Who is a True Marylander?

In Maryland many and oft a time the issue of who is a true Marylander grips the entire community to its ankle so much so it takes physical TREND.

I can recall, two young fellas clashed on the question. The debate began as an intellectual one. Later on it became physical. In no time, the Police came in and arrested both young men and took them to the Police Headquarters for investigation. The Police found out the two young men represented two extreme positions and views in the community. One of them is Glebo and the other Kru.

The Glebo folk observes that the Krus in Grand Kru County do not allow other tribes from outside Grand Kru to take jobs and seek opportunities to better themselves in the County. But, according to him, when the Krus come to Maryland, they are allowed to take any job they wish and live wherever they wish. He also goes on to observe that the Krus in time of Elections leave Maryland and register in their various counties outside Maryland. As a result, they do not register in Maryland to elect officials of Maryland. Yet they return back to Maryland after elections to live and work in Maryland. From that point of consideration, the Glebo guy concludes, such a person is not a true Marylander. Because he doesn’t take part in electing the leaders of the county, yet expects to be treated like everyone else who remains and votes in the county to elect their leaders.

The Kru guy disagrees.

He says it doesn’t matter whether or not one registers and votes in another county. As long as her lives in Maryland or born in Maryland, he or she is a true Marylander. The Kru man is also of the opinion that Grand Kru and RiverGee were once part of Maryland. That means those who are from both counties but were born in Maryland at the time both counties were part of Maryland, are still citizens of Maryland.

The Police could not solve this problem. And so I was called in. However, the Police took on the physical aspect of abuse against by both young fellas.

One of them was guilty for the physical assault.

When I went in, I asked the Police to do its job as far as the Law is concerned. I told the Police that I would do my best to delve into the question via an intellectual forum.

On June 2, 2012, I did. I called a Panel Discussion on the topic, “Who is a True Maryland.” Many calls came from Monrovia. Because the question captures the attention of several individuals who were born in Maryland and now part of RiverGEE and Grand Kru. Others include those who fathers come from different counties but mothers from Maryland. Others are those who lived in Maryland for a protracted period of time, built homes, born their children in the county but are segregated against.

The scheduled Discussion on June 2 did not materialize simply because The Lone Star of Liberia Ball Club had a ballgame with Senegal in Senegal. This came via Satellite. Most people wanted to watch the game. And so most of the invites did not show up. It was suggested that the forum be rescheduled on this Saturday, June 9.

There are two Panelists.

Mr. Bolton Dennis, former student leader of The William V. S. Tubman University in Harper, Maryland County. Currently, Mr. Dennis works for The Danish Refugee Council. He can be reached via Cell phone at +231. 886.747.426.

The other Panelist is Mr. Globa Williams, former aspirant for the office of Representative of the Harper District in the Liberian House of Representative. He’s now an employee in the Finance Department of The William V. S. Tubman University. He can be reached at, +231.886.720.937.

Serving as Moderator is Hon. Daniel Williams, Administrative Assistant to Superintendent J. Gblebo Brown, Maryland County.

We look forward to making headway into the issue making Maryland one of the best counties in Liberia.

I am Thomas G. Bedell speaking and working on the ground in Liberia