July 26: Still Celebrating with Significance

Liberians of all walks of life may now be climaxing preparations for this year’s celebration of the 168th Independence Day.

While celebrations will take place in Monrovia and elsewhere, the official events will be hosted by Grand Kru and Sinoe Counties, with Greenville in Sinoe County playing host to the official festive celebration under the Theme: “Celebrating Our Community As A Strong Foundation For Accelerated Development” to climax the day.

Ahead of these Independence Day activities, there’s already a Presidential Proclamation declaring Sunday, July 26, 2015 a National Holiday in Liberia. The Day will, however, be commemorated on Monday, July 27, 2015 since it falls on Sunday.

Under the Patriotic and Cultural Observances Law title 25, Liberian Codes of Law Revised, the 26th day of July each year is set aside as a public holiday to be appropriately celebrated as “Independence Day” of Liberia, the proclamation indicated, further adding that it is in grateful recognition of the miraculous deliverance that the Almighty God extended to the Government and Peoples of Liberia for which the nation must give thanks, adoration and praises unto him for saving the state as well as to commemorate the brave and timely decision of its forebears on July 26, 1847.

For some Liberians, that’s the significance of celebrating the country’s Independence each year, but others see no significance in celebrating amid socio-economic stagnation.

According to the latter, celebrating the nation’s Independence Anniversary must be characterized by socio-economic progress at all levels… and not when the majority of the Liberian people live in abject poverty and am in improved environment, with a very minute percentage of the population enjoying basic social services despite the available natural resources that have attracted US16.5bn investment since the incumbency of the current administration. For them, in the wake of the foregoing, commemorating “26 Day” in such pomp and pageantry as it done each year without positively impacting the socio-economic well-being of the people for growth and development, is of no significance.

But amid such argument, other Liberians sincerely believe that in spite of the continued difficulties being practically experience by the greatest portion of the population, it is undisputedly significant for such celebrations in gratitude to the Almighty God for our deliverance, existence and unending guidance as a people hoping for better days.

In our own ways, we can be our brothers’ keepers – loving each other as a people to foster unity and progress, harboring the highest degree of patriotism indicative of the adage: IN UNION STRING, SUCCESS IS SURE.

Even though we may have our qualms with the process of governance, especially the management of the country’s natural resources, our love for Mama Liberia must never be allowed to diminish. For those who believe in true patriotism, there is no other home than Liberia – THIS, TOO, SHALL PASS.

Happy “26” celebrations, and may God’s Blessings continue to pour on this Glorious Land of Liberty for true national reconciliation, unity and total change.