Thursday, March 13, 2008

a sad reality

Charles Taylor, former president of Liberia, is currently on trial for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Liberia is going through a truth and reconcilation process right now. The ugly realities of the war are coming to the surface and tension from the uprising recipically ensues. I really can't understand the storeis I hear.

On Tuesday, Edwin, 22, showed me a book he had written about his expeirences in the war. He was four when it started. The first chapter chronicles the beginning of the war. He tells of how he and his family were up country vactioning together and rebels stormed the house they were staying in with guns. He and his entire family stood terrrified with there hands above thier heads as guns were pointed at thier faces.

Edwin was four years old. He looked away as he told me the story. But it didn't hide the pain and tears that could be obviously seen in the sliver's of eyes he was reavealing. Four year old's aren't suppose to make those sort of memories. I find it remarkable that at 22 he has the fortitude to process these expereinces enough to write them in a conherant manner.

Here is a link to an article that was published on bbc.com. I warn you it's a rather graphic story. But it should make you appreciate your life. click here Taylor 'made rebels eat enemies'

1 comment:

Dave Carrol said...

Wow.... when I was in ghana, one of the things we did was spend some time in the largest Liberian refuge camp there and heard of very similar experiences.

Really something for someone from the west to even process it... but the one equalizer is AGAIN AND AGAIN Jesus. He saves, heals and restores us all. Some stories are more drastic than others but the process is similar and open for all.