As Liberia celebrates its 164 birthday today (July 26, 2011), I would like to first congratulate the people of Liberia for their effort and support towards the current peace building process. They have truly demonstrated for the past 5 years to the international community and their African neighbors that they never want to go back to their chaotic past—which was devastated by senseless and bloody civil wars for 14 years. I hope by this time all Liberians have realized that war is not the solution to the many social and economical problems the nation have faced over the past decades.
There is a long way to go as the nation progresses through reconciliation and post-war reconstruction. But remember, united we stand to build a vibrant nation that was once called “The Sweet Land of Liberty.”
I encourage all Liberians to be hopeful about the future and continue to rally around the present and future government to help rebuild the future of Liberia. The past need not repeat itself. We need not let it hold us back. Other great nations have gone through the same circumstances and have come out of it successfully. We too can do the same. I am strongly confident that we can. This is the time that every Liberian contribution (time, talents, and treasures) is important in helping to rebuild the public (health, education, research and development, and other social programs, etc.) and private (domestics businesses, investments, foreign trade, etc.) sectors of our nation.
Additionally, I would like to congratulate Her Excellence Madam Sirleaf, President of Liberia, for her leadership and hard work over the past years. Despite the struggles, her leadership has helped to restore peace, economic developments and good governance to a nation that was once ruined by chronic civil conflicts that displaced millions of Liberians. Well done on your achievements over the past years. I wish you and other political leaders good luck in the upcoming general presidential election in October. I hope and pray that whoever wins will put the nation and its people first rather than his or her selfish political interest—one which has kept the nation from moving forward from 1990 to 2003.
I would also like to thank the United Nation, its donors, as well as the working men and women who have worked tirelessly to bring peace to one of its first founding member states—Liberia. Your effort is priceless.
I wish all Liberian a Happy Independence Day! Let us continue to keep our nation and its people in our prayers.
God Bless Liberia and the rest of the world.
