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In My Little Corner
By: Ray Funk
“The entrenched Liberian Time”…the need for
cultural behavioral change for positive growth.
By Ray Funk
Getting late for almost everything in Liberia has become
so cultural, that the habit has eaten the fabric of this
nation, to the extent the people of Liberia have the least
knowledge. Or maybe there is a pretense that something
can be done about it in the future, so it has become so
habitual in everything that is done in Liberia regarding a
wanton disrespect for time is like a “cup of tea” for all
Liberians and a modus operandi.
Whether it is in the home, the church, work place, the
community or just anywhere, lateness is tasted in all and
everything that is done in Liberia. Even if it is at the
smallest level, some degree of lateness is felt or
experience.
We are all one way or the other very culprits of this act;
sometimes acting it unconsciously and other times in a
deliberate fashion to satisfy what has become the cultural
acceptance. What is most disgusting about this act is to
hear Liberians and others say “We will reach there the
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Liberian time and they will wait for us…don’t worry” That
deliberate disrespect for time in all forms and manners in
this country almost as old as the Biblical methuselah, is a
dishearten disgrace that we all must regret and work
collectively to get rid of if we must make progress in a
war-ravaged country like ours. “A stitch in time saves
nine”.
The shear disrespect for timeliness in Liberia which has
very largely taken a public glare in both urban and rural
fashion, to the shocking disbelief of investors, visitors the
diplomatic community; as well as some serious-minded
Liberians, is quietly threatening the forward-march to
national peace and reconciliation in Liberia. As we have
stated in unequivocal terms in our previous articles about
the “MUST ATTITUDE” that must take over our bodies,
minds and souls in a totally change-of-attitude way if we
must take a giant step in our development strides. There
should be no room for complacency in this general and
national concerted effort.
Getting to work at 8 am or 8:30 am and not 9 am or 10
am, must be strictly adhered to. If an event, be it
worship, national or community is taking place at a
specified time, that time must be respected by all of its
attendants without exception.
We may not have the exact quote of the late Archbishop
Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Monrovia Michael
Francis, when he was quoted as publically shaming
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former President Charles Taylor for his continuous
lateness in the Parlors of the Executive Mansion; now
transferred to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We
remembered him taking the podium and remarking to the
President then: “Mr. President, we are not happy about
your continuous habit of not arriving on time for events
that you invite us to. We have our own busy schedules
and cannot afford to keep waiting for you like this all the
time”. Again, it may not be the exact quote of the late
very out-spoken Catholic Prelate, but we are very
convinced it is not far from this.
Can we have a “Michael Francis-like” voice not only
directed to President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf who is also
sometimes very guilty of this act, but to our homes,
communities, workplaces and public gatherings or even
to Liberian journalists as well? Will we ever have such
voice resounding loudly and in a reminding tone to our
Liberian society to get things straight again?
Will this country that helped greatly in the emancipation
of other countries globally ever have a soft-spoken but
firm voice to speak to the conscious of our parents,
students, public and private sector workers, community
workers and even pastors and church goers about the
need to respect time?
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Mentioning the culprits of people who disrespect time and
don’t like to adhere to time, we also wear that guilty pair
of shoes regrettably and no doubt members of the
Journalism Profession can also fit on that pair of shoes.
Getting to work on time, covering events on their beats
on time or even attending other functions they are
invited to in most instances, is a problem. There will be
unnecessary mounting excuses for their lateness.
This lateness guilt is shared by almost all professionals in
all spheres of life one way or the other in Liberia. It is so
entrenched that it will almost require a ‘Ben Carson’s”
type of operation to separate Liberians from lateness.
Liberians and their attitude of lateness are like conjoined
twins un-sarcastically.
We hope this kind of operation can occur at all levels of
the Liberian society for the betterment of the country and
its people.
We just cannot get it that Liberians don’t have the ability
to work within a given period of time even it is at a
worship service; especially at funerals in Liberia during
the time to pay tributes to the dead. Liberians
disappointingly, cannot afford to manage to pay their
tributes in a two-minute time frame; not to talk about
arrival at the funeral itself. If it should start at 10 am,
they will begin arriving at 11 am….again pointing to the
“Liberian Time” mentality…what a shameful disgrace!
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A foreign guest attending a national event, once asked us
after hearing about the “Liberian Time”. “Do Liberians
have their own time or time zone? What is this thing
about “Liberian Time” I am hearing?” Because we really
did not know how to respond to him given our own
experience we have had, he further remarked “I can’t
believe that this country over one hundred years old with
such caliber of people will take pleasure in likening this
unwholesome lateness attitude”. He was very resolute to
keep talking about it to eventually ensure a changed
environment. Thus his quest to find a solution has
catapulted our urge for a changed attitude.
Again we are convinced that the “MUST” syndrome must
permeate our society and attitude if we have to truly
occupy our place globally. We have to collectively shun
the complacency attitude of remaining lazy in our late
attitude and take a mighty giant step in pushing
ourselves to change and be timely people in all that we
do.
We must be able to manage or work within a given time
frame…whether it is a two-minute or so. And this has to
be at all events. This attitude of not respecting time or
not being able to speak within a two-minute period must
be discouraged! Moreover, if there is a wedding
ceremony that must begin at 2pm, it should not start at
3pm or 4 pm.
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Going to church on time or attending any event…be it
national or community, must be practiced like Lionel
Messi of Football Club Barcelona practicing to penetrate a
determined defense of an opponent team with a great
precision.
The “MUST” attitude must permeate our society and
every inner part of our “Liberianess” if this independent
country must move on especially in the wake of UNMIL’s
drawdown.
We hope that the people of this country have at the back
of their minds that “a stitch in time saves nine”; and that
the continuance of this lateness attitude will take us
nowhere. Please don’t hesitate to drop us a line at
inmylittlecorner47@gmail.com.
