Many years ago, on one of my many trips, I met a white man who was very excited to chat with me when he found out I was Liberian. He told me he had lived in Liberia and that we were one of the kindest groups of people he had encountered.
I smiled without saying a word, and he told me a story that left a lasting impression on him. He said one day, when he was walking down Randall Street, one of the street boys came to him and said, “White man, push your money back in your pocket before someone steals from you.” He said he was shocked as these were the very boys he had heard who usually rob local people of their phones and valuables.
Some months back, some guests visited the foundation; they wanted to go to the local market to buy souvenirs to take back home. After they returned, one of my colleagues complained that the boy who helped them find a taxi came to her asking for “small thing.” She told him to go to the “white people.” Almost in shock, he responded, “How can I ask strangers to give me small thing?”
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Recently, Liberia has ranked #1 (August 2024, Business Insider) and #4 (World Giving Index 2023) in world kindness surveys. It is incredibly heartwarming to see that our country’s culture of generosity to strangers is still alive and well. I wish, however, that our kindness to strangers would translate to Patriotism and Love for each other.
I firmly believe that the moment we begin to look out for our brothers and sisters, as well as strangers, is when we start to experience TRUE PEACE. The moment we begin to show compassion for each other as we do strangers is when we will SHUN divisive rhetoric and UNITE as a People. The moment we refuse to be used by power-hungry, self-seeking politicians is when we will experience actual DEVELOPMENT that benefits everyone.
May we work diligently to uplift Liberia and Rank #1 in all things LIBERIA.