10 Minute Essay (4/29)

Liberia

The presentation about Liberia was extremely well-executed and interesting. True, there was a lot of history to discuss, and yet I think at least a basic understanding of Liberia’s history was vital to comprehend the interactions between various ethnic groups. It is difficult for me, as an American raised in an age of relative homogeneity to understand how the interactions between such varied native cultures can work within the context of a country. America seems to tout diversity and individuality, yet the dominant culture is expected to supercede any group loyalties. For example, my great-grandmother emigrated from Germany somewhat unwillingly. As a consequence she refused to learn English. However, my family lived in a predominately German enclave, so this was not that much of a problem. During this era of American history, cultural diversity existed on a massive scale as immigrants brought their native traditions to this country. One only has to skip forward two or three generations to see that a multi-cultural system did not, or could not, endure in this nation. I do not consider myself to German, nor do I know many of the traditional foods and beliefs. Americanization has tended to eliminate divergent cultures.

It is a fascinating experience to see the rule that culture played in Liberia. This country experienced a civil war full of terrible atrocities what were truly difficult to hear about. However, it is interesting that culture will play a dominant role in helping the people of this nation recover from the emotional scars of war. In the presentation it became clear that the cultural ties of these people were rich and deep before the war, with a tradition of mutual support and interaction that spanned perhaps thousands of years. Viewed in this context, the war was only a brief period of time. The ties of people in this country are too old to let a small war destroy their long-term stability. Looking at the war through the eyes of cultural history paints a hopeful picture of recovery and reconciliation.