Liberia's Promise: Musings & Essays by Rufus S. Berry II

An amazing and informative book from a patriotic, altruistic and truth talking Liberian.
Liberia has a chronic, pervasive problem with sexual immorality. Men in power are often able to behave immorally and irresponsibly, with no consequences for their actions. History has shown that the demise of many great empires begins with moral decay and corruption. The Republic of Liberia will never build itself into a great nation with a morally bankrupt and sexual immoral culture.
The urge to run is overwhelming. The poisonous gas engulfs me, it seeps into my clothes, and it chokes me. I can feel the years of my life slipping away. I pick up the speed of my gait, and bolt out of the first open door, into the hot night air. I breathe deeply, relieved to be out of the night club and the thick, toxic, fog of smoke. The open air relieves my nausea and the lightheaded feeling, caused by the strangling secondhand smoke.
Since the founding of the nation, the republic of Liberia has been a place where government officials can enrich themselves at the public’s expense with absolute immunity. When this kind of reputation lives on for so long, many in government start thinking that taking a bribe is acceptable. Even the public begins to buy into the deception believing, “If they can steal our money and build huge houses, and no one is held accountable, we too can do it too.” The typical saying in Liberia is, "Everyone does it and has always done it.” There is a long history of corruption, facilitated by citizens that turn a blind eye on the government.
After his nomination by the President and conformation by the Senate, Mr. Morlu immediately became the hope for thousands of Liberians. He was seen as the right man to aid the Liberian people in the fight against corruption. As the President said in her press statement, “corruption is not a new problem in Liberia. It is almost as old as the country itself. Therefore, the fight against it has got to be the responsibility of all Liberians, and it will take time, sacrifices and patience from all of us.” Taking into account our recurring history of corruption, our international partners and many Liberians were sanguine that Morlue would have used his position to breathe new life into the nation’s anti-corruption battle. Many Liberians including myself believed Mr. Morlu was the strongman in the battle against corruption and that he was gradually heading in the right direction. We expected that he would have presented his argument in a professional and cogent manner, not like someone who is frantic and juvenile. His email to the President showed lack of respect for the office and an unacceptable lack of professionalism on his part. His email to the President also raises questions about his judgment and tactfulness.
Just imagine if a man brutally raped two children in the United States. Immediately, that man would be arrested and imprisoned. However, in this instance the alleged criminal turned in his passport to a U.S. district attorney as a precondition for obtaining bail, than a few weeks later jumped bailed and returned to Liberia using another travel document. Soon after arriving in Liberia, the accused was handed a prestigious government position. This is the story of Tobias Bowen, the current administrator of the Redemption Hospital in New Kru Town.
There should be absolutely no room in our culture for a lady, or any member of the University of Liberia family to be treated with the level of animosity that was directed at Dr. Brownell. It was unacceptable for students and/or faculty members to have used violence against Dr. Brownell in any context, especially as a means of expressing their disagreement with her management style. All Liberians, especially the University of Liberia family, should feel a sense of outrage that violence has been normalized within the larger society and particularly within this premier academic institution.