Can Former Civilians Repair Damages from a Civil War

There are a couple things that are guaranteed at a Liberian gathering: fufu and soup, "Tutu Party," and a large group of men fighting to talk over each other about politics. You might laugh at the talk - it seems useless and repetitive. It's always the same discussion at every party, reception or barbecue. But maybe you shouldn't scoff at your dad and uncles - they might be on to something.
The general political situation in Africa is no secret. Although corruption isn't the rule in African politics, it's still nowhere near being the exception. The political well-being of a country is key to it's people's success: Without a stable government in place that has the people's best interests at heart, the country usually isn't headed anywhere good. A corrupt government or leader is rarely the only problem, but it is one of the best places to begin when you are looking to fix a problem. So how does one start to fix a problem when your main source of helpin' is too busy helpin' itself?
Normally, I would say the citizens ,but this may not be the answer. Think of what your concerns would be if you were a citizen of a war-torn country where you're struggling just to provide the day-to-day necessities. The workings of the government would be the least of your worries. Putting food on your table and maintaining some semblance of stability is probably what is weighing on your mind, so the citizens may not be the best place to start. Where, then?
How about those arguing men (and sometimes women, of course) that we were discussing before. The diaspora; our parents and grandparents and aunts and uncles and cousins. These are the best people to enact political change in Africa. For one, they are not strangers. They know their culture and customs and they know the concerns of the citizens. Because they have this background, there is less of a risk of them trying to force a government system that does not work well with the established customs. Second of all, our parents have moved to and lived in countries where the government is stable and for the most part, corruption is kept in check. Many of them also have the benefit of a top-notch, higher-level education. These are the people who can use these two sources of knowledge to help create a stable African political atmosphere.
What I'm saying is nothing that hasn't been said before. But, it does shed some light on the party politic discussions. Even though they seem like fruitless arguments, they are indications of something more. They are indications that these people - our uncles, moms, aunts, and cousins - still care. And that means a lot. Just caring is the seed of greater things. Showing that you care about something means there is the potential for further thought and action. Sometimes the actions don't even have to come from you. They may encourage other people to care and think and act. These discussions aren't meaningless at all. In fact, they are meaningful and may be the grass roots to finding an answer.
Of course, this is no solution to the problem. Caring about an issue won't change it or make it better. But I honestly believe that it is a good, though small, place to start.

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, current Liberian President who is a graduate of Harvard and is working to restore peace to the country of Liberia after many years of corruption and civil war. She is known as the "Iron Lady"