The Editor,
When I read comments attacking me from natives, it makes me sad. But then again I can’t blame our half-baked educated natives. Because that is how the system was designed by the Congau going back to 1822.
Education or the lack of it is a powerful tool in keeping a people down or opening their “eyes.” It works well today in Liberia. Point out any advanced nation where its education system is underrated.
It is not so much about the political system or ideology. America, Western Europe, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia Singapore have education systems that are top notch but they are democracies.
Russia, China and North Korea are totalitarian regimes but their education systems are also top notch. Much of Africa, the Middle East, South and Central America and others in Asia have checkered education systems and thus why they are lacking behind the democratically and economically advanced nations.
Progress in these countries is not magic. It is driven by the human mind and will power. But some leaders in Africa—in Ghana, Rwanda, Malawi, Mauritius, Tanzania and South Africa are now delivering for their people. Poverty and underdevelopment are not confined to race.
People think I am anti-Congau but I am not. I just want fair play, justice, equality and the rule of law in Liberia. I have some good educated Congau friends who praise and admire my work. They wish there were more natives like me doing the same thing, But you will never see them on here attacking me.
Most of the two-by-four Congau attacking me are mostly the Class Four Congau or the ones I call the “Born-Again and Baptized Congau” and most are the 50/50 Congau who graduated into the ranks of the real, true-blood Congau and they do so for educational, employment opportunities and social upward mobility and acceptance.
You had the same among blacks in racist America and Apartheid South Africa. These blacks were paid agents by the oppressors whites to denounce Malcoln X, Martin Luther King Jr and in South Africa, Nelson Mandela and others who were fighting to change the system.
So this is not strange that some of our own native Liberians are here attacking me. That is how the Liberian society was designed from the beginning. Real change will come, maybe not in my lifetime but it is coming slowly and gradually. This is my faith.
But I am not deterred by their smears. I and others are succeeding as our message is gaining ground in Liberia in the high places of power in the government.
But the change we are advocating is gradually being implemented judiciously using the constitution and the rule of law as we saw last week in the Supreme Court of Liberia decision in the constitutionality of the Code of Conduct Law. Guns and violence will not solve our problems but liberated minds will.
“A mind is a terrible thing to waste” is the powerful slogan of black civil rights movement in America, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, (NAACP.)
So yes, I am simply a footprint in the sand of Liberian history, walking in the footsteps of other great giants, both natives and congau. The race is tedious and difficult but reaching the finish line is the ultimate victory.
No more turning back. We commend the Francis Kporkpor Bench of the Supreme Court of Liberia. History will be kind to you. And so, we move on to the next hurdles.
Jerry Wehtee Wion
Washington, DC, USA
[email protected]