked him who he wished to give this doll to.
It’s the doll that my sister loved most and wanted so much for Christmas. She was sure that Santa Claus would bring it to her. I replied to him that maybe Santa Claus would bring it to her after all, and not to worry.

But he replied to me sadly. No, Santa Claus can’t bring it to her where she is now. I have to give the doll to my mommy so that she can give it to my sister when she goes there.

His eyes were so sad while saying this. My Sister has gone to be with God. Daddy says that Mommy is going to see God very soon too, so I thought that she could take the doll with her to give it to my sister. My heart nearly stopped. The little boy looked up at me and said: I told daddy to tell mommy not to go yet. I need her to wait until I come back from the mall. Then he showed me a very nice photo of himself. He was laughing. He then told me I want mommy to take my picture with her so she won t forget me. I love my mommy and I wish she didn’t have to leave me, but daddy says that she has to go to be with my little sister. Then he looked again at the doll with sad eyes, very quietly.

I quickly reached for my wallet and said to the boy. Suppose we check again, just in case you do have enough money for the doll! OK he said I hope I do have enough. I added some of my money to his without him seeing and we started to count it. There was enough for the doll and even some spare money. The little boy said: Thank you God for giving me enough money! Then he looked at me and added, I asked last night before I went to sleep for God to make sure I had enough money to buy this doll, so that mommy could give it to my sister. He heard me! I also wanted to have enough money to buy a white rose for my mommy, but I didn’t dare to ask God for too much. But He gave me enough to buy the doll and a white rose.

My mommy loves white roses. A few minutes later, the old lady returned and I left with my basket. I finished my shopping in a totally different state of mind from when I started. I couldn’t get the little boy out of my mind. Then I remembered a local news paper article two days ago, which mentioned a drunk man in a truck, who hit a car occupied by a young woman and a little girl. The little girl died right away, and the mother was left in a critical state. The family had to decide whether to pull the plug on the life-sustaining machine, because the young woman would not be able to recover from the coma. Was this the family of the little boy? Two days after this encounter with the little boy, I read in the news paper that the young woman had passed away. I couldn’t stop myself as I bought a bunch of white roses and I went to the funeral home where the body of the young woman was for people to see and make last wishes before her burial.

She was there, in her coffin, holding a beautiful white rose in her hand with the photo of the little boy and the doll placed over her chest.

I left the place, teary-eyed, feeling that my life had been changed for ever. The love that the little boy had for his mother and his sister is still, to this day, hard to imagine. And in a fraction of a second, a drunk driver had taken all this away from him.

Support Oprah's Decision to Reject Sarah Palin

Support Oprah's Decision to Reject Sarah Palin - URGENT RELEASE



Hello Everyone,



This has been an interesting 2 weeks of deceit and lies brought to us by the Republican Party. The GOP's think that bringing a woman who describes herself as a "pit bull with lipstick" into the campaign is going to be a winning ticket. Apparently, the Republican Party thinks that Americans are ignorant or just stupid. Being a community organizer is apparently a big joke and now they want to protest our leading lady of television. I DON'T THINK SO…… This morning several newscasts reported that the Republican women in Florida are organizing an Oprah Winfrey boycott for declining the decision to have Sarah Palin on her show as a guest. We don't have to agree with everything Oprah does or say, but we must all respect and support her decision.



Oprah is the hardest working woman in the history of entertainment and has open doors for people like Tyra Banks, Queen Latifah, Wendy Williams and so many others to begin talk shows. She reinvented what African American beauty is considered on television and has provided hundreds if not thousands of people with job opportunities. Remember it was Oprah who traveled to New Orleans after Katrina and insisted that they let her into the Superdome that reaped of death and feces. It was the first time I saw her angry and was not accepting no for an answer. She was on the verge of knocking someone out because it was such a personal tragedy for all of us. I remember crying as I watched her show but then again I cried for the entire week that I watched my people dying on CNN waiting for assistance from The B ush Administration to rescue U.S. citizens because Condi was busy shoe shopping in NYC and Bush and Cheney were on vacation and missed the International coverage that we all witnessed for over 7 long days and nights.



It was Oprah who started the first efforts through her Angel Network to provide homes for displaced survivors from Katrina and called upon her friends for donations of new homes, not the leadership of the Republican government.

Oprah has never campaigned or publicly endorsed anyone until Senator Obama because she believed before most Americans could properly pronounce his name. Now, some of us are on the Obama staff, volunteers, donors, etc., because we all believe in him. Oprah was instrumental in bringing him national notoriety early in the election.



I AM ASKING FOR EVERYONE TO TIVO, DVR AND SPREAD THE WORD/FORWARD THIS EMAIL TO A MINIMUM OF 50 FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO WATCH/SUPPORT OPRAH'S SHOW THAT AIRES ON ABC NETWORK AT 4PM EST. CHECK YOUR LOCAL LISTING FOR STATION/TIME IN YOUR MARKET AND RECORD IT FOR AT LEAST 1 MONTH. WE MUST SPEAK CLEAR AND LOUD THROUGH THE NEILSON RATINGS THAT REPUBLICAN WOMEN HAVE NO POWER AND WILL NOT AFFECT OPRAH'S RATINGS, BECAUSE SHE HAS THE RIGHT TO SAY NO THANK YOU TO PALIN OR ANYONE ELSE THAT SHE DECLINES AS A GUEST.



IT IS NOT CALLED THE REPUBLICAN WOMEN SHOW; IT IS THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW!!!!!!!

IF OPRAH SAYS SHE DOESN'T WANT TO USE HER SHOW, IN WHICH SHE CREATED OVER 15 YEARS AGO FOR POLITICAL PLATFORMS, THEN SHE WILL NOT BE THREATENED BY IGNORANT SUPPORTERS OF THE PITBULL WITH LIPSTICK.

LETS CALL THIS "COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS ARE NO JOKE CAMPAIGN." THIS IS PART OF A CHANGE WE CAN BELIEVE IN TOO!!!!!



PLEASE PASS THIS ALONG AND DON'T FORGET TO SET YOUR TELEVISIONS FOR AT LEAST 1 MONTH OF TAPING THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW. WE WILL NOT BE PUSHED AROUND!!!! DON'T FORGET TO REGISTER TO VOTE AND IF ALREADY REGISTERED, CONFIRM THAT YOU STILL ARE –NOW!!- DON'T FORGET TO VOTE, IT'S YOUR RIGHT AND DUTY!!!!!!


Holly A. Cooper
President/CEO
Diva in Training Public Relations

Dual Citizenship for Liberians & Sarpo Park

Foreigners are benefitting from the Sarpo National Park because Sinoeans are not doing anything to uphold the park. Each year the USAA and SCAA have conventions and collect money but when it comes to use the money for the betterment of our beloved Sinoe, all you see and hear is fussing, name calling, power hungry fights on the net all day long. There are companies, universities, and other organizations in this country willing and able to help rebuild and strengthen the park but first you have to weed out the power-hungriness, petty cash moochers out of the way and even then, nothing gets done. You have the senator, superintent and other government officials doing absolutely nothing about the problems in Sinoe. These same government officials come to the USA with their big words and long stories but when you ask them a question about issues in Sinoe, all you get is “government need help” or “we have a lot of problem” DAH!!! We know this already that is why we invited you on our conference line is to give us details of what the major problems are and how you think it should be solve beside us putting money in your pocket. Sometimes, we know more about what is going on in Sinoe than they do- very shameful.

Whenever we try to do something for our people, the governments that will be the ones benefitting from your good deed want you to pay them first. They will not come out directly and say it but that is the result of what they are waiting for or it gets to be a power struggle between the officials. Example: We (SCAA) had 1000 school chairs made and delivered to Sinoe County for our various schools, up to today we have not gotten a simple “we got the chairs or they were distributed or thank you”. What our Sinoe government officials did with those chairs is anyone guesses.

Can you imagine if we were to send money collected from both organizations to help clean and strengthen the park, do you know how much of that, money will actually go to the park? NONE! It is a shame that our enemies are the same people we are trying to help. Only in Liberia, your enemy is the same person that needs your help. I am sure those chairs did not get to the schools because someone is waiting to be paid or the government cannot decide who should get the credit for them. If our government officials cannot get the credit for a job, they want nothing to do with it even if this make them look good. I challenge Superintendent Grigsby to give us an account of what happened to those chairs and which schools received how many of them. If they are not distributed, where are they and why? I also challenge Senator Nyenpan to help us gain the corrections needed on a land SCAA purchased in Sinoe. Senator, you were on one of our conference call and we explained the entire ordeal to you. We need the land survey done correctly, it was return from the Executive Mansion for corrections as we stated to you, up to now we have not heard from you, Mr. Grigsby or the person who did the survey.

Why should we have to beg and or pay our government to help us help them? This act is crazy to say the lease. This is like paying your children to help them do their homework, makes no sense at all. The government should rather be happy that we are trying to do something, which in term will help our dear beloved Sinoe County and Liberia.

Roberta Williams
Stay Blessed and listen to your body!!

Miss Liberia in the US 2008 Pageant

Miss Liberia in the US 2008 Pageant

Friday July 25, 2008 Pennsylvania Convention Center
1100 Arch Street. Phila. PA 19107 Formal Attire (Doors open at 6:00pm - Pageant Starts at 7:00pm Sharp) Tickets Available online visit www.missliberia.org
Official After Party Keya Graves Banquet Hall
10 N. 9th Street Darby PA 19023 For more pageant info visit Edith W. 610-986-1077 or Agnes D. 610-931-3819
Johnetta G. 267-251-1754 or Renee W. 609-977-4041
Evita G.610-529-2117 or Patience K. 267-972-6391

The De-Africanization of Liberia: The Trend Continues

Forwarded message ----------From: rob Williams <rwilliams610@gmail.com>Date: Jun 3, 2008 1:03 PMSubject: Fwd: [OnLiberianMedium] Re: [OLM_Adm04] The De-Africanization of Liberia: The Trend ContinuesTo: Roberta Williams <rwilliams6@wellspan.org>---------- Forwarded message ----------From: rob Williams <rwilliams610@gmail.com>Date: Jun 3, 2008 9:13 AMSubject: Re: [OnLiberianMedium] Re: [OLM_Adm04] The De-Africanization of Liberia: The Trend ContinuesTo: OnLiberianMedium@yahoogroups.com
What are you really trying to say below, because from what I gathered, you are saying that we should work together for the bettement of human kind; am I correct? If so, good, let join hands and work towards banning female mutilation for good.

Now that we are on the same page, pour the gingerale, drink a glass for me and tell your female relatives, you now understand the reasons FGM should be banned.

Roberta Williams
On 6/2/08, Arthur W Doe <Nahweah@msn.com> wrote:
Remember now, my dear brother, In America, we have our freedom. Most epecially, when we are discussing issue like this female circumcision, only an experience have knowledge in this matter. Therefore, his attempt to be opened to the nitty-gritty of this discussion should not be seen as provocative, otherwise, take some times and visit any Library in the Diaspora and make yourself available to interesting reading materials. That way, you will have respect for open discussion, and refrain from surrpoting others who want to impose their might on tardition. Do you have a glass of gingerale by your side? If not, you can join me. Art Weah Doe
To: OnLiberianMedium@yahoogroups.comFrom: jallah65@yahoo.comDate: Mon, 2 Jun 2008 12:12:27 -0700
Subject: Re: [OnLiberianMedium] Re: [OLM_Adm04] The De-Africanization of Liberia: The Trend Continues
This idea that because something is traditional we should continue to do it is a very disturbing to me.I will agree with Nimely and Nat on that Government should not have the right to arbitarily take away the rights of its citizens, but we should not use this to deter what our education and exposure to other cultures have come to teach us.years ago Eddie Murphy, the Comedian in an apparent rage over a relationship that had gone sour said in a joke that the next woman he was going to marry was going to be from Africa. He stated make sure if you do that you make sure she does not befriend an American woman. He stated the American woman would say to her" how that Eddie Murphy treating u.girl you know you can get half of everything if he is treating you bad".The joke culminates with the African woman telling Eddie Murphy " Eddie, I want half". Of course in his joke Eddie Murphy was implying that African Women were docile, and that he would want that type of woman because he could be more happy controlling her.However we know our African mothers, sisters e.t.c are too smart for that, and if you are a man who think you can continue that trend of control , NEWS FLASH(ARTHUR)When Celia described the story of Fatima, the real tragedy is that no one give Fatima the choice of whether she should have part of her clitoris removed or not.The same way no one gives the female a choice when they offer her to a man when she is twelve years old.When these women get educated they now understand the value of these decisions unfortunately some being irreversible.I wonder how a Nimely or a Nat or an Arthur Doe would look a Fatima in the eye.That is why reading Arthur Doe's account of his encounter offends me because it was the most pure form of male chauvinism exhibited on this forum to date.
----- Original Message ----From: "JTambah@aol.com" <JTambah@aol.com>To: OnLiberianMedium@yahoogroups.comSent: Monday, June 2, 2008 12:01:19 PMSubject: Re: [OnLiberianMedium] Re: [OLM_Adm04] The De-Africanization of Liberia: The Trend Continues
Graphi...... ........here we come! Art, you probably forgot that you have been taken to task by women. Indeed, this particular one is Kru.....in case you did not know. You won't win......... ....sorry! !!!!!!!!! !!-----Original Message-----From: rob Williams <rwilliams610@ gmail.com>To: OnLiberianMedium@ yahoogroups. comCc: NEKTAA <nektaa@yahoogroups. com>; olm_adm04@yahoogrou ps.com <olm_adm04@yahoogrou ps.com>Sent: Mon, 2 Jun 2008 12:54 pmSubject: Re: [OnLiberianMedium] Re: [OLM_Adm04] The De-Africanization of Liberia: The Trend ContinuesArt, By the way, you said your encounter with the Bassa bride was great for you, how was it for her? Did she make sound to let you know she was enjoying you? Did she have an organism or did she just lie there with her eyes closed leggs open waiting for you to be done already? Did you even bother to ask her how she enjoyed you on top of her? That's right; she wouldn't know her genital was cut out. Sorry, my bad!!!! Roberta Williams On 5/30/08, Arthur W Doe <Nahweah@msn. com> wrote:Ms. Williams, I really admired your posted research, most especially the usage of medical terminologies, and the education of us concerning the signs and symptoms of cutting the female genitalia. However, these are all Western diagnosis and/or prognosis, the very crust of our discussion. Mr. Tuon questioned the Western intrusion or aculturation into our nation state, thereby causing the elimination of a more than 100 years old culture or tradition. Since I became to grow up as a teenager in Harbel, Firestone, where most of these traditional traits occurred, I never heard a single case of genital elimination that cause HIV or AIDS. These are the Western tactics that slipped into our society that many of us socalled educated people see today as a 'health' problem. My dear, when I became to feel myself ripe for the go, my first interaction was with a 'Blonju,' a newly circumcised bride from the Bassa tribe. At that time I was between 13 - 14 years old, but the bride was about 15 or 16. I must admit that it was great. Guess what? My parents paid for for me touching this bride.Therefore, we should not becloud ourselves with this 'Western Imposition' of our culture/tradition. Yesterday, it was 'sassy wood,' and today is Genitalia femalia. The next thing will be the stopping of old men from 'eating' more than 'one wife.' Therefore, I wll join others to denounce the elimination and/or imposition of the Western influence on our tradition. Our culture is our identity, and our tradition is our mark. No matter of our acceptance of the Western culture, our judgment should be left with ourselves and not the government. The western culture should be an open ended issue that should be left with our individual persons to decide. For an imposition on a people may create problem for the government. Stopping our people is like taking away your credit card. You know you would not allow that to happen. Whether you cut it or you do not cut it, it still makes the 'pendulum' to move .back and forward. Art Weah Doe To: onliberianmedium@ yahoogroups. comFrom: celiabrown@msn. comDate: Fri, 30 May 2008 20:44:13 +0000Subject: RE: [OnLiberianMedium] Re: [OLM_Adm04] The De-Africanization of Liberia: The Trend ContinuesRobert,Bravo!!! Your explanation is perfect and to the 'T'. No one person could have put it precisely the way you did below. In other words, since the female sexual desire is curbed after the circumcision, the female has lost the ability to even know if her partner, the male can sexually fulfill her? Since the female knows no better, the male walks around like he is the man, therefore actually pleases himself all the time. There is no problem in the relationship because, the female has lost the ability to enjoy the pleasure of sex since the genital part from which sexual height and pleasure is experienced has been taken away? I am also left to believe that after all these health problems that you explained below, that could happen to a female after the circumcision, it doesn't matter to those who are pro. All that matters is the enhancement of the male sexuality? Will this actually be the reason why some men will argue this point to the grave? Maybe I am wrong. Am I? (Celia Cuffy-Brown)My friend Gee, this is the only reason men want female genital cutting: Female genital cutting enhances male sexuality and curbs female sexual desire.Rob WilliamsTo: OnLiberianMedium@ yahoogroups. comFrom: rwilliams610@ gmail.comDate: Fri, 30 May 2008 14:22:56 -0400Subject: Re: [OnLiberianMedium] Re: [OLM_Adm04] The De-Africanization of Liberia: The Trend ContinuesNGee, The potential physical complications resulting from the female genital cutting procedure are numerous. Because female genital cutting is often carried out without anesthesia, an immediate effect of the procedure is pain. Short-term complications, such as severe bleeding, which can lead to shock or death, are greatly affected by the type of female genital cutting performed, the degree of struggle by the woman or girl, unsanitary operating conditions, and inexperienced practitioners or inadequate medical services once a complication occurs. There is a very high risk of infection, with documented reports of ulcers, scar tissue and cysts. Female genital cutting may also interfere with a woman's pregnancy or labor. Other lasting effects that commonly result from female genital cutting procedures include urine retention, resulting in repeated urinary infections and obstruction in menstrual flow, which may lead to frequent reproductive tract infections, infertility and chronic pelvic pain. Female genital cutting is also thought to facilitate the transmission of HIV through several mechanisms. Significant psychological and psychosexual consequences of female genital cutting exist. My friend Gee, this is the only reason men want female genital cutting: Female genital cutting enhances male sexuality and curbs female sexual desire. Rob WilliamsOn 5/30/08, NGee <ngg06@yahoo. com> wrote:Ms. Brown, You are getting notorious by the day for making outrageous statements on this listserv, and it is time that you recognize such notoriety. I am sure you didn't 'pick a fight' with Mr, Tuon when you responded to his post, but if I respond to yours then I am inclined to 'pick a fight' with you, right? Well, Ms. Brown, such a clever plod will not work with me and you know it, so why even bother to try! You see, Ms. Brown, I said to either you on someone on this listserv not long ago that I do not look forward to the validation of my point of view, and I can tell you that the ethnic groups of Liberia that practice female circumcision do not need validation from you or anyone to practice their tradition. Female circumcision will remain part and parcel of Liberian traditional culture whether or not you liked it. For the traditions and cultural values of a people are not subject to change or negotiation to satisfy the curiosity of Ms. Brown and company. You see, Ms. Brown, I am not preaching culture more so than I am asking you and others to use the analytical skills you learned in school and disregard your personal emotions and biases--at least to certain extent--when dealing with the way of life of your fellow countrymen and women if you wish to live in peace in Liberia. For inasmuch as the traditional people do not interfere with you in your practice of western culture and belief systems, you and others should not interfere with the traditional people in the practice of their traditions. For right now, I have not heard of any instance in Liberia--a legal case or a health case--involving the traditional practice of female circumcision so where do you, the government, or any private groups come in to want to change or ban female circumcision? Hence, my argument, like that of Mr. Tuon, is about social justice, fair play, and empirical data to support you desire to ban the traditional practice of female circumcision in Liberia rather than my belief in a culture, even if I do. And so far, Ms. Brown, no proofs exist that female circumcision is detrimental to the Liberian society, especially to the health, reproductive capacity, sexual drives, and general welfare of Liberian women. And my contention is for you and others to provide the proof that female circumcision is harmful to Liberian society and Liberian women before we can even begin to talk about banning female circumcision. Mind you, Ms. Brown, even if you presented overwhelming proofs that female circumcision was detrimental to Liberian society and Liberian women, you will still have to justify why the practice should be banned instead of being modified and improved upon. So, sure, Ms. Brown, if you were the President of Liberia or an influential member of the National Legislature you might be inclined to ban female circumcision, but you will still have to provide proofs about the harmfulness of the practice and establish why the harm is so grave that the practice ought to be banned rather than improved. Of course, at that point, if you had the votes, you might prevail in the ban; but if not, female circumcision will not be affected. And the process for which I speak and I have just described, Ms. Brown, is called 'democracy,' and this is what we professed to want in Liberia so we must begin to abide by democratic principles. In other words, Ms. Brown, I value your right to abhor female circumcision and to preclude your female children from being circumcised, but you do not have the right to ban the way of life of a people on that basis alone, especially not in a democracy. For democracy, Ms. Brown, is about persuasion through verifiable facts and constant negotiations between people with opposing points of view on a given issue or subject. And if you are not willing to negotiate on female circumcision, you have the right to amuse yourself but your refusal to negotiate will not cause female circumcision to be banned. For if the government of Liberia through the Supreme Court banned sassywood--a public traditional practice--in 1956 and the practice is still in force today, what makes you think the people will heed a government ban on female circumcision, a practice secluded from the public? Well, good luck, Ms. Brown, with your ban on female circumcision, but it will never work in Liberia until the pe ople whose life style you want to change are willing to listen to you. Otherwise, the government in Monrovia can issue truck loads of 'bans' on Liberian traditional practices but no one will listen to the government. Nat Galarea Gbessagee5/30/08----- Original Message ----From: CELIA BROWN <celiabrown@msn. com>To: olm_adm04@yahoogrou ps.comSent: Friday, May 30, 2008 10:51:56 AMSubject: RE: [OLM_Adm04] The De-Africanization of Liberia: The Trend ContinuesI have given my stand on this. You can rant and rage about culture all you want. I am glad that I have the luxury to make that decision for my daughter. She will be intact. Opening my mind to any other benefit of female circumcision is something I don't even want to think about or negotiate, neither discuss any further. You have the freewill to exult that culture. I have the freewill to be against it. And I am totally 100% gainst such practices. What ever the government needs to do to stop this, I am 100% behind the government!! !. Thanks Ngee. Go pick another fight. I am not going to take the place of Mr. Bedell!!! Celia Cuffy-Brown To: OLM_Adm04@yahoogrou ps.com; onliberianmedium@ yahoogroups. comFrom: ngg06@yahoo. comDate: Fri, 30 May 2008 04:05:10 -0700Subject: Re: [OLM_Adm04] The De-Africanization of Liberia: The Trend ContinuesMs. Brown, Sometimes when I read your writings on this listserv, especially the mannner in which you often tackled issues of national significance in Liberia, I wonder if you actually feel that your way of life is the best for everyone. I hope not because not everyone sees President Sirleaf as the 'savior' sent by God to redeem Liberia of its backwardness as you continued to profess on this listserv. Liberia must be run by rule of law in cadence with the cultural values, mores, and traditions of Liberia. No Liberian has the right to interfere with the religious, cultural, political, and social practices of another--not even government, unless such practices have been researched, studied, analyzed, and verified to be counterproductive to the national interest of Liberia. So the issue of female circumcision, sassywood, and other traditional practices of the various ethnic groups of Liberia cannot be deemed to be 'harmful' to society at large because Ms. Celia Brown and party saw a movie or read a novel that certain cultural practices in Liberia are 'harmful,' or because Ms. Celia Brown lives in the United States where the age of consent is '18' in some states so she thinks the age of consent in every county in Liberia is also '18.' You see, Ms. Brown, it is easy to sit in the United States behind a computer screen and write 'Now a days, some things that we practiced especially on our children, are wrong. Children can not protect themselves. If you were a woman, you would understand that it is better to have been dead than to have gone through that ritual.' However, the argument contained in your statement lacks every educational basis of substantiation. First, I really don't want to get into your 'if you were a woman' tautology because female circumcision in the traditional setting is performed in the Sande Institution, an all-female tradition al learning institution, so the issue of male domination is often a false claim associated with those who opposed female circumcision. Second, there are many things in this world, including the choice of food, clothing, dwelling place, early baptism, and travel from one location to another that are 'some things that we practiced on our children' in which the children are not old enough to make an informed decision. And it is the law of nature for the old to take care of the young until the young gets to a certain age to fend for itself. Hence, there is nothing 'wrong' with exposing children to the rituals and other practices of the culture in which they are born. I am sure that you are aware that most male children of Liberia and the United States did not have any say in being circumcised at birth, so there can be no exception for female children. Third, Ms. Brown, many of you who talked about female circumcision being 'wrong' or 'bad' for the female sexual exploits usually do so out of complete miseducation or sheer speculation because female circumcision has no impact on the sexual escapades of women, at least with my experience with women who have been circumcised and women who have not. But let be get away from the personal narratives about my experience with circumcised Liberian and other African women, and my own respect for traditional Liberian culture and dwell on the issues raised by Mr. Tuon from both an educational and legal perspective. First, from an educational perspective, there must be a legal, social, or cultural reason for every change that is contemplated to be made in society. This means that since of any kind of change in society is bound to benefit or harm certain segments of society, the basis for the change must be established from a cost-benefit analysis standpoint. For example, if the drinking age for teenagers in the United States were to be changed from 21 to 17 years, then from an educational perspective, the proponents of the change must establish in fact how the change will benefit American society, and how the current drinking age limit negatively impacts teenagers. These facts must therefore be established through writing by way of highlighting the pros and cons of the proposed change in drinking age based on research conducted of both proponents and opponents of teenage drinking age limit. The data collected for such a research study will also be verified through a system of validation by experts associated with teenage drinking habits to ascertain balance in the data collection process. After these processes, an educational basis for the change would have been established. On a legal basis, the data and results of the research study and expert testimonies will be submitted to the National Legislature of Liberia to hold public hearings on the pros and cons of female circumcision in Liberia, by soliciting testimonies from women who have undergone female circumcision with respect to their sexual practices, psychological bearings and general outlook on life as a direct result of female circumcision. In addition, persons like yourself, Ms. Brown, who feel that female circumcision is 'wrong' will also be invited to testify to give backing for your claim, along with governmental health administrator s like the Minister of Health and Social Welfare and directors of the major health centers and hospitals in Liberia to establish through testimony the harmful health effects of female circumcision cases in comparison to other health statistics of the nation. The Ministry of Internal Affairs and some county superintendents will also be invited to testify to the effects of female circumcision on local government administration in Liberia. Of course, Ms. Brown, after the National Legislature has heard all these testimonies from opponents and practictioners of female circumcision and health administrators and policymakers associated with the practice and impact of female circumcision on Liberian society, the National Legislation will make a determination of the case and decide to outlaw female circumcision or protect female circumcision intact or with a few modifications. Conversely, Ms. Brown and party could sue the practictioners of female circumcision in a court of law in Liberia to outlaw female circumcision on whatever grounds important to them and await the outcome of the case. Indeed, Ms. Brown, these are the only two legal bases under which female circumcision can be banned in Liberia. Otherwise, any attempt by an Americo-Liberian president to ban the Native Liberian tradition of female circumcision will be nothing more than a continuation of the cultural warfare that has engulfed Liberia from the time of independence in 1847 where the former American slaves thought their role was to be Americans in the heart of Africa, by practicing American cultural traditions and values while downplaying the cultural traditions and values of the African kinsmen and women who invited them back to Africa. You see, Ms. Brown, you and I have equal rights as Liberians so we must learn to negotiate our differences, including our cultural differences, without one of us trying to impose our will on others. I lived in Monrovia and saw many babies being baptized without their consent; male children being circumcised without their consent; many children forced to attend morning and afternoon schools on family social groups without their consent; many children made to be ordained as altar boys without their consent; many children forced to do chores in home without their consent, and many children forced into early prostitution by their parents--not the street variety--but the one intended to gain favor from Uncle Joe, Uncle Paul, or Cousin Peter, without their consent. Hence, Ms. Brown, it is good that you are in the position to make choices for yourself and your children, but many parents and many children don't have that luxury. But I should remind you that children don't have the choice to make any decisions on their own in any society if you come to think about it critically. Even children in the U.S. must submit to parental control in basically everything, including the choice of school to attend and the type of video game to play. But, again, what Ms. Brown thinks about traditional Liberian culture is the gospel truth so what do I and Mr. Tuon know! Nat Galarea Gbessagee5/30/08----- Original Message ----From: CELIA BROWN To: olm_adm04@yahoogrou ps.comSent: Friday, May 30, 2008 12:01:27 AMSubject: RE: [OLM_Adm04] The De-Africanization of Liberia: The Trend ContinuesBro. Tuon, If a young girl reaches 18 years old and willingly accepts this female genital mutilation, that will not be a problem. As it is, most young girls who go under this rituals do not have their own free will because, they are under age and do not understand the magnitude until they reach puberty or become sexually active. When one does not have the ability to freely choose, it is the government's right to protect those whom can not protect themselves. In our tradition, it is said that the witch doctor can not do any harm to a crazy man who has lost his mind. If you commission a witch doctor to do harm to a crazy man, the witch will come back to you. because, the crazy man is not capacitated to protect himself. So, the God's protect the crazy man. Same with children. The other day, I was watching Tyra Bank's America's Next Top Model. A beautiful African girl by the name of Fatima, in the competition cried. Her friends asked her why, she told them what her deepest secret was 'that she had be circumcised' . She cried and all of her friends put their arms around her and cried with her. I sat in front of my television and cried. It was one of those moment that I was thankful that I came from the Kru tribe where I was save from such. I took my 3 years old daughter in my arms and shuddered. I know that you are nationalistic and this is wonderful to know that people still respect our culture. Now a days, some things that we practiced especially on our children, are wrong. Children can not protect themselves. If you were a woman, you would understand that it is better to have been dead than to have gone through that ritual. For example, in Ghana, the mutilation of Babies faces to show tribal grouping has been abolished since Jerry Rawlings era. Scaring the face of a child when they can not defend themselves is wrong. How can a child protest? A child is defenseless. If a child reaches adulthood and wants to do those things with themselves to identify with their tribe, to them be the glory. Imagine if your parents had mutilated your face? Our culture is not about cruelty. Times have changed. People are more knowledgeable now. God made us different Colors to make the world beautiful. He did not bring us into this world half equipped,and scared. Those whom are scared, came from him that way to serve a purpose. We who came into this world whole must not take away those things that God give us to provide us the pleasure of life. I wish you luck in your quest to down spiral the trend of time, but, I don't see you winning this war. Celia Cuffy-BrownTo: oneliberia@yahoogro ups.com; alja1@yahoogroups. com; olm_adm04@yahoogrou ps.com; onliberianmedium@ yahoogroups. com; ulibsaaforum@ yahoogroups. com; bushchicken_ 06@yahoogroups. comFrom: tuonagain@yahoo. comDate: Thu, 29 May 2008 19:08:25 -0700Subject: [OLM_Adm04] The De-Africanization of Liberia: The Trend ContinuesThe De-Africanization of Liberia: The Trend ContinuesGet Ready For Liberia's Culture Revolution According to a recent news story, we are told that a campaign against what western perception described as 'female genital mutilation' has intensified in Liberia. Let me be the first to say, I don't support this idea of any female undergoing such process, but any campaign about this should be based on education that will lead to those who are involved to either accept it or reject it. But campaign to call for an outright ban, and calling it barbaric is very crude. Any move to ban or allow any practice should be based on the merits or demerits of such practice, rather than comparing it with a foreign ideology and ban it based on that purpose. As we Liberians begin to thoroughly look at many of our traditional customs, we should be care not to destroy our culture simply to impress our friends in the west or else where. Education and to allow one to exercise his/or her free will must be the only tools necessary to do away with those things we consider as uncouth. In the west, citizens are urged to exercise their own free will to choose or to reject, but when it comes to Africa, the idea of exercising one own free way is a rare commodity, especially when it comes to imposing foreign ideas, mainly western. Instead of introducing a western idea to Africans and allow them to exercise their own free will to either adopt or reject, the process of coercion is used through which various kinds of sanctions, and at many times a blatant use of force is accompanied such imposition. Many African practices that have endured many centuries among the African tribes are first described as barbaric and uncivilized, and this is followed by the used of uncivilized means to impose the so called civilized behavior. The irony in this process of imposing foreign ideology on Africans is that onc we accept the idea and failed to meet the so called standards set by the imposter, they immediately impose sanctions on us. Today many traditional practices that once preserved stability in Africa and the homogeneousness of the African people, especially among native Liberians, are under attack in Liberia. First it was this deceitful idea of 'one man, one wife' through which the African practice of having more than one wives was strongly condemned. The introduction of 'one man, one wife' brought with it the adulterous practices that are so common in the west. The 'One man, one wife' idea has turned out to be faked, unrealistic and has become the most hypocritical idea ever imported from the west. Recently we were told that trial by ordeal is too crude, out of step with modern (western) implication of justice. So without carefully studying the effect or impact of this many centuries old practice it was quickly banned in Liberia. Trial by ordeal, unlike the western system of justice, has never let the guilty to walk due to lack of evidence, or imprison the innocent due to the so called due process. This practice, that the west crudely described as' female genital mutilation', so described to justify its outright ban, requires further study, and an objective education campaign to enable those concerned or would-be participants to decide on their own free will, rather than instituting a criminalization campaign of this practice and other practices to justify their outright ban. This idea of terming African customs as barbaric or sometimes criminal by juxtaposing them with western ideas is a trend that is disrupting the African way of life and creating or putting Africa and Africans in a position of subornation to other cultures, especially the western. The most powerful tool necessary for human development is freedom and the right to exercise it. This was the basis of the European renaissance in the middle ages that led to many changes in the way Europeans use to live. After many year coercion and the use of force by the powerful elites in Europe against the weak and the poor that led to many years of instability throughout Europe, the idea of individualism prevailed that gives the individual his/her freedom and the right to freely express it. Every tribal custom in Liberia deserves an objective and thorough review in favor of improving it instead of a criminalized campaign to ban it. Many of Africa's problems are rooted in the imposing of foreign ideology by the use of force. The forced imposition of any foreign ideology has limited acceptance, in order words, many of the foreign ideologies that were imposed or being imposed on Africa are be accepted only at the top by the so called elites which in turn clashes with the general way of the majority and then set the stage for the conflicts that have plague Africa ever since. The same governments that are quick to ban what they interpret as out dated practices, including the so called 'female genital mutilation', is the same governments that will display half-naked girls with uncovered breasts to dance in front of visiting foreign dignitaries and call it entertainment. Coming Soon: The Manifesto of the Liberian Culture Revolution