The recent bills introduced by Senator Edwin Melvin Snowe to legislate public holidays for Easter Monday, Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha has been received with mixed reaction in the public, with a segment of the society (mostly the Christian community) being against the Senator’s endeavor, calling on him to withdraw the bills, while another segment (mostly Muslims) welcoming the senator’s initiative.
However, in the midst of the mixed public reaction, Senator Snowe has vowed not to withdraw the bills, but instead promised to stand for what he believes is right, based on the nation’s history and the need for the wholesome functioning of the Liberian society.
In a Facebook post yesterday, Senator Snowe wrote, “I have read and listened to all the sensational print, social media and radio spins regarding my patriotic endeavor to make our nation more inclusive and accommodating of its diversity by introducing three, very important, legislations that I am sponsoring on the floor of the Liberian Senate.
“For the record, the introduction of these bills is not intended to bring me in conflict, or seek favor from any particular segment of our Liberian society. It is based on my patriotic conviction and responsibility as a Senator for all our people, based on my keen reading of Liberian history, including the proximate causes of our recent baseless prolonged civil conflict. I represent the majority as well as the minority.”
According to Senator Snowe, “The introduction of these bills represents, first, my belief in equality and religious freedom as guaranteed by our Constitution and laws of our country, Liberia; secondly, it is based on my belief and considered learning that God is a God of justice and fairplay. Consistent with the principles of freedom of speech and expression guaranteed by our Constitution, those of you opposing these bills have the right to call on your lawmakers to vote against them. However, as it stands, I will not, in good faith, withdraw these legislations.
“I will be on the floor of the Liberian Senate come Thursday, June 3rd, to ensure that these bills are placed on the agenda and read on the floor of the Liberian Senate. I will not back down. I will not withdraw. I will stand for what I believe is right, based on our history, and the need for a wholesome functioning of the Liberian society, and one nation, under God with liberty and justice for all. ‘Might don’t make right’ and all is in time.”
The Liberian population is made up of majority Christians, followed by Muslims, and then traditionalist and atheists. Even though the bills include a Christian holiday, a number of clergymen of the Christian faith are of the belief that Senator Snowe’s bill for to declare Easter Monday a public holiday is not in good faith, and that introducing an Islamic holiday is completely against the Forefathers’ intent of building the nation state on Christian principles.
On the other hand, those in support of the Senator’s bill who spoke to the Hot Pepper have argued that it is sheer hypocrisy to condemn religious holidays and, at the same time, use the Bible and the Quran for public functions. According to them, the two holy books are used for oath-taking at the National Legislature and in the courts, as well as other public functions; as such, the introduction of these bills will provide the opportunity for the citizenry to get closer to God and redeem the nation from the hands of the evil ones.
Some politicians, including Henry Costa, have argued that, even though the bills are in the right trajectory, Senator Snowe cannot be trusted to introduce them, as he has been inconsistently inconsistent when it comes to national matters.
Now that Senator Snowe has introduced the bills and promised to ensure that they become an agenda item for Thursday session, ears are open as to how the deliberation goes at the Senate and what will be the position of the majority of the Senators on the matter.
Article 14 of the Constitution states, “All persons shall be entitled to freedom of thought, conscience and religion and no persons shall be hindered in the enjoyment thereof except as may be required by law to protect public safety, order, health, or morals or the fundamental rights and freedom of others. All persons who, in the practice of their religion, conduct themselves peacefully, not obstructing others and confirming to standards set out herein, shall be entitled to the protection of the law. No religious denomination or sect shall have any exclusive privilege or preference over any other, but all shall be treated alike; and no religious tests shall be required for any civil or military office or for the exercise of any civil right. Consistent with the principle of separation of religion and state, the Republic shall establish no state religion.”
Being a secular state, Liberia takes a position of many neighboring countries in the West African sub-region, including Ghana, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Senegal, etc. however, many, if not all, of these countries observe religious holidays in order to allow the citizenry to freely practice their religious rites and free them from hindrances or compelling factors that may arise from employers or school administrators, who may be from different religious beliefs.