Monrovia – A proposal to change Liberia’s historic national motto has drawn an opposing view from prominent educator and civil society leader Maureen Johnson Hutchinson, following Reverend Emmett Dunn’s Independence Day keynote address. The controversy emerged during Liberia’s 178th Independence Day celebrations on July 26, when Reverend Dunn, the official orator, suggested reconsidering the country’s long-standing motto, “The Love of Liberty Brought Us Here,” as part of national reforms.
Madam Hutchinson, former principal of Bromley Episcopal Mission School and current chairman of Voices of the Elders, acknowledged Dunn’s call for unity and anti-corruption efforts but strongly disagreed with altering the motto. “I mostly agree with Rev. Emmett Dunn, the 178th Independence keynote speaker. However, if I were to sum up his extensive speech to a few words, it would be ‘the quest for unity and equity, and the end to corruption in government and the society at large’. However, in one of his proposed remedies, we disagree when he proposed to change the motto of Liberia that has stood the test of time,” Hutchinson stated.
The educator noted that even the Samuel Doe administration, which abolished many colonial-era symbols during the 1980s, preserved the motto. Changing it would require a constitutional referendum, a process Hutchinson called unnecessary when Liberia faces more pressing challenges. Her words: “President Samuel Doe’s government which looked at all things pioneers and got rate of many observations and holidays that seemed divisive but not the motto. They should have been the harbinger of change, but they kept this motto and it has invariably been kept by other governments.”
She added, “Firstly it will take a referendum to be changed and secondly let’s look at the underlying meanings of those haunting words and what it has come to mean to Liberia: “The love of liberty brought us here.” while this phrase was coined by the repatriates from America, it has come to mean something from all who have emigrated to Liberia over the centuries; the migrants from Northeast Africa, the central African migrants, the repatriates from the US, the slaves from the Congo, the migrants from the Caribbean, and all other peoples of African descent over the almost two centuries.”
Moreover, Madam Hutchinson stated, “Liberia has been a home to anyone of ‘African descent’ who came seeking ‘liberty’ whether from wars, famine, persecution, or seeking refuge from other shortfall of liberties. Why get rid of the clarion call to be free for the black man? Let’s leave that as we welcome the others that the phrase beckons! Hope all of us had a great celebration!!”
Independence Day Contrasts Highlighted:
Madam Hutchinson’s comments came amid unprecedented global celebrations marking Liberia’s independence.
“It’s always politics!! Whether it’s Donald J Trump’s edicts on immigration, or a call for unity, it’s still politics. Having lived on and off in the diaspora for the last forty-five odd years, I have never seen Liberians come out in their thousands to celebrate the 26th of July! And across the world, as they did on Saturday!! It is neither the UP nor the CDC governments, but politics nonetheless,” she said.
The vibrant displays, particularly among younger generations, contrasted sharply with persistent divisions within Liberia itself. Madam Hutchinson attributed this disparity to economic inequality, noting that financial stability in the diaspora creates natural unity that remains elusive domestically. “It is a time in our history that Liberians, who prior to 1980, had emphatically stated “I was born here, I will remain here and I will die here”, came out and showed that mantra in exuberant physical demonstration, through our children and our genZ grandchildren. More patriotic, my children, and my grandchildren eat more cassava leaf than I,” she said.
While praising President Joseph Boakai’s declaration that “Liberia is back,” Madam Hutchinson emphasized that true national unity requires equitable economic development. The educator added: “It is heartening to us Boomers, at least I felt vindicated by the mammoth 26 celebrations across the world. President Boakai can shout louder that ‘Liberia is back’! One problem remains, that is the unification on these shores. We saw unadulterated unity among the Liberians in the diaspora, unfortunately, the motherland remains in disunity! This is because the equalizing factor, in the diaspora, the economy, remains unequal in Liberia. Unity and culture can only be addressed totally when the economy is filtered to the many.”
