PROFILE BY THE AU? YES...YOU READ IT RIGHT!

It is a bit challenging to keep up my monthly blog writing these days. My PhD, more than anything else in the world, takes precedence. Whilst I feel negligent and irresponsible sometimes for not blogging in a timely fashion, you've been loyal (THANK-YOU!). Visits has stumped to 9,556 from 5,000 in the last 4 months or so. I'm impressed and pleased with your hits, whether it is revisits or new visits.

So, two nights ago, I was asked to be profiled by the Communication Strategist of the OAU-AU 50th Anniversary Situation Room, African Union PSD Peace and Security Department for the upcoming High Level Peace Retreat in Cote D'Ivoire. I didn't think much of it, as I said, I'm in the depths of my studies right now. It was approximately 2am in the morning, I had just woken up to complete preparation for teaching later in that day.

I incoherently, gathered the information that was requested and shot it off reluctantly. It was only this very moment I received the click to the link that I realised that WHOAH! It is something! I am truly humbled and honoured to be a part of the younger generation of Africans using their experiences as war survivors to contribute to peace-building, conflict resolution and long-term development. Cote d'Ivoire...voila je viens!

My heartfelt gratitude goes out to Pedro, Hermon, and everyone at the AU PSD Peace and Security Department! On the occasion of its 50th Anniversary...

WATCH THE CLIP

(REPRINTED): A CALL TO NATIONAL CONSCIOUSNESS - AS WE COMMEMORATE OUR 166TH INDEPENDENCE

This Message is reprinted with permission from the author: Moses P. Saygbe Jr.

In celebration of our 166th independence as the first free Republic on the continent of Africa, I am provoked by a national concern that impacts all Liberians both at home and in the diaspora. For 50 years the Executive Mansion has stood as a symbol of the Presidency, the Liberian government and the Liberian people. As we observe our Country’s independence, we will likewise be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the construction and seven years since the unfortunate occurrence of a fire that damaged one of our nation’s most symbolic landmarks. When it was constructed, the Executive Mansion was the most contemporary structure on the continent and boosted pride for the people of Liberia. Upon the completion of the structure, President William V. S. Tubman visited the United States in September of 1963 to extend a special invitation to President John F. Kennedy. The invitation included the inauguration of another term of office for President Tubman and the ribbon cutting and dedication of the newly completed Executive Mansion scheduled for January of 1964. Regrettably, President Kennedy was assassinated in November of 1963, shortly after the visit of President Tubman. It was also in 1963 when President Kennedy launched his first Peace Corps volunteer program in Liberia; signifying the United States commitment to funding programs and support for Liberia.    

The Executive Mansion of the Republic of Liberia, like the White House in the United States of America and presidential palaces in many African Nations,  isn’t simply a home to presidents or meeting space for running the affairs of the country, it’s also known as ‘The People’s House,’ a place that should be open to everyone. It is where foreign heads of State and other guests are received, and where many official ceremonies are conducted. The Mansion serves as one of the most important architectural symbols including the Seal, Flag, and National Anthem of our republic. Like the Executive Mansion, the White House in the United States has a unique and fascinating story; it was also destroyed by fire on three occasions, causing President Harry S. Truman to seek temporary residence elsewhere in the Capital. Nevertheless, the people recognize the important significance this place held; thus it was reconstructed to national prominence, preserving the historical detail of its architecture. Hence, this situation is not unique to Liberia, similarly to US, we too as Liberians can work to rebuild our beloved Executive Mansion.

 I can vividly remember as a child living in the following areas in Monrovia (Buzzy Quarter, Capital Bypass, Behind City Hall, and Bishop Brooks/Perry Street) which were all less than a mile from the Executive Mansion. Some of those personal experiences included; attending the annual Garden Party hosted by President & Mrs. William R. Tolbert, watching fireworks, seeing cars stopped and people saluting while the flag was being raised, and watching guards (soldiers and Secret Service Officers) in boots protecting the President and the people’s house. One evening after school at about 5:30 PM while walking home (from Demonstration Elementary School to City Hall), a soldier instructed me to walk across the street. I suddenly heard a voice say “NO! Come here young man”. It was the voice of President Tolbert. While walking towards this most famous person in my life at the time (with excitement and amazement) he engaged me in a conversation. He asked me, “what is your name and who is your father?”  What school are you attending? I responded with childlike confidence. After our brief talk, he shoke my hand and left me with these parting and inspiring words, “school is very important so do your best.” Say hello to your father and your principal Ms. Wilson”. He also mentioned knowing that my father worked at the Temple of Justice. I was very excited about that moment and shared it with my entire neighborhood and most importantly, I refused to wash my hand.

This narrative is not intended to reflect negatively on any government (past or present) but rather to build a sense of national concern and a call for national pride during our 166th independence celebration. Knowing the tragedy of events at the mansion over the last three decades, I am convinced that the renovation/re-construction of this symbolic landmark of our sovereignty would represent a new day, new pride, and optimistically an accomplished sense of nationalism. I also believe it will take extraordinary Liberians to accomplish this noble initiative.

It is my hope that this piece has raised a sense of national consciousness regarding the monumental undertaking of rebuilding/reconstructing the Executive Mansion. My question to you my fellow Liberians reading this is, what do you see our role as Liberians to be in this process and what would you recommend as the best approach to completing this reconstruction/renovation, aside from the government contribution?

M. P. Saygbe Jr.

"Things do not happen. Things are made to happen".   J. F Kennedy

(REPRINTED) LIBERIA: AN ASYLUM FROM OPPRESSION -- HAPPY 166TH

This Message is reprinted with permission from the author: A. Teage Jalloh, Esq.

"We've been suffering in this nation for so long, cause we couldn't find a better leader. We want someone who can lead this nation, so that all Liberians can be happy....Give us hope, Ma Ellen, hope for a better Liberia." ~~Sundaygar Dearboy

It’s been 166 years since Liberia declared its independence. And while progress has been made in some areas, we have somehow failed to acknowledge that our nation, at all levels of government, has work to do with respect to education, performance, fairness, accountability, and development. 

So yes indeed, President Sirleaf, with her awesome powers, is expected to give us hope. But let's expand the expectation and ask the Legislature, with its awesome powers, to give us hope as well. Let's expand the expectation and ask the Supreme Court, with its awesome powers, to give us hope as well. Let's expand the expectation and ask the autonomous public commissions, with their unique roles, to give us hope as well. And let us, as Liberians in the Diaspora and at Home, increase our efforts to make Liberia a more accountable, progressive nation.  

At the dawn of generations to come, may we be remembered as nation-builders who upheld the founding vision of Liberia by rejecting any attempts to use geographical location or other means to pit one group of Liberians against another. May we realize that there is strength and perseverance in constructive, collective efforts. And, may we continue to work to have Africa’s oldest republic as an “asylum from the most grinding oppression,” where no one wins a total victory or loses a total defeat.

Happy 166th.

Respectfully,

Teage

(REBLOGGED) Omar Khadr – the Child Soldier Turned Adult Prisoner: Abuse and Neglect by the US and Canada

On 27 July 2002, 15-year old Khadr became the youngest prisoner since the Second World War to be prosecuted for war crimes by a military tribunal. Detained and tortured at Guantanamo Bay,  Fynn argues Khadr was abandoned by Canada, contrary to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Supreme and Federal Courts Rulings, and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Khadr was returned to Canada on 29 September 2012 to serve the reminder of his sentence after pleading guilty. Fynn examines the Khadr case as an illustration of the uneven and ad hoc nature of law in the so-called “War on Terror,” where one child (Khadr, born into what has been frequently characterised as a “Muslim terrorist family”) is underserving of state protection while another (e.g. former Sierra Leonean child soldier Ishmael Beah) warrants sympathy and compassion. In such cases, Fynn asks, is the phrase “all are equal under the law” a myth or fact? CONTINUE READING

DEAR GOD: AFRICAN UNION IS 50 YEARS OLD

Dear God:

Since I realised that as a born and bred Liberian I am NOT a citizen of America, I started to question my mentally enslaved twisted thinking. I earnestly do not know where my maternal ancestral line come from. I stress the matrilineal link because I was simply born of a woman [PERIOD]. OK, now that I had the epiphany, by the way that was during my refugeehood in Ghana; I begun a journey of what it means to be black African. Bob Marley added political songs to my soul - like War, Africa Unite, Redemption Song, Buffalo Soldiers, Get Up Stand Up, Them Belly Full, If the Cap Fits, Natty Dreads and more. I love Nesta, no kidding...I could go on listing his songs. 

But the Natty Dreads part became stronger when I discovered Brother Malcolm. I have never met a brave heart in spirit. Oh by the way God, I don't know whether you did that on purpose, but he and Obama look so alike...I'm drifting now, back on track. Malcolm's autobiography changed my life, especially the part where he was constantly called "red" because of his mixed race and hair colour. How he realised while in prison that perming his hair didn't make him White. That was gospel to me - before my graduation ceremony at the University of British Columbia in 2004, I asked my brother-in-law to "cleaned my skull" from every fibril strands that was permed. I love my dreads now, it's growing beautifully. 

But why am I saying all this God? Well, I have to give you some background about the emergence of why I strongly feel Africans should return to their original goal set by the founders of the Organisation of African Union (OAU, now AU) God, as if you don't already know since you're the pre-destinator of every human life. Anyways, I would like for you to know that the African Union is 50 years old. That means 64 years ago Ghana (under Prime Minister Kwame Nkrumah) set the stage for postcolonial Africa. But there are these great grandfathers (like uncle Bob) who like to take things to the extreme all the time. The sad part is, though, they are in the minority. Regardless, can you please help us, Africans realise that the West (whatever that means, speaking of Bob Marley - if the cap fits then wear it) will NEVER save Africa until we UNITE as ONE PEOPLE? This is my prayer in your son JESUS' NAME! AMEN. 

PS: Oh I forgot, God...and all them folks in the Caribbean and the US, I apologise on behalf those fools who used the boats (I mean the ones that packed women, children and men with chains and dump them overboard to claim insurance liability whenever there was trouble at sea - see The Voyage of the Zong). Trust me, you're (Carribbeans, African-American, etc.) Africans too - yes all them taken from the motherland are Africans. I believe once we can at least come to this agreement, we could prosecute the fools (dead or alive) for crimes against humanity in a historical class action lawsuit - a due process of law way overdue. OK God, you said in Mark 11:24 that "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours". AMEN

(REBLOGGED) AFRICAN WOMEN RESILENCE: ANTIDOTE FOR WHITE SUPREMACY COMPLEX IN DEVELOPMENT DELUSIONS

On 5 April 2013, I attended a postgraduate event at my university here in Australia. It was a UN Women presentation on a “white women” empowerment scheme for poor, dirty, inferior women from the “developing world” (whatever that means). As usual, there is nothing new, albeit my initial impression when I walked into the room. I thought to myself, “this lady is so young, how did she get this position?” As a matter of fact, I am enamoured with this question because I am always confused by the fact that, regardless of our/my unique lived experiences and extremely successful backgrounds, white women (and/or man) with a “deep passion” (or guilt) to “help poor Africa” is preferred for scholarship, research, empowerment and development projects. It’s so pervasive that it seems stupid and fruitless (to me) most of the time. But I guess, as William Easterly said in the White Man’s Burden, “[t]he West spent $2.3 trillion and still had not managed to get $3 to each new mother to prevent five million child deaths.” Why is it that even uppity Dambisa Moyo can see this squander but not the so-called makers of difference (who would do well to read this)? There is certainly an undercurrent at play, an introspection each “development zombie” should mull over before taking that two-week volunteer trip to "help Africa"...continue

POWER TO WOMEN'S EQUALITY: INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY!

WE ARE ONE WOMAN

Hello World:

I'm writing you with tear drop in one eye and a speck of promising hope in the other. My sadness springs from the untimely passing of President Hugo Chavez. I can't believe he's gone. Venezuela and the world over will forever feel this gap. We have all lost a great leader who stood up from global justice, not just in his country but for all of us in the so-called developing world who are smart enough to see the careful orchestration of Western dominance, capitalism, imperialism and neoliberal usurpation upon the globe. My deepest sympathy goes out to Chavez's family and the people of Venezuela. Power to freedom, equality and justice for the underprivileged.

Speaking of power to the underprivileged, today is 8 March! It is International Women's Day. My utmost appreciation goes out to my mother, who raised me in a gender-neutral home where my brothers and I shared cooking, cleaning and laundry chores. In my mother's house, there was no differential preference for boys and girls. In her world, girls were not cooks and cleaners. Neither were boys  breadwinners or machos. In her view, both sexes are very capable of conducting all human activities and what it boiled down to in those days on raising us, was - raising morally upright children who will treat everyone with respect and love. If anything at all, she supported my incessant drive for education way more than she did for my brothers. She ensured that I had everything I needed, despite our poor beginnings, in order to have the highest quality of education. Today, I can safely say, my mother made me who I am. Whatever I am today, is purely due to her constant support and the examples she led raising 8 children on her own. THANK YOU MAMA.

To all mothers, sisters, women, grandmas, aunties, and girls who bear the brunt of making the world a safer place for females, I say HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY! To all the men who have relentlessly stood by women to ensure that gender equality is achieved - I say HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY to you too!

Paix.

2013 RESOLUTION

Better late than never! Happy New Year! It feels like a long hiatus. I apologize for not stimulating your curiosity earlier. Trust me, I've never rested. It's been one project after another. It's gradually coming to an end (two more major ones to go) then I'll be free to start another life-long project! Didn't you know, that the end of one project is always the beginning of another? Otherwise, you might as well forget about living. Yes indeed, another EXCITING one. 

I bet you think I'm crazy...I'm not. I guess some of us were created like so. I earnestly blame my mother, Mama, geez!!! She passed on that gene? Did you say gene? Being a workaholic is genetic too? Oh yes! Have you heard about epigenetics? Well, you might think it's a new concept but it's not! Remember the giraffe in Darwinian evolutionary theory? Yeah, the environment can mutate genes so that the giraffe just grew longer neck to access leaves from skyrocketing trees. So, yes - it is my workaholic mother's fault, who literally created a photocopy of herself - MOI oh MOI!

OK, enough of that crap. I have settled for an amazing resolution for 2013 - thanks to my colleague Adam. In fact, it is so FASCINATING that I MUST share it with you. It's called Peter's Law. The Gweep dot Net call it,

The Creed of the Sociopathic Obsessive Compulsive

But I think the world of it because nothing has fully described my journey in life other than Peter's Law. I call it resilience, high achievers and result oriented - especially when you live in a society characterized by "cut-throat" discrimination, racism, oppression and you know the rest! It's a blessing to know that Peter H. Diamendis exists on planet earth. Go ahead and indulge. It will do us all good in making the world a better place. Yeah, to hell with Murphy Law!

1. If anything can go wrong, Fix it! (To hell with Murphy!)
2. When given a choice -- Take both!
3. Multiple projects lead to multiple successes.
4. Start at the top and work your way up.
5. Do it by the book...but be the author!
6. When forced to compromise, ask for more.
7. If you can't beat them, join them, and then beat them.
8. If it's worth doing, it's got to be done right now.
9. If you can't win, change the rules.
10. If you can't change the rules, ignore them.
11. When faced without a challenge, make one.
12. "No" simply means begin again at the next highest level.
13. Don't walk when you can run.
14. Bureaucracy is a challenge to the be conquered with a righteous attitude, an intolerance for stupidity, and bulldozer when necessary.
15. When in doubt: THINK!
16. Patience is a virtue but persistence to the point of success is a blessing.
17. The squeaky wheel gets replaced.
18. The faster you move, the slower time passes, the longer you live.

HAPPY NEW YEAR - WISH YOU PROSPERITY AND BLESSINGS FOR ALL OF 2013 AND BEYOND!!!