Senator H. Dan Morias Marylander of the Year 2012

 

The BEDELL SPEAKS & WORKS Internet Blog and SMS column has chosen Senator H. Dan Morias as our Marylander of the Year 2012.

 

In 2010 he was arbitrarily arrested, humiliated and detained twice on false charges of ritualistic killing. Several individuals in Government were suspected of politically masterminding this. In larger Liberian social and political circles, when people lie on others and they are disgraced and imprisoned and the victim is exonerated, he (the victim) sometimes keeps his distance from those suspected of masterminding his troubles for a long time. They call that “Keeping speech.”

 

That is not the case with Morias.

 

He was released because the Government had no case against him and others. In less than three months, he threw his hat in the race for the office of Junior Senator for Maryland – a position that is highly charged politically.

 

After all was said and done, he overwhelmingly won the seat. He received the highest votes over other contenders some of whom were accused for lying on him. This is something that is unheard of – a man just coming from jail on false criminal charges goes to the Polls and wins. Normally, people who go to prison for political reasons in most cases do come out swinging in political polls and elections. But to be falsely accused on criminal charges and come out victorious in a political race, is also unheard of in this day and age.  

 

Morais was in prison and most people thought the lies painted on him would have a negative impact on him if he went in the race. The opposite was true. He beat his political opponents. And becomes Junior Senator with no malice against any of those accused of lying and incarcerating him. Today, he’s working with everyone else for the betterment of Maryland County and its people. This is something that is remarkable and worth noting.

 

Morais has vision and intensity of conviction that gives him forward movement approach. With fervor, he has broad sympathy and imagination. He stands for the forward movement and upliftment of Maryland. He has faith in the people. By faith it doesn’t mean he believes in dogmas. But he believes in goodness, justice, and righteousness. He’s not contented with looking for what may be useful or pleasant for himself; he looks for what is honorable, just and good for Maryland and the people.

 

Mr. J.A. Froude, an English writer, once observed,

 

“When the air is heavy with impostors, and men live only to make money,… and the kingdom of heaven is bought and sold, and all that is high and pure in man is smothered by corruption, fire of the same kind bursts out in higher natures with a fierceness which cannot be controlled; and confident in truth and right, they call fearlessly on the seven thousand in Israel who have not bowed the knee to Baal to rise and stand by them.”

 

“They do not ask whether those whom they address have wide knowledge of history or science or philosophy; they ask rather that they shall be honest, that they shall be brave.… They know well that conscience is no exceptional privilege of the great or the cultivated, that to be generous and unselfish is no prerogative of rank or intellect.”

 

The type of forgiveness being practiced by Senator Morais is one that this country craves for. 

What is natural to "the flesh" (the carnal nature) when we have been hurt or abused or insulted is to strike back, to plot revenge, or to simmer in bitterness. This is "only human". But God requires forgiveness, else He will NOT forgive us. If we are unwilling--or unable--to forgive, then there is no use asking God for what He has told us He will not give.

 

For believers, dealing with the sin of unforgiveness is first priority. And there’s where Sen. H. Dan Morias finds himself – in the realm of forgiveness!

 

H. Dan Morias is many things including a senator, revolutionary, sports lover, politician & diplomat.

 

Morais is a hero. Thomas Carlyle once observed "The history of the world is but the biography of great men” reflects his belief that heroes shape history through both their personal attributes and divine inspiration. In his book On Heroes, Hero-Worship and the Heroic in History, Carlyle set out how he saw history as having turned on the decisions of "heroes", giving detailed analysis of the influence of several such men (including Muhammad, Shakespeare, Luther, Rousseau, and Napoleon). Carlyle also felt that the study of great men was "profitable" to one's own heroic side; that by examining the lives led by such heroes, one could not help but uncover something about one's true nature.

 

Congratulations to Senator H. Dan Morais on his election to the Liberian Senate after false imprisonment and thanks for his mission for forgiveness!

 

He’s our Marylander of the Year 2012