"Chilling, but inspiring oration," is how Mr. John Mongrue, a Liberian citizen hailing from Nimba County and resident in the United States of America described the 2013 Independence Day oration by Liberia's Finance Minister Amara Konneh.

Min. Konneh was invited by the Organization of Liberians In Minnesota (OLM) to serve as this year's Independence Day Orator in the US at a program attended by Minnesota State Governor, Mark Dayton; Brooklyn Park City Mayor Jeffery Lunde; Brooklyn Center City Mayor Tim Wilson, OLM Executive Director, Wayne Doe and many others.

Speaking in a telephone interview from the States, Mr. Mongrue explained that though the Minister remarks, especially ones pertaining to unity and ethnicity, were chilling, they were also inspiring from a youthful minister of government who summarized bulk of his country's problems in few pages intermittently providing suggestions on how to resolve them.

Mr. Mongrue hails from Karnplay, upper Nimba County has travelled to the US even before the war in 1989. Throughout these years, Mr. Mongrue says, he had heard several speeches about Liberia's history, its problems, and possible solution; however, he says the Minister's oration was more inspiring considering his timing, choice of words and suggestion of a way forward.

"We all know that we all came from somewhere to settle in Liberia. But the Minister has reminded us in a more respectful way, which is a problem I have had with previous speakers. They imposed their ideas on us with little respect to our right to accept it or not. The Minister explained where members of our tribe can be found in other parts of Africa. I didn't know that Kissie people are in Kenya. Did you? I guess not. I didn't know Bassa people are in other parts of Africa. I didn't know that Lorma people are more in Guinea than in Liberia," Mr. Mongrue lamented.

Ms. Korpu Johnson was also at the program. For her, the Minister's story about his own upbringing was not only chilling, but also inspiring.

"His upbringing is no different from what our brothers and sisters have and continue to pass through. We have to find ways for them to get out of Liberia, thinking they've got no future down there. At least our hope is rekindled that our kids have got a future ahead. They only need guidance. The Minister is a wonderful kid and I love him because he is one of us." Interestingly, Ms. Johnson, 46, hails from Gbarpolu, the same County Konneh was born.

Mr. Sidiki Trawally is the Director of Communications at the Ministry of Finance. He travelled with the Minister to the US and in a dispatch over the weekend, Mr. Trawally summarized the euphoria of event, particularly in response to his boss's oration, as wonderful.

On social media networks, Liberians continue to express delight in the Minister's speech. At the program, the Liberian Finance boss appealed to Liberians to take pride in the little that has been achieved during the last few years.

"Well, it's true that we haven't brought about every change important to the conscience of every Liberian, but we can take a great deal of honest pride in what we have achieved.

According to the Minister, what have been achieved would not have been achieved had it not been for the desire for peace.

"Fellow Liberians, what we've accomplished these last six years wouldn't have been possible without a desire for peace and a solid foundation, one painstakingly laid by all Liberians.

"And much of that work was done by men and women who were content to make their contribution knowing their names would never be enshrined in history; individuals who don't make noise on radio and in the chatrooms; and individuals who wouldn't make the clips when the documentaries about Liberia's resurgence are made."

He continued: "If there have been any hindrances to our work, they have not only stemmed from a lack of capacity in the public and private sectors, or from the lack of financing; but also from the divisions and lack of proper coordination within the government that delay the progress that the Liberian people so anxiously await. Again: disunity," Konneh indicated.

His oration also included a sound of hope.

"Yes, we have our differences, but today, Liberians at home and abroad are beginning to embrace our proud heritage and rich culture, which can never be shot down or bombed or smashed to the ground. We are taking concrete steps, through our national reconciliation roadmap and through a wide range of development interventions across Liberia, to ensure that no Liberian feels left behind in this march of progress. But these steps must be matched with our willingness to face the hurtful stereotypes and biases, and put an end to them now."