Happy Birthday S. Sudan-Is this the beginning or the end of democracy
a South Sudan Guard of Honor by citizens of South Sudan living in Boston during the celebration to mark the recent Independence day for the Word's most new Nation. The event took place at the City Hall plaza in Boston. pic by Torli Krua, Young Liberia
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By Torli Krua, www.Young-Africa.org , posted July 17, 2011
BOSTON, Mass.,_11:00AM at Boston City Hall, the flag of South Sudan was tied to one of three flag poles, ready to be hoisted for the first time ever in Boston.
.Notably absent at this historic celebration at Boston City Hall Plaza were leaders of Boston’s African immigrant community and the Massachusetts Office For Refugees & Immigrants.
At last, self-determination has come to South Sudan and Sudanese Americans who have waited too long were ready to celebrate.
Subjected to racial, religious and political persecution, torture and death, many of the participants fled Sudan in their youth and have lived in many countries as refugees before making Boston their home.
Nearly all of the participants have acquired American citizenship.
Dressed in a colorful outfit was William Chol, a young man I met about a decade ago in Roxbury. “Thank God! We have waited for this day and it’s here”! Another Sudanese I met at the celebration was Franco, a Sudanese social worker who assisted many of the “Lost Boys” when they arrived as refugees in Boston a decade ago.
“I am happy to see you (Liberians) here because Liberia as the 1st independent republic in Africa assisted many Sudanese. As South Sudanese were denied admission to university in Khartoum, Liberia offered all Sudanese students free college education. Not many people know this.” Franco said..
An honored Guard comprising Boston resident graced the occasion through military performances and hoisting of the new flag. A statement from the Mayor’s Office of New Bostonians was read extending congratulations to citizens of the new republic of South Sudan. The event ended with greetings of old friend. The party was scheduled for 3:45 PM at Tufts University.
As we celebrate democracy in Southern Sudan, we must be reminded that the stakes in Africa could not be higher: Liberia, 'America's success story' in democracy is faltering because of inadequate funding for municipal elections.
Left to right-William Chol (South Sudanese) Baby Mahn Krua II (Torli's Son) Saawile Krua (Mrs. Krua) & Torli Krua a Liberian activist in Boston. |
In 2011, the president of Liberia, Africa’s 1st elected female president H.E. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf appoints all government ministers, all Superintendents (Governors), all judges, all notary public and all mayors, leaving the Liberian people with no democratic choices at the local government level.
As a consequence, President Sirleaf has turned big time to the People’s Republic of China for help and Liberian democracy is in the INTENSIVE CARE UNIT.
While there is inadequate funding for embryonic democracies across Africa we in the USA and the NATO Alliance are spending millions of dollars daily to fund war in Libya on the side of rebels engaged in a civil war.
As we celebrate Southern Sudan’s independence, we must be mindful of the old saying: “one bird in hand is better than a thousand in the wild.” Its time to we spend our meager resources strengthening emerging democracies worldwide like Southern Sudan, Egypt and Liberia.
Because of our unique experiences African immigrant and refugees in America are strategically positioned to help influence American policy, making it consistent with 21st century civilization.
Our civic engagement and involvement in policy making can transform our taxes from the old Cold War expenditures of arms and ammunition for rebels forces worldwide who use violence to achieve political objectives to money for education and job creation violent American inner city neighborhoods like Roxbury and Dorchester and strengthening emerging democracies and local government elections in places like South Sudan and Liberia.
It is African immigrants and refugees who have the unique abilities and burden, not members of Congress, who can ensure that Sudan is nurtured into a vibrant democracy 2nd to none in the world by voting, running for a seat at the table to reshape America’s foreign policy.
These changes cannot happen in the obsolete political structures of the republican or Democratic political parties. It's time to join a new movement for change by switching to INDEPENDENT and engaging those we elect to serve our Commonwealth.
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