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Purchase your copy from
the Call Liberia website link
the Call Liberia website link
From Liberia with Love, Thanks to Doeba Bropleh
Crown Hill, AM
Blue Lake, Bomi Hills
Lower Kpatawee Falls
Independence Day Speech
Delivered in Sacramento, CA
on July 26, 2008 by
Dr. Goffa Beh
Madam President of the Association of Citizens and Friends of Liberia; Executive officers;
Distinguished members of the Board of Directors; Government officials here present; Friends,
Guests and well wishers of Liberia; My fellow Liberians; Ladies and Gentlemen.
I am very honored and sincerely humbled by your invitation to be your keynote speaker on this
memorable occasion of the 161st Independence Day celebration of our beloved country Liberia. I
certainly am not a politician; neither do I have any political aspirations as such. I am just a young
Liberian professional living through another period of profound and historic change.
I am very excited by change and the vision of hope that has been so widely covered recently over
the airwaves, even in the city of Sacramento. The times have evolved and we must participate in
the process of change and be hopeful that the oldest nation in West Africa will rise to a position of
authority once again...
I am very impressed and deeply gratified by the level of achievement that Liberians have made
here in the city of Sacramento, distinguishing themselves as a group of progressive immigrants
living as free people with dignity.
I am particularly hopeful for all of you young Liberians in our midst today to whom I personally feel
a connection. I feel that you will break barriers of impossibilities and set the standard for the new
wave of Liberian immigrants coming to this great nation. Today is your day: A day of personal
reflection and individual true freedom. As you navigate a path to great achievements for the
common good of our people, remember that your heritage is a strong foundation for success.
My fellow Liberians, as we come together on this day designated by our founding fathers as a day
to celebrate our nation’s independence, we must renew our commitment to the roots of our beloved
country Liberia, a country that has emerged on the horizon of hope once again.
Let us not forget that this our beloved country was just recently mired in one of the bloodiest
conflicts in West Africa, resulting in significant loss of precious human lives, economic and
infrastructural ruin, and a socio-political disconnect that placed our country several years behind
its neighbors.
But in the midst of all this devastation, we have made history with Africa’s first female president.
The people of Liberia collectively made a courageous choice to put an end to this national
disgrace and pursue a future of possibilities. This vital transition has begun to bridge a volatile
situation, with the hope of securing sustainable recovery and development in Liberia.
So today as we come together here to celebrate our nation’s independence, yet in a strange land,
let us take a moment to reflect on how we individually got here. We muscled every effort to embark
on the voyage to this great nation, for some of us it was a beautiful departure party as we set forth
on the quest for the American dream.
Others barely made it out alive through the valleys of the shadow of death. Some of us were
brutally scarred; others were physically and mentally abused. I believe nothing but grace secured
us in this place we are today. Today, fellow Liberians on this our Independence Day, are we truly
free?
This nation in which we live had founding fathers who declared, I quote: “We hold these truths to
be self-evident that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain
unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”. These concepts
were revolutionary and changed the course of human history.
I would like to suggest three important individual freedom principles which may help us lay a
framework for true independence: social/ political freedom, economic/financial freedom and
educational freedom.
I have envisioned that for our nation and beloved country Liberia to maintain its true
independence and its free people, we as individual Liberians, so blessed with the abundance of
opportunities set before us, must acquire and secure individual socio-political, economic and
education freedom. By doing so, we can collectively amass a wealth of potential that will shape the
destiny of our beloved country Liberia.
And so as I speak of individual socio-political freedom, I speak of having responsible individual
autonomy and rights. As such, the consciousness of our existence demands that we as Liberians
seek equality of opportunities, equality in the eye of the law, equal availability of basic needs for a
humane existence. We must take advantage of free association, free expression, and the freedom
of choice. This will guarantee us mastery over our inner condition, our individual sovereignty and
self determination in this Great United States.
Secondly, we must seek economic/financial freedom. I believe that with individual political freedom
we can pursue economic freedom which will make our individual political actions possible. Let us be
very mindful as young Liberians, that today we find ourselves in a very materialistic era.
As we organize, structure and manage the complexities of delicate matters crucial to our human
existence, and the continuous diversification of our thinking and interactions, we must remember
that our financial freedom is guarded by our financial responsibility. It is crucial for all of us
Liberians to understand that there are personal consequences of not exercising good judgment
and stewardship with our financial responsibility.
Therefore it is with great importance that I emphasize personal responsibility as we set strategic life
defining plans for our economic success. Financial freedom is extremely important in our society.
We must invest wisely, save for rainy days, simply live according to our means. We must take
advantage of the financial opportunities available to us in our individual areas of daily living and
employment. We must dare to be different and do things differently.
Finally, we must seek educational freedom as the other important freedom. I was fortunate and
blessed to have a parent who was the principal of the Liberian Christian high school in Buchanan,
Grand Bassa when I was little. But I was particularly impressed with the brilliant young students
who came from homes where neither parents had any formal education. These students went on to
acquire very high educational and professional achievements.
So, for those of us in this great country, it is incumbent upon us to explore every educational
possibility to advance and better our condition. This will allow us to think more critically about the
factors that impede our progress so that we develop thoughtful intellectual strategies that will
transform the level of our academic achievements and foster a literate liberation of our people and
nation Liberia.
As I conclude, I am hopeful that when we have acquired and secured social and political freedom
all tribal and political subgroups will see discrimination and ethnic bigotry as destructive, and would
instead foster a strong sense of community, making sustainable change in the way we approach
our differences and shared values. We will then build a cohesive national identity for the common
good of our people and nation Liberia.
When we have acquired and secured economic and financial freedom , Liberians rich and poor,
educated and uneducated will find common grounds to form partnership; putting in place sound
financial management policies and procedures such that each and every Liberian will see a moral
responsibility to police the basic principles of accountability.
I am even more hopeful that when we have acquired and secured sound education freedom, all
Liberians, professionals, scientists, engineers and the likes, will see our less fortunate brothers
and sisters, not as illiterate and “country”, but rather use the product of our collective intellectual
ingenuity to bring an end to their human misery.
With this privilege you my fellow Liberians have given me today to address you on this occasion, I
would like to challenge every one of us here to seek a deep inner conviction to advance our true
freedom in this way. This I believe will guarantee control over our individual and collective
sovereignty for the good of our one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all.
God bless Liberia and the Liberian people.
Delivered in Sacramento, CA
on July 26, 2008 by
Dr. Goffa Beh
Madam President of the Association of Citizens and Friends of Liberia; Executive officers;
Distinguished members of the Board of Directors; Government officials here present; Friends,
Guests and well wishers of Liberia; My fellow Liberians; Ladies and Gentlemen.
I am very honored and sincerely humbled by your invitation to be your keynote speaker on this
memorable occasion of the 161st Independence Day celebration of our beloved country Liberia. I
certainly am not a politician; neither do I have any political aspirations as such. I am just a young
Liberian professional living through another period of profound and historic change.
I am very excited by change and the vision of hope that has been so widely covered recently over
the airwaves, even in the city of Sacramento. The times have evolved and we must participate in
the process of change and be hopeful that the oldest nation in West Africa will rise to a position of
authority once again...
I am very impressed and deeply gratified by the level of achievement that Liberians have made
here in the city of Sacramento, distinguishing themselves as a group of progressive immigrants
living as free people with dignity.
I am particularly hopeful for all of you young Liberians in our midst today to whom I personally feel
a connection. I feel that you will break barriers of impossibilities and set the standard for the new
wave of Liberian immigrants coming to this great nation. Today is your day: A day of personal
reflection and individual true freedom. As you navigate a path to great achievements for the
common good of our people, remember that your heritage is a strong foundation for success.
My fellow Liberians, as we come together on this day designated by our founding fathers as a day
to celebrate our nation’s independence, we must renew our commitment to the roots of our beloved
country Liberia, a country that has emerged on the horizon of hope once again.
Let us not forget that this our beloved country was just recently mired in one of the bloodiest
conflicts in West Africa, resulting in significant loss of precious human lives, economic and
infrastructural ruin, and a socio-political disconnect that placed our country several years behind
its neighbors.
But in the midst of all this devastation, we have made history with Africa’s first female president.
The people of Liberia collectively made a courageous choice to put an end to this national
disgrace and pursue a future of possibilities. This vital transition has begun to bridge a volatile
situation, with the hope of securing sustainable recovery and development in Liberia.
So today as we come together here to celebrate our nation’s independence, yet in a strange land,
let us take a moment to reflect on how we individually got here. We muscled every effort to embark
on the voyage to this great nation, for some of us it was a beautiful departure party as we set forth
on the quest for the American dream.
Others barely made it out alive through the valleys of the shadow of death. Some of us were
brutally scarred; others were physically and mentally abused. I believe nothing but grace secured
us in this place we are today. Today, fellow Liberians on this our Independence Day, are we truly
free?
This nation in which we live had founding fathers who declared, I quote: “We hold these truths to
be self-evident that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain
unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”. These concepts
were revolutionary and changed the course of human history.
I would like to suggest three important individual freedom principles which may help us lay a
framework for true independence: social/ political freedom, economic/financial freedom and
educational freedom.
I have envisioned that for our nation and beloved country Liberia to maintain its true
independence and its free people, we as individual Liberians, so blessed with the abundance of
opportunities set before us, must acquire and secure individual socio-political, economic and
education freedom. By doing so, we can collectively amass a wealth of potential that will shape the
destiny of our beloved country Liberia.
And so as I speak of individual socio-political freedom, I speak of having responsible individual
autonomy and rights. As such, the consciousness of our existence demands that we as Liberians
seek equality of opportunities, equality in the eye of the law, equal availability of basic needs for a
humane existence. We must take advantage of free association, free expression, and the freedom
of choice. This will guarantee us mastery over our inner condition, our individual sovereignty and
self determination in this Great United States.
Secondly, we must seek economic/financial freedom. I believe that with individual political freedom
we can pursue economic freedom which will make our individual political actions possible. Let us be
very mindful as young Liberians, that today we find ourselves in a very materialistic era.
As we organize, structure and manage the complexities of delicate matters crucial to our human
existence, and the continuous diversification of our thinking and interactions, we must remember
that our financial freedom is guarded by our financial responsibility. It is crucial for all of us
Liberians to understand that there are personal consequences of not exercising good judgment
and stewardship with our financial responsibility.
Therefore it is with great importance that I emphasize personal responsibility as we set strategic life
defining plans for our economic success. Financial freedom is extremely important in our society.
We must invest wisely, save for rainy days, simply live according to our means. We must take
advantage of the financial opportunities available to us in our individual areas of daily living and
employment. We must dare to be different and do things differently.
Finally, we must seek educational freedom as the other important freedom. I was fortunate and
blessed to have a parent who was the principal of the Liberian Christian high school in Buchanan,
Grand Bassa when I was little. But I was particularly impressed with the brilliant young students
who came from homes where neither parents had any formal education. These students went on to
acquire very high educational and professional achievements.
So, for those of us in this great country, it is incumbent upon us to explore every educational
possibility to advance and better our condition. This will allow us to think more critically about the
factors that impede our progress so that we develop thoughtful intellectual strategies that will
transform the level of our academic achievements and foster a literate liberation of our people and
nation Liberia.
As I conclude, I am hopeful that when we have acquired and secured social and political freedom
all tribal and political subgroups will see discrimination and ethnic bigotry as destructive, and would
instead foster a strong sense of community, making sustainable change in the way we approach
our differences and shared values. We will then build a cohesive national identity for the common
good of our people and nation Liberia.
When we have acquired and secured economic and financial freedom , Liberians rich and poor,
educated and uneducated will find common grounds to form partnership; putting in place sound
financial management policies and procedures such that each and every Liberian will see a moral
responsibility to police the basic principles of accountability.
I am even more hopeful that when we have acquired and secured sound education freedom, all
Liberians, professionals, scientists, engineers and the likes, will see our less fortunate brothers
and sisters, not as illiterate and “country”, but rather use the product of our collective intellectual
ingenuity to bring an end to their human misery.
With this privilege you my fellow Liberians have given me today to address you on this occasion, I
would like to challenge every one of us here to seek a deep inner conviction to advance our true
freedom in this way. This I believe will guarantee control over our individual and collective
sovereignty for the good of our one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all.
God bless Liberia and the Liberian people.