Letters To The Editor

Dear Mr. Editor:

Although I browsed through it when provided copies by Mr. Nubo while I was in Atlanta in January, I have only recently taken the time to read thoroughly the Jan/Mar 1998 issue of THE PERSPECTIVE in which the interview with me is carried. During this process, I read carefully your own article regarding Democratic Practices.

This note is a brief response to that article as regards your assessment of my political standing. While a bit of the political obscurity to which you referred may be necessary from time to time for us all, to ensure modesty in our claims to leadership, I think you ought to know that my entry into the political arena in Liberia preceded the events which led to my arrest by the late President Doe.

Perhaps you are too young to know of the 1972 CWA Commencement speech which I gave more than seven years before the unfortunate 1980 coup d'etat. A copy of that speech is enclosed, for your information. This followed a presentation given at the 1969 Economic Workshop during which I expressed similar views. As a result, I was quickly offered a scholarship by the Harvard Team, which was then in Liberia, to do graduate work at Harvard. The aftermath of the 1972 speech is probably known to all, the details of which I could provide you, when next I'm in the United States, and have the opportunity to talk to you.

My very best to you and your colleagues at THE PERSPECTIVE as you try to meet the challenge of contributing to the long overdue change in our country.

Sincerely,

Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf