29/10/2011
A 2008 commentary i wrote in commemoration of PRESIDENT SIRLEAF 70th BIRTH ANNIVERSARY, culled from DAILY OBSERVER NEWS PAPER:
"...... On your natal day, while flipping through the pages of history, within the scope of the first three decades of your life, I came across a determined woman of underprivileged background who would later drop from Secondary School to take up family responsibilities and never deterred to continue . what a good example for our sisters who feel morally defeated when faced with such condition! As my journey continues, I met a committed waitress waiting tables in American restaurants to get undergraduate school feels, not one looking for money to live frivolous life as many would do now .My journey took me to the 4th & 5th (the iron lady's period) decade, were I came across a financially prudent banker and a minister who would later get in trouble with her bosses by questioning certain administrative and financial decisions that run contrary to best practices of all forms—a good standard for public servant. As is the case of any good reader who would not get tired of reading a readable and resourceful material, i then moved on, this time, i was more than startled to have seen a lone-voice, i mean a lady for that matter--committed nationalist with broad imagination, dramatic personality and boundless inspirations standing tall amongst men in a society were women participation in public decisions was an anathema; also was the political activist and the national prisoner coming from the Post Stockade on fruitless charges that have no bearing other than speaking against the odds of our society ; and then came running the international civil servant as well. Finally, climaxing with the 6th decade,my journey saw the former commissioner of the Inter-Congolese Dialogue, an investigative panelist of the Rwandan Genocide ,and also former chair of the Governance Commission moving to the Executive Mansion on the early morning of January 16, 2006 to receive the final validation from the Liberian people in recognition of her long years of struggle for societal transformation to lead them to that glorious land of prosperity
Other pundits may have their own reasons ---wrapped in sheer envy, deceit, and raw political hatred-- to give a slanted account of your long years of struggle for change ; but for some of us who are passionate to see a better Liberia, we are convinced that you are a political messiah ordained by God with a simple mandate: change Liberia from the scourges of backwardness and political decadence to an era where vistas of opportunities will be opened for future generations. That’s why he is giving you so much vigor and dexterity to go to work as early as 9:00 am and returns as late as 10:00-12:00 am--- a feat very incomprehensible to many people of active age; that special energy to travel long distances and resume works immediately upon return with no report of jet-lags"
Again, Happy Birthday NOBLE ELLEN as you turned 73 today!!! God Bless!!!
