The Editor,
It is about time all Liberians recognize and change some of the cultural elements that are reinforcing autocracy form of governance in our society.
These elements have the propensity of making our government officials appear and act as semi-gods.
For example, the Liberian society should cease giving our government officials titles which imply a form of worship as referred to the Liberian leaders as ”excellency” or “honorable” as there is nothing excellent or honorable about a leadership with absolute powers.
There is nothing excellent or honorable about a leadership, which cannot provide basic services to 98 percent of the country’s population.
There is nothing excellent or honorable about a leadership serving as a semi-god.
There is nothing excellent or honorable about a leadership presiding over a country without infrastructure of roads for vehicles, pipe borne water for drinking, food for nourishment, electricity for energy, housing for shelters, healthcare for cure and prevention, education for learning, empowerment, innovation, manufacturing for the production of goods, and provision of reliable services.
Moreover, there is nothing excellent or honorable about a leadership that cannot create programs that will inspire youth to compete in innovations for a better future of the country.
There is nothing excellent or honorable about a government whose legislature allots huge salaries and allowances to itself, which do not match the productive capacity of the country.
There is nothing excellent or honorable about a government whose officials divert state resources and funds for personal use with impunity including support numerous concubines.
There is nothing excellent or honorable about a leadership presiding over a country where there is justice for only the elites.
There is nothing excellent or honorable about a leadership presiding over a country where government officials are above the rule of law.
There is nothing excellent or honorable about a leadership with the sole power of apportioning the resources of the country.
There is nothing excellent or honorable about a leadership that uses the country’s resources to send its children abroad for education when a majority of the children have no access to these same resources.
Because of these reasons, Liberians should cease giving their government officials honorable and Excellency titles.
What the country deserves is excellent and honorable ways, not excellent and honorable names.
The way to show respect to our past and current government officials is by calling them their rightful titles in the same way it is being done in the United States.
We should say, for example, President Saytue or Mr. Saytue, Senator Nelson or Mr. Nelson, Representative Tweh or Mr. Tweh because that is who they are. There is no disrespect calling someone their rightful title or name.
Jarwinken Wiah, North Dakota, USA
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