We have begun seeing massive preparations going on from anxious delegates of FEMUSA, particularly those of the state of Pennsylvania, doing everything possible to be part of the witnessing of the dawning of the days of another administration, which is slated for Minnesotan this coming weekend. While we might not be there to witness the making of yet another history, we hope that the entire convention will be a uniting factor to our already fragile relationship.

I am very much impressed with the manner in which our young politicians have been conducting themselves during this campaign season. As if it is a national campaign, heated but positive arguments have been ensuing between and among them as to who is the best among the three presidential candidates.

Some even carry their desired candidate’s platforms handy to prove points in arguments. This makes me to believe therefore, that this coming FEMUSA election is gradually and systematically creating some political awareness among Liberian Mandingos in the Diaspora. But as our Mandingo old men would say, “You cannot aim your own toes and profess to be a good aimer.” 

This is while it is important that we extend our political participation into our various Liberian community organizations. If we will go out there and beat our chests as Liberians, we must also begin to serve in those institutions that are representative of the nation we call our own.

While I maintain my pride regarding the heated, but civilized communication going on among key players of the coming convention on our various media outlets, I am at same time a little cautious as to what the election brings in terms of our over all understanding of democracy. This does not however imply that our knowledge on democracy is negative, but when you look at many of our Liberian community organizations, you will realize that many have had their own experiences of divides whenever there are elections.

The tendency for people to trash out election results and go their ways only because they could not win on the level-plane field is becoming prevalent.

A clear example of this scenario is what we see today in ULAA. After participating in a debate followed by her present in the election in Pittsburgh in which she got defeated, Maria Seton is now perambulating in cyber community calling herself president of ULAA. With not an iota of  shame, this woman and her lord James Larsah who was also deposed from ULAA Board due to his chapter’s failure to pay their annual due to the organization, have now turned rebels challenging the authority of all of the community associations that comprise ULAA. Such is the nature of unfortunate Liberians who know not the value of democracy but prefer to institute jungle style of politic after electorates shall have spoken with the language of democracy.

As you guys gather in the great city of Minnesota to democratically unveil another leadership for this noble organization, you should bear in minds that our attentions has been a little far away from other community organizations. We cannot remain buried in our own shell forgetting the ones that belongs to us along with others, and we call ourselves part of the community. While we caution you to remain committed to serving our Mandingo community, it must also be your banding duty to fully represent us in much more larger community organizations like Sam Kromah, Ansumana Jabateh, Francis Duwana, Mohamed Keita and indeed the now president of the Union of Liberian Association in the Americas,Honrable Anthony V. Kesselly have been doing.  

I have always used Mr. Ansumana Jabateh as a classic example of our representation into other organizations. While I may have tons of problems with him as to the dirt he leaves home and runs to clean the one that belongs to the public, he has helped in changing how some of these organizations were run without us. Whether we perceived their presence on organizations like UNICO, negatively or positively, Ansumana Jabateh and my own friend and brother Mohamed Keita have being tremendous representing forces for our community’s presence in that organization.

Our people say “While alligator might not be the chief under the river, but it is certainly counted among those with authority in that domain”. And that is while people in our midst with such community serving history, no matter how such history is interpreted should be highlighted.  Let me take off my hat for Honorable Francis Duwana, who served the PA Board for two years as chairman, Hon. Anthony V. Kesselly now President of ULAA and of course Sam Mohamed  Kromah former President of ULAA, for great jobs thus far.

In conclusion, It is just too hard to forget the acrimonious interaction that was characterized by the founding of FEMUSA between the youth and elders, particularly in Pennsylvania,   but we have not also forgotten our Mandingo adage which says “you might throw you pocket knife away because it hurts you at a certain point, but you will certainly pick it up and pocket it knowing that you will always need it.”

And so, as elders if we fail to tailor those odds and make positive use out of our interactions, and begin at a fresh footing, posterity will judge us in cruel manner.  Our expectoration is therefore, that you come out of Minnesota with a representative leadership, and also with the mind that even as we continue to proudly express our joy of being Mandingoes, but we are also Liberians.