TO OUR 179-INDEPENDENCE DAY’S ORATOR:
BE INTENTIONAL, NOT RHETORICAL IN YOUR MESSAGE
“One People, One Destiny: Healing the Past, Building the Future” was the theme of Liberia’s 178 Independence Day and the oration was delivered by Dr. Emmett L. Dunn, Presidential Special Envoy for Partnership & Philanthropy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Liberia. The venue was at the Centennial Memorial Pavilion, Monrovia, Liberia, July 26, 2025
178th Independence Day’s Address held under the Theme: “One People, One Destiny: Healing the Past, Building the Future” made no difference to the previous Orations. Messages were delivered, policymakers heard those messages, unfortunately nothing has changed.
The 2025 National Orator spoke rhetorically, and if I must reiterate the few ear-catching issues he did capture was the Healthcare delivery system. This is exactly what he said, “I see growing access to rural clinics, partnerships with international donors, and stronger support for healthcare workers. The emphasis on maternal health is especially commendable, and life-saving”. I considered his assertion a rhetoric because at the time he made this assertion, the healthcare delivery system in Liberia was challenged and still faced with uncertainty, even as we speak, healthcare delivery system challenges are still pervasive to the extend where health services are not reaching approximately 85 percent of the over 5 million population. Our people do not have access to healthcare delivery system because the political will is not available to pay health workers and supply medical equipment to adequately respond to health emergencies.
Liberia at 178 years old, pregnant women are still been transported on motorbikes, riding on rough roads in the rural communities to seek medical attention or traditional mid-wife’s treatment. Previous Orators spoke, highlighted those various challenges our society is encountering. Unfortunately, nothing has changed. Nothing has changed not because the country is broke and cannot afford to cater for the needs of her citizens. Nothing has changed because the country is in a serious deficit when it comes to ushering prepared leaders with leadership intuition to direct the course of anticipated reform.
We have witnessed previous Orators who were very rhetorical and not intentional in their quest to speak to the nation. Be intentional, Mr. Orator because when you mount the podium to speak, you will be speaking to different categories of Liberians, individually and collectively. Mainly from the two “ I ” classes of our Liberian society. First “ I” is the Intelligential class, and second “ I “ is from Illiterate class. I therefore urge you to be simple in the presentation of your message so that the majority of our people who belong to the second “I” will understand the message and apply it to their daily life.
When one is intentional, he speaks with admirable degree of boldness with bravery to avail facts without fear of favor. When one is intentional, he speaks with passion to give direction to the nation. He suggests useful ideas that will be applicable in a nation struggling for reform and democratic governance.
To our Independence Day’s orator, speak to a struggling nation yielding for direction. Speak to our leaders with boldness, because some of them have come to national leadership with personal Grush and a mind set to enrich themselves at the disadvantage of those they governed. Evaluate them by their performances, outline their weaknesses and identify their strength. Provide for them those virtues and qualities of a leader and recommend what is recommendable.
To our Independence day’s Orator, speak to the people about good citizenship. Tell us the benefit of patriotism. Remind us about loyalty to one another. A loyal brother does not stab another brother in the back. A loyal brother does not corrupt any giving situation; he does not take into his possession what belongs to a group of people. A loyal citizen must not take pleasure putting his colleagues at disadvantage for personal benefits. A loyal citizen must be obedience to the laws of the country and respect the rights of other citizens. Tell us, Liberians, who we are, and where are we from, and where are we now.
Measure our age as a nation with our achievements and draw a dichotomy whether or not we are progressing. Be intentional and speak with fearless spirit of boldness. of boldness.
