CELEBRATING OUR RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY AND SENSE OF NATIONALISM
By Nvasekie N. Konneh
November 6, 2004

 Note: I have been reflecting on the recent fracas in Monrovia, trying to make some sense of it. This period being the Holy Month of Ramadan, it suppose to be the period of sharing good will and peace with our relatives, friends, and neighbors. Pretty soon we will be entering the Christmas and New Year season, an occasion that is very much important to Christians just as Ramadan is important to the Moslems. I thought of a poem in my book, "Going To War For America" that celebrates the spirit of religious tolerance, something that we need in the world, especially in our country, Liberia. While I was contemplating this, then the recent events in Monrovia came about to disturb the peace for all of us. But as a people, we cannot give in to fear and intimidation.  We must still share the good that is in us against the negativity that is also in us. So in the spirits of the Holiday season we as Moslems and Christians are celebrating, I will share with you two poems from my book. While the first poem is a celebration of our religious diversity, the other one celebrates the number one unifying force in our society and that is our national team, The Lone Star. I wrote this poem in 1995 celebrating our nation's participation in the African Cup of Nation. It has been nine years since then. I could not imagine then that Liberia's most recognized personality, George Oppong Weah would be considered to run for the presidency of our country. However, the same passion I put in those lines nine years ago is what being expressed today by people who want Mr. Weah to run for the highest office of our nation. Please don't take this to be my endorsement of Mr. Weah’s presidency; since in fact, the poem was long written before today. Will I endorse Weah for the Presidency? Time will tell. Poets are known for celebrating their people and nation in difficult, in good, and in bad times. That is what I am doing as a poet because I feel the heart beats of my nation engulfed in flame. I hope you will enjoy and celebrate with me. Peace and God bless.

BLESSED RAMADAN, MERRY CHRISTMAS, AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR

Dear Merciful and the Ever Living One

‘Tis your help we seek

Your mercy and guidance we need
As we navigate through this roaring sea of confusion.
Send down the rain of tranquility
That may drench our hearts

And remove all the impurity.
Dear Almighty Most High God
Pump our hearts with love so abundant
That we may share with one another
During and even after this period
Of Blessed Ramadan, Merry X-Mas, and a Happy New Year!
Oh the Ever Powerful One
Touch my heart that I may have nothing but love
For all people of all colors and ethnicity
And touch my brothers/sisters’ hearts
So they may embrace me for whatever I am.
Dear master of the Day of Judgment
Let us feel the radiant beam
Of the sun of oneness wherever we are
During this period of the Blessed Ramadan
Merry X-Mas, and a happy New Year.
Give me the courage to forgive and embrace others
As I may expect them to forgive and embrace me
In the spirit of our oneness.
Give us the opportunity to dialogue as much as possible
So that we may appreciate each other much more.
Oh Dear Omnipotent and Omniscient God,
In the spirit of the Blessed Ramadan,

Merry X-Mas, and a Happy New Year,
I greet all my beloved brothers and sisters
With peace and love from all the regions of my body and soul,

ASSALAM ALAIKUM!
USS Detroit/98

LONE STAR(SOUTH AFRICA 96)

 When the moral scale of the nation is at its lowest point
And we are all reduced to ball-less men with no kick
While only the warriors of insanity fly high above
Poisoning the air with high volume of mischief
O! what a sigh of relief
Seeing the Lone Star aiming and shooting for South Africa 96!

 It’s not the mindless ferocious beasts
Who feed on our flesh and drink of our blood
Build mountains of our corpses that deserve
Our medal of respect and honor but these
Humble fellows who rose from nothingness
Of the shanty towns and are pulling the nation
From the dungeon of disgrace to South Africa 96!

Though most have been discarded but all not lost
For the hope of physical renewal, moral regeneration
That must serve as tomorrow’s building blocks
Is rekindled by the patriotic heroism
Demonstrated by the gentle warriors of red-white-blue
Now, pump up the volume of glorious celebration time
For a gigantic feast in South Africa 96!

 Mix the sanctified beat of Beyla’s tabuleys
With the Yakpaya dance beat of Saclepea
And the rhythm of Zack Robert’s Sweet Liberia
O! What a positive mega-mix of soul liberating music?
Let this spiritfied mega-mix fill the air
As Lone Star leads the way to South Africa 96!

 My heart beats of unlimited joy
My soul is relieved of all the multiple vices
I jump high to touch the sky of livity
As I feel the patriotic vision of Blyden, Port and D’Twe
Relive by King Weah and the fearless warriors.
I will sing my song of glory for the Lone Star South Africa 96!

I am injected with the feeling of emotional renewal
Not by the actions of the celebrated mischief makers
As by the creativity of the wonder boys
Which has doubly sold our image abroad
Restored our sense of human sanity
When the killerators are having field days
Gabriel, blow the trumpet for Lone Star South Africa 96!

We have climbed the hill of irreversibility
All must rise from their valley of slumber
Our envisioned hour and day have come to showcase
Our best that can still be gathered from our worst
The star whose brilliance illuminated the darkest night
Serving as a beacon of hope for million freedom seeking people
Is the most amazing miracle for South Africa 96!

 Monrovia/95