Dear Liberia:
I am angry.
So angry that as I write these words down, my anger seems to be clouding my thought process.
Yes, that is how angry I am. You may be wondering why I am this angry, but let me spare your mind the agony of thinking over a thousand possibilities that could be the reason and simply tell you why.
I am angry because of the following:
I am angry because parents have failed their children, society, and our country at large by bringing up boys who grow into men who lack the discipline, self-control and moral compass to lead themselves away from the devilish act of RAPE!
Men who can’t take a simple ‘’NO’’ as ‘’NO,’’ but would rather put someone through the life-altering and endangering peril of RAPE and SEXUAL ABUSE.
I am angry because there are men in this world, especially our country Liberia, dressed in the camouflage of fathers, uncles, big brothers, sugar daddies, religious leaders etc, who are brave enough to touch babies, little girls and women in ways that are despicable, inhumane and devilish.
The irony of the situation is that these are men who are supposed to be the protectors of these victims.
I am angry that so many of these men are still out there in homes and communities and are doing these acts undetected to their step-children, adopted children, biological children, etc. These girls then continue to take the pains and go through psychological tortures in these homes and communities all because their voices cannot be heard or because families and communities have chosen to solve it using the so-called ‘’Family Way’’.
I am angry that the few of the perpetrators that we do apprehend are not given enough punishment that would scare others from committing the same crime.
Worst of all, I am angry that some of them even walk with impunity, with smiles covering their faces, on their way to find their next victims.
I am angry that we have lawmakers who should be our leaders making sure that we have laws that are strong enough to punish perpetrators and give swift justice to victims but are the ones who watch on and do nothing.
I am angry that we have a rape culture that we continue to breed and support every day because we have systems that chastises the victims through slut-shaming, disbelief, etc while painting the doers as patron saints “who could never do anything like that.”
I am angry that my sisters, nieces, cousins, aunts and every other woman out there are walking targets because some men have chosen 5 minutes or less of pleasure over human lives and dignity, and worst of all, because some men have chosen to be silent and watch like it is okay.
Dear Liberia:
This is now a pandemic.
One that is so bad that it is just a matter of when the next incident will happen, and no longer a condition of IF it will.
My heart is heavy and out there with every female who continues to bear this burden, who continues to look over her shoulders out of fear that she could be next.
Therefore, I must pause till it comes back to me.
By: Darcess Dossen (Renaissance Man)
