14 March 2008
Representative Benjamin Swan from Springfield, Massachusetts, a Democrat has called for the granting of citizenship to all Liberians as reciprocity for automatic citizenship granted African Americans by the Republic of Liberia for over a hundred years.
He recalled that 10 Liberian Presidents were African-Americans and educated in the United States.
A statement issued on March 12, 2008 by Universal Human Rights International (UHRI) said Rep. Swan was speaking on a live radio broadcast commemorating the 199th birth anniversary of the 1st African American President of an independent Country, Joseph Jenkins Roberts, a native of Norfolk. Virginia.
The transatlantic broadcast is part of UHRI's year-long activities of cultural and educational exchange to commemorate the 199th through the 200th anniversary of President Roberts.
Citing human rights and the equal protection clause of the United States Constitution, Rep. Swan also called for the immediate granting of equal protection to all Liberian mothers of American citizen children in the United States through an addendum to President Bush's Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) that affords many Liberians the opportunity of working legally in the United States for 18 months.
DED excludes many Liberian mothers evacuated to safety in the United States in 2003, thus putting this vulnerable population and young American citizens at serious risk for nearly five years.
He praised Torli Krua of Universal Human Rights International (UHRI) as being the only one he knows, who has single-handedly contributed more to further the cause of African refugees in general and Liberian refugees in particular in the United States.
He called on all Africans and Liberians to move beyond complacency and become proactive, 'asking not what the government doing but asking how they can get involved and make their own contributions by writing letters and visiting elected officials to make them aware of the plight.'
He promised to visit Liberia after the general elections to assess conditions in Liberia as the first step in promoting sustainable development in Liberia and promoting educational and cultural exchanges between ordinary Liberians and American citizens.
Rep. Swan has promised to promote relationships between places of worship, schools, universities and colleges as a way of cementing the relationship between Liberia and the United States.
UHRI has launched a year long celebration of the life of President J. J. Roberts to create awareness of his contribution to democracy, the rule of law, human rights and education and forge closer ties between ordinary Liberians and American citizens.
UHRI setup a hotline for Liberians and Americans to call in and make one minute comments about their take on Liberian-American relationships past and present. The comments will be posted online and selected comments will be aired on a weekly radio show in Liberia.
Hotline: 617-933-9391
His call is also in support of several calls by Liberians to the United States to grant US citizenship. Former Chief of Mission at the Liberian fmbassy in Washington, D.C, Abdullah Dunbar has been vocal on the issue and on several occasions wrote US President Bush to use his good office in giving Liberians citizen status.
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jfarcarlun,You are a typical, self-hating Liberian. Look around you, the Puerto Ricans are not escaping from their land but contributing to their economy in Puerto Rico. Like wise, the people from the Virgin Islands. They are doing the same, contributing to the Island's economy. For your information, Liberians are Liberians. Like every nation, we had our disagreement and agreement. Let's move on with constructive thinking. I can bet my life, that most of your family live in America. They are enjoying the American Dream. "A typical self-hating Liberian," trying to keep the Liberian people down. Only they ( typical self-hating Liberian) should have the opportunity. There is nothing wrong with Liberians becoming American citizens automatically. More power to that. I am an American Citizen. I have lived in the United States for over thirty years and embrace the proposal.
DR. PELLAR
I am impressed. I propose an idea, you disagree, we discuss. You are an American citizen, and I think that's the American way. Making a comment about what I think is right or wrong does not make me a self-hating Liberian, far be it from me. If I had hate in me, it will probably be for those Liberians who think that we can not do in our own country what we could do here. You mentioned Peurto Rico and Virgin Island, is that really what you want for Liberia? Check these fact and you will understand; those countries or owned by America. Those are American properties. Maybe because citizenship was so easy for them, that's why they are in New York, and every major institution back home is run by Americans. They can afford to, they are actually part of America.
If you want to call me a hypocrite, I can accept that and live with it, but sometimes it takes living the life to see what is wrong with it. America is a great place, probably the greatest place in the world, but do you know what could happen to your valuable human resources. As things are now, people like you and me are here as citizens and probably never going back. It wasn't easy becoming a citizen. What do you think it would be like if you could just pack up your bag, jump on the plane and receive your citizen papers at the airport?
No, I don't hate myself or anybody else; can't afford to. In fact, I don't even claim to be right or have answers. This is "food for thought".
There is nothing wrong with packing your bags, boarding a flight, arriving in the State and getting your citizenship. When you join the service it's an automatic citizenship. Nothing come easy, in this capitalistic society that we live in I can assure you the process is going to cost a lot, Mentally, Physically and financially I remember, when you could walk in the US Embassy of the street(Monrovia) fill those little card up and paid $2.00 for a Visa. Metaphorically speaking, the world is changing rapidly. Our Natural Resources is been taken away as you and I express our self. We have been manipulated by the Western World and our African leaders. So why shouldn't the ordinary people of Liberia get something in return(citizenship)? Like you said, America is probably the greatest country.The People from Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands lived all over the United States, not only in New York. I have lived in the Virgin Islands, the folks are doing great. The economy around the world is controlled by the West. Majority of our leaders in Liberia are American citizens and You konw that. The proposal as you know is just that, "A Proposal."
While I know this proposal has good intentions written all over it, I have my reservations. As things now stand, you have a problem making Liberians be Liberians, do you know how much more of a drain it would be if Liberians can automatically become American citizens?
What I would like to see is creating better opportunities in Liberians so that Liberians will not have a need to try to "escape"; to create a pride among Liberians that Liberians would always know that Liberia is home; that Liberia is the "motherland", the "fatherland" and whatever goes with that.
I think most Liberians have been blessed with the opportunies that America has to offer, and for that we should always be grateful and pray that America will always be there for Liberians, but let the country Liberia be the central point of these effort, not Liberians as individuals. Help us develop the vast human and natural resources that we have.
And for Liberians,who will read this, let these comments be points of discussion.
This is in reference to jfarcalun comments. I agree with DR. Pellar, that you are a self-hating Liberian. Over the years I have observed Liberians bringing their fellow Liberian down. For example, Liberians with their green card look down on those that don't have it. Those with American Citizenship, look down on those with green cards. Another example, Liberians pick and choose at parties on who gets the Courvoisier, Guinness Stout, Heineken, Beck's Beer and those that get the Budweiser or Miller. With the food, they keep soup for special people. Remember everybody is invited to the party. There is nothing wrong with Liberians becoming U.S. Citizens. Get with the program, or step out of the way. Progress is on the way.Stop suppressing your people. Thank you very much.
While I know this proposal has good intentions written all over it, I have my reservations. As things now stand, you have a problem making Liberians be Liberians, do you know how much more of a drain it would be if Liberians can automatically become American citizens?
What I would like to see is creating better opportunities in Liberians so that Liberians will not have a need to try to "escape"; to create a pride among Liberians that Liberians would always know that Liberia is home; that Liberia is the "motherland", the "fatherland" and whatever goes with that.
I think most Liberians have been blessed with the opportunies that America has to offer, and for that we should always be grateful and pray that America will always be there for Liberians, but let the country Liberia be the central point of these effort, not Liberians as individuals. Help us develop the vast human and natural resources that we have.
And for Liberians,who will read this, let these comments be points of discussion.
I totally agree and would support Representative Benjamin Swan proposal for granting citizenship to all Liberians if the Liberia government also automatics grant African Americans’ citizenship to the Republic of Liberia. At this time African Americans must apply for citizenship to Liberia, it is by no mean automatic granted. Liberia does not accept Dual Citizenship.
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While I know this proposal has good intentions written all over it, I have my reservations. As things now stand, you have a problem making Liberians be Liberians, do you know how much more of a drain it would be if Liberians can automatically become American citizens?
What I would like to see is creating better opportunities in Liberians so that Liberians will not have a need to try to "escape"; to create a pride among Liberians that Liberians would always know that Liberia is home; that Liberia is the "motherland", the "fatherland" and whatever goes with that.
I thinks most Liberians have been blessed with the opportunies that America has to offer, and for that we should always be grateful and pray that America will always be there for Liberians, but let the country Liberia be the central point of these effort, not Liberians as individuals. Help us develop the vast human and natural resources that we have.
And for Liberians,who will read this, let these comments be points of discussion.