Denis Johnsons The Civil War in Hell On Liberia Essay Example For Students

Denis Johnsons The Civil War in Hell: On Liberia Essay Civil war Hell Where is Liberia? Does anyone out there care? 00hnson, 16). In The Civil War in Hell Denis Johnson tells us about a civil war in the West-African country Liberia, reveals the truth about how cruel and ruthless people can be during the war and how people of the same country savagely kill its remaining inhabitants harrowed by cholera, warring and hunger. Pilling their bodies on the street -as many as two hundred one night. A gutted landscape of unrelieved starvation, where the dwindling group robs and loots and burns Oohnson, 2). The Author shows how the pursuit of aterial enrichment, the seizure of power, and unbridled greed that guide the authorities of the country, led to disastrous results taking away the lives of thousands of innocent people and even worse, the omission and apathy of the U. S in termination of bloodshed. In the interview held with Taylor, he was surrounded by a band of child-orphans bearing guns, prove that they are ready to take drastic action. Boys from Gio and Mano tribes armed with AK-47s and M-16s -had dedicated themselves to separating out and killing anyone from Krahn or Mandingo Oohnson, 8) . There are many discussions on whether the U. S. hould have become more involved in the Liberian civil war, and how much assistance the U. S. should provide to Liberia. There are three major reasons why the U. S had moral responsibilities to intervene in Liberias civil war, instead of Britain or France. If we look back in history, Liberia and America have shared history and democratic ideas. They were freed American slaves returning to the continent of their origins Oohnson, 5)lt will be remembered that the interest of the United States in the Republic of Liberia springs from the foundation of the Republic as a colony for former African American slaves, o it is possible to say that Liberia was founded under the patronage of the U. S government. As most Liberians see it, their history is wedded to Americas. Oohnson, 5)For the first 25 years of their existence, the ACS colony was guided by white agents from the United States. In an early negotiation with Liberia there was a previous agreement which states that the United States may be called on for advice or assistance according to this agreement and in the spirit of the moral relationship of the United States to Liberia. Monrovia, capital city of Liberia, was named in honor of James Monroe, Americas president at the time. Monrovia lies in ruins. Oohnson, 2). Its flag, the red, white with blue colors and its government structure are similar to that of the United States. Its constitution was written by an American professor and it is almost a replica of the famous US document. So in this view Liberia is like Americas step child. Liberians refer to the United States as Liberias motherland or its big brother, and spoke about the special place the United States has in the hearts of Liberians. Even more, they see Liberia as a 51ststate. So it would be aturally logical to assume that the establishment of Liberia as an independent state responsibility to prevent the massive destruction that took place in a country. Liberians do not want another coup like one in 1980,when Samuel K. Doe took over and executed the cabinet before TV cameras on the beach00hnson, 4). On the other hand, let us have a look at Americas attitude toward Liberia . The U. S has treated Liberia as an outsider to be tolerated by circumstances and treated Liberia just like any other country, and even worse indicated that the U. S has no interest in being associated with Liberia. Like the deserted child, Liberia wanted its parents love and protection. Liberia has always made herself available and willing to please America. For example, whenever it has been to Americas advantage, the US let the world know that Liberia was in her possession and under her protection. The U. S enjoys an almost mystical veneration in the region00hnson,5) But at a time when Liberia experienced some difficulties and a stroke of bad luck, her mother, the U. S usually left her. For example, after the Declaration of Independence, Britain recognized the newly independent country but America did not extend diplomatic ecognition to Liberia because U. S. leaders would not accept a black ambassador in Washington. Even among black congressmen they have few advocates Oohnson, 5) Secondly, The U. S should have intervened because they had shared economic and commercial interests which benefited both of them in the past. Theres a little bit of commerce, perhaps with the British and American embassies Oohnson,9) In the early years of independence, Liberia was getting financial support from The United States. The Liberian economy expanded from its original agriculture to the rubber industry nd exploitation of mineral resources. Bong Iron mining Company down. Liberian Nail factory. Liberi a received millions of dollars of foreign investment mainly from the U. S. , the greatest level of the U. S. aid to any African country on a per capita basis at the time which boosted Liberian economy greatly. Anyone taking business law EssayAfter becoming assured of power, Doe assassinated Tolbert, executed many of the Cabinet members, and imprisoned dozens of other government officials. Despite the violent way of Does coming to power, many people ccepted him as a right leader who could finally help to establish a democratic country and give equal rights to the entire population, and who would put an end to by supporting Doe, America could at least help to save Liberians life in gratitude for all that Liberia had done to please America in the past; the U. S should have put forth effort to terminate mass massacre. The only people capable of installing an interim government of reasonable types are the American Marines00hnson,4) But we see the U. S had done nothing and even worse, kept supporting Does increasingly corrupt and repressive government. Doe ruled in a way generally agreed to have been both stupid and cruel. Another example was when Doe was captured, Johnson kept asking What did you do with Liberian people money. What did you do to economic00hnson, 1 5). Also, banning political opposition and shutting down newspapers where violations of human rights were frequent which at the end led the country to tribal conflicts, tribal division and discrimination of the Mano and Gio tribal group. People got so mad at the Krahn group, in the interview Johnson says nobodys out of revenge, but Kahn, the presidents tribe, have to be pursued00hnson,12) . Eventually, Does tribal-based regime went on to perpetrate horrific crimes of genocide and terror, leading toa bloody civil war. A dozen half-naked Liberian men now stood in a line with their hands bound behind them00hnson, 7) Doe was finally captured and awaited the same merciless fate that he had impressed upon Tolbert; he was brutally murdered at the hands of rebel leader Prince Johnson who says l cut off his ears and made him eat them00hnson, 12) Prince Johnson did not have any regrets about doing so, he even seems to enjoy watching, over and over, the recorded oment of execution and humiliation l have a videotape of this interrogation. Would you like to see it? 00hnson, 12) . Instead of closing its eyes to cruelty and inhumanity, American government should have done more to save innocent lives, who waited eagerly for its mothers help. They do not know why Americans making them wait00hnson, 4). Finally, The U. S. government and many of its most prominent politicians became responsible for the establishment of the nation known as Liberia. In the decades since, the United States has, by turns, welcomed, assisted, exploited, nd deserted Liberia and Liberians which displays a complex relationship over time. Given the numerous historical and cultural facts, economic and political ties between Liberia and America show that the establishment of small America in Africa places a moral duty on America to Liberia. Analyzing all of these factors, we see the attitude of Liberia toward her mother, the U. S. , and given reasons shows us why America should have intervened at the beginning of the war and, having not done so, should now at least be providing greater assistance to help promote a democratic ystem and stop the abuse of human rights. A good example of that are Syria, Afghanistan, Haiti, Bosnia, and Kosovo in which the U. S. had minimal ties and yet offered significant postwar reconstruction aid. By not proving needed aid at the right time, the U. S. inactions and omissions have led to disastrous results for Liberians where people were shot, beheaded, drowned in the Mano River and set on fire with fuel oil. Liberians expect and wait for their mother to come and help. They cannot understand why Americans wont send in troops, or call for an interim government, or ffer to host peace talks00hnson,5). f America could intervene and provide military and humanitarian assistance, all of this slaughter and killing could be stopped with minimum loss. This example clearly shows that people were indeed merciless and men slaughtered a young woman and drank her blood and ate her heart. The raping and slaughter of this conflict were no more awful than those of other civil war00hnson, 8) America should remember that it is impossi ble to hide and reject long history, and remember its friends in good times as well as bad times. Thats real friendship.