Introduction: The burden to keep a nation in existence
Because we were born in a nation, we have a tendency to ignore the difficulties of that nation to exist and survive (like a child often ignores the hard times of his parents to make it from day to day). At the same time, though, we are angered and despaired by the vigour and determination of nations to crush others – even at the sacrifice of their own citizens and billions of dollars – only to dispossess and control the vital resources of others. To justify what is simply our natural survival instincts, we even invent ideological pseudo-names such as capitalism, empirialism, communism, and the rest. But in honest, it is the price we pay for the existence and continuity of a nation - a perpetual burden on its people and those chosen to lead.

Yet these empires and nations break up as a cyclical event, most seriously within an interval of fifty years to a century and above. With the fallouts from the French and British empires and the vestiges of others still around, we have witnessed the recent collapse of the Soviet Empire, just barely 75 years after its Bolshevik Revolution of 1917. But most important, right on our own door-steps - the Liberian Revolution of April 12, 1980, and the subsequent decomposition of our country in 1990 – after over 150 years of struggle to exist and survive since 1822.

The Purpose of this Reflection

The purpose of this reflection is threefold: first, a further reassurance in this New Year -2008 - that the situation Liberia has gone through is not an isolated event; it is a natural occurrence in the evolution of any nation – whether big or small, rich or poor, and weak or strong. Hence, as our last tyrant is behind bars, let us not imprison ourselves in complex and shame; we are not the first and neither to be the last of brutes, savages, or primitives to slaughter each other for survival. Second, this is a reminder that though France, Britain ,and Russia lost their empires, executed their Kings, Queens and Czars, but they re-emerged still stronger, powerful, and influential. And so may we; in two years our nation has undergone a formidable transformation from a failed-state to a functional democracy, regained its international status, and with a red-carpet reception around the world for its first female President on the African continent. True, the road is long and tedious, but we are already in the right direction.

And last, this comparison of the situation of Liberia with that of powerful countries -something we need to do more often- is the manifest of my conviction that all nations – as men – are born equal and die equal. For this reason, I have no doubt that the destinies of all nations are intimately tied together; thus their struggles are the same and their recoveries follow an identical pattern.

History as a point of reference and a driving force to national unity and success

What has been the secret of these great empires and nations to re-emerge from decomposition, destruction, madness, and carnage to continue their existence and succeed, and why should not Liberia do the same? Or let me put it this way: What was the secret of those Emancipated Black slaves, without a penny, but only God and determination in their hearts, to established the first independent nation on the African Continent in 1847, and for which we have killed over 250 000 of its innocent citizens?

Undoubtedly, these great empires and nations -including our founding fathers - used the rest of their individual histories as a point of reference and a driving force to move forward positively; then came all the other additional qualities: experience , intelligence, education, will, determination, and that tenacity to push together as one unified force to survive and exist – all these qualities we possess today.

History is like a culture in its entirety; an individual without a culture, is more like a lost sheep –no head and no tail. No one understood this vital role of history in the nation building process and the unity of a people better than our founding fathers. They were united around their common historical infinity –freedom from slavery - to pursue a common objective of establishing a nation of theirs despite all the numerous obstacles and odds against them. And they succeeded. This fact was not lost on our minds back in the 1970s, when one of our first acts as dissidents was to put into question some of our vital historical symbols. Unfortunately, the manner in which the leadership responded to the issue at the time did an un-repairable damage to our collective national conscience. The majority population, already sceptical about the ruling class, consummated its own detachment from our collective historical values and symbols; on the other hand, the elite ruling class felt humiliated by us for putting into question these historical values and symbols and the subsequent abolition of some of these same historical myths.

Despite this controversial period of search for a common historical and national identity, we still have the rest of some of our most important historical values and symbols left us by the founding fathers. Among them are the following:

. National Anthem: “All hail, Liberia hail”

. Independence Day: July 26

. Flag Day: August 24

. National Seal and motto: “The Love of Liberty brought us here”

Additionally, having recognised today our cultural diversities as a people, which effectively constitute our richest national cultural heritage, but at the same time have served in our national division - I am wondering as to how best can we use the rest of those historical values and symbols and other positive vestiges of our history (adding others as the testimonies of our time) as the point of reference and the driving force to invigorate and revitalize our patriotism and nationalism. In other words, to regain totally our pride and confidence as one people, bond together in the same boat -as our great founding fathers -to accomplish our common national objectives: sustainable democracy, national reconciliation, peace, stability, development, and prosperity.

The National Anthem: “All hail, Liberia hail”

I realized the powerful impact of the Liberian National Anthem late in life, regrettably. It was in the early 1990s, as the first group of Liberian refugees from Sierra Leone disembarked at the Free Port of Monrovia; the interim President was on hand to meet them. As that ship anchored , instantly, those men, women, elderly, and children launched that “All hail, Liberia Hail.” From the wharf, we all stood up right, heads up high, hands posed on chess, and responded to the lyrics. The emotions and tears were inevitable. You could feel the unity, the determination, and the attachment of a people to their common heritage – nation – in the time of extreme difficulties.

I had a second experience in 1995, but this time I was now also a refugee among a mass of compatriots departing the homeland in desperation once again. As that vessel “Bulk Challenge” left that same Free Port of Monrovia, we echoed simultaneously that same “All hail, Liberia hail.” The same emotions and same tears; we were departing a national capital in flames, yet those lyrics raised our morale and hope for a better national future.

I have been convinced, since then, that this was a situation unique to Liberia – especially a developing nation – to see a people appealed to their National Anthem as an instrument of hope in time of a national tragedy.

What then a magnificent piece of national heritage left us by the pioneering fathers. Frankly, when we look back 160 years and read those formidable lyrics from the pen and thoughts, in a spirit of resolve and determination of those freed African slaves,

we have absolutely nothing to be ashamed of, but only to exorcise ourselves in pride of our nation and history. We must acknowledge the greatness of our founding fathers and women – a people of an extraordinary determination, valour, and intelligence. We must walk with our heads up high, emulate them in confronting collectively the challenges to our national destiny. And we must do so by singing aloud:

All hail, Liberia hail!

All hail, Liberia hail!

This glorious land of liberty shall long be ours.

Though new her name,

Green be her fame

And mighty be her powers,

And mighty be her powers,

In joy and gladness

With our hearts united,

We’ll shout the freedom

Of a race benighted,

Long live Liberia, happy land!

A home of glorious liberty,

By God’s command!

All hail, Liberia hail!

All hail, Liberia hail!

In union strong success is sure

We cannot fail!

With God above

Our rights to prove

We will o’er all prevail,

We will o’er all prevail,

With heart and hand

Our country’s cause defending

We’ll meet the foe

With valour unpretending.

Long live Liberia, happy land!

A home of glorious liberty,

By God’s command!

A home of glorious liberty,

By God’s command!

Can anyone put up his hand and tell me how many of us have keenly read the wordings of this master piece? As I have already confessed, I came to know the importance of our National Anthem much late in life, and many of you may be in my shoes. But we all did those daily summary historical recitations and learn the National Anthem during our early school years. So, how come my appreciation of the same national anthem was perceived very late?

Well, we can still remember our militant script from 1970s. That we were taught an history as if we were not a part of it; thus we perceived it has being a foreign imposed more or less - we did not see ourselves as the actors and part of it. And this perception was created not necessarily because the history in itself was wrong, but the manner in which it was inculcated was defective. As a result, the deficiency of Liberians in their history affected every generation and social class within our nation, unfortunately.

Those who created this historical deficiency were the descendants of our founding fathers. They erred in believing that the initial historical gains were simply the means to an end. As a result, we were taught to recite sequences of history that stopped almost after 1847. They forgot that an history is a continuum chain of events in a nation’s life (or for that matter anyone’s life) to be transmitted over generations as a guide to the future. In clear, in 160 years of existence Liberia should have had volumes upon volumes of her history flooded into its schools and universities. Unfortunately, in 160 years of a tumultous and rich life, we have hardly any written record to show what had transpired throughout those many years - the achievements, the defects, or even the life of our national leaders – something of an enlightenment to prepare us shoulder the challenges of our nation and know ourselves better.

Over 75% of the population cannot read or sing the National Anthem

As a consequence of our historical failure, we have just recognized the National Anthem as an undeniable symbol of our national pride and dignity, but over 75% of the population is still illiterate; it cannot read or sing the anthem. And if we – the remaining 25% educated – have just realised the importance of the National Anthem, then there is a grave national handicap to overcome. True, the anthem is musical, and when heard, can be recognised and felt. But as one of the most important elements of national belongingness and unity, it will also be the greatest error on our part if we do not make a genuine effort to correct this major national deficiency.

Let us imagine that over 75% of Americans or French can not sing or read their National Anthems – believe me, both nations would never have been great nations, and patriotism or nationalism could have never been their successful password.

What is more, a National Anthem is more like a War Song – to rise the morale of the troops. For example, the French National Anthem “La Marseillaise” (Allons enfants de la patrie, le jour du gloire est arrivé…” =Let’s go the children of the nation, the day of glory has arrived…) was originally written in 1792, as a War Song of the Rhine Army, but was unknown in Paris until sung by volunteers from Marseilles (from where came its name) during the French Revolution; then later was officially adopted as the National Anthem in 1795. Its lyrics and music pump that real nationalism and patriotism as much as the Liberian National Anthem.

Likewise, each indigenous Liberian tribe has its proper War Song and a War Dance. When I witnessed the men of my village singing the War Song and doing the War Dance, it left me with the feeling that there was nothing else to defend on earth, but only the Sapo-land. Imagine then that the village youths grew up watching theirs elders singing and dancing the National Anthem, but that was not so, and we took all that for granted.

This is our dilemma today. What can be done, so that after an official ceremony deep in a forest village, or instead of welcoming state officials with the traditional war songs and war dances, the chief and his town’s men, women, and children can stand up right, in pride and dignity, to sing:

All hail, Liberia hail!

All hail, Liberia hail!

This glorious Land of Liberty shall long be ours…

Undoubtedly, we are making enormous efforts on education at this moment, but until we can ever bring that illiteracy rate down from 75% to even a 50% level, I am suggesting that we invent a method to spread the National Anthem – decentralize it, if you will -to every city, town, and village throughout the Republic. In clear, we must now take the National Anthem away from Monrovia and carry it directly to the people.

Some Ideas

1. Through the Ministry of Internal Affaires, introduce a nationwide campaign to sensitize the general population at all levels (even in the local dialects) on the significance of the National Anthem, explain the meanings of its wordings and its importance to our national unity and reconciliation; translate and sing it in the local dialects. And second, introduce it into the workshops of local officials at every level, and into the long-term illiteracy programs of our local chiefs and officers.

2. No one needs to master the National Anthem to letter more than the Army. It must become their little “Red Book” before even the Constitution.

3. Like I have proposed elsewhere for the creation of an Education Commission, there is also a need for an History Commission or to support a special history program at the University of Liberia to research our lost national history, edit manuals on our historical symbols, and the rest.

4. Introduce the National Anthem (not only singing the lyrics, but also learning their meanings) in every workshop , training program, or literacy program for market women, yenna-boys, labourers, and others.

5. We should now do away with only recitations of our national history; we must teach it in depth to describe and reflect events as occurred in order to prepare and guide us better from the present and into the future.

6. We need a symbol, a date, or a memorial to solemnly mark our tragic national transformation from 1979 to 2005.

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