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Was Liberia founded by freed U.S. slaves?
Slate ^ | July 3, 2003 | Mary Kay Ricks

Posted on 07/05/2003 12:27:52 PM PDT by Aurelius

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1 posted on 07/05/2003 12:27:53 PM PDT by Aurelius
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To: Aurelius
Very interesting. The names are very telling, and I can only assume English is the main language. The author did not mention the name of the capital city, Monrovia, named for James Monroe.

This is a really big example of a missed opportunity. We should have been involved there all along, not necessarily having it as a colony, but supporting the people there. I'm not sure there is any good to be gained from intervention there now.
2 posted on 07/05/2003 12:37:48 PM PDT by jocon307 (Enough is enough, and that's too much - Pearl Gould)
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To: jocon307
This is what the Britannica has to say about language:

The 16 ethnic groups may be classified into three linguistic groups: the Mande , Kwa, and Mel (West Atlantic). The Mande are located in the northwest and central regions of Liberia and also in Senegal, Mali, Guinea, and Sierra Leone. Prominent among them are the Vai , who invented their own alphabet and who, in addition, use Arabic and English; the Kpelle, the largest Mande group, who are also found in Guinea; Loma (also found in Guinea); Gbandi; Gio (Dan); Mano; Mende; and Malinke. The Kwa include the Bassa, the largest group in this category and the largest ethnic group in Monrovia; the Kru and Grebo, who were among the earliest converts to Christianity; the De; Belle (Belleh); and Krahn. The Kwa-speaking group occupies the southern half of the country. The Mel group includes the Gola and Kissi, who are also found in Sierra Leone and are known to be the oldest inhabitants of Liberia. These people live in the north and in the coastal region of the northwest.

3 posted on 07/05/2003 12:48:50 PM PDT by Aurelius
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To: jocon307
The names are very telling, and I can only assume English is the main language.

I believe English is the official language or language of government but other languages are spoken by more people- mainly indigenous people/languages.

5 posted on 07/05/2003 12:58:20 PM PDT by Prodigal Son
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To: jumpymonkey
You know, putting American lives and values on the line where there is no immediate monetary or national interest?

How does this lead to credibility. There is nothing intrinsically credible in doing something you will gain no benefit from. Indeed, it should be looked on as sign of madness.

6 posted on 07/05/2003 1:00:15 PM PDT by Prodigal Son
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To: jumpymonkey
I think there is an evolving "national interest" is
west Africa. In the Bay of Guinea you have the
countries of Sao Tome and Principi who sit on some
prime real estate. Real estate rife with "black gold."
Not far away is Nigeria. The world's sixth largest producer
of oil, and America's fifth largest oil supplier. I think
this area is quickly becoming an area of increasing interest. I think conservatives should begin to understand
that a stable west Africa is in our vital self interest.
7 posted on 07/05/2003 1:01:42 PM PDT by AdvisorB ("Beware of the 'Irresistable Operation Of Feeble Councils' " Edmund Burke)
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To: jumpymonkey
Selfless acts are indicative of madness?

That's what I said. Are we talking about individuals or nations?

Jesus was on his own mission. He wasn't a nation state.

It is madness for a nation to sacrifice lives and get intricately involved in a problem where it has absolutely no interest.

Third, having the French think we are good guys actually lowers our credibility. Our purpose and goals as a nation should not be predicated upon what Kofi Annan and Belgium think about us.

9 posted on 07/05/2003 1:09:54 PM PDT by Prodigal Son
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To: jumpymonkey
"Selfless acts"? You mean sending other people to die?

I guess that's kind of like "compassion," which always involves spending other people's money.

11 posted on 07/05/2003 1:19:03 PM PDT by The Hon. Galahad Threepwood
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To: jumpymonkey
His "mission" was your soul. And you aren't a nation state either, BTW.

This thread is about Liberia. Please stay on topic.

If you're already warm and dry and secure and have a full belly why do you begrudge the same to someone less fortunate?

My wealth has nothing to do with being lucky.

12 posted on 07/05/2003 1:22:47 PM PDT by Prodigal Son
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To: jumpymonkey
Isn't that what we're doing in Iraq, sending Americans to possibly die for the freedom of the Iraqi people?

The freedom of the Iraqi people is an incidental reason. Our long range strategic interests were reason number one, make no mistake about it.

14 posted on 07/05/2003 1:27:28 PM PDT by Prodigal Son
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To: jumpymonkey
Interesting quote you've got on your home page there.
15 posted on 07/05/2003 1:33:36 PM PDT by Prodigal Son
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Comment #17 Removed by Moderator

To: jumpymonkey
I said you were selfish.

That's right and I'm terribly proud of it. I'm selfish every time I eat a meal. Every time I have sex. Every time I make a buck. Every time I go to sleep. Every time I buy something in the store. Thanks for the compliment.

why intervene when there is no obvious,

Exactly. Why? We are as credible as we will ever get right at this moment (although intervening for "credibility" is stupid on the face of it). So there is no more credibility to be gained by going in somewhere where we have no interests. (for the record, and what's funny is- you don't even know if I favor going into Liberia or not).

If you don't think you're luckier to live in the US

Hmmm. So let me break this down. I'm lucky because I live in the US? How's that? I don't live in the US. D'oh! See, when we assume... You know how the rest of that saying goes.

If you're already warm and dry and secure and have a full belly why do you begrudge the same to someone less fortunate?

I don't. I didn't come by my wealth via UN intervention. It came through hard work. It gets harder too as the thing evolves because liberals and democrats work all the harder to confiscate my property from me to fund their idiotic social schemes.

18 posted on 07/05/2003 1:56:25 PM PDT by Prodigal Son
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To: jumpymonkey
I just wish President Bush would have the honesty to say it directly.

So you're saying President Bush said that?

19 posted on 07/05/2003 1:57:19 PM PDT by Prodigal Son
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