George Weah

Dear Brother Weah:

As a Liberian residing in the United States like many others, I have quietly been following developments in our country, and have been very impressed with the elections (the October 11 and Nov. 4 Run-off). I know you were also impressed until a few days ago. However news we have been reading in past 24 hours is discouraging. I am referring to the “No Weah no Peace”(Sounds like No Doe, No Liberia), and your contentions that “The world is saying this election was free and fair, which was not true” (bbc.co.uk).

The same news organ (BBC) also states: “International observers from the United Nations, European Union, and US-based Carter Center all say that they believe the election was largely free and fair”.

Mr. Weah, Liberians at home, and everywhere else in the World respect and admire your talents. Moreover, the young people in Liberia adore you. They have demonstrated that by overwhelmingly electing you as one of the most “competent” candidates to lead our nation. People in the political business call that ‘A Vote of Confidence’. You are a winner, Mr. Weah. Arguably, you are about the only positive news that we have collectively had (about Liberia) over the last 15 to 20 years. Consequently, most of us see you as a unifier (I did not say President). You have won inter-continental titles in the sports world. You have won the hearts and soul of everyone. This is all great news.

Now there is one more title you must win. It is a noble title that only a person with your heart can win. You are one of the few people in the country that can keep Liberia on a peaceful track, a daunting task the United Nations, EU, and other goodwill organizations have started to implement. Again, you are looked at as a Unifier. Posterity will judge you and your descendents if you fail to do this. If in deed the final result is not in your favor, YOU HAVE TO GIVE PEACE A CHANCE – That’s the Noble Statesman title. Don’t be deceived any further. Do not listen to some of those power hungry, wealth seeking, warmongers, and unpatriotic failed politicians around you. They are just there for their personal gains. They want to exploit your fame to achieve their ‘dreams’ (mere DREAMS). Ironically, they will first you up – to the highest office in the land. Then guess what. (You guessed it) They will send you six feet under. They have done it to people we all know about. I certainly hope they don’t do it to you. You are a very good young man. Without you, they would be nowhere.

Hence for the sake of our country, I am sending this plea from thousands of miles away to you and all those young folks who believe in you. PLEASE GIVE PEACE A CHANCE. I know they will listen to you. I know this because I was in Monrovia during the kickoff of the campaign season. I saw how those young people sang and danced for you, ‘their King’. So you have all it takes to let us continue to enjoy the PEACE that has been initiated through the efforts of the United Nations, et al. Remember if there is peace, all those children and youths who religiously follow you will have opportunities to lead an abundant life. If not, they will continue to languish in poverty. And if things go bad, most of those power-hungry, so-called politicians around you will return to the U. S. or Europe. You figure out the rest. So if you really love your followers (the children of Liberia), you owe it to them to do the right thing. Remember they have no place to go, and no future without a peaceful Liberia. Regrettably, you and I (and those failed politicians) can leave Liberia any time, but those children can’t. THINK about it. If you help to restore lasting peace in Liberia, you have helped to create a bright future for them. FOREVER. THINK about it.

In closing, let me bring you a familiar story. Here in the United States, there was an election five years ago. Most people felt the election was rigged. The case went from the Circuit Court of Leon County in Florida to the United States Supreme Court. The Supreme Court eventually decided the outcome, a decision most of the ordinary citizens did not agree with. Note that this was a significant number of Electoral College votes that would have changed the results of the elections. Most of us felt that it was not a ‘fair’. I’m talking about the 2000 presidential elections (Al Gore v. George Bush).

I’m in no way suggesting that our election was not fair, for to do so is to discredit the work the National Elections Commission has done so competently. But even if it were so, I appeal to you to GIVE PEACE A CHANCE, for the love of the country you have helped to start rebuilding after almost 15 years of war. And while you think about this, I leave you with these words of Al Gore, the man who some of us believe would have been America’s first president in the new Millennium. (From his concession speech):

“Now the U.S. Supreme Court has spoken. Let there be no doubt, while I strongly disagree with the court's decision, I accept it. I accept the finality of this outcome… And tonight, for the sake of our unity as a people and the strength of our democracy, I offer my concession. I also accept my responsibility, which I will discharge unconditionally, to honor the new president elect and do everything possible to help him bring Americans together…not just for our campaign but for our country.

This has been an extraordinary election. But in one of God's unforeseen paths, this… can point us all to a new common ground, for its very closeness can serve to remind us that we are one people with a shared history and a shared destiny.
Other disputes have dragged on for weeks before reaching resolution. And each time, both the victor and the vanquished have accepted the result peacefully and in the spirit of reconciliation. So let it be with us.

I know that many of my supporters are disappointed. I am, too. But our disappointment must be overcome by our love of country.

MAY GOD BLESS YOU, YOUR SUPPORTERS, AND EVEN YOUR DETRACTORS. AND ABOVE ALL, MAY GOD’S PEACE ABIDE WITH US ALL.

Sincerely yours,

Peter A. Davis

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