August 28.
2017
Monrovia-
“The only thing needed for evil to triumph, is for good men (and women) to do
nothing” Edmond Burke
It has been
an increasing tactic employed by elements within the Coalition/Congress for
Democratic Change to spew insults and invectives at folks who disagree with
them, their candidates, their thoughts and ideology. This tactic is archaic, out
of date, uncivilized and doesn’t hold a place in our society. Beware that
Liberia is for all Liberians and everyone is protected under our constitution
to express his/her opinion(s). Everyone in this includes public servants and as
elevated in Section 5.8 of the Code of Conduct and enshrined in Articles 14
& 15 of the Constitution of the Republic of Liberia.
Particularly
in these political times, the insensitivity is belligerent and must be
condemned in the strongest possible term.
My dear
friends of Coalition of Democratic Change, we will not be silenced. Oh no, not
this person, not this time, and not ever. If this presupposes the trend your
government, if elected will take, I will pray, if prayer is all that is needed,
that your party doesn’t win.
If you must
know, at a very tender age, particularly during the 1990 war, my family was
made refugee in neighboring Sierra Leone and again in 2001. Until the last 14
years, my life and that of my family have been in a nomadic state as the result
of the brutal civil war. My partner’s father was brutally killed and remains
mislaid because of his tribal and religious affiliation. My father on the other
hand was made to change his name, identity, and denial his religion so as not
to be killed by Charles Taylor’s NPFL rebels. Because of our last name and
religion, my family suffered prosecution. While living as a refugee in Liberia,
(well, yeah refugee in Liberia we were! We had to illegally take on Sierra
Leone refugee status so be safe on the refugee camp and attend school. A tough
but reasonable choice my parents had to make because everywhere else was
unsafe.), we endured some very difficult moments. Our childhood was tattered.
With all that I saw around me, I stood up to advocate at age seven for
underprivileged children even though we were still on the refugee camp. A cause
that I have dedicated my life, time and resources to, a cause to speak up for
what is right, a cause to use my voice, a cause to empower young women and
girls, and that cause is for –the people. No matter what space and time I find
myself, I will add my voice to the discourses. I owe it to my conscience and
country! We cannot retrogress! We owe it to the memory of our lost compatriots
and families!
The
political choice for 2017 is everyone’s right to discuss. The rights to free
speech and freedom of expression that were denied to many during previous
regimes where some of our compatriots were thrown behind bars, killed, and made
homeless is being enjoyed today. It has been a long struggle for this freedom
and we will not allow you to take that away. Not through your personal attacks
on my person, families and friends. Your attempt to defame our hard earned
character with nothing but gibberish, babbles and to bring our families to
public disrepute because we disagree with you is nothing but laziness and feebleness.
Trust me my friends, we will not be perturb by your stratagem, it only
strengthens our resolve to continue speaking our minds and opinions on all and
every subject that is deemed necessary. If it is your way to manifest
patriarchy and your quest for power, you’ve got the wrong person to mess with.
“Give me
the liberty to know, to utter, and to argue freely according to conscience,
above all liberties.” John Milton
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