I enjoyed Ben's email.  I agree with much of its contents.

We all need to be conscious of a few things:  we are all different people,
with different ideas, and most importantly different life experiences.  I
base much of my information on both media reports (i.e. BBC, CNN, AND USA
TODAY) and personal life experiences. I apologize if I have offended my
Nigerian brothers and sisters, that was not my intention.  My intention was
to give my opinion, which I am sorry conflicted with your opinion of the
situation.  What I find disturbing is nobody disputed the BBC article
(Sierra Leone test a troubled region) but instead, questioned motives for
publishing this article on the AAM mailing list.

I want to make sure that everyone is clear on one thing, I was not
criticizing Nigeria or its people.  I was criticizing a handful of people
that run the government.  It seems to me that people are taking my comments
as a personal attack (which it was most definitely not meant to be).

We have a war going on!  People are dying!  If no one is to blame, then why
does the war continue?  I do not only blame Nigeria's government, I blame
my
own countries government (Liberian) as well.  Liberia is also playing a
large role in the civil war in Sierra Leoan, a war that has claimed nearly
1500,000 lives.  If we hope to accomplish anything, we cannot keep pointing
the finger at someone else. Are we here to blame someone else while never
judging our own countries actions?

Again, I apologize if I offended anyone, that was not my intention.  Thanks
for your comments Mr. Yarl.

Sam