"One Nation, Indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for All": An Empty Pledge in Practical Terms

By Samuel Barbay Gaye, Jr., M. Div.

To Liberia, the country I love!

 “I pledge alliance to the Flag of Liberia
And to the Republic for which it stands
One Nation, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all!”

Liberia, my country of birth was founded in the 1800s by freed American slaves who were repatriated to Africa by the American Colonization Society and other philanthropic organizations and individuals.

The freed slaves abandoned their slave plantations in Louisiana and other southern states in the United States of America to become prominent citizens and people of renowned reputations in their newly found homeland on the west coast of Africa.

The founders of Liberia or "founding fathers" as some historians refer to them established a government modeled after the United States of America. They declared Liberia an independent state, the first on the continent of Africa, and established a constitutional republic as their former slave masters did. The government was 'democratic' in nature with three "separate, but equal branches of government" comprising the Legislature, Executive, and Judiciary.

Like its 'stepfather' America, Liberian's foundational and other national documents endowed humans with certain inalienable rights amongst which are "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."

Like America, Liberian's "Pledge of Allegiance" to the flag guarantees "Liberty and justice for all" Liberians. So, let's put this public declaration to the test and ascertain as to whether these are mere words/platitudes or whether in practical terms, all Liberians, under the banner of our flag, are guaranteed liberty and justice.

Justice is the bedrock of any stable society. Wherever the system of justice is weak or inadequate, liberty is curtailed, tyrannical tendencies are displayed by autocrats calling themselves leaders, and instability creeps in. Though our founding fathers stressed freedom and justice in our founding documents, in most instances (in practical terms) it has been lip service. We have craved strong leaders especially at the level of the executive branch of government than building a strong justice system.

The lack of justice in our society plunged us deep into a bloodbath from 1989-2003. If the international community had not come to our rescue, our country may still be splintered and controlled by various warring factions. During the crisis, at least two dozen mass killings were carried out by various parties to the conflict, including the national army that took an oath to protect and defend the nation.

Liberians' blood was spilled at the hands of fellow Liberians from the Voinjama Mountains to the coastal plains of Cestos, from Vahun to Gbapolu, from St. Peter Lutheran Church to Cow Field on Du Port Road, from Carter Camp in Harbel to Gbatala in Bong County. It didn't stop there. Liberians were also terrorized and killed from Lake Piso to Lake Shepherd; from Cape Mesurado in Montserrado County to Cape Palmas in Maryland County, and everywhere in between.

Not only are warlords, those who bear the greatest responsibilities for the worst atrocities against the Liberian people walking freely in the very society they committed or commanded some of the worst crimes against humanity; individual like Prince Johnson, former leader of the Independent National Patriotic Front of Liberia (INPFL) and current Senator from Nimba County is defending his role in the war and even threatening the peace the country is currently enjoying, because there are calls from Liberians to have him and other warlords prosecuted. If you think warlords roaming our streets freely are outrageous enough, their criminal pals—those who committed the worst economic crimes in our society are also free in the society.

As victims and survivors alike of these war and economic crimes try to find closure from their deep and unfortunate pain, agony, and terror by asking their government to give them justice, which is guaranteed them by their founding fathers, their government is utterly silent. From the way the present government is handling the discourse, it appears the government does not care, and that the victims are on their own.

Based on what is happening to the victims of the evil and senseless Civil Wars, I do not believe Liberia is: "One nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." Like many others who lost their loved ones, my paternal aunty lost her husband and two sons in the war. One son (my cousin) was systematically slaughtered by the Liberia Peace Council; beheaded by George Boley.

How can the slogan "One nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all" truly assure the families and friends of the more than 250,000 Liberians and foreigners who lost their lives? What becomes of the tens of thousands of Liberians who are living with the physical and emotional scars, when the current government has no program or plan to find a solution to this grave problem?

If these words, "One nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all" truly mean anything to Liberians today, then the government should establish the process to bring to justice those warring factions’ leaders to the international criminal court for prosecution. That's what "liberty and justice for all" looks like to me; not having those same people being paid by taxpayers; living comfortably and unremorseful, while their victims continue to suffer from ‘post-traumatic stress disorder’ and wallowing in abject poverty.

About the Author: Samuel Barbay Gaye, Jr. holds AA, BBA and a Master of Divinity degree from Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, MN. He lives in New Jersey with his family; and can be contacted at sbarb1822@yahoo.com