One: Mary has a 98% positive record in transforming other major Government functionaries. Working people can put their full trust behind Mary to work on behalf of their interests.
Just this last week, Mary gave an excellent interview to the Press in which she articulated why she believes in serving her people and displayed a wide knowledge of the history of the city of Monrovia and contributions to the country including salary increase for all City workers including possible health care benefits, and many other bonuses to the lives of workers that have helped to propel the City forward.
Two: Mary Broh is trustworthy. Her hands are clean.
Three: Mary Broh is young and has the energy and drive to do a great job as Mayor of the Monrovia City Corporation.
Four: Mary Broh is an excellent manager. She is an excellent leader. She knows how to delegate responsibility to the right people to achieve results. It was absolutely amazing how Mary Broh organized and enhanced the Passport Department at the Foreign Ministry. No Liberian can ever remember in most recent time when a passport was ever ready within three days. Mary made it happened. Liberia is well-respected in this area than ever before by foreign governments. This is proof that Mary Broh can delegate enough responsibility to achieve whatever results are needed.
Five: Mary Broh is blunt and honest about the facts. She realizes that it would be up to a good number of years to bring Monrovia up to international standard. Instead of holding out this far fetched promise to her people Mary is offering a wider more forward looking and realistic and no-nonsense approach in changing the dull reality of Monrovia.
Six: Mary has a far wider education that will make her see things from a wider perspective. She knows the issues and the problems.
Seven: Mary Broh is very smart. Mary Broh could be earning more money working in the US, but has instead devoted herself to the Reconstruction process in Liberia and public service instead. This has been a great sacrifice on her behalf, but it proves where her values are.
Eight: Mary Broh has a vision for the country. She has a vision on what she would do as Mayor of the city of Monrovia. Mary offers comprehensive solutions to numerous issues facing the City.
Nine: Mary Broh is an agent of change. It won't be business as usual at the City Hall with big interests able to bully the public or buy their way into power. Mary Broh bluntly told powerful persons some things they didn't want to hear while at the same time holding out a strong hope to them of working hard to improve the City’s economy so that everyone can share in the Liberian dream, not just the wealthy and powerful. Mary Broh is all about hope for a better tomorrow for everyone. Everyone's invited to a partner in this new hope.
Ten: Mary Broh will hire the right kind of people based on their qualifications and not just their closeness to big “shots.” Mary is the right person for the position of mayor for the city of Monrovia whose teachings and backgrounds uniquely prepares her to make wise choices.
Need I say more?
Saturday, 28 February 2009
Open e-Letter To Gus Majors, ULAA Board Chair
January 12, 2002
Open Letter To
Honorable Augustus E. Majors, Former Chair, Board of Directors,
Union of Liberian Associations in the Americas, ULAA
Dear Hon. Majors:
I trust you are enjoying the grace of God!
The date is January 12, when a copy of your "Open Letter" to the Honorable National President of ULAA, Her Excellency Madame Mydea Reeves-Karpeh reached my desk. Four points captured my attention: First, you uprightly rejected her offer to honor you for your service to the Union. Second, you strongly criticized and relegated her to a secondary position. Third, you proposed her immediate resignation. And fourth, you charge her of destroying the image of ULAA and accuse her of engaging in "corrupt" practices.
Your letter is filled with platitude of charges and claims for which I'm sure you have evidence. Though I am neither a judge nor a jury, I find a high level of frustration in your expressions. I'm inclined to agree you have worked very hard so that ULAA reached a considerable level of progress. As such, like anyone else, you expect a high level of responsibility on the part of any of its leaders. But the truth is, in community development, there are builders and destroyers. Madame Karpeh may be one of those. However, you have to allow her to demonstrate her leadership to the best of her ability. So I draw comfort the fact that you understand history, you will agree it will judge each and every one of us when the time comes.
In specific reference to your rejection of the honor, I think it is a sad mistake on your part. I believe, base on her letter to you, Madame Karpeh and her Staff realized and recognized your selfless service to the Union. While they may have qualms with you, they performed their administrative duty in compliance with the required understanding of giving dues where they belong. Therefore, whatever disagreement exists between the both of you, should not deprive you of your dues. Permit me to encourage you in rethinking your position; accept the honor when it is offered again. You deserve it Mr. Chairman!!
All being said, the following points summarize my concerns and observations or should I say, they baffled my mind:
1. In your letter you clearly agree that President Mydea Reeves-Karpeh is “corrupt”, and guilty of "deliberate constitutional violations." You make specific mention of the case of UNIBOA. UNIBOA is a community organization of the Bassa tribe in Liberia. According to you, she had a "hard time managing the Organization's money." You also make mention of her refusal to conduct fair and free elections at the completion of her Constitutional term of office a year ago. You advanced your point further by stating, she "abused, mismanaged", and “misused” power as president of ULAA. Under the same roof of your tongue, you considered her “morally incompetent” and that she "eroded any respect and credibility ULAA has tried so hard to build over the past seven years." What baffles my mind is when did you know all this? Was it prior to the 1999 Election in Columbus, Ohio or just recently? Because it is common knowledge; you were very instrumental in electing her to office. You single-handedly instituted a "delegate System" which deprived me of all my rights as a presidential candidate under the Union's Constitution to seek leadership. The Board of Directors under your chairmanship altered the Constitution and hand-in-gloves with the Election Commission created a "smoke room" caucus illegitimately electing her to the highest office of our Union against the Will of the Significant Majority. I didn't win. I shed no tears then, nor do I now. Though you knew and agreed that my leadership would resolve the conflicts existing in ULAA and that it is the only hope of our people at home and abroad, yet you selected her over me. The same bleeding hands dripping with "corruption, guilt" and "incompetence" of hers that you are highlighting now, were and are still there. According to you, you knew and you did nothing to relieve our people of more corruption. Why are you talking now?
2. In the letter, you asked her "to do the proper thing, RESIGN." Is this the best you can suggest or this is the only solution to the problem? I'm baffled in the mind the very fact you have just realized that she's incompetent to run the state of affairs of the Union. If you knew her character and reputation prior to the 1999 election and still supported her quest for the leadership, then I like to consider you apprehended. Notice, on the Liberian national platform individuals who were once hands-in-gloves with the national leadership fell from favor and suddenly became whistleblowers and stone throwers. Your attitude in this case is no different from the culture of backwardness that exists in our society today. This is causing our people grief, pain and despair.
You see Mr. Chairman, "Many are the ways of coping with the world's vicissitudes. Some people fear and propitiate evil spirits. Others order their schedules according to the display of the planets across the zodiac. There are those who assume that they carry, somewhere inside of them, a thing called the unconscious. It is mostly invisible, although it can furtively be glimpsed in dreams and heard in slips of tongue. But the unconscious is not a passive stowaway on the voyage of life; it has the power to make its host feel very sad or behave in strange, self-destructive ways. When that happens, one recourse is to go to the office of a specially trained healer, lie down on a couch and start talking".
Mr. Chairman, why are you talking now?
I propose you get your hands off Madame Karpeh! I suggest you permit her perform her task and let history be the judge. You will agree her predecessor, Hon. Dr. Joseph Korto hung on to power for ever so long at the expiration of his Constitutional term of office. You, the Board of Directors, including other so-called Liberian progressive organizations (LDI, COPLA, MDCL, etc.) sat supinely while democracy was strangled by a single individual and did nothing to discourage this tendency. Mind you, these very organizations are the ones crying foul each and every day against Liberian National governments as if they can do any better. They sit here in the Diaspora and let democracy perish right before their open eyes. I say woe on to them! The suffering people of Liberia will not forgive them! They may remain barricaded in their air-cool homes paying lip service to the people’s struggle, but when the time comes, the people shall reward them according to their deals.
Mr. Chairman, you will agree, Liberia has serious problems and needs serious people to solve them. Liberia is advanced citizenship! In order to maintain it, we must fight for justice, acceptance and tolerance for each and every Liberian person. Unless we do so, we cannot sing "All hail, Liberia hail..." with the deepest pride and dignity our Foremothers and Forefathers left us.
Mr. Chairman, just so you don’t get me wrong, I do not and never supported Madame Karpeh’s policies and activities neither did I support most of yours. But frankly speaking, you've done better for the Union than she's doing. You are more committed than she is. (This is my personal opinion) But all the same, you both lack innocence in the ills that befall the Union today. You've done your best and will continue to do so in the name of progress. I believe the Board, under your chairmanship, has achieved its maximum goal - saving ULAA from the scavengers and the political constipated gypsies who fight for her demise. For this, you are my hero! Be Good, Mr. Chairman and Do Good. Let not your little heart be troubled. Believe in yourself and your God. When powerful nations tested the will of our Foremothers and Forefathers, God helped through. So Liberia emerged as Africa’s “Lone Star” and its “democratic” aspiration. This has been written, so shall it be!
Finally, Mr. Chairman, in all these different circumstances, we cannot betray our country nor let down our Dear Departed on whose shoulders today we stand. I wish you the best in life and Godspeed!
Thank you again for your service to your people. I am,
Respectfully,
T. Gbuo-Mle Bedell/Presidential Candidate, ULAA (1999)
Open Letter To
Honorable Augustus E. Majors, Former Chair, Board of Directors,
Union of Liberian Associations in the Americas, ULAA
Dear Hon. Majors:
I trust you are enjoying the grace of God!
The date is January 12, when a copy of your "Open Letter" to the Honorable National President of ULAA, Her Excellency Madame Mydea Reeves-Karpeh reached my desk. Four points captured my attention: First, you uprightly rejected her offer to honor you for your service to the Union. Second, you strongly criticized and relegated her to a secondary position. Third, you proposed her immediate resignation. And fourth, you charge her of destroying the image of ULAA and accuse her of engaging in "corrupt" practices.
Your letter is filled with platitude of charges and claims for which I'm sure you have evidence. Though I am neither a judge nor a jury, I find a high level of frustration in your expressions. I'm inclined to agree you have worked very hard so that ULAA reached a considerable level of progress. As such, like anyone else, you expect a high level of responsibility on the part of any of its leaders. But the truth is, in community development, there are builders and destroyers. Madame Karpeh may be one of those. However, you have to allow her to demonstrate her leadership to the best of her ability. So I draw comfort the fact that you understand history, you will agree it will judge each and every one of us when the time comes.
In specific reference to your rejection of the honor, I think it is a sad mistake on your part. I believe, base on her letter to you, Madame Karpeh and her Staff realized and recognized your selfless service to the Union. While they may have qualms with you, they performed their administrative duty in compliance with the required understanding of giving dues where they belong. Therefore, whatever disagreement exists between the both of you, should not deprive you of your dues. Permit me to encourage you in rethinking your position; accept the honor when it is offered again. You deserve it Mr. Chairman!!
All being said, the following points summarize my concerns and observations or should I say, they baffled my mind:
1. In your letter you clearly agree that President Mydea Reeves-Karpeh is “corrupt”, and guilty of "deliberate constitutional violations." You make specific mention of the case of UNIBOA. UNIBOA is a community organization of the Bassa tribe in Liberia. According to you, she had a "hard time managing the Organization's money." You also make mention of her refusal to conduct fair and free elections at the completion of her Constitutional term of office a year ago. You advanced your point further by stating, she "abused, mismanaged", and “misused” power as president of ULAA. Under the same roof of your tongue, you considered her “morally incompetent” and that she "eroded any respect and credibility ULAA has tried so hard to build over the past seven years." What baffles my mind is when did you know all this? Was it prior to the 1999 Election in Columbus, Ohio or just recently? Because it is common knowledge; you were very instrumental in electing her to office. You single-handedly instituted a "delegate System" which deprived me of all my rights as a presidential candidate under the Union's Constitution to seek leadership. The Board of Directors under your chairmanship altered the Constitution and hand-in-gloves with the Election Commission created a "smoke room" caucus illegitimately electing her to the highest office of our Union against the Will of the Significant Majority. I didn't win. I shed no tears then, nor do I now. Though you knew and agreed that my leadership would resolve the conflicts existing in ULAA and that it is the only hope of our people at home and abroad, yet you selected her over me. The same bleeding hands dripping with "corruption, guilt" and "incompetence" of hers that you are highlighting now, were and are still there. According to you, you knew and you did nothing to relieve our people of more corruption. Why are you talking now?
2. In the letter, you asked her "to do the proper thing, RESIGN." Is this the best you can suggest or this is the only solution to the problem? I'm baffled in the mind the very fact you have just realized that she's incompetent to run the state of affairs of the Union. If you knew her character and reputation prior to the 1999 election and still supported her quest for the leadership, then I like to consider you apprehended. Notice, on the Liberian national platform individuals who were once hands-in-gloves with the national leadership fell from favor and suddenly became whistleblowers and stone throwers. Your attitude in this case is no different from the culture of backwardness that exists in our society today. This is causing our people grief, pain and despair.
You see Mr. Chairman, "Many are the ways of coping with the world's vicissitudes. Some people fear and propitiate evil spirits. Others order their schedules according to the display of the planets across the zodiac. There are those who assume that they carry, somewhere inside of them, a thing called the unconscious. It is mostly invisible, although it can furtively be glimpsed in dreams and heard in slips of tongue. But the unconscious is not a passive stowaway on the voyage of life; it has the power to make its host feel very sad or behave in strange, self-destructive ways. When that happens, one recourse is to go to the office of a specially trained healer, lie down on a couch and start talking".
Mr. Chairman, why are you talking now?
I propose you get your hands off Madame Karpeh! I suggest you permit her perform her task and let history be the judge. You will agree her predecessor, Hon. Dr. Joseph Korto hung on to power for ever so long at the expiration of his Constitutional term of office. You, the Board of Directors, including other so-called Liberian progressive organizations (LDI, COPLA, MDCL, etc.) sat supinely while democracy was strangled by a single individual and did nothing to discourage this tendency. Mind you, these very organizations are the ones crying foul each and every day against Liberian National governments as if they can do any better. They sit here in the Diaspora and let democracy perish right before their open eyes. I say woe on to them! The suffering people of Liberia will not forgive them! They may remain barricaded in their air-cool homes paying lip service to the people’s struggle, but when the time comes, the people shall reward them according to their deals.
Mr. Chairman, you will agree, Liberia has serious problems and needs serious people to solve them. Liberia is advanced citizenship! In order to maintain it, we must fight for justice, acceptance and tolerance for each and every Liberian person. Unless we do so, we cannot sing "All hail, Liberia hail..." with the deepest pride and dignity our Foremothers and Forefathers left us.
Mr. Chairman, just so you don’t get me wrong, I do not and never supported Madame Karpeh’s policies and activities neither did I support most of yours. But frankly speaking, you've done better for the Union than she's doing. You are more committed than she is. (This is my personal opinion) But all the same, you both lack innocence in the ills that befall the Union today. You've done your best and will continue to do so in the name of progress. I believe the Board, under your chairmanship, has achieved its maximum goal - saving ULAA from the scavengers and the political constipated gypsies who fight for her demise. For this, you are my hero! Be Good, Mr. Chairman and Do Good. Let not your little heart be troubled. Believe in yourself and your God. When powerful nations tested the will of our Foremothers and Forefathers, God helped through. So Liberia emerged as Africa’s “Lone Star” and its “democratic” aspiration. This has been written, so shall it be!
Finally, Mr. Chairman, in all these different circumstances, we cannot betray our country nor let down our Dear Departed on whose shoulders today we stand. I wish you the best in life and Godspeed!
Thank you again for your service to your people. I am,
Respectfully,
T. Gbuo-Mle Bedell/Presidential Candidate, ULAA (1999)
The Gods Are Not To Blame: False Prophecies in Liberia
There are so many good things in life. One of them is being at home. Where you were born. You can relate to things quite easily. That’s because you remember things the way they used to be. You may get confused sometimes when those things change. But you will always find yourself right in the scheme of it all.
I was born and reared in the far keyhole of Liberia. That’s Harper City. In Maryland County. It sits in the belly of the southeastern region. Living there, one tends to feel left out in developments in the country. But that’s another story. I don't intend to go into it now. Because it is not part of my story. The truth is, many things in the country hold common and true everywhere. No matter your geographical location. And that’s the basis of my story. So let me tell it to you.
Last night was February 25, 2009. I was lying down in my bed. Usually I leave home 8am to work. I work free-of-charge. Because I am a volunteer in the country. So I do this sort of work six days a week. I have a small office. When I conclude work I get home at 9pm. That's thirteen hours a day. First thing I do when I get home is to catch a bath. Grab something to eat. And then to bed I go. Usually people are still up lecturing. If you know Liberian people. They are very loud. I could hear them. in bed I dosed off. But at midnight, I am up. That's when I start taking phone calls. Because I am less busy as compared to the days hours. I have to tell you. Cell phones in Liberia are prepaid. So they are expensive. If you talk too long you spend more money. Considering my job (helping people), I have to talk longer. But because I'm busy in the day. I do not have money to spare since my work is free. And given that calls at night are free-of-charge. So I ask everyone to call me at night. That way, we can talk much longer. Here is the good thing. Lone Star Cell Phone Company has a midnight free-talk program for its customers. It runs from 12:30 to 5am. Truth be told. You can’t beat it. So I take advantage of it. That’s exactly what I was doing last night when strange things began to unravel.
It started at 2am. I called my sister like I usually did. She too is a Lone Star customer. So I can talk to her free. She and I were talking. She asked me if I heard the news. I told her “No!” And then she said her Garnersville neighborhood was noisy. I asked why? She said a prophet told the people that everyone in the country MUST fetch water before the next day. And if people did not comply, the water would turn into blood the next day. And that would bring “evil” upon everyone. Becasue of that, everyone around her area was busy fetching water late at night. Then she jokingly asked me if I had done mine. I laughed. She asked me why I was laughing? I said her question was funny. Why should I wake up late night. And go looking for water around town? I told her I couldn’t figure that out. And she too couldn’t figure it out. So both of us were in the same mindset.
In most part of Monrovia people sell water. And when the water joint is closed. That's what it means. It is closed. At 10pm everything in the City shuts down. And the City becomes dangerous place to live. Armed robbers go on the rampage. So when one goes out. He does so at his own peril. She agreed with me. So we joked about all the noise issue. Then a call came in for her on the other line. She bided me good night. And I did same for her. I dropped my line. Then “Bang!’ it all happened! Noise erupted in my neighborhood. People were outside shouting. Then I noticed they were fetching water also. One of them kept warning the rest of the people to fetch water or suffer disaster the next day. The noise of people, aluminum buckets and rubber pitchers abounded. So was the the warning to everyone to comply. Others engaged in a different job. They banged on doors waking people up. Soon the whole area was like a jute-box in a Claifornia joint. I could tell. Because the noise was increased moment by moment. No one could now sleep.
Young girls (usually the ones that fetch water in the “Third world”) started toting water. I could hear them complaining. But they had no choice. I was lying on my back. And I was trying to figure out what was going on. Then it clicked my mind. I was reminded of the first time I entered the country. One incident like this occurred. Another “prophet.” I don't know which god he prayed to. Said everyone in the country HAD to cook and eat potatoes greens for three days consecutively. Otherwise, “evil” would befall everyone. And nobody wanted “evil” to befall him. I guess Liberians have had enough painstaking situations. So no one asked questions. Everyone went in the market. They bought all the potatoes greens. Those who grew potatoes greens in their gardens cut them all for consumption. Soon potatoes greens ran short in the market. At that time I was visiting Harper City – my Hometown. My aunt has been in the business of helping other underprevilliged Liberians. She took their kids and raise them. So her house has never been empty. She likes to cook. But she's older now. She trained all the kids how to cook. Since she's older now and can't do the cooking, the kids now do the cooking. But here they are. They were gripped by the “prophecy.” They've heard many other prophecies before. And they have complied. Even though there's no evidence that when they did not comply, something ever went wrong. Yet they did not want to take any chance. They kept telling me they had to comply. I could not convince them. So they cooked potatoes greens for three days. And we ate potatoes greens consecutively. I never felt bad about eating potatoes greens for three days. I enjoyed it. In fact I love potatoes greens. Having not eaten potatoes greens for quite a long time in the US, I was having a “ball” in Liberia. If they had increased the days, it would have been up to my taste. Cause I ate it with a passion. Then in my thinking I came back to the water “prophecy.” I saw myself now in Monrovia where I was in reality. I realized it was different. I thought the water “prophecy” was crazy! For why should I believe I should wake up from my bed at 2am to fetch water. And if I didn’t, the next day, the water would turn into blood. The dumb stuff didn’t stop right there. It went further. The “prophet” said no one should fetch water from the regular well. It HAD to be pipe-borne water. Right there it struck me. Capitalism! During the potatoes greens “prophecy,” the price of greens was jacked up. And because of the high demand for potatoes greens, it finished from the market.
Now today we have a new “prophecy.” It called for ONLY pipe-borne water. No well-water. And pipe-borne water in Monrovia is for sale. So what was this all about, I asked myself? The answer came out quickly. The answer was for people to buy water. Knowing the size of the army of poor, the profit would be enormous. So when the army of poor engaged the streets, profit abounded. But pandemonium broke out. The poor didn’t want to pay. The businesspeople demanded money for their product. Soon the demand for water sky-rocketed. Daylight was approaching. And it was the deadline. If water wasn't fetched, blood would flow. So the businesspeople were happy. They jacked up the price. Usually you bought two five-gallon container of water for $15 (LD). Now one five-gallon of water is $30 (LD). So if you bought three of those same gallons that were sold at $15 (LD), you would be paying $90 (LD). It became good business for the businesspeople. But bad deal for the poor. The poor didn’t like the deal. But they had no choice. They entertained a belief locked into a prophecy. And they didn’t want “evil” to befall them. So they had to pay the price for their belief. And they did. But all the hullabaloo raged on throughout the night. Then for some strange reason, another strange thing happened. Rain came down. I don’t mean it is strange just because it was raining. We all agree it is supposed to rain. Because that’s nature! But here is the strange part.
The noise ceased outside. Everyone ran indoor. You couldn’t hear a single sound outside. At the time, if a needle was dropped, you would have heard the sound far off. That’s how quiet it was in the neghborhood. It was mute. And that’s when it clicked my mind. That what they told me when I first entered the country is true. I was told Liberians are not afraid of guns and moving motorcars. They will hear a car honking behind them in the streets. And they will disregard it. Guns will be fired. They won't budge. Market women and men will stand in the middle of the streets. The police will try to scare them off. And they won't budge. But as soon as it started to drizzle that night. And the rain began to come down. Within a twinkle of an eye. The whole area was clear. Everyone disappeared. Right away it was affirmed that Liberians are really afraid of rain. When the rain dropped on the zinc. All the noise ceased instantly. No sound was heard again. Everyone was gone. Thinking they would come back, they never did. Because the rain continued. At broad daylight they reassembled. And the discussion of the incident began. They blamed others. Some challenged the validity of the “prophecy.’ But they complied. Some mocked the other for falling for another false prophecy. So they all laughed and made fun. Soon everything ended. And they departed.
Based on these under-developments, I can now conclude Liberians can be easily swayed. Illiteracy is a problem. The long years of war and terror is another. The trauma makes it worse. For their belief in God is so strong they will give in to anyone who plays on it. So when prophecies are made, they do no critical analysis. They just comply. Soon they will be fooled to leave their country for unknown destination on account of a “prophecy” from God. And when they realize they have been fooled and try to return to their homes, aliens will occupy those homes and reject them. In the end, they will become aliens in their own country.
False prophets abound in the country. And they claim to be speaking in the name of God. You can't question them. For if you do, they slap you in the "unbeliever" quarter. And nobody wants to be in there. One can then conclude these hypocrits will haunt us for a long time with dire negative consequencies. And when that happens, the God of our Forefathers and Foremothers cannot be be blamed for His silence. For the Scriptures and Q'uran have warened us of such prophets. If we continue to believe them, we will only lead ourselves on the path of self-destruction and doomed to calamities!
I am Thomas G. Bedell. And I am writing to you from the Ground in Liberia.
I was born and reared in the far keyhole of Liberia. That’s Harper City. In Maryland County. It sits in the belly of the southeastern region. Living there, one tends to feel left out in developments in the country. But that’s another story. I don't intend to go into it now. Because it is not part of my story. The truth is, many things in the country hold common and true everywhere. No matter your geographical location. And that’s the basis of my story. So let me tell it to you.
Last night was February 25, 2009. I was lying down in my bed. Usually I leave home 8am to work. I work free-of-charge. Because I am a volunteer in the country. So I do this sort of work six days a week. I have a small office. When I conclude work I get home at 9pm. That's thirteen hours a day. First thing I do when I get home is to catch a bath. Grab something to eat. And then to bed I go. Usually people are still up lecturing. If you know Liberian people. They are very loud. I could hear them. in bed I dosed off. But at midnight, I am up. That's when I start taking phone calls. Because I am less busy as compared to the days hours. I have to tell you. Cell phones in Liberia are prepaid. So they are expensive. If you talk too long you spend more money. Considering my job (helping people), I have to talk longer. But because I'm busy in the day. I do not have money to spare since my work is free. And given that calls at night are free-of-charge. So I ask everyone to call me at night. That way, we can talk much longer. Here is the good thing. Lone Star Cell Phone Company has a midnight free-talk program for its customers. It runs from 12:30 to 5am. Truth be told. You can’t beat it. So I take advantage of it. That’s exactly what I was doing last night when strange things began to unravel.
It started at 2am. I called my sister like I usually did. She too is a Lone Star customer. So I can talk to her free. She and I were talking. She asked me if I heard the news. I told her “No!” And then she said her Garnersville neighborhood was noisy. I asked why? She said a prophet told the people that everyone in the country MUST fetch water before the next day. And if people did not comply, the water would turn into blood the next day. And that would bring “evil” upon everyone. Becasue of that, everyone around her area was busy fetching water late at night. Then she jokingly asked me if I had done mine. I laughed. She asked me why I was laughing? I said her question was funny. Why should I wake up late night. And go looking for water around town? I told her I couldn’t figure that out. And she too couldn’t figure it out. So both of us were in the same mindset.
In most part of Monrovia people sell water. And when the water joint is closed. That's what it means. It is closed. At 10pm everything in the City shuts down. And the City becomes dangerous place to live. Armed robbers go on the rampage. So when one goes out. He does so at his own peril. She agreed with me. So we joked about all the noise issue. Then a call came in for her on the other line. She bided me good night. And I did same for her. I dropped my line. Then “Bang!’ it all happened! Noise erupted in my neighborhood. People were outside shouting. Then I noticed they were fetching water also. One of them kept warning the rest of the people to fetch water or suffer disaster the next day. The noise of people, aluminum buckets and rubber pitchers abounded. So was the the warning to everyone to comply. Others engaged in a different job. They banged on doors waking people up. Soon the whole area was like a jute-box in a Claifornia joint. I could tell. Because the noise was increased moment by moment. No one could now sleep.
Young girls (usually the ones that fetch water in the “Third world”) started toting water. I could hear them complaining. But they had no choice. I was lying on my back. And I was trying to figure out what was going on. Then it clicked my mind. I was reminded of the first time I entered the country. One incident like this occurred. Another “prophet.” I don't know which god he prayed to. Said everyone in the country HAD to cook and eat potatoes greens for three days consecutively. Otherwise, “evil” would befall everyone. And nobody wanted “evil” to befall him. I guess Liberians have had enough painstaking situations. So no one asked questions. Everyone went in the market. They bought all the potatoes greens. Those who grew potatoes greens in their gardens cut them all for consumption. Soon potatoes greens ran short in the market. At that time I was visiting Harper City – my Hometown. My aunt has been in the business of helping other underprevilliged Liberians. She took their kids and raise them. So her house has never been empty. She likes to cook. But she's older now. She trained all the kids how to cook. Since she's older now and can't do the cooking, the kids now do the cooking. But here they are. They were gripped by the “prophecy.” They've heard many other prophecies before. And they have complied. Even though there's no evidence that when they did not comply, something ever went wrong. Yet they did not want to take any chance. They kept telling me they had to comply. I could not convince them. So they cooked potatoes greens for three days. And we ate potatoes greens consecutively. I never felt bad about eating potatoes greens for three days. I enjoyed it. In fact I love potatoes greens. Having not eaten potatoes greens for quite a long time in the US, I was having a “ball” in Liberia. If they had increased the days, it would have been up to my taste. Cause I ate it with a passion. Then in my thinking I came back to the water “prophecy.” I saw myself now in Monrovia where I was in reality. I realized it was different. I thought the water “prophecy” was crazy! For why should I believe I should wake up from my bed at 2am to fetch water. And if I didn’t, the next day, the water would turn into blood. The dumb stuff didn’t stop right there. It went further. The “prophet” said no one should fetch water from the regular well. It HAD to be pipe-borne water. Right there it struck me. Capitalism! During the potatoes greens “prophecy,” the price of greens was jacked up. And because of the high demand for potatoes greens, it finished from the market.
Now today we have a new “prophecy.” It called for ONLY pipe-borne water. No well-water. And pipe-borne water in Monrovia is for sale. So what was this all about, I asked myself? The answer came out quickly. The answer was for people to buy water. Knowing the size of the army of poor, the profit would be enormous. So when the army of poor engaged the streets, profit abounded. But pandemonium broke out. The poor didn’t want to pay. The businesspeople demanded money for their product. Soon the demand for water sky-rocketed. Daylight was approaching. And it was the deadline. If water wasn't fetched, blood would flow. So the businesspeople were happy. They jacked up the price. Usually you bought two five-gallon container of water for $15 (LD). Now one five-gallon of water is $30 (LD). So if you bought three of those same gallons that were sold at $15 (LD), you would be paying $90 (LD). It became good business for the businesspeople. But bad deal for the poor. The poor didn’t like the deal. But they had no choice. They entertained a belief locked into a prophecy. And they didn’t want “evil” to befall them. So they had to pay the price for their belief. And they did. But all the hullabaloo raged on throughout the night. Then for some strange reason, another strange thing happened. Rain came down. I don’t mean it is strange just because it was raining. We all agree it is supposed to rain. Because that’s nature! But here is the strange part.
The noise ceased outside. Everyone ran indoor. You couldn’t hear a single sound outside. At the time, if a needle was dropped, you would have heard the sound far off. That’s how quiet it was in the neghborhood. It was mute. And that’s when it clicked my mind. That what they told me when I first entered the country is true. I was told Liberians are not afraid of guns and moving motorcars. They will hear a car honking behind them in the streets. And they will disregard it. Guns will be fired. They won't budge. Market women and men will stand in the middle of the streets. The police will try to scare them off. And they won't budge. But as soon as it started to drizzle that night. And the rain began to come down. Within a twinkle of an eye. The whole area was clear. Everyone disappeared. Right away it was affirmed that Liberians are really afraid of rain. When the rain dropped on the zinc. All the noise ceased instantly. No sound was heard again. Everyone was gone. Thinking they would come back, they never did. Because the rain continued. At broad daylight they reassembled. And the discussion of the incident began. They blamed others. Some challenged the validity of the “prophecy.’ But they complied. Some mocked the other for falling for another false prophecy. So they all laughed and made fun. Soon everything ended. And they departed.
Based on these under-developments, I can now conclude Liberians can be easily swayed. Illiteracy is a problem. The long years of war and terror is another. The trauma makes it worse. For their belief in God is so strong they will give in to anyone who plays on it. So when prophecies are made, they do no critical analysis. They just comply. Soon they will be fooled to leave their country for unknown destination on account of a “prophecy” from God. And when they realize they have been fooled and try to return to their homes, aliens will occupy those homes and reject them. In the end, they will become aliens in their own country.
False prophets abound in the country. And they claim to be speaking in the name of God. You can't question them. For if you do, they slap you in the "unbeliever" quarter. And nobody wants to be in there. One can then conclude these hypocrits will haunt us for a long time with dire negative consequencies. And when that happens, the God of our Forefathers and Foremothers cannot be be blamed for His silence. For the Scriptures and Q'uran have warened us of such prophets. If we continue to believe them, we will only lead ourselves on the path of self-destruction and doomed to calamities!
I am Thomas G. Bedell. And I am writing to you from the Ground in Liberia.
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