“We the people…” are famous words we often use when discussing politics and especially in reference to the American Constitution.
But here, I am not talking about the three famous opening words of the American Constitution. I am quoting the three less famous opening words of the Preamble in the Liberian Constitution.
Less famous perhaps because those three little words were probably plagiarized; as was the flag, as was the pledge, as was almost everything in the beginning. But I don’t blame them. No, I don’t blame the forefathers, or the pioneers, or whatever else they are called in our history books. How could I?
How could I blame slaves? How could I blame a people with so little education? I can’t. I cannot bring myself to criticize them. No, I can’t. The forefathers did what they knew, how they knew and a few others too!
J. Gus Leibenow in his book “The Evolution of Privilege” calls it “moral delinquency” Simply put, professed religion (my Baptist brothers) mixed with a good dose of immorality (shh..). And then, the First Republic was shattered.
The legacy? 133 years of naught. But that’s another story for another time.
Entered the Second Republic of ragtag soldiers flaunting a minted Constitution. The ‘Country Boys!’ They were the redeemers who were going to end ‘rampant corruption’. They did not. But I don’t blame them. How could I?
How could I blame ‘mere soldiers’? How could I blame a people who got power by chance? I can’t. I cannot bring myself to criticize them. No, I can’t.
The soldiers did what they knew, how they knew and a few others too! Dr. Amos Sawyer in his book “The Emergence of Autocracy in Liberia: Tragedy and Challenge” calls them “greedy and power hungry”.
Simply put, in ten short years, they tried their best to outdo the pioneers. And then, the Second Republic was shattered.
The legacy? 10 years of zip. In fact, they left in their wake twenty-four years of mayhem. But that’s another story for another time.
Entered the Darkpanah basking in the blood of thousands and proclaiming the Third Republic. This was neither a ‘Congo’ nor a ‘Country’ government. A hybrid. We were starting all over again. It was going to be rough.
So… rough, but we were going to make it. We didn’t. But I don’t blame him. How could I? How could I blame a mere ‘zoe’?
How could I blame a person without a plan? I can’t. I cannot bring myself to criticize him. No, I can’t.
The Darkpanah did what he knew, how he knew and a few others too! Dr. Elwood Dunn in his expose “Liberia and Independent Africa, 1940s to 2012: A Brief Political Profile (Ahlp Occasional Papers)” calls him “intransigent” Simply put, he was self-absorbed.
A walking stick and a manicured look interspersed with American English. And then, the ‘zoe bush’ was desecrated. The legacy? 4 years of zilch.
In fact, he left in his wake a brief period of turmoil. But that’s another story for another time.
Entered Madam Harvard with the growth models and stochastic variables. The people’s problem was not reconciliation. ‘It’s the economy, stupid!’ No sooner did she learn that in a place without data, growth models don’t last long.
In a twisted tale of karma, the Executive Mansion was gutted by fire.
It still lies in ruins. Haunted? I don’t know. But I don’t blame her. How could I? Unlike the Bible, how could I blame a woman? Are our mothers not always right?
I can’t. I cannot bring myself to criticize her. No, I can’t. Her Excellency did what she knew, how she knew and a few others too! In her book “This Child Will Be Great”, she said Rob was her favorite son.
Simply put, it was during this period we heard murmurs of legitimizing the forbidden. The legacy? 11 years of?
You be the judge. In fact, in January 2018, she will be ceding power to a new administration. No, this is not another story for another time; this is the story of our time!
How long are we the people going to sit and stare? How long are we the people to watch our children die of curable diseases?
How long are we the people going to accept half-baked education? How long are we the people not going to blame?
How long? How long? We the people, how long? As we go to the ballot box on October 10, for good or bad, we will be writing the story of our time!
C.H. Moses, Contributing Writer