Notes from

Sierra Leone

Monsters

14 August 2003

This chief reflects on war's destruction to his village and the difficult way forward

“Can you imagine—to see a man just walking along one moment, and the next moment someone comes up and stabs him” Ernest mimed a stabbing motion to punctuate the action.

“And then he reaches into him and pulls out the heart. And it was still beating, like this.” Ernest held his hand out palm up, his fingers squeezing in and out rhythmically. In the darkness I could almost see the heart he was imagining in his hand.

“The man stayed standing—It was as if brain didn’t register that the body had died. And then, seconds, seconds, seconds, the body collapsed.

“And the other guy was holding this heart and laughing, and offered some to his friend ‘Do you want a piece?’”

The ocean waves lapped at the shore rhythmically. Sitting there enjoying peace and chips at Ramada Beach Bar, the horrific realities of Ernest’s life in Liberia seemed surreal.

“I don’t know how men can do these things, these inhuman things,” he continued. “How do normal people turn into monsters? If only America had helped us, years ago, so much of this may never have happened.

“Liberia is such a beautiful country. We have friendly people, and ocean, like this, and huge expanses of virgin forest…

“I thank God that Charles Taylor is gone.”

Next article: Urban Homesteading

Back to Julie's Sierra Leone page | Back to Julie's home page

Disclaimer: Opinions expressed in the personal notes are my own. Facts presented are accurate to the best of my knowledge, but this site should not be taken as an authoritative resource.