Abigail E Disney and Gini Reticker, USA, 2008
This is a remarkable documentary about the journey from a cruel devastating war to peace for the people of Liberia. What makes it particularly remarkable is that it is a story of ordinary women - Christian and Muslim - working together to bring about peace in their beloved Liberia.
“Some say the war was about the gap between the rich and the poor. Some also say that the war was about the hatred between the different ethnic groups. Others say the war was to control natural resources. Power, money, ethnicity, greed. But there’s nothing, in my mind, that should make people do what they did to the children of Liberia.” [Leymah Gbowee]
Gbowe had a dream, a dream that she shared with her fellow Christians at St Peter’s Lutheran Church in Monrovia in June 2002, a dream that Christian women of all denominations in Monrovia should work together for peace.
Present at that meeting was Asatu Bah Kenneth, a Moslem who is now Assistant Director, Liberian National Police. As she listened, she felt compelled to get up and speak also. And what she said was:
“... I have a surprise for this congregation. I am the only Moslem in this church. I was moved, and I’m impressed with the Christian Women’s Initiative... We’re all serving the same God. This is not only for the Christian women. I want to promise today that I’m going to move it forward with the Muslim women”
Moving it forward was, of course not easy.
Vaiba Flomo, Secretary, says:
“At first it was somehow difficult. When we started some Christians said being a follower of Christ and going to work along with the Muslim women means they were diluting their faith, but the message that we took on was “Can a bullet pick and choose. Does the bullet know Christian from Muslim?””
And so began a remarkable journey of peacemaking, a journey taken together by the Christian and Muslim women of Liberia. Together they formed the Women of Liberia Mass Action for Peace.
This documentary had the effect, for me, of countering so many misconceptions that are fueled within our own society. It does not paint a pretty picture. It is not a movie for children. And yet it is the most inspiring documentary I have ever encountered. It gives vivid picture of religion, or perhaps I should say religious people, at their very worst and also at their very best. It is a story we all need to hear and learn from.
The DVD can be purchased directly from www.praythedevilbacktohell.com/.
Heather Griffin