Whether the views expressed are expressed via the mouth, or the pen, it must be remembered that other people’s views must be respected, whether or not we accept those views. This is where tolerance replaces intolerance. This is where maturity subdues immaturity. This is where professionalism displaces mediocrity. This is where vindictiveness and personal attacks give way to intellectual interplay. This is where the free exchange of ideas, without the use of physical force or insult, flourishes. Let it be remembered that other people do not usually think and act the way we do  – this is called individual differences. 

This simple, but often ignored or forgotten, fact is engendered by, according to psychology, three basic factors: confinement to those functions within the range of the human species, nature of the inheritance from the family line, and influences of the environmental experiences. Let people be free to think and express their views, whether we abhor the views, or not. 

If I may turn to Christian theology a bit, the market of free-thinking was introduced by Jehovah God in the Garden of Eden, when He gave man what is know as ‘the free moral agency of man,’ and includes the right of free thought and choice, which, too, has been stamped by article 15 of the Liberian Constitution.  

In this market, especially in relation to the New Liberia, no one should gun-down, witch-hunt, threaten, insult, physically assault, or consider another person an enemy, all because he has a different opinion about a topic or issue.  

We all cannot always think or act in the same manner; hence, no one should be forced to agree with, or accept, another man’s idea. In this market, the exchange of ideas must be welcomed, encouraged and protected. Doing the opposite would, for sure, destroy the market and, by extension, our co-existence. 

It must also be remembered that in the market of free speech, people should learn and practice how to disagree agreeably. This is one of the rudimentary principles of this market, and it must be observed. One may disagree with a person’s opinion without going against that person personally. There are some who think that if a person disagrees with them, then it must necessarily mean that that person hates them. This is a dangerous mentality and those who think like this, I believe, are little minds.  

We must learn to accept, or better, understand, that our ideas may be misleading or false and, because of this fact, our ideas and opinions may be challenged. And we should be ready to challenge others’ ideas, if need be. It is man’s nature to challenge the status quo. The books and beliefs of almost all religions have been challenged. The policies, works and utterances of individuals and institutions have been challenged, and this trend will continue, as long as mankind exists.   

One of the things that have brought about man’s advancement is his nature to challenge, investigate and question different ideas, events and laws. Hence, not only is it wrong to think that the opinion we hold about a certain person, place or thing is absolute, it is also detrimental to the survival of humanity.  

Indeed, we must allow free thinking to survive, especially in the New Liberia. This is the challenge to all Liberians, especially the intellectuals, the academicians, policy-makers, lawmakers, opinion leaders, politicians, newspaper publishers, online magazine owners, government officials, the writers, the speakers, the activists, the leaders, and so forth.  

Let free-thinking survive, Liberians! Let it flourish like the flowers of the Hanging Garden of Babylon! Let its influence go as high as the Towel of Babel! Let its impact be as huge and as extensive as the Great Pyramid of Egypt! Let its visibility in the Liberian society and among Liberians be as glaring as the Statue of Zeus at Olympia! Let its light shine like that of the Great Lighthouse at Alexandria!  

What is worth remembering in the Liberian scenario, however, is that while we all may think and act different, we must remember to be united in our diversity, for the common good of our country and people.