Commentary

This paper's Thursday editorial: “Reject not the Values that Sustain Us,” was interesting. I was amused by the paragraph pointing out how “Broad Street was a residential quarter for the Big Shots that had their homes along that thoroughfare (main road) ---the Gibson's, the Wiles,' the Parker's, the Johnson's, Old Lady Massaquoi, widow of Momolu Massaquoi, C. Abayomi Cassell, President Edwin Barclay, President C. D. B. King, Secretary of State Gabriel L. Dennis, etc.”

“The city grew and business began to expand from the Waterside; things shifted to Carey and Benson Streets and the cross-streets in midtown Monrovia. Today, commerce has pushed residential dwellers almost clear out of midtown Monrovia and the area has been swallowed up by stores and petty businesses, gas stations, tailor shops, hardware stores and banks,” the editorial recalled for the benefit of those readers who do not know the history of Monrovia.

MAKING OF THE FLAG

On July 10, 1847, the Governor of the Commonwealth of Liberia sent the following letter to Mrs. Susannah Lewis of Monrovia:

“Dear Madam,

The Governor of Liberia sends greetings to you and your distinguished consort, Mr. Lewis. The object of this communication is to inform you that in a talk with several gentlemen of the committee appointed to draft a Declaration of Independence of our country, the necessity of having a new flag for our country, that has recently been given a new name, was discussed.

The old flag has been thought to be not comprehensive enough in its significance of the things that we stand for here in Africa, and have decided that we might have another flag of a more significant design and meaning. We certainly feel that the ladies of this town might be called upon to make such a flag and to assist us in falling a suitable design.

Your name was called as Chairlady for this business. You can, at your convenience, convene such a number of ladies when and where you may designate and notify me of the same and I will appoint a committee of gentlemen who will meet with you and explain further our desire. Hope that you will accept.

I am yours, Madam,

Most Sincerely,

J.J. Roberts, Governor.”

Thousands of Liberians and non Liberians who have read Professor Wilton Sankawulo's folklore “Too Mean to Live” are immediately by this peculiar story of the 'mean man' who preferred a painful death than sharing his meal with the strange traveler. In the end, the traveler was offered the very meal for which the 'mean man' has sacrificed his precious life.

No doubt, as is normal in folklore, Sankawulo exaggerated in this story of the 'mean man,' but as writers usually record their deepest thoughts and the emotional pulse of their people, the reality is that he had observed this attitude of meanness in his fellow compatriots as a child growing up in Liberia. Probably, he was impoverished and, therefore, felt the discomfort of going without food, clothes and other basic necessities of life because the people around him were simply too mean to lend him a helping hand.

In Liberia today as it has been for decades, many people regard Liberia simply as a hub to supplement their incomes. In other words, many Liberians and foreign residents have become 'receivers' instead of 'givers'. Consequently, the hardest hit has been ordinary Liberians.

Let me begin with the following story narrated by Dr. Kwegyir Aggrey, distinguished Professor of Human Genetics at the University of Cape Coast, Ghana, and also co-founder of Achimota College in Accra, Ghana: “A man went to the forest, seeking any bird he might find. He caught a young bird, brought it home, and put it among his fowls, ducks and turkeys, and gave it chicken's food to eat. Five years later, a naturalist came to visit the man, and noticed the bird.

He said to the owner: 'Look here, this is an eagle, not a chicken.' 'Yes, you may be right,' said the man, 'but I have trained it to be a chicken. It is no longer an eagle; it is a chicken, even though it is enormous.”

'No', said the visitor, 'it is still an eagle; it has the heart of an eagle, and I shall make it soar high to the heaven.' 'No' said its owner, 'it is now a chicken, and it will never fly.'

“They agreed to test it. The naturalist picked up the bird, held it up, and said loudly: 'Eagle, thou art an eagle; thou dost belong to the sky and not down here. Stretch forth thy wings and fly', and with that he hurled the bird up. The eagle turned this way and that, and then looking down, saw the chickens eating, and came to join them.