2008 Woodie Awards
The Future of Liberian Democracy
Free elections in Liberia point to a positive and bright future free from tyranny.
Brett Heiney
Issue date: 10/21/05 Section: Opinions
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Finally, the legacy of Charles Taylor, a man never to be forgotten, may finally begin to be rendered simply a memory in the free democratic elections held in Liberia this past week. Life in Liberia today, as it has been since the war lord Taylor took over in 1990, is wretched. With little infrastructure, no electricity, no water, no governmental structure, and little education, the people of Liberia eke out a life inferior to that of subsistence. With the light of democracy shining through their hope for a brighter future is beginning to turn into a reality.
Charles Taylor destroyed Liberia over fourteen years of tyrannical rule. He cared nothing for the people of his country; he only cared for power and wealth. The slogans for his "reelections" read "He killed our ma's! He killed our pa's! And I will vote for him anyway!" He led his people through fear and heavy handed retribution. Taylor left little for the people of Liberia to inherit when he was ousted in 2003.
After fighting a civil war for years, the tired people of Liberia welcome peaceful change. They are a nation of tired people, tired of fighting, tired of dying. Democracy has reared its head in Liberia and the Liberians are grabbing the bull by the horns and riding it to a future hardly imaginable under Taylor.
Even former President Jimmy Carter acted as an election official, monitoring an election center. He claimed that the elections were free and fair, and that a huge turn out of voters will ensure something positive. If Jimmy Carter says the elections are good then who can argue...but I digress.
Liberia is headed in the right direction, even if one of the two front runners in the presidential election, George Weah, is a former soccer star and not well educated. In such a poor nation with little education, any education is better than none. The other front-runner, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf who is in her mid sixties, is a former World Bank official with a Harvard Graduate degree and years of public experience. She definitely has the technical know how to lead the fledgling democracy. Either of these two would work for a better Liberia, one with jobs, food, electricity, running water, an education system, and a functioning government.
Charles Taylor destroyed Liberia over fourteen years of tyrannical rule. He cared nothing for the people of his country; he only cared for power and wealth. The slogans for his "reelections" read "He killed our ma's! He killed our pa's! And I will vote for him anyway!" He led his people through fear and heavy handed retribution. Taylor left little for the people of Liberia to inherit when he was ousted in 2003.
After fighting a civil war for years, the tired people of Liberia welcome peaceful change. They are a nation of tired people, tired of fighting, tired of dying. Democracy has reared its head in Liberia and the Liberians are grabbing the bull by the horns and riding it to a future hardly imaginable under Taylor.
Even former President Jimmy Carter acted as an election official, monitoring an election center. He claimed that the elections were free and fair, and that a huge turn out of voters will ensure something positive. If Jimmy Carter says the elections are good then who can argue...but I digress.
Liberia is headed in the right direction, even if one of the two front runners in the presidential election, George Weah, is a former soccer star and not well educated. In such a poor nation with little education, any education is better than none. The other front-runner, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf who is in her mid sixties, is a former World Bank official with a Harvard Graduate degree and years of public experience. She definitely has the technical know how to lead the fledgling democracy. Either of these two would work for a better Liberia, one with jobs, food, electricity, running water, an education system, and a functioning government.