Evidence of War-Bailey Bridge and Palm Cabbage

Thought here and again I should post photos that depict the "signs of war." Really, they should be labeled remnants. The true signs of war is the way the people of Liberia are suffering physically, mentall, financially, and emotionally.

But there are physical signs that symbolize the war existed, and not everything is obvious as I have come to learn.

This photo depicts a "bailey bridge." If you are familiar with armed forces, you know this term. This bridge is carried on a tank and when troops need to pass over a terrain where bridges once laid, the tank is able to put down this style of bridge. All through the countryside you will find these bridges - as even today the only way to keep peace in Liberia is the thousands of UN troops stationed throughout the bush.

The UN is also responsible for delivering water - and constant convoys of white UN tanker trucks deliver water to the bush counties and villages.

Other signs include what's missing - for instance our compound is called coconut plantation because of the coconut trees - and I have come to learn why there are no other trees along the beach - not because our landlord planted trees no no. Sadly, before Charkes Taylor, coconut trees were  abundant and along the shore especially coconut trees were "plenty." During his reign of terror and the lack of food in and all the folks hiding out in Mamba Point, Monrovia, the people chopped down the trees to get to the edible fiber found in the center of the coconut tree trunks, this food is known as "palm cabbage."

And so the lack of coconut trees is now so painfully evident to me every time I walk the beach.