MONROVIA – Emmett L. Dunn, serving as the National Orator for Liberia’s 178th Independence Day celebration, delivered a reflective address on Saturday, July 26, urging Liberians to embark on a path of moral renewal, civic responsibility, and national unity. The oration, delivered at the historic Centennial Memorial Pavilion in Monrovia, resonated with calls for accountability and integrity at every level of society.
Under the theme “One Nation United for Peace, Stability and Development,” Dunn, who also serves as the Presidential Special Envoy for Partnership and Philanthropy, challenged Liberians to look beyond ceremonial pride and confront the nation’s deep-seated issues of corruption, tribalism, and failed leadership.
“Liberia will rise, but only if Liberians rise first,” Dunn declared, drawing loud applause from the audience that included President Joseph Boakai, members of the diplomatic corps, government officials, and hundreds of ordinary citizens. The statement echoed throughout the Pavilion, quickly taking root across social media as a rallying cry for a new era of Liberian patriotism.
In a bold tone, Dunn reminded Liberians that the celebration of independence must come with sober reflection. “This day should not be one of mere pomp and pageantry, but a time to ask ourselves whether we are living up to the ideals for which our forebears fought,” he said.
Throughout his oration, Dunn lamented what he termed a “spiritual and moral deficit” that has crippled both public institutions and the private sector. “We invoke the name of God in everything, but our actions betray our words, we lie, we steal, we destroy. We must reconcile our public faith with our private conduct,” he warned.
The orator called for a national character shift, stating that Liberia’s true freedom would only be achieved when Liberians reject corruption, embrace truth, and prioritize service over self-interest. He urged public servants to honor the sacred trust bestowed upon them and to serve with discipline and humility.
Dunn’s address was not limited to criticism. It offered a hopeful vision for renewal rooted in civic responsibility, youth engagement, and diaspora contribution. “The destiny of this nation lies not in foreign aid or international partners, it lies within us,” he said.
To the country’s youth, he issued a direct challenge: “Reject the politics of handouts. Reject the mindset that your future lies in the hands of a politician. Your future lies in education, in hard work, in innovation, and in your own belief that Liberia can be great again.”
Addressing the diaspora community, Dunn appealed for more meaningful engagement beyond remittances. “We need your voices in governance reform. We need your skills in our hospitals, schools, and courts. You have a stake in this country’s rebirth,” he urged.
Dunn also pressed the Boakai administration to make courageous policy decisions that may be unpopular but necessary. He called for transparency in managing public funds, a decisive crackdown on graft, and robust investments in human capital. “Let your legacy be one that favored truth over convenience, and country over party,” he advised the president.
The speech was lauded for its clarity and courage. Observers across political and civil society circles described it as a call to conscience. “This is the kind of truth we needed to hear on Independence Day,” said a university lecturer attending the event. “He did not flatter the government; he challenged all of us.”
His words struck a nerve with the public, particularly amid ongoing concerns about economic hardship, judicial inefficiencies, and allegations of corruption in both the current and previous administrations. Dunn’s address served not just as a reflection, but as a prescription for Liberia’s national healing.
In his closing remarks, Dunn encouraged Liberians to move beyond the politics of division. “No tribe, no religion, no county should feel more entitled to this nation than another. We must unite under one flag, with one purpose, to build a Liberia we can all be proud of.”
“Liberia will rise,” he repeated, “but only if Liberians rise first.”
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