Albert Porte Versus William V.S. Tubman

A. Porte 1906-1986

Introduction: Veteran Liberian social crusader Albert Porte's letter to President Tubman on August 25, 1951 brought out the best in the veteran Liberian political journalist and pamphleteer. Porte, with verve took on President William V.S. Tubman in an era when it was unwise to do so given Tubman's autocratic tendencies especially at a time when he was near to silencing his critics. He cautioned the Liberian chief executive not to purchase a luxury Presidential yacht which is said to have been 463-tons with a passenger capacity of 36. The posh carrier required an international crew, and a separate department within the Department of State and bought at $125,000.00.  The exchanges gives the reader a comprehensive glimpse into Porte’s character who is also considered by many as the father of social justice in Liberia

President Sirleaf “Enduring Legacy”: A Rejoinder

ralph geeplay

President Sirleaf

                                   

Let’s pick some bones with Ms. Shirley N. Brownell, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s Communications Director and her well written op-ed, “Journey to Partnership: An Enduring Legacy for President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.”

Liberian editor speaks truth to power

                                 

11 Questions: Activist Stephanie C. Horton

Horton is the managing editor and founder of Sea Breeze Journal of Contemporary Liberian Writings (SBJ), an e-publication that promotes Liberian arts and culture.

Liberia’s President Sirleaf gets cocky in second term

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

                          

Analysis

By: Ralph Geeplay

Early in her second term and on the last leg of her presidency, analysts say the Liberian president, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is getting cocky, showing signs of someone who is not worry about reelection, and perhaps who’s also not a good reader of Liberian history. Sirleaf has been complacent to act when she wants to, and tends now to be expedient in the face of grave concerns to a segment of the population that disagrees with the way her leadership is being felt across the land. The Liberian president of late has been bold in dismissing public opinion observers say. Sirleaf now in a whiff is referring to legitimate critics as the “Noisy Minority”, a segment of the population she was once part of, the catch phrase that is a buzz word today.

Liberia’s Sirleaf: the burden of leadership

By ralph geeplay

The Liberian president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has been busy touring Europe: getting awards, giving speeches and receiving investors. For a Liberian president, Sirleaf clout in the international community is unmatched. On her most important trip days ago she stopped in Paris, France to receive France highest award, the Grand Croix of the Légion d’Honneur, commissioned by Napoleon in 1802 putting her in the company of the select few: Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Queen Elizabeth II, Aung San Suu Kyi, Toni Morrison and Lord Mountbatten, Etc.

Why the Murder of Five American Nuns Will Go Unavenged

Statue erected in memory of the nuns

Introduction: Liberia still remains a sore eye, half a decade after its war ended, as far as bringing war criminals to justice. Those responsible for the war and the foot soldiers who committed gruesome crimes still roam the country.  This week Time Magazine's Johnny Dwyer wrote about the five catholic nuns who were murder by Charles Taylor and his soldiers, during the infamous "Operation Octopus," in 1992.

The five women were from small town America but chose to live in the midst of one of West Africa’s most brutal civil wars. Each belonged to the Adorer’s of the Blood of Christ, a St. Louis-based Catholic order; each had volunteered to live in Liberia, not only as missionaries, but as desperately needed relief workers.

Liberia's constitutional negro clause under review

Introduction: The Liberian Constitution forbids people of none negro origins from acquiring citizenship and properties in Liberia. Here, three separate views from very outspoken women are presented below about the issue. Rima Merhi essay is culled from the Huffington Post, which accused the Liberian Constitution of blatant racism,  Ms. Pailey's piece was originally published by the FrontPage Africa, while Ms. Sayegh article originally appeared in the Liberian Journal.

The Face of America in Africa' Must End Constitutional Racism

Rima Merhi

Founded in 1822 to free the black slaves of America, the Liberian constitution makes it mandatory for citizens of Liberia to be black of African descent. I am one of many white children born in Liberia to non-African parents and denied nationality and citizenship rights due to the color of my skin and roots.