The Informer (Monrovia)
23 June 2009
Delegates at the just-ended National Reconciliation Conference under the auspices of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) held in Virginia, outside Monrovia, have submitted several recommendations in which the called for the change of the country's motto and seal.
In their recommendation to the TRC under what they called the "Virginia Declaration," the delegates requested that the motto in the country's Seal: "The Love Of Liberty Brought Us Here" be changed to "The Love Us Liberty Unites Us Here". They further recommended that a palm tree be used as a national symbol for common identity in the New Liberia.
The delegates consisted of citizens from the fifteen (15) political subdivisions of the country including victims and perpetrators of the past civil war.
The issue of changing the national symbol and motto has been a debatable phenomenon in Liberia. Some Liberians argue that the current motto (The Love of Liberty Brought Us Here) is discriminatory and suggests that there was no one in Liberia when the settlers (freed slaves) came from America to settle here in the 1800s.
Others counter argue that people who they call aborigines (owners of the land) were on the ground when the settlers came; therefore, to say that the 'love of Liberty brought us (Liberians) here' is a contradiction of the reality.
Last year's Independence Day orator Dr. Saku Malakpai, in his oration, called for the country's history to be rewritten and that names of major streets in the capital be renamed; the capital Monrovia be relocated to central Liberia as a means of uniting the Liberian people.
Most the Dr. Malakpai's suggestions were repeated in the delegates' 38-copunt recommendation.
The TRC national conference delegates, among others, advanced a number of recommendations including prosecution of all perpetrators/warlords of the civil conflict including head of warring factions, frontline commanders, and those who committed economic crimes, violation of international humanitarian and human right laws.
The Virginia Declaration also called for the election of superintendents and political appointed be given based on merit.
It also called for reduction in the number of political parties and decentralization of political power in Liberia.
Taking into consideration the looming crisis about land following years of war, the delegates suggested the establishment of a land court and a traditional land council to handle issues of land disputes.
March 15 of each year should be celebrated as "President Day" in honor of all of the country's past and present presidents, and that streets, public buildings, and other public spaces be named in honor of traditional leaders and other prominent figures who have made significant contributions to Liberia.
As the Virginia Declaration was applauded by many of the delegates, other also expressed dissatisfactions over the TRC's ability to unite the people of Liberia.
They also expressed concern over the absence of the President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and other government officials as well as civil society from the conference.
TRC chairman Jerome Verdier assured that delegates that their views would form part of the TRC's final recommendation at the end of this month, when it mandate shall expire.
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I applaud the recommendations of the Virginia Delegates, mainly on changing the motto and the seal, and I will even go further, the flag, and the name Liberia. It's long, long over due. These four items are the root cause of our struggle with national identity and unity. They have been the seeds of civil conflicts and division. They are the cause of the class system in Liberia. They are discriminatory and misleading. Liberians will never, and I repeat, never unite under these symbols as evident wherever Liberians are. In the US, Europe,or at home, Liberians are always fighting amongst… [Read Full Text]
Fellow citizens, there are more to be done in liberia than changing of the country's motto and seal. Liberians are face with day to day issues that are affecting the lives of many. So many people are jobless and many of them can not even find the food to feel their family. Those that attended the conference should be ashamed of themselves for those recommendations. What the country(Liberia)need right now is unity through reconciliation. Such a divisive recommendations at this time will do us more harm then good. This is a form of dividing us again. These recommandations are divisive,inciting… [Read Full Text]
Johnsonnts hit the nail right on the head! Those 4 national symbols are only representative of the so-called American-Liberians and show/stand for nothing the natives stand for or believe in. I think we need to reimagine our country and we can start by inventing a new flag,seal,motto,etc. that will inclusive of all citizens of our country thereby encouraging unity,brotherhood,a sense of national identity.
We are always going to be laughed at by others & thought to be fools when most of our fellow citizens( the leading elite )believe themselves to be Americans.It has been almost 200 years since that country… [Read Full Text]
If what this commission is proposing is to be the panacea for curing the ignorance of disunity in Liberia, then God help the Country's future. How can changing the seal, motto change the hearts of Liberians to love their country, care for her, and have the mind set that they are all bound to gether by destiny and that they rise and fall as Liberians? This notion of Country-Native divide is a criminal political ploy to deprive Liberians of the peace and prosperity they deserve. Other than getting government jobs or having the ability to steal from your… [Read Full Text]
Mova, i understand where you are coming from,but we need to build a new foundation for our country and we can start by getting rid of this stupid class system in our country.We need to create a sotiety where your Last Name is not the determining factor of your fate or surcess.We need a system base on collectivism and division and tribalism.Those symbols represent the false and misleading conviction of less than 5% of our people who have dominated and exploited every aspect of our country to the neglect and detriment,for most part of our country's existance,of the native (who… [Read Full Text]
THERE ARE MORE TO DO IN LIBERIA THAN JUST THINKING ABOUT CHANGING THE COUNTRY'S MOTTO AND SEAL. THIS COMMISSION SHOULD FIND MEANS OF UNITING THE PEOPLE OF LIBERIA NOT ONLY MONROVIAN. ISTEAD OF SENDING PEOPLE IN THE VARIES COUNTIES AND SPEAKING TO THEM ABOUT HOW BEST WE CAN BRING ALL OF OUR PEOPLE TOGETHER. THERE ARE MORE UNITING TO DO THAN CHANGING COUNTRY'S MOTTO OR SEAL. THIS COMMISSION SHOULD BE ABLE TO EDUCATE THE MINDS OF THE PEOPLE. TEACH THE PEOPLE ABOUT THE MISTAKE PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT OR FEW CITIZENS MADE THAT LED US TO THE KIND OF DESTRUCTIONS THE COUNTRY… [Read Full Text]
Fellow Liberians, I just read this article about changing our historical symbols" The love of Liberty brought us here" and felt so bad afterward. I felt bad because people are not really thinking about the unity of our nation. Does historical rhetoric like that of " The love of liberty brought us here" really matters? This doesn't matter to me personally.What do matter to me are when people tried to hide behind their own greed to capitalize on issue that has no big value and small minded or evil people using Congo… [Read Full Text]