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| TQ Harris Jr. |
With little more than a year to go before the next election; the question now is, where do YOU stand? Should the current government be returned to power? Or, must we elect new leaders? The final vote no doubt will answer these questions. But will it be YOUR answer?
Regardless of our differences concerning the various personalities in government; the vast majority of Liberians do agree it is time to start afresh setting new goals and priorities. Why have you been silent? Perhaps for fear of being branded an enemy of President Johnson Sirleaf. But, by not speaking out, you are doing a disservice to your country, fellow citizens and your God. You are unintentionally saying, despite the suffering of our brothers and sisters at home, all is well!
To its credit, the current government has helped the transition. However, it is time we leave the past behind. President Johnson Sirleaf had the correct foresight when in 2005 she promised not to seek a second term. It was the right thing then and it is the right thing now. Her connection to the war as revealed in the TRC report and the lack of a clear agenda have slowed progress. Now the situation is becoming tense. The UN Secretary General consistently has warned that peace in Liberia is fragile. At the same time the Security Council - concerned about the $500 Million annual budget for the unending Mission in Liberia - is considering significant troop reduction. This no doubt could spell disaster for the country. Yet the UNMIL cannot remain in Liberia indefinitely. These are issues President Johnson Sirleaf should have focused on in the beginning, because in a post-war environment priority must be given to security. That said; the imperative for leadership change in 2011 has never been more compelling.
Everyone agrees conversations of warlords, war crimes, rape, torture and the senseless murders of unarmed civilians must end. But how do we do this when the past continues to carry over into the future? Those responsible for the atrocities will not go away and have shown no remorse. As a result, there is yet to be closure. Our loved ones do not have graves or anything marking the spot where they fell and died. Even now we hear their cries in those final moments. The wounds are fresh and will remain so unless this issue is properly resolved.
Prior to 1990 I was a successful business man who had absolutely no interest in Liberian politics. As a matter of fact politics in general was the farthest from my mind. I believed then that my purpose in life was to create jobs for Liberians. Convinced of this I traveled to Liberia in 1987 to set up a company, but was disappointed that conditions at the time were not conducive for long-term investment. So I returned to the U.S. hoping the situation would improve.
Even I am amazed it has been almost 20 years since I became involved in politics. Credit this to the gross injustice I saw at the very beginning. What began as a simple humanitarian gesture to assist Liberians affected by the war has become by far the greatest challenge I have ever faced. Everyone acknowledges the suffering but it is difficult to arrive at a consensus. Everyone wants a better Liberia but no one is willing to change. Everyone wants multiparty Democracy but no one wants to pay. Everyone wants peace but no one is willing to compromise.
My friend, Liberia is at a crossroads desperately in need of sound moral leadership not only at the national level but across the entire society. This is at the root of the problem which must be resolved before there can be any significant progress. If you are a true Leader, step forward; your country needs you now!
Twenty years ago I stepped forward and offered my help. Today, people from across the nation are urging me to run for President. These generally are the downtrodden that do not have money. They are not famous, and their names are never heard. But they want a nation that is peaceful and safe for all to live. And they realize it will take a person who has no connection with the old politics and the war. Are you ready to step up and lead? Your country needs you now!
I need your help to get Liberia back on track. This election transcends personalities. It is about 3.5 million people whose lives have been turned upside down. You know deep down in your heart living conditions for our people will not improve by doing the same thing over and over again. It is imperative we act now, not out of hatred, malice or vengeance, but rather with a sense of purpose, duty and compassion.
Take a moment and look at my Vision for Liberia, then contact me via email or my blog (Liberian Eye: (http://liberianeye.blogspot.com/)I look forward to communicating with you. Log into TQ Vision:
http://www.tqharrisforpresident.com/TQ_Vision.html
Thank you for your support!!
The Author: T. Q. Harris, Jr. is a member of the Free Democratic Party (of Liberia) who is expected to be a Presidential candidate in the 2011 Election. Mr. Harris in 1997 was the Vice Presidential nominee of his Party. He is currently the Chairman of Liberian Contempt UPS. To get more information: http://www.tqharrisforpresident.com/; http://www.friendsoftq.org/; liberia1@charter.net; and Phone: (562) 256-4271 Liberia: (+231) 6 538827
Everyone is a genius
Everyone is a genius. But if you judge a fish on its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid. – A Einstein
Drawing the line in Liberia
Crimes sponsored, committed, or masterminded by handful of individuals cannot be blamed upon an entire nationality. In this case, Liberians! The need for post-war justice is a step toward lasting peace, stability and prosperity for Liberia. Liberia needs a war crimes tribunal or some credible legal forum that is capable of dealing with atrocities perpetrated against defenseless men, women and children during the country's brutal war. Without justice, peace shall remain elusive and investment in Liberia will not produce the intended results. - Bernard Gbayee Goah
Men with unhealthy characters should not champion any noble cause
They pretend to advocate the cause of the people when their deeds in the dark mirror nothing else but EVIL!!
When evil and corrupt men try to champion a cause that is so noble … such cause, how noble it may be, becomes meaningless in the eyes of the people - Bernard Gbayee Goah.
If Liberia must move forward ...
If Liberia must move forward in order to claim its place as a civilized nation amongst world community of nations, come 2017 elections, Liberians must critically review the events of the past with honesty and objectivity. They must make a new commitment to seek lasting solutions. The track records of those who are presenting themselves as candidates for the position of "President of the Republic of Liberia" must be well examined. Liberians must be fair to themselves because results from the 2011 elections will determine the future of Liberia’s unborn generations to come - Bernard Gbayee Goah
What do I think should be done?
The situation in Liberia is Compound Complex and cannot be fixed unless the entire system of government is reinvented.
Liberia needs a workable but uncompromising system that will make the country an asylum free from abuse, and other forms of corruption.
Any attempt to institute the system mentioned above in the absence of rule of law is meaningless, and more detrimental to Liberia as a whole - Bernard Gbayee Goah
Liberia's Natural Resources
Besides land water and few other resources, most of Liberia’s dependable natural resources are not infinite, they are finite and therefore can be depleted.
Liberia’s gold, diamond, and other natural resources will not always be an available source of revenue generation for its people and its government. The need to invent a system in government that focuses on an alternative income generation method cannot be over emphasized at this point - Bernard Gbayee Goah
Liberia needs a proper system
If Liberians refuse to erect a proper system in place that promotes the minimization of corruption and mismanagement of public funds by government institutions, and individuals, there will come a time when the value of the entire country will be seen as a large valueless land suited on the west coast of Africa with some polluted bodies of waters and nothing else. To have no system in place in any country is to have no respect for rule of law. To have no respect for rule of law is to believe in lawlessness. And where there is lawlessness, there is always corruption - Bernard Gbayee Goah
Solving problems in the absence of war talks
As political instability continues to increase in Africa, it has become abundantly clear that military intervention as a primary remedy to peace is not a durable solution. Such intervention only increases insecurity and massive economic hardship. An existing example which could be a valuable lesson for Liberia is Great Britain, and the US war on terror for the purpose of global security. The use of arms whether in peace keeping, occupation, or invasion as a primary means of solving problem has yield only little results. Military intervention by any country as the only solution to problem solving will result into massive military spending, economic hardship, more fear, and animosity as well as increase insecurity. The alternative is learning how to solve problems in the absence of war talks. The objective of such alternative must be to provide real sustainable human security which cannot be achieved through military arm intervention, or aggression. In order to achieve results that will make the peaceful coexistence of all mankind possible, there must be a common ground for the stories of all sides to be heard. I believe there are always three sides to every story: Their side of the story, Our side of the story, and The truth – Bernard Gbayee Goah
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