August 24 is Liberia’s Actual Independence Day; July 26 is Just an Illusion Written by: F. Mulbah Zig Forkpa, Jr/fmulbahzig@yahoo /0886380283 The history of Liberia is replete with parochialism and distortion. The need to have it rewritten is an understatement that has become a cliché over the years. Many historical commentators, including myself, believe that such a worthy venture must not be overlooked because the history of any nation, if not written properly, can be a source for breeding confusion. It is this same reason that brought a halt to the celebration of Maltida Newport Day, December 1 and Pioneer Day, January 7, by the Military Junta of Samuel K. Doe in 1980. Samuel K. Doe’s action was supportive of the fact that in a nation with ideological diversities, a national holiday must be happily celebrated by all groups. History has remembered president Doe for doing his part, even as he was not a historian. Historians have to now take the bull by the horn by consummating the sumptuous task of reconfiguration of our history. During the hearing of the former Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), many of our national emblems, like the seal, were spotlighted as symbols that are infested with the viruses of distortion and parochialism. This Article, for me, is a historical revelation portraying that it is lugubrious to celebrate July 26 as independence day; and that August 24 should be celebrated as he actual independence day. Independence means “sovereignty”. The sovereignty of a nation must be supported by self internal symbols like the flag. It is for this cost and cause that we periodically say: “I pledge allegiance to the flag of Liberia and to the Republic for which it stands”. Just as some practicing Christians would say “Jesus is Lord”, the flag of Liberia is Liberia. Independence for a country without flag as was done on July 26, 1847, was a projection of jocularity for African’s Oldest Republic. It is sad enough to note that before August 24, 1847, Liberia had no flag that could independently be verified of its own. From 1822 to 1847, Liberian pretended of having a flag but that was actually a duplicated ‘copy and paste’ of the revolutionary flag of America. By 1776, during America’s Independence, her flag consisted of a cross in the middle of the blue field, 13 stripes (7 red & 6 whites), and 3colors (red, white & blue). Similar flag was concocted as the first acclaimed flag of Liberia. The forefathers of the Liberian nation were aware that it was laughable to go to independence with such flag, though America had adopted a modified version in 1777 by an Act of congress. This new American version consisted of a round cycle of 13 strips to represent the thirteen original colonies at the time of independence. As new states were admitted into the Federal Union, the flag was further modified to contain their just representation in the stars. What is different in the Liberian example is that, she (Liberia) had no trace a flag of her own until August 24, 1847, except the reduplicated American flag. Besides, during Liberia’s anomalous independence date, July 1847, the current American flag was hoisted. The irony is that, America did not recognize Liberia’s independence until 15 years later in 1862. That was a sign that America was never in agreement with the usage of her flag during the July 26 independence of Liberia. One can therefore infer that America did not conduce a legal action against Liberia because she (America) did not intend to give relevance to an irrelevant independence. Flag is defined as a Cloth with special designs, which stands for a nation (Guanue, Joseph: Liberian history between 1822 & 1847). Flag therefore, is more than a cloth; it stands for patriotism, Liberty, Diligence to service, etc. Patriotism is a virtue that develops over years; it can never be borrowed. No doubt, that Liberia could borrow the American flag during her July26 independence. No doubt that, Liberia could reduplicate America’s flag for pre-independent usage. But Liberia could not borrow the American style of patriotism. True patriotism is achievable only when we, as a nation, engage in what Frank Senwala calls “Metal Revolution” and adopt what Dr. Lawrence Bropleh calls “Change of mind, change of attitude”. These values should not only include the way we envisage the nation’s present and future but also the way we flash back at her past. A distortion or misinterpretation of the past renders our national history invalid or semi-valid. A flag serves as the embodiment of the turmoil and struggle a nation experiences before independence. In 1789, the third estate of France initiated the French Revolution to battle suppression, injustice and inequality in the French society. The revolutionists, whose strength was based on the unbending desire for “Liberty, Equality and Fraternity”, used the tricolors: Red, White and Blue, as the revolutionary colors and the epitome of the struggle. This is the historical significance that the French flag, decorated with the tricolors, portrays. On October 5, 1879, a rumor that the king was planning to kill the revolution sent Parisian women to Versailles. Faced with the crowd of angry women, Louis XVI agreed not only to accompany them back to Paris, but also to display the tricolors. It is therefore, clear that the French flat did not come after the total liberation of the French society but was rather part of the struggle for liberation. Why, then, did Liberia rush into independence as reflected by the unavailability of a national flag before or during said independence? Many persons have attempted to provide reasons but with no historical justification. For some, the “Little Ben Affairs” was a reason sufficient enough to have Liberia declaring independence. The Little Ben Drama is dated for April 15, 1845. On this day, the Little Ben, a British Vessel, was seized by the government of the Common Wealth for entering into Liberia’s territorial perimeter and refusing to pay custom duty. In a showcase of superiority, Britain did not only take by force, the Little Ben, but also seized the John Seys, a vessel belonging to Stephen A. Benson, who was later to become Liberia’s second president. Britain’s justification to the world for her disdainful action was the delusive sophistry that, the “John Seys,” was caught in the transaction of slave trade, an abominable crime by then. The vessel was therefore taken to a court in Sierra Leone for prompt investigation. I agree that the Little Affairs was an unwanted “big brother” advantage by an imperial power, Great Britain, over Liberia. But I refuse to accept that the best alternative was a premature independence. Every step taken by the leaders of the Common Wealth of Liberia showed that the union had the potential to device a “Plan B” that could adequately prepare the way for “Plan A”, independence. On January 18, 1846, after Liberia was absolved from the allegation of engaging in slave trade, as a reason for seizing the John Seys, Liberia’s next move was to seek the way forward from the American colonization society (ACS). For the ACS, the way forward was to approve the common wealth leaders’ bid for independence. To seek a democratic approval for independence on the local front, an independent referendum was held in 1846. About 52% of the population voted for independence while 48% voted against. Liberia, which then had three counties, Bassa, Sinoe & Montserrado, saw Sinoe abstaining, as a way of showing the nation’s unpreparedness for independence. However, on a crucial national issue like independence, even 1% deference in vote, favoring independence, could plunge the nation into a strange terrain without counting the cost. But assumedly, if majority had voted against independence, there would be another alternative. IE: the mere fact of having a referendum meant that independence could be declared or could not be declared, pending on the result. Maturity then depicts that; our fore fathers should have use “Plan B”. Thus, what is not done properly is not done at all. If one insists that the independence date of Liberia was July 26, 1847, rather than August 24, 1847, then, Liberia becomes the only country through the annals of historical research to have had independence without a trace of her own flag. This, for me, is a ridiculous record characterized by a demeaning lesson. In countries that were infested with colonial virus, independence was a far-fetched mirage, if those countries did not see their national flags supplanting those of their imperial masters. Hint, during the independence of Zimbabwe, the ascension of the Zimbabwean flag was directly proportional to the coming down of the union Jack, the British flag. Besides, on October 1, 1960, the independent date of Nigeria, the Nigerian flag was hoisted for the first time. But before then, publication was made in the local dailies, requesting people to draw a flag for the nation in 1958. The best flag was drawn by Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi, a task for which he has received several awards. One year later, in 1959, the selected entry was designed to await independence. For those that have not read these instances or have not live long to hear of them, the scenario of South Sudan can be a common denominator. Before independence, this youngest country in Africa had both her national anthem and flag awaiting the “deliverance Day.” Well, like some would say, this too is Liberian. While preparing to write this article, a friend could not agree with my position on ground that the declaration of independence was signed on July 26, 1847. What is interesting is that, by this declaration of independence, my friend is not even a Liberian citizen because neither he nor his fore fathers migrated from North America. The division established by the declaration of independence is to be disestablished, when, we as a nation, accept the flag and its true meanings, one of which is reconciliation. Hence fore, I cannot imagine any occasion in Liberia pulling the greatest number more than that which is done when, we, irrespective of our political, social and cultural differences, gather at the SKD sports complex to witness our national foot ball team, Lone Star, displaying our national colors- the colors of the flag. For this same reason, the president of Liberia does not have, with him or her, the declaration of independence at international conferences. Instead, the president’s authority is reflected by the presence of the flag at those conferences. Mistaking August 24, the True Independence Day of Liberia, for July 26, a day of little or no national significance, is disrespect to our flag and therefore, our country.
Posted on: Tue, 22 Jul 2014 17:11:13 +0000
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