Hearing shocking stories causes one to reflect upon a variety of issues, but seeing the same problems in an uncensored documentary gives such debates a whole new dimension. I did some research on the issue of Liberia prior to coming to the event, so I thought I was well prepared for whatever I might see; yet I found myself horrified by the end of the screening. The only thing I could think of afterward was how, despite being fluent in two languages, I still couldn’t describe what I had seen.
The screening was followed by a discussion; surprisingly, the most pending questions were not “what are the causes of the situation?” or “how to end the violence”, but –
who should help Liberia. Should aid come from the outside resources, such as more developed countries or organizations like the UN? They have the necessary resources, but at the same time they lack the insight into the local culture that is crucial to understanding the underlying causes. Such insight is available only to the insiders, but they on the other hand have to face the difficulty of not having the material or educational assets. So how about the insiders who do possess the resources – the immigrants to wealthier countries who received thorough education? Should they be the ones responsible for making change in their homeland as they are not only privileged, but connected to the culture and people? This seemed like the best solution to the problem, as the immigrants can bring back the knowledge from abroad and share it with less lucky co-citizens. But then another perspective was brought in: what if the Western education and lifestyle made them detached from their motherland, and what if acculturation into their other countries of residence has influenced their ability to regain the insight into Liberia? What if the immigrants do not want to go back, because the impoverished homeland does not provide them with perspectives available abroad and thusthey won’t be able to make the best out of their education? Is giving back to your nation your responsibility or is it a personal choice?
The discussion was heated and every point was important. There are nosimple solutions to situations like the one in Liberia, and the question of responsibility for making it a better place is up to every individual to answer for themselves.
The documentaries presented at the event can be found at following addresses:
Liberia: Murder of a Country:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjSNzNOK4qU&feature=related The Vice Guide to Travel, Liberia:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQSjyYRTDVM&feature=fvw Liberia, America’s Stepchild:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3alUrAYNyQ
Please keep in mind that the content is extremely graphic and shocking.
