For the past several months, I have contributed articles/letters to numerous online news media. My articles have been tailored to cover issues of interest to Liberians. In each article, I have advanced ideas that I consider relevant to the development and safety of our destroyed country. It has also been my intention to evoke additional ideas on whatever the topic, hoping to enrich the debate. I have deliberately tried not to be divisive nor insulting to anyone.
 
The reactions to my articles have been mixed. I have appreciated both the commendations and the criticisms. This has led to many exchanges between some of those who commented on my articles one way or the other and me.  Some of them and I have become friends and supporters.
 
There have been a few who have been insulting, not taking time to identify my gender and damning me as CONGO or COUNTRY. I have been taken aback on how some Liberians, with all that we have gone through, would choose to look at every issue about Liberia only through a divisive lens of gender bias, tribalism and outright unfounded hatred for their fellow Liberians. It seems as though they are not interested in the core ideas expressed in the articles but are bent on insulting the author. These sorry Liberians come from both sides: There are those who would condemn me if they view the article to be pro-government. Others will condemn me no matter what good can be found in the articles, if they view it to be anti-government. I welcome all the comments, the commendations and the criticisms, minus the insults and the promotion of division that are carried in some of them.
 
Those who promote the Country/Congo line, conclude that the Congo or Americo-Liberians have wealth and influence, and the country people are still at the bottom of the economic, social and political ladder in Liberia. They do not wish for all Liberians to climb the ladder, but that Congoes should be thrown off the ladder and suffer the perceived fate they claim country people still suffer in Liberia. Their views are alarming to me and the implications are clearly not good for our country.
 
May I say to my fellow Liberians that the line between Liberians is very thin and non existent in many respects. Many tribal Liberians are shock to learn, when conversing with fellow Liberians from what we call Up River where most Americo-Liberians settled that the young men also climb trees, hunt, go fishing, make farms, hardly have the means to send their children to school and don't have access to health facilities, as those people only yearn for a better life. Without saying what part of Liberia they are referring to, it is impossible to know if they are referring to Up River Liberians, or those in some faraway village in the interior of of the country.

 

Liberians who went into exile could tell as soon as a stranger opens his or her mouth whether that individual was a Liberian, because one couldn't tell what tribe the other person came from. Nationals of other countries could also tell a Liberian as soon as he or she spoke. One laughable story I was told is that a group of Liberians entered a social spot in Sierra Leone and a Sierra Leonean "big shot" said, "You man has come to joined us". One of the Liberians replied: "We have come to join you bo". The point is that Liberians have a common accent and manner of speech recognizable to most non-Liberians.
 
There are numerous stories and acts of love and support Liberians showed each other, as they escaped Liberia and lived in foreign lands as refugees. Gios saved Krahns, Mandingoes were saved by other tribes, and each helped the other as the Country and Congo rhetoric went out the window.
 
The line between Country and Congo has become blurred by intermarriages, education and economic success. For some, you are a Congo once you are educated, have a western name, gain social status or political position. They do not even consider the negative consequences to those Liberians born unto non-Liberians and to Caucasians, or those who were born outside of Liberia and speak none of the Liberian dialects as they promote a message of hate. They do not have the insight to realize that sons and daughters of tribal Liberians born in America are the new Americo- Liberians.
 
My own observation is that many indigenous Liberians have advanced themselves over the years. They are doctors, lawyers, nurses, teachers, etc. etc. The majority of those in the Liberian government are indigenous Liberians. Sometimes, it appears that out of jealousy those not in such positions brand others as Congo or Americo-Liberians. They do not have the guts to say "fellow indigenous Liberians, now that you are in power, please unite the country and give us good governance". It appears politically correct to them to call persons with wealth (even when well earned) as Congoes.
 
I was born to non-tribal parents and fall into the category of Americo-Liberian. But growing up, I did not recognized any difference between my friends and I. Growing up as a child and as a young adult in Liberia, my parents raised my siblings and me to treat everyone equal. After my mother died, the soldiers assigned to my father (my father was a General in the army) and their wives raised us because my father traveled extensively with President Tubman.
 
When I became an adult, I had two daughters by an educated, wealthy, indigenous Liberian who employed many Liberians. He worked hard at his business and became the first Superintendent of Montserrado County and Bomi Territory in the 70s. My first husband was also an indigenous man, and a son was born unto us. He too has done very well and does not carry the baggage of Country or Congo.
 
If we want true change and peace in Liberia, we should take those hurtful words out of our vocabulary. To my indigenous brothers and sisters, please let us come together as Liberians and not continue to use CONGO and COUNTRY to divide us. This message goes to the Americo Liberians likewise. Liberia is for all of us and there are more things that unite us then divide us. Whenever the president addresses the citizens of Liberia, she does not address us as "My Congo and Country Liberians". She says "My fellow Liberians". Let us do the same.
 
To those who responded to my articles in an insulting manner and characterized me as Congo or Country, I do not appreciate it. I find it unhealthy for Liberia. Look at the issues and address them. You cannot intimidate me, and I hope you fail to intimidate anyone who wants to contribute to the exchange of ideas for the good of our country.
For peace in our country, I appeal to the promoter of division and hate to let our children grow up just being Liberians. Please take COUNTRY and CONGO from your vocabulary and eliminate the culture of hate.
 
Long live Liberians! Long live Liberia! Long live all Liberians