 The saying, “the pen is mightier than the sword,” was clearly manifested in you, the man Thomas Saah Kamara, you whom many of us who worked with, or interacted with, you in many other ways affectionately called Uncle T.
You were born on March 2, 1949. You were a journalist, a real journalist. You were a writer, a real writer. Your pen was indeed mightier than the sword.
Your pen! Your voice! Your power! Your might! Your style! When you wrote, people rushed to read, including those who hated you. There was this special power in your pen. That power forced corrupt public officials to learn their lessons. It compelled corrupt politicians to be careful. It coerced people wanting to sign bogus contracts on behalf of the Liberian people to think twice. The power of your pen forced armed politicians to express interest in the democratic process.
Your pen! Your voice! Your power! Your might! Your style! Yes, the power of your pen helped to put in check many things that would have otherwise been out of hand. Your pen! Your power! Your might! Your style! You were that soldier that used the power of the pen, not of guns, to straighten things up.
Your pen! Your voice! Your power! Your might! Your style! Your pen caused presidents, judges, legislators, ministers, directors, chairpersons, security men and women, Christians and Muslims, educators and students, landlords and tenants, employers and employees, institutions and individuals, and so forth to pause and listen.
I say, your pen! Your voice! Your power! Your might! Your style! Your pen helped promote democracy. It helped level the political playing field. It helped expose many of the good-for-nothing men and women of our society.
Your pen! Your voice! Your power! Your might! Your style! Your pen helped promote not only democracy, but also good governance and justice.
Your pen! Your voice! Your power! Your might! Your style! Your pen helped to promote and protect people’s civil liberties, including free speech. I remember when, in September of 1995, I published a critical article in your paper, the New Democrat, and the administration of the A. M. E. Zion University College threatened me with expulsion. I rushed to you the next day to give you the information. Upon hearing it, you shook your head and said, “Paul, they cannot expel you. It is your right to express yourself and, for that, I will do anything to enable you enjoy that right.” I was not expelled. Thank you, Uncle T.
Thank you, also, for encouraging me to stay in the writing business. I do not regret dedicating my second book to you, and I am delighted I gave you a copy before your death.
Your pen! Your voice! Your power! Your might! Your style! Your pen has helped this country and its people in many ways, whether we admit it or not.
Did you do bad to or hurt other people? Yes, you did! But it is like the rest of us; we all hurt or do bad to our fellowmen nearly every day. So, we cannot and will not throw all the good you did for the betterment of our country and its people, as well as the good you did for scores of individuals and institutions, away with the few negative things you did.
Your pen! Your voice! Your power! Your might! Your style! We cannot and will not throw the good away with the bad. You were a hero. You were a fighter. You were a regulator. You were an inspirer. You were a teacher. Your pen! Your voice! Your power! Your might! Your style!
Then on Wednesday, 8 June 2012, a shockingly unbelievable piece of news was heard – that you had died, that the unmerciful touch of death had visited your body. We couldn’t believe it. But the more we disbelief it, the more that hard truth hit us – that, indeed, you had obeyed God’s call.
But, why, Uncle T? How could you do this to us, we who considered you our role model? Your pen! Your voice! Your power! Your might! Your style! Man, it’s not fair at all.
Why, Uncle T? Why did you leave us just like that, master pen user? Why, Uncle T, when we need you to analyze the statement of Solicitor General Michael Wilkins Wrights, that Liberian lawyers are responsible for the kind of corruption among jurors? You didn’t treat us well, Uncle T. Your pen! Your voice! Your power! Your might! Your style!
So, you left just like that, Uncle T? Why, Uncle T, when you know we need your comment on the interesting development unfolding between the Senate and Madam Mary Broh, with President Sirleaf going to the Capitol to meet with lawmakers? Your pen! Your voice! Your power! Your might! Your style!
So you gone, Uncle T? You left just like that? Why, Uncle T, when you know we need you to continuously participate in the oil debate? Eh, Uncle T! Your pen! Your power! Your might! Your style!
Why, Uncle T? Why leave us just like that, when you know we need your comments on the security situation unfolding in eastern Liberia? Where are you, Uncle T? Your pen! Your voice! Your power! Your might! Your style!
Eh, Uncle T? So you departed us just like that? No, it’s not fair. Why leave just like that, Uncle T, when mid-term elections will be held in 2014, and your analyses of the process will be needed? Where are you, Uncle T? Your pen! Your voice! Your power! Your might! Your style!
Oh, Uncle T! What a great gap your departure has caused! Your pen! Your voice! Your power! Your might! Your style!
Why depart just like that, especially so when another very serious and interesting round of presidential and legislative elections will come in 2017, a season we will soon be in? Don’t you realize that the process and the season will not be as interesting as it would if you were around? Don’t you recognize the power of your presence? Your pen! Your voice! Your power! Your might! Your style!
Where are you, Uncle T? So you’ve really gone? Your pen! Your voice! Your power! Your might! Your style! Who will write those powerful editorials and analyses in the New Democrat? Who will write “Fool’s Paradise”? Who will write “2nd Thought”? Your pen! Your voice! Your power! Your might! Your style!
Oh, Uncle T – you master user of the pen! You just left without thinking that opinion leaders and the reading public would like to know your thoughts on the happenings at and results from the just ended convention of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), along with reports that the party is somehow gradually disintegrating as a result of disgruntlement, fall outs and internal rift. Your pen! Your voice! Your power! Your might! Your style!
Ehn you see, Uncle T? You left just like that without you considering the fact that people would like to read your comments on news reports that the Liberian Senate is thinking about establishing a football team to be funded by taxpayers’ money. Your pen! Your voice! Your power! Your might! Your style!
Eh, Uncle T! So you’ve really left us? Well, what can we do? What can we say? The Bible says it is God that giveth, and it is God that taketh away. We will miss you. Go and rest in peace. While it is true that we cannot be you, we promise to do our best to continue what you started.
Bye, bye, Uncle T! You were a hero. You were a fighter. You were a regulator. You were an inspirer. You were a teacher. Your pen! Your voice! Your power! Your might! Your style!
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