Open E-Letter To Diasporic Liberians

Compatriots:

I trust you are enjoying God’s grace!

Permit me to ask you, will you believe me if I told you, Liberia has lost most, if not all, of its modern infrastructures and quality human resource as a resort of a 14-year generalized anarchy of violence that bordered on hatred and disunity? Just think about the kids who were born into a 14-year physical & psychological violence; would you believe me if I told you, they stand a slim chance to compete in an academic world due to the lack of education and the total collapse of social institutions, including the family structure?

Well then, take note: thirty-plus years in the past, prior to the generalized anarchy of violence, this current situation of moral socioeconomic and political decay was inconceivable. But today, the remnants of war, terror, hatred, driven by disunity and a generalized anarchy of violence have forced us to come-face-to-face with such a reckless and dull reality, ushering in our society, total despair and helplessness that dismantles the very foundation and pedestal upon which our nation was built.

Our institutions of learning are dilapidated; broken down colleges and high schools have all nose-dived or to put it bluntly, become monuments of decay. All the “gateways” to our economy have seemingly disappeared into the oblivion. Not to mention, our people, most of whom are poor, now live in rubbles and wreckage of war.

Worse of all, the Country’s youth - the future generation of leaders - have become the “lost generation.” They have become incompetent to forge their future due to fear, helplessness, taboos of the mind and suspicion enhanced by the war.

Evidently, we are looking at signs of impending doom, if nothing is done to improve the situation!
Fellow Liberians, knowing all this, why would we not, then, give up any confusion we may have among ourselves that seems to impede our national and individual progress and begin to reunite in order to focus on our historic duty and responsibility – rebuilding our common patrimony? Do we wish to continue on the path of disunity, in spite of the inescapable, unanimous, unalterable facts and verdict of history and logic?

If the answer is in the negative, then let’s rise above petty differences and reunite! Because if do not reunite, there will no longer be any reason for us to plead ignorance as an excuse for our disunity! Posterity, in this case, will mark us as being "blind" and unmitigated ridicule and condemnation will heap upon our generation forever. The little innocent kids, who suffer as a resort of our disunity, will have no other alternative but to charge us as being either deplorably ignorant, or disloyal to the country and their future.

I therefore ask you to submit your resources, skills, education and numerical strength to the Country to move it forward. Otherwise, let us make no mistake about it, our posterity will virtually collapse at the hinges and set apart our collective quail at the seams permanently. In this case, there will be no need to look for anyone to blame; we have to blame ourselves for our selfishness!

So, be encouraged to think this over and reunite! For together we can make a difference!
I am,

Respectfully yours,

Thomas Bedell/Peace Advocate