Abdullah Kiatamba
31 July 2008
The Liberian Association of Michigan (LAM) over the weekend celebrated Liberia's 161st Independence anniversary in a uniquely colorful manner, in Detroit, Michigan.
The festivity, which was held on Saturday July 26, attracted a diversely rich group of Liberians and non-Liberians alike, including Congressman John Conyers, Jr. Chairman of the powerful Judiciary Committee of the United States House of Representative, Errol Service, this year's keynote speaker, who also serves as Executive Director of the African Caribbean Chamber of Commerce, and James N. Larsah, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Union of Liberian Associations in the Americas (ULAA), and his Vice Chair, Martha George.
In his keynote speech, Mr. Errol Service called on Liberians to focus on the bigger picture, thanking the Liberian community for giving him the rare opportunity to share his thoughts and to celebrate a special day with a community "he reserves so much affection for".
It takes such a cohesive and united leadership, Mr. Service continued, to have the kind of impact needed to raise the hopes and support the aspirations of your community and its members, a glowing tribute wrapped in a reference to the leadership headed by Kandakai Sherman and Emmanuel Toe, two widely-respected community leaders in the Liberian Diaspora.
"It was colorful, flawlessly organized, jam-packed and memorable," said Thomas Kamara, a Liberian elder who literally demanded an interview with The Liberian Journal to share his sense of traditional Liberian pride and appreciation. "This event represents what a true and proud July 26 Independence celebrations means to Liberians everywhere", he added, raising his voice to reinforce his points.
In brief remarks, Rep. Conyers, who was honored and gowned for his sacrificial services to the "Liberian Community" by LAM, invoked the spirit of the historic ties subsisting between Liberia and the U.S, promising to play a leadership role in the fight to obtain permanent legal status for Liberians at the mercy of an unpredictable temporary legal status expected to expire in March of 2009.
In a separate telephone interview with The Liberian Journal, President Sherman said he was happy to know that his community and guests were impressed with the event. The young and energetic community leader stressed that the broad representation of people actually touched him in a very special way.
The ceremony enjoyed a unique mix of people-politicians, businessmen and women, community activists, educators, diplomats, religious leaders, students, amongst several others.
"We have always sought to give back to our community what it truly deserves," said President Kandakai Sherman. "And that is why we treated our Liberian people and our guests to the best of Liberia's Independence Day celebration and we intend to do it even better...next year".
The Liberian community in Michigan is regarded as one of the most successful and peaceful communities in the Liberian Diaspora, boosting of its own "Liberian Community Center" and its ability to generate funding to sustain its service-centered agenda.
Emmanuel Toe, Chairman of LAM's Board, explains why the Liberian community in Michigan remains a rare source of pride and hope amongst Liberian communities in the United States.
"After all, it is one of few [ULAA] chapters in which the prevailing atmosphere of division, strive, lawsuits and the politics of personal destruction is clearly absent. Liberians in Detroit are evidently organized and focused on a central theme of community unity.
It can well be argued that the most potent element is that unifying force, a leadership vision that keeps LAM's members together...and with our own hall [community center], where events take place and other services are provided, there is more than enough reason to celebrate our contribution to a community we love so much", said Toe.
EDITOR'S NOTE: The Liberian Journal will bring another story on the efforts of Michigan (LAM) to enhance the aspirations of Liberians on Temporary Protected Status (TPS). Stay tuned.
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