Thank God for the extra time. But what now? What will be the focus for the DED folks and their advocates?


I really thought more pepo would be talking this thing. Talking
plenty and talking loud. It seems like it is no big deal. I have not
heard much or seen much on the Net or the various blogs or news feeds.
what's up wit the political pundits and socio humanitarian advocates?

I'm a little confused and dismayed. Is it faith that people are stalwartly holding on
to that...Everything will be alright or that..the cavalry will ride in and save the day at the last minute?
I am a faith driven individual so I can certainly understand that.
Perhaps people are just to busy with all the goings and coming of
staying above water on their own personal levels to give voice to
issues not directly and tangibly affecting them.

Could a more disturbing sentiment have developed like this comment posted by a
Liberian on Washingtonwatch.com which details congressional and senate
bills and their status:

GATVOL
http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_SN_656.html

January 2, 2009, 3:30am
I would hereby like to oppose the bill to be passed to keep Liberians in
America. Liberians has for too long relied on hand-outs and help from
the US and foreign countries. All of the above writers state that
Liberia is not ready to go back to. If you don't come back to fix the
problems, who will?- Maybe some foreign peacekeepers again? Why don't
you sort out your own country. It belongs to you after all. What
happened during the war is a heartbreaking tragedy. Many people fled to
the US and neigboring countries. Liberia need you back here to help
restore order and peace after the war. You cannot now hide in the US
and claim that they owe you citizenship. That is absurd to reason like
that. The economy of the US is already under pressure and cannot afford
to support any more so called refugees. The war is over, your refugee
status has expired. Go back home to your own country and make something
of it!


This troubled me greatly upon reading it. The bill to which he refers is
s.656 The Liberian Fairness Act of 2007.It was introduced by Sen John
Reed (D-RI) It was co-sponsored by a handful of other legislators,
passed on for review by the 19 member Senate Judiciary and died a quiet
death right there. It was NEVER made into law!

Now...be truthful...How many Villagers knew that bill even existed? I sure didn't.
Why is that? Where was the clamor and raucous from our communities to insure
that bill going on to be made law. Where was the plenty talk?

That site had exactly 27 comments of Liberians asking the congress to support the bill.
27 in 2007. Was dat? There are 14 thousand Liberians being affected by the March 31st expiration of TPS/DED.

I commend the folks in Minnesota
who have been the most vocal on Liberian issues with their information
dissemination, petitions, letters and the founding of advocate
organizations such as The Organization of Liberians in Minnesota. The
Largest community of Liberians outside of Liberia resides there and are
currently topping 25,000.They of course are not the sole Liberians
responding proactively to Liberians issues here in the U.S. There are
Americans as well who have put their names on the line in the interest
of Liberians...the dotted line, infact.The letter drafted to President
Obama pleading for action on giving permanent status to all liberians
was signed and has been trumpeted by Jack Reed, Ted Kennedy, John
Kerry, Barbara Mikulski, Mary Landrieu, Amy Klobuchar and Sheldon
Whitehouse.

Where is noise to support these people's voices. Wha pley everybody et mehnn?
My people yor come oh. Bring out the sassa and the drums...everything that can make noise!

It's not complicated. So far Congress has passed laws allowing 4,996 Poles,
387 Ugandans, 565 Afghanis and 1,180 Ethiopians, 50,000 Chinese, 150,000
Nicaraguans, 5000 Cubans, 200,000 El Salvadorans and 50,000 Guatemalans to
adjust their status to LPR- Legal Permanent Residents. To do the same for Liberians
whose circumstances are similar and even more grave, is simply a matter of FAIRNESS.

Nica
like you said, everybpdy relying on faith... when they send a few home, things will heat up...

Good to see the leaders are still using this language:

It's not complicated. So far Congress has passed laws allowing 4,996 Poles,
387 Ugandans, 565 Afghanis and 1,180 Ethiopians, 50,000 Chinese, 150,000
Nicaraguans, 5000 Cubans, 200,000 El Salvadorans and 50,000 Guatemalans to adjust their status to LPR- Legal Permanent Residents. To do the same for Liberians whose circumstances are similar and even more grave, is simply a matter of FAIRNESS.

Oh no doubt, I just recognize the original paragraph