Civic Education with Uncle Joe: Episode # 1

Transcription

1 Civic Education with Uncle Joe: Episode # 1 Introduction Prince Joseph Tomoonh-Garlodeyh Gbaba, Sr., Ed. D. Liberian Playwright & Poet & Assistant Professor of Education and Drama The word civic means: public, municipal, local, community, town, city, civil, social, national, universal, general, and common. As an adjective, the word civic 1

2 becomes civil and it extends our civic educational thought further by implying the following meanings: polite, civilized, courteous, well-mannered, gracious, urbane. Another noun form for civic is civility and it means: politeness, courtesy, good manners, courteousness, respect, graciousness, consideration. Thus, the opposite of civility is rudeness! Further, we can use the word civic to expand our knowledge about ourselves and how we should govern ourselves by being civilized. Here, apart from the good manners and courtesy, now we also realize that by virtue of being civilized, we are able to enlighten, to educate, cultivate, improve, advance, develop, and refine. From this perspective it is safe to say the opposite of civilized is brutalized. Thus, when you are brutalized you are assaulted, treated roughly, maltreated, and ill-treated. Hence, instead of being civilized, Liberians who spearheaded war, mayhem, and human carnage in Liberia brutalized the citizens in their attempt to revenge and seize power in Liberia. The Decades of Brutalities and Lawlessness in Liberia ( ) Thus, instead of being civilized and courteous toward one another, Liberians were brutal toward one another as a consequence of the revenge tactics employed by the organizers of the 1989 rebel incursion and insurrection. An incursion is an invasion and an insurrection is a revolt, civil disobedience. For this reason, Liberians have had enough brutalities over the past more than two decades. In this light, it is high time to regain our civilized traits that include, among others: improving our cultural, historical, and economic heritages; living together in peace and harmony; to demonstrate respect for the rule of law, respect for the liberties and freedoms of our fellow Liberians and fellow mankind ( i.e., freedom of press, freedom of association, freedom of censure, freedom of choice, etc), and to maintain sustainable and enduring peace for all Liberians! Our Inalienable Rights and Freedoms As citizens of Liberia we enjoy certain inalienable rights, privileges, and freedoms. Of course I need not further expand on the various freedoms that every democratic society should foster for they are self-explanatory. However, it never hurts in teaching history and culture to provide some examples: (1) freedom of press: here, we have the freedom to report responsibly our observations, our likes, and dislikes about our society and the government that leads us without being penalized by authorities; (2) freedom of association: we have the right to be friends with Sekou, Nyan, or Davidetta without anyone or the government penalizing its citizens for exercising such right; (3) freedom of censure: here, we have the opportunity and right to criticize responsibly; not with the sole intent of tearing apart an idea or a national policy for the heck of it; but instead, to criticize with the aim of improving our civilization and society. Therefore, when the foregone goals and ideals (principles, standards, morals, ethics, values, mores) are achieved and practiced by a nation and people, that is when a 2

3 nation and its people are called a civilized nation and people. Viola! says the French man! How Civil Have We Been to One Another as Liberians during the Era of Brutalities and Lawlessness in Liberia ( )? Ladies and gentlemen, considering the brief definition of the expression civic education, we may be able to further deduce how much civic education we as Liberians possess in terms of: (1) whether or not we treated one another with respect, and courtesy; or, (2) whether we brutalized one another over the past two decades. Clearly, this is what knowledge of civic education entails: making sure that every Liberian, every member of any society understands his or her fundamental human rights, how to maintain one s rights and the collective rights of all Liberians against the imposition of perpetrators of heinous crimes against humanity in general and against Liberians in particular. Our Standard of Living in Present Day Liberia Contravenes International and Humanitarian Laws and the Constitution of Liberia! Such brutal and uncivilized nature and behavior of a nation and people, as Liberians have behaved toward one another in the Era of Lawlessness and Mayhem ( ) contravenes international and humanitarian laws, as well as the Constitution of Liberia. That is the reason why I am calling on all patriotic Liberians to realize immediately our national faults and improve ourselves; to develop our country; cultivate a culture of mutual respect and courtesy toward one another; practice and observe the rule of law and maintain it throughout eternity. Therefore, we must pledge never to hurt one another like we did in the civil war because now is the time of peace and all Liberians are urged to cooperate to the fullest extent possible in order to safeguard our national hegemony and sovereignty. Accordingly, the Opposites of Civic, Civil, Civility, Civilization, Civilized are: rude, rudeness, Growna, and koo-too-koo! Well, my people, your don t blame me oh! My ma will bee me becor I non know Ingrish! It wase! It scatta! Orh-wlah-tee-o! Man, boys and girls, this is Liberian History, Literature, and Civics coming from the Uncooo self-self, that nasty talented Liberian pekin who jess full of it! The Urgent Need to Implement the Liberian Peace Plan It is very important to understand that all Liberians adhere to the rule of law, respect the Constitution of Liberia, and implement the Liberian peace plan: (1) ratification of the TRC recommendations; (2) setting up war crimes court in Liberia to try those most responsible for the heinous crimes that were committed against the Liberian people and humanity; (3) and to repatriate Liberian refugees who are stranded around the globe that would like to return to their Native Land. 3

4 Responsible Governance Responsible governance is when those in authority implement the authority and administration of the day to day affairs of a nation and people with the intent to unite, improve Liberians and their country through the ideals of democracy and sustainable peace. It is a setting where those who rule are committed to the ideals of democracy. Here, it is understood that government is the sole responsibility of every Liberian citizen and that a government must be able to put its mouth where its hands can reach: provide services, operable utilities, safe paved roads and highways, good hospitals, clinics, schools, laboratory, etc. Thus, it is the responsibility of a responsible government to serve the needs of its citizens. The Liberian Government Must Repatriate Stranded Liberian Refugees Back to Liberia Forthwith! Every Citizen has an inalienable right to live freely in Liberia and to receive emergency assistance from their government in times like these of global economic and civil war hardships and security threats, and injustices, and after over twenty-two years of civil strife! Thus, in the crucial case of Liberian refugees stranded in various refugee camps around the globe, it is imperative that the Liberian government prioritize the repatriation of Liberian refugees forthwith. Also, we look forward to more international support to help Liberians rebuild their war torn country. Please be of help to Liberia by seeking the interest of the Liberian people with respect to ensuring that justice is done and rule of law firmly established. Episode # 2: Acceptable and Unacceptable Norms and Values of the Liberian Society This episode focuses on both acceptable and unacceptable norms within the Liberian, African, and global communities in which we form a vital component. In the first episode, I presented the difference between civility and rudeness. We cited some of the wonderful civil actions and behaviors that showed mutual respect for one another and the upkeep of the rule of law in Liberia; versus rudeness, the lack of civilization, good manners, and lack of respect for constituted authority. Thus, firmly assert that: Liberians Have Witnessed Gruesome and Rude Experiences over the Past Two Decades and the Western World Is Mute and Blind toward our Suffering Because They Want to Suck Our Resources Dry in Cohort with Liberian Economic Criminals! In view of the foregoing, the opposite of civil is rude! And rudeness and lack of civility have we seen, read, and heard over the past twenty-two years in Liberia. Interestingly, most of the lawlessness, mayhem, human carnage, and lack of respect for personal and private properties, and the abuse of the human rights of Liberians that we witnessed during the Liberian Civil War were the outcomes of an international 4

5 syndicate to enslave Liberians and ransack their natural, mineral, and human resources. What Is the Chief Function of Uncle Joe s Civic Education Class? Thus, the chief function of my class on civic education is once again to instill the discipline, wisdom, and knowledge our forefathers passed unto us: (1) love thy neighbor and enemy as thy self; (2) be thy brother s and sister s keepers; (3) preserve our great political, cultural, and economic heritage; (4) secure the rule of law and the respect for the sanctity of human life; (5) have respect for public and private properties, and the right to self-preservation; (6) self-respect and respect of others, and so forth. What All Liberians Share as National and International Pride The Liberian National Falg Above, our national profile exemplifies us as leaders among the Black Race, blessed to be born in the Land of Glorious Liberty by God s Command! Above all, Liberia is the Oldest and First African Republic and it comes second to the Republic of Haiti that was independent on January 1, Liberia s Declaration of Independence was July 26, 1847, with a difference of 43 years between Haiti and Liberia. Toussaint l Overture: The Liberator of Haiti: the slave that defeated Napoleon 5

6 The Empire of Ethiopia Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia. Haile Selassie was also believed to be descended from the line of David by Solomon. He was He was dethroned by by the Soviet-backed Derg headed by Menistu Haile Mariam. This period in Ethiopian history ended over 300 years of monarchy in Ethiopia. The third Black Sovereign State other than Haiti and Liberia was the Empire of Ethiopia.Ethiopian Empire (Amharic), also known as Abyssinia, covered a geographical area that the present-day northern half of Ethiopia and Eritrea covers, and included in its peripheries Zeila, Djibouti, Yemen and Western Saudi Arabia. It existed from approximately 1137 (beginning of Zagwe Dynasty) until 1974 when the monarchy was overthrown in a coup d'etat. It is speculated that the Klao speaking groups of Liberia (Krahn, Kru, Grebo, Bassa, Gbi, Gborh, Deiweion, Sarpo), originated from the Nile River Valley in Nothern Ethiopia and Southern Egypt. They are said to be remnants of original African Jews that migrated from Israel around the Horn of Africa, including Ethiopia, Egypt, Somalia, and Sudan, to the Promise Land of the Black Race, Liberia: Land of the Free! Apart from Ethiopia being the home of origin of the Klao speaking groups of Liberia, both Ethiopia and Liberia were the only two independent Black nations that successfully resisted the Scramble for Africa by the European imperial powers in the late 19th century. Okay, It Is Time for All Patriotic Liberians to Pat Themselves on the Back! Okay, I want every Liberian to pat himself/herself on the back! A wonderful and awesome history and heritage indeed; but history and heritage must be sustained by every patriotic Liberian woman, man, child, elder, youth, friends, family, and global society. Hence, I hope you have learned some lessons from this civic education class. Thank you for being a patient and courteous reader and audience. 6

7 Uncoooool Joe! Gbaba, Sr., Ed. D. October 28,