We welcome the visit of U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton here today, and we sincerely hope that her talks with our Leaders will further strengthen the ties existing between our two countries. We also hope they will transform our relationship with the United States from one of patronage into one of partnership.
We highly appreciate the concern of Mrs. Clinton regarding the virtues apparently overlooked or abused by some elements in our society. Government, the churches and other institutions are addressing those issues. We, therefore, reject her repetitive insinuations, like the Biblical Prophets crying out warnings in the wilderness to the people of the Dark Continent spelling out gloom and doom unless we change our ways. The Secretary should realize by now that under the leadership of President Sirleaf everything is being done to stamp out corruption in our society. Serious efforts have been put in place to remove the social scar of rape; and the fight against impunity is not an easy battle after more than 25 years of a broken society, torn apart not by our own forces alone. But we will get there.
We can assure the Secretary that we do not wish to be “imprisoned” by our past; rather, we are anxious and at pains to seek a way out by crafting a new partnership with America and other like-minded associates by carving a better future and working towards its realization. The challenges we face coming out of war are stupendous and daunting, and we need all the help we can get. If America is not willing to help us meet some of these challenges, we will seek other sources.
In the long years of friendship or, shall we say, interaction, our relationship has, admittedly, always been based on patronage. Today, in this new order, we want a change whereby our path to a democratic future will be strengthened through the coequal efforts of partnership in home grown initiatives such as Liberia’s very own Poverty Reduction Strategy.
Liberia is tired of being seen as the “surprise” satellite of a shining continent. In order to be true partners, it is time that we reflect some of America’s luster in terms of development, reduction of poverty and helping to provide the facilities that create a brighter future. After all, we do deserve this.
If it is seen at times that Liberia is courting other partners, that is because of our great desire to give our people a better way of life and demonstrate that democracy development on our terms.
Today, we lack safe drinking water; we lack electricity; we lack good roads and an adequate health delivery system. Most of our people are illiterate, and we desperately need to and must embark on the road to 100 percent adult literacy in our country. This may seem like returning to the path of patronage; no! It means we are struggling to achieve our goals; and those partners who are seeking to put the past behind should join with us in the struggle.
In a society that lacks the basic necessities of life, these are some of the obstacles that clog our paths towards the goal. We strive to eliminate the roadblocks and then move on.
Copyright Liberian Observer - All Rights Reserved. This article cannot be re-published without the expressed, written consent of the Liberian Observer. Please contact us for more information or to request publishing permission.
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Updated: August 13, 2009 - 10:46am
We welcome the visit of U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton here today, and we sincerely hope that her talks with our Leaders will further strengthen the ties existing between our two countries. We also hope they will transform our relationship with the United States from one of patronage into one of partnership.
We highly appreciate the concern of Mrs. Clinton regarding the virtues apparently overlooked or abused by some elements in our society. Government, the churches and other institutions are addressing those issues. We, therefore, reject her repetitive insinuations, like the Biblical Prophets crying out warnings in the wilderness to the people of the Dark Continent spelling out gloom and doom unless we change our ways. The Secretary should realize by now that under the leadership of President Sirleaf everything is being done to stamp out corruption in our society. Serious efforts have been put in place to remove the social scar of rape; and the fight against impunity is not an easy battle after more than 25 years of a broken society, torn apart not by our own forces alone. But we will get there.
We can assure the Secretary that we do not wish to be “imprisoned” by our past; rather, we are anxious and at pains to seek a way out by crafting a new partnership with America and other like-minded associates by carving a better future and working towards its realization. The challenges we face coming out of war are stupendous and daunting, and we need all the help we can get. If America is not willing to help us meet some of these challenges, we will seek other sources.
In the long years of friendship or, shall we say, interaction, our relationship has, admittedly, always been based on patronage. Today, in this new order, we want a change whereby our path to a democratic future will be strengthened through the coequal efforts of partnership in home grown initiatives such as Liberia’s very own Poverty Reduction Strategy.
Liberia is tired of being seen as the “surprise” satellite of a shining continent. In order to be true partners, it is time that we reflect some of America’s luster in terms of development, reduction of poverty and helping to provide the facilities that create a brighter future. After all, we do deserve this.
If it is seen at times that Liberia is courting other partners, that is because of our great desire to give our people a better way of life and demonstrate that democracy development on our terms.
Today, we lack safe drinking water; we lack electricity; we lack good roads and an adequate health delivery system. Most of our people are illiterate, and we desperately need to and must embark on the road to 100 percent adult literacy in our country. This may seem like returning to the path of patronage; no! It means we are struggling to achieve our goals; and those partners who are seeking to put the past behind should join with us in the struggle.
In a society that lacks the basic necessities of life, these are some of the obstacles that clog our paths towards the goal. We strive to eliminate the roadblocks and then move on.
Copyright Liberian Observer - All Rights Reserved. This article cannot be re-published without the expressed, written consent of the Liberian Observer. Please contact us for more information or to request publishing permission.