There comes a time in the life of every nation when its citizens must rise above politics, above personalities, above party loyalties, above religious and ideological differences, and ask themselves one fundamental question:
What matters more—our political differences, or the survival, dignity, peace, and progress of our homeland?
For Liberia, the answer must be clear.
LIBERIA MUST COME FIRST!
Not the political party.
Not the politician.
Not the presidency.
Not personal ambition.
Not political revenge.
Not tribal, religious, or ideological sentiments.
LIBERIA. FIRST.
Before we are partisans, we are Liberians. Before we are members of political parties, we are citizens of one Republic. Before we disagree over who should govern Liberia, we must agree that Liberia itself must survive, prosper, and remain united.
Our politics may differ.
Our religions may differ.
Our cultures and traditions may differ.
Our ideologies and political convictions may differ.
But we have one homeland. That homeland is Liberia.
Liberia is the one country we cannot abandon when our preferred candidate loses an election. It is the one home we cannot destroy because our political opponents are in power. It is the one national inheritance we must not sacrifice because we disagree over who occupies the Executive Mansion.
We may change governments, but we cannot change our homeland. And may I say more?
And this is why every Liberian—whether government supporter or opposition member, whether rich or poor, whether from the city or countryside, whether young or old—must develop the courage to put Liberia above everything else.
Because we do not support the President does not mean we should wish the government failure.
Because our political rival is in power does not mean we should create chaos in our homeland or deliberately portray Liberia negatively to the outside world.
Because our political and ideological views differ from those of the ruling party does not mean we should refuse to congratulate the government when it does something good.
Because we do not like the President ruling over the homeland doesn’t mean we should viciously disparage him, demonize him, and cruelly chant death upon him.
And because we dislike the ruling establishment does not mean we should abandon our country when Liberia’s sovereignty, peace, security, or dignity is threatened.
Here I must emphasize, opposition to a government is not opposition to Liberia.
Criticism of a President is not hatred for the Republic.
Political competition must never become national destruction.
This is the distinction we must learn and stamp as a people.
Governments will pass away, but Liberia will remain. Presidents will come and go, but Liberia will remain. Political parties will be formed, rise, dominate, decline, and eventually disappear—but Liberia will remain.
Therefore, let us never sacrifice the permanent on the altar of the temporary.
Let us put Liberia above party, above personalities, above political ambition, above selfish interests, and above partisan sentiments.
Patriotism does not mean pretending that everything is perfect in our country. It means loving Liberia enough to correct what is wrong while protecting what is right. It means criticizing constructively when necessary, supporting national progress when possible, and standing together whenever the interest and dignity of Liberia are at stake.
There is something instructive about the patriotic spirit of the Ghanaian people. They often speak proudly of Ghana, not because everything is perfect or rosy in Ghana, but because they understand that loving one’s country is itself a national responsibility. So their national mantra is, “GHANA,.WE ARE THE BEST “.
This is PATRIOTISM!
I admonish fellow Liberians to cultivate similar patrotic spirit for the good of Liberia, our dear homeland.
We must stop wishing failure upon one another. We must stop celebrating the misfortune of our own country simply because it may serve a political interest. We must stop wishing bad fate upon Liberia because the person or party we dislike happens to be in power.
When Liberia succeeds, we all succeed.
When Liberia suffers, we all suffer.
A nation is not made strong merely by its diamonds, gold, iron ore, timber, oil, or other natural resources. The greatest resource of any nation is its people …suffice to say the true wealth of a nation is its PEOPLE.
If the people are united, patriotic, disciplined, productive, and committed to the national interest, the nation will be strong and prosperous. But if its people are fragmented by hatred, intolerance, selfishness, and perpetual division, even the richest country can remain poor and weak.
Therefore, let us choose unity over division.
Peace over chaos.
Love over hatred.
Patriotism over partisanship.
National interest over selfish ambition.
Constructive criticism over destructive politics.
Hope over cynicism.
Let us build a Liberia where every citizen feels that the government belongs to them—not merely to those who voted for the ruling party.
Our institutions must serve all Liberians. The judiciary must administer justice fairly and impartially. Let justice be done to all—rich or poor, famous or obscure, man or woman, majority or minority, able and disable.
Let us create a Liberia where opportunities are equally and fairly shared, possibilities are expanded to every location of the country, and every citizen has a stake in the nation’s progress.
And let us respect the government of the day—not because we must agree with everything it does, but because respect for legitimate institutions is essential to the stability, peace, and dignity of the Republic. We can disagree without destroying. We can criticize without hating. We can oppose without wishing the nation to fail, and we can fiercely argue and be courteous to each other and respect the dignity of our opponents.
My fellow Liberians, our greatest obligation is not to a political party. It is not to an individual politician or a party Leader. It is not to an election cycle.
Our greatest obligation is to Liberia.
Let us love our homeland.
Let us develop our homeland.
Let us defend our homeland.
Let us promote our homeland.
Let develop our homeland.
Let us honor our history, embrace our cultures and traditions, and proudly raise the Liberian flag wherever we go.
Let us teach our children that Liberia is bigger than any president, greater than any political party, and more important than any personal ambition.
For, in the final analysis, we may disagree on many things—but we share one destiny.
We are Liberians.
Liberia is our common home.
Liberia is our common heritage.
Liberia is our common responsibility.
So, in everything and anything, through every difference and every circumstance, let our guiding principle remain:
NO MATTER WHAT—LIBERIA FIRST.
