12 YEARS A SLAVE

My partner and I went to see, 12 years a slave, a very compelling and emotionally rousing movie, at times tempting me to scream out or enrage, about the shameful acts humans did to another human being. A truly powerful film well directed, choreographed and acted and has to be honestly endured and appreciated for its depiction of harsh realities.

Then, again, I contained myself mindfully for the ignorance that happened for eons and insightfully observed the rest of the movie. However, my partner’s continuous sobbing about the overwhelming condition, at times, put me under extreme pressure to screech out but when the film’s actor said to his colleagues “don’t despair”, I took that as premonition and continued to see the rest of tragedies in silence.

This type of enigma does happen even among the same/different races in Africa under altered name of subjugation and despotism even, today, the same colour people oppressing each other. Victimized viewers should not feel anger or animosities toward what happened in the draconian time and check their attitudes thoughtfully in their life time. Two hundred years later, what has changed? We have to be realistic that racism still exists discreetly and hard to amplify for those honest individuals and it’s our business to do our share with NO preconditions. Hopefully, those who saw or about to see the film should not be offended or sorry about the precarious atrocities committed by ignorance and ultimately learn to move on with a renewed approach/attitude.

የኛ - Y E G N A

Yegna (our) – the new Ethiopian Spice Girls sensation is an all Ethiopian Girls Band united to educate, empower & aspire the younger generations, especially, girls as well as women & message for the society to open their eyes to see the harsh realities of living under disparities, suppressions, oppressions, nepotism & despotism and transcend them with love & understanding with no exclusions.

The song is called ‘ABET’ –‘we are here’ -A call & a cry message for recognition for everyone to hear & understand their sufferings & disrespect. Disenchanted & dissatisfied of the harsh living conditions, enough is enough, they started singing educational songs as an entertainment to entice more audiences & in doing so, to free themselves & bring the changes that are necessary for all Ethiopians.

A very exciting, heart-warming cultural dance entertainment at the start & showcasing eclectic & jaw dropping dance moves of Ethiopian idols half way to the end.
Simply magnificent!

Hey, hey… The groups proved it’s in my DNA, why people wondered that I was such a good dancer all those years.

Hey! I still am!! Thank you.

T H E A W A K E N I N G

We need to be mindful i.e. to be fully present in the moment and with each moment of any involvement outwardly or inwardly, be able to restore our emotional suffering and make our life come alive by attaining blissful healing, by making radical personal & social transformation, invincible liberation by freeing ourselves from our preconceived mindset & self-criticism, mental projections of all sorts imagining problems, - negative endless internal opinions & dialogues constantly reinforcing & justifying how things must turn out, prejudging situations & conversations long before they happen, if they ever happen.

We need to break free from negative emotions of the past & out-dated beliefs of inherited collective mind-patterns that have kept our parents & ancestors in captivity, without blaming anyone, creating so much of their suffering for eons manifesting in our misery today, thus transferring that into our eternal parenthood obligations. If my poor Mom & Dad only knew all the predicaments & survival kits! Thank you for everything.

Our own wellbeing is inseparable from the wellbeing of those around us. No matter how separated we are geographically, culturally or by social status, our interests are inextricably linked even with those who disheartened, disappointed, abnegated, frustrated, and you name it, us in our relationships & close encounters.
 
An English Philosophical Poet, John Donne, wrote, “No man is an island.” an expression emphasizing a person's connections to his or her environs. Similarly, South African philosophy of UBUNTU which roughly translates to human kindness toward others is the belief in a universal bond of sharing with all humanity replaces the simple greeting of ‘How are you?’ with the more sentimental response ‘I’m well if you are well.’

Now, create or choose a strong and dynamic affirmation, time and again, that will take you through the days, weeks, months & years and repeat it to yourself every time your head is trying to spiral.
Here is one good act to follow: “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.”

I came across the highly charged Eddie James, African-American, spiritual singer, singing “awakening”, while I was writing awakening & cherry-picked him to be relevant to my focus of humanity’s pursuit of self-realization through awakening irrespective of their religious & spiritual choices or beliefs.

O McCain You’ve Done It Again

Obama was in South Africa to pay his tribute to, his idol, a man who epitomizes humanity’s goodness and forgiveness. It was during this time world leaders met in harmony to pay their tribute to Mandela and took the opportunity to greet one another. It was also a marvel to watch during the leaders mingling time when the grim faced Raul Castro, Cuban president popped up to face passionate US president Barrack Obama and both leaders, accidental heroes, took the opportunity to shake their hands. 

Later, back in the US, 2008 presidential candidate John McCain who was looking for an excuse to blame, so frantically, a man who defeated him, Barack Obama,  by comparing him to Hitler conciliator for shaking hands with Cuban President Raul Castro at Nelson Mandela’s memorial service in South Africa.

But McCain knows better than anyone that diplomacy sometimes means shaking hands with repressive autocrats. Take, for example, former Libyan dictator Muammar Gadhafi. McCain visited Gadhafi in Tripoli with other lawmakers on a diplomatic mission in 2009 for an interesting hangout he described on Twitter.

 

It is so blindingly obvious that John McCain remains bitter and unreconciled for his election defeat Obama. He still holds grudges for his election loss and walking around with his wound carrying the splinter in his hand waiting for the moment to throw it back to the man who he called ’that one’. “O McCain you’ve done it again”!

 

McCain needs to learn from Nelson Mandela who has been hailed as ‘the last great liberator’, who warned leaders, “If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy. Then he becomes your partner”.

 

“…The primary significance of Mandela and King was not their willingness to lock arms or hold hands with their enemies. It was their unshakable resolve to do whatever was necessary to bring those enemies to their knees. . . . “- Richard Price

Barack Obama gave his most illuminating and enchanting eulogy to the South African people for a man who thought us how to deal with our enemies, preserve democracy and the rule of law.

 

He told the world leaders and others in charge of responsibilities, “And so we, too, must act on behalf of justice.  We, too, must act on behalf of peace.  There are too many people who happily embrace Madiba’s legacy of racial reconciliation, but passionately resist even modest reforms that would challenge chronic poverty and growing inequality.  There are too many leaders who claim solidarity with Madiba’s struggle for freedom, but do not tolerate dissent from their own people.  And there are too many of us on the sidelines, comfortable in complacency or cynicism when our voices must be heard”.

 

Former US presidents and other countries’ leaders present at the tribute stadium astounded and had a stern look on their faces. Then, he continued telling the rapturous crowd, “The questions we face today -- how to promote equality and justice; how to uphold freedom and human rights; how to end conflict and sectarian war -- these things do not have easy answers.  But there were no easy answers in front of that child born in World War I.  Nelson Mandela reminds us that it always seems impossible until it is done”.

 

Then, instead of using one of his own ‘yes we can’ truism, He reminded everyone to cherish Madiba’s mantra for life: “I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination.  I’ve cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities.  It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve.  But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.”



DEATH OF AN ICON, NELSON MANDELA 1918-2013

I sadly heard the jaw dropping morning news break, interrupting normal programs, briefing the death of an icon, Madiba, Nelson Mandela, aged 95, “At Last”. He lived it to the last gasp of his breath on the fateful night of Thursday, December 05, 2013.

Everyone dies, nobody lives forever. Madiba lived a life of principle. He lived a life of convictions. He lived it with moral courage according to his dreams and ideals much higher than himself. A life of principle lived to the fullest, a lifelong journey, with steadfast endurance, with so much gloom and pain in the process. All that for the advancement of freedom through his life long struggle in order for social justice and equality to prevail in his homeland and around the world.

Madiba, a great soul, faithful to his convictions, has stood his ground through thick and thin. He has stood his ground indeed with rare endurance and stamina to the last minute of his life. I know Madiba would disagree with my use of brutal words in describing even his political enemies because he honestly reconciled with those who jailed him without bitterness. Therefore, I say no more about his torture. Even if he was a fighter, it doesn’t equate to his torture and his people’s annihilation for freedom.  

But there are certain qualities of him that one can dare assert that Madeba is a rare breed even among that heroic generation. Always dreaming and desiring for a better and humane political order for his people, he never sold or surrounded his soul to the powers that be. Nor did he ever abandon his convictions to trade for the comforts and material gains which he could have acquired so easily with the kind of intellectual calibre, many facets of knowledge, as well as the practical wisdom he was imbued with regard to the social and economic edifice upon which a post-industrial society like the South Africa has been built. Nelson Mandela chose to live, however, a simple life, a modest life, with an unspoken contempt for the glitter that dominates this world that puts premium on gadgets, and all those outward signs and symbols of “success”.

One with a profound sense of self-worth and self-respect, yet he was a modest man, a humble man, always a man of the people at home and around the world.
Nelson Mandela, Madiba, we love you, we respect you profoundly. The struggle for which you gave your entire life with unyielding conviction shall continue and prevail. We can’t thank you enough for your indomitable legacy; dedicating your life for us, magnanimously inspiring us, struggling against injustice for us, incarcerated for us and sacrificing so much of your life for us.

May we cherish the ideas and ideals he struggled for throughout his life.
It’s hard to say Goodbye our dear Madiba. May your soul Rest In Peace.
To his fans and devoted supporters around the world who have chanted the “Free Nelson Mandela” song arduously to free him, I take this opportunity to congratulate you for doing just that and my condolences on his passing.

To his big families & brave South Africans may our thoughts and comforts be with you at farewelling, a man who gave you what you’ve been yearning for: freedom, peace & happiness, Madiba.

"The greatest glory of living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time you fall."

WE SHALL MEET AGAIN.

The Story of a Mandela behind Mandela

By Kadiro Elemo*
This is the story of two Mandelas. Yes, there are two Mandelas. The first one is the Mandela of South Africa, who campaigned against the apartheid. The second one is an Oromo Mandela, who educated the anti-apartheid Mandela. The first Mandela is an international celebrity. He deserves it because he earned it. The other Mandela is an international obscurity, like his otherwise vast people, who are speaking for themselves and coming out from a shadow, a shadow imposed on them by the empire, racism and ignorance of international relations. The South African Mandela is a ferocious enemy of the Apartheid who wanted nothing less than the demise of the system. The Oromo Mandela wanted nothing more than amelioration of the system he faithfully served. The white South Africans tolerated Mandela who destroyed their rule. The Ethiopians killed the Oromo Mandela. What a contrast! The Apartheid system obviously had more clemency for its black subjects than the Ethiopian system for its Oromo people. Had the Oromo Mandela had a chance to witness history in 1994, he would have said that I was the one who gave the ABCs of soldiering to Nelson Mandela.

Recently, I read a fascinating piece, “The Story of Nelson Mandela’s Missing Pistol,” which was written by my dear friend and former classmate at Addis Ababa University, Awol Allo.  As Awol depicted brilliantly, movingly and beautifully, Nelson Mandela, who is widely and popularly known by his tribal name Madiba in South Africa, is an extraordinary man, a man full of courage, wisdom, vision, determination, and who wholeheartedly gave himself for the struggle and freedom of his people.  He is a great man of humanity, and humility, and a trademark of spirit of forgiveness, love and peace. In short, he is an icon of the black race and an epitome of “the best of humanity.” The purpose of my essay is twofold. Firstly, my friend has wonderfully portrayed Mandela the man and the political figure, and his status in the New South Africa. In this essay, thus, I want to shade light on the role of Colonel Taddasa Birru, albeit remote, in the anti-apartheid struggle. Secondly, Awol has brought into the spotlight how the apartheid system and Ethiopian rulers employed the very concept of law and justice to advance, conceal, and humanize their unjust and authoritarian brutality. By comparing the two justice systems, he concludes “that the scale of justice in Apartheid courts is more evenly tipped than their Ethiopian counterparts.” To substantiate his assertion, I will focus on the trial of Maccaa-Tuulamaa Self-help Association to establish roles of courts in Ethiopia in legitimation and perpetuation of the ruthless dictatorship. I should advise my readers that some of the stories in this essay are already discussed in my book, “Ethiopia and United States; The Tragedy of Human Rights.”
As Awol aptly reflected in this writing, Mandela is adored among his countrymen for instituting an armed wing of the African National Congress (MK). He resorted to a military solution when all peaceful venues were closed on the struggle of the Africans for equality. The guerrilla resistance, coupled with international sanctions, ultimately compelled Apartheid South Africa to step back from leaping forward with its affront to humanity and seek compromise with the ANC.
It was this mission of fighting the Apartheid regime that took Mandela to Kolfe, a suburb of Finfinne, in early 1960s. Mandela, an amateurish boxer, armed with nothing but bravery, a resolution, and a sparkling hope, desired to learn the art of war-making to advance the cause of his downtrodden people. This created an opportunity for the two future historic figures to meet, Mandela and Colonel Taddasa Birru.
In his memoir, “Long Walk to Freedom,” Mandela noted, “I was lectured on military science by Colonel Tadesse, who was also assistant commissioner of police.” The colonel taught him about ‘how to create a guerrilla force, how to command an army, and how to enforce discipline’. Mandela, a man who changed the world through his passion and compassion, indicated that the colonel opened his eyes to the military science and shaped his worldview. He lectured him egalitarian ethos of a liberation army, which made the MK popular among its ranks and files. This is how Mandela recalls a conversation with the colonel:

One evening, during supper, Colonel Tadesse said to me, ‘now Mandela you are creating a liberation army, not a conventional capitalist army. A liberation army is an egalitarian army. You must treat your men entirely differently than you would in a capitalist army. When you are on duty, you must exercise your authority with assurance and control. This is no different from a capitalist command. But when you are off duty, you must conduct yourself on the basis of perfect equality, even with the lowliest soldier. You must eat what they eat; you must not take your food in your office, but eat with them, drink with them, not isolate yourself.’

Mandela training in Kolfe was supposed to last for six months, but after two-months, he decided to go back to South Africa as the struggle was bearing fruit and a commander was needed on the ground. Mandela speaks,

Colonel Tadesse rapidly arranged for me to take an Ethiopian flight to Khartoum. Before I left, he presented me with a gift: an automatic pistol and two hundred rounds of ammunition. I was grateful, both for the gun and his instruction.

It was this very gun that Mandela had buried before he was sent to a prison cell on the Robben Island. The fall of the symbolic gun, in the hand of the Apartheid, would have been a psychological disaster, sort of propaganda coup for the apartheid. It is the story of this enigmatic gun that caught the attention of my friend, who was otherwise, went to see a site of the Rivonia Trial in Liliesleaf, SA. Awol has briefly walked us through the place, which transformed from the center of “sabotage and terrorism” to the center of “liberation.” He superbly elucidated the emotional, historic, and symbolic significance of the gun. The military science and the gun for Mandela were contributions of the Oromo hero in a fight against the Apartheid.
It was December 1960 that American educated Girmame Naway and his brother Mangistu Naway, Commander of the Imperial Bodyguard, decided to relieve Ethiopia from the rule of Emperor Hayla Sillase. At the time, the emperor was on the official tour in Brazil. They convinced a police commissioner, Warqinah Gabayyahu, to join the plot. As it was a Manzyan matter, they did not consult a man who would be a game changer, Colonel Taddasa, a decorated anti-fascist hero and the deputy commander of police. The news of the coup was a surreal moment,  a nerve-wracking and  an earthquake for the Colonel since he was indoctrinated that even speaking bad of the divine emperor was transgressing the Law of God that would lead to the fall of Sky. He lost his cool for the “sacred” office of “the God Elect” was disputed and violated. He prepared the Ethiopian Police Riot Battalion for the Kamikaze type mission. He gathered his fellow brainwashed policemen. They passionately chanted and chanted, ‘Let us sacrifice ourselves for our beloved emperor!’ “Let us Perish for Ethiopia.” He marched his men, along the national army, to restore the glory of King Solomon, the son of David, the Son of God, and, above all, to restore the Glory of God. Dying in the mission was dying for the cause of God, and the reward was The Eternal Zion.
The human wave overwhelmed the putschists, who intrepidly fought back, including massacring their hostages. Thousands died, and the coup failed. Mandela knew the Colonel’s role in aborting the coup, “Colonel Tadesse … had been instrumental in foiling a recent coup against the emperor.”
Therefore, at the time of Mandela arrival in Kolfe, Mandela and the Colonel were two totally different figures. Mandela was a man ready to stop the oppression, exploitation, and segregation of his people. Contrarily, the Colonel was a man who saved the throne that exploited and humiliated his people at its nadir.
In 1963 the farsighted minds of the Oromo, who were tired of imperial obstructionism and who were tired of self-mortifications, created a Maccaa-Tuulamaa Self-help Association to kindle development and education of their people.  The association was formed by those Oromos who fully assimilated to achieve the Abyssinian dream, but failed because of the government’s incapacitating system. It was this association that approached Colonel Taddasa to join it as an inspirational figure for his people. Because of his fierce Amhara nationalism, the Colonel was reluctant to join the education of his native people even in a language of the ruling class. At the time, he was also the chairman of the national literacy campaign. Eventually, he changed his heart after a number of appeals from Oromo elders.
Wanting to keep the Oromo masses uneducated forever, the empire did not like the Colonel involvement to enhance the condition of his people. Prime Minister Aklilu Habtawald invited him for a candid discussion. Assuming that the indistinguishable General was his fellow Amhara personage, he earnestly advised him that ‘educating the Oromos, in Amharic, is an ocean whose wave could flood them.’
What the Colonel heard was a rude awakening. This turned his worldview upside down; for the nation, he loved so much, never loved him back; and for the throne, he almost vanished for, wanted to keep his people under a literacy embargo.  It changed him forever. It changed him from the Ethiopian patriot into the father of modern Oromo nationalism. He shaded his Amara mask – a transition from pseudo persona to real self, from self-despise to self-respect, from subservience to assertiveness, and from accepting second-class status to yearning for equality and freedom. Although I do not know the extent of Mandela influence on the Colonel, I surmise that he desired to be a Mandela of his people – an Oromo Mandela who built especial place in the minds and hearts of the Oromo people, a Mandela that the world unrecognized.
For choosing to educate his people, the empire dealt a coup de grace to his colorful military career. He was fired. The decision embittered him. He was more committed than ever to become the mouthpiece of his unhappy people. Thus, the Maccaa-Tuulamaa Self-help Association became a popular movement and a semblance of a political party in the party-less imperial system, where there was only one candidate and one voter: Hayla Sillasse, The Elect of God.
As law-abiding and peace-loving citizens, the Oromos respected even the repressive law of the empire. The empire did not like the association. It was associated with fomenting tribal tension and, the government accused them of hurting a national sentiment of the country by using a forbidden language, Afaan Oromoo, for its meetings. At the time, it was illegal and un-Ethiopian to teach, write, preach, or broadcast in any Oromo dialect throughout the realm of Ethiopia. The association was banned.
As I mentioned earlier, Awol highlights the agency of the law in the execution of unjust and inhumane repression, all in the name of justice. When he draws the parallel between the courts under the Apartheid system and the EPRDF Ethiopia, his finding appalls him. Courts workings under the Apartheid system were benign in their instrumentality in rationalizing irrationalities of human wrongs compared to those under the current Ethiopian government. He amply made clear that the court houses were the only place for rationality to prevail under the Apartheid system, unlike the case in Ethiopia. I will corroborate the same argument by focusing on the trial of Maccaa-Tuulamaa Self-help Association in my next essay.
* Kadiro Elemo is a Chicago based independent researcher and the author of “The United States and Ethiopia: The Tragedy of Human Rights.”

FREELIEF LAUNCHING INVITATION

 

We would like to invite everyone including recipients and donors on the opening day. If you have something to give bring it with you or call us before the opening date.

Click on images to enlarge for reading. If you still can't view clearly, save it on your desktop and view it with any photo viewing software.  

 

 



FREELIEF DONATION BROCHURES

FREELIEF

FREELIEF is a non-profit project & the first of its kind dedicated to creating acts of kindness & doing universal good in Australia, and the humble beginnings of the project today is meeting needs of the population far beyond the capacity of government, and leading to the formalisation of FREELIEF, with a broader purpose to support the poor, refugees, jobless, asylum seekers, homeless, the distressed, the aged, and the weak.

Donations include, but not limited to, pre-loved & latest ladies’, men’s, children’s, work & casual clothing and other accessories such as mobile phones, computers, books, cassettes, vinyls, CDs, magazines, glasses, caps, hats, bags, purses, home products and many more items are given free of charge to individuals & families.

MISSION STATEMENT

FREELIEF is dedicated to helping children, families, refugees, jobless, asylum seekers, homeless, the distressed, the aged, and the weak in our communities to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice providing their immediate needs.

SERVICES

FREELIEF meets the specific needs of individual people through direct support services, and also works with whole communities, connecting people across gender, age and cultural divides to create a renewed sense of optimism and belonging.

FREELIEF is devoted to collecting generous donations to provide assistance to people whose survival is in crisis, threatened by violence, neglect, exclusion from care at no cost irrespective of race, religion, creed or political convictions, at a chosen venue.

Currently our donations come from non-governmental sources such as private & individual donors.

PREREQUISITES

FREELIEF operates independently and conducts evaluations & basic requirements on the ground to determine individual needs before facilitating the delivery of the best required assistance in the community.  

With the purpose of assisting everyone equitably, to receive help from FREELIEF, proof of one or two assessment verifications of the followings are required:

1. Refugees unable to sustain their day to day expenses & incapable to qualify for any other help
2. Homeless
3. Families receiving centrelink benefits
4. Jobseekers & students receiving centrelink assistance
5. Men or women affected as a result of economic disparity
6. Young people who can’t afford to fulfil their needs
7. A person is entitled to 5 different items at any one time. (e.g. clothing, electronics, books, household &.)
8. A person may receive donations again after one year period, thus, to accommodate everyone equally.
9. Natural disaster & fire victims 

BASIC GUIDELINES

 

FREELIEF is strongly committed, based on the humanitarian principles to provide independent, ethical & impartial assistance, helping those individuals & families who do not have extra cash to buy them.

 

As committed individuals, at FREELIEF, we are neutral & do not take sides in providing care on the basis of need alone, and pushes for increased independent access to victims of crisis as required under our strict principles of basic humanitarian guidelines.

FREELIEF is rightly prepared to raise help, create awareness and advocate with individuals, business owners & local governments on humanitarian concerns.

FREELIEF will organize meetings with benevolent individuals, and arrange regular speaking events and activities across venues deemed necessary to direct & obtain more help.

LEADERSHIP

Simeneh Makonnen, a consummate professional, employment consultancy and community development  & a leading pioneer in establishing, the two major institutions, the first Ethiopian Community Association  & African Soccer Club in Australia.

Halakhe Ganyu, Social Worker/Counsellor & Psychotherapist who amassed extensive experiences in counselling youths, adults, couples & families as well as appearing at various motivational seminars & provision of the African communities frequently.

We are both, refugees fortunately settled in Australia for so long, driven by our quest to help people by changing their trashes into treasures to help others & our own will not to accumulate material wealth until we are gone.

In our work experiences & community related activities, we often witness violence, atrocities, and neglect in the course of their work, much of which occur in places that rarely receive humanely attention.

At times, we may speak out publicly in an effort to bring a forgotten crisis into view, alert the public to abuses occurring beyond the headlines, criticize the inadequacies of the aid system, challenge the diversion of humanitarian aid for political interests, or call out policies that restrict access to personal care or essential needs, unless we all do our share, these causes might fall into deaf ears.

 

Even though we have limited financial, human, and logistical resources, we are committed individuals campaigning, operating independently and impartially to provide assistance for people caught in crises in our community & around the world hopefully attracting more talented volunteers to do their share by working together in accordance with our basic guiding principles of humanitarian ideals.

We have already witnessed the need in various communities as a result of economic disparities where different crises are constantly recurring and some charities selling donations to those people at excessive prices.

MANAGEMENT STATEMENT

Subject to our guides, to operate successfully, we will manage our project honestly and ethically creating an environment of trust, empowerment, respect and mutual support building and improving on the task entrusted to our care, working together as a team leveraging our talents and skills in a spirit of cooperation and trust, being fiscally responsible, keeping administrative costs low & inexpensive while ensuring the highest possible quality services to our community.

"An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity." - Martin Luther King Jr.

For a charity it is perhaps even more significant considering as non-profit organisations depend on the goodwill and support of individuals, the business community and government for their ongoing existence.

 



WHAT WE NEED IS SOLIDARITY NOT RETRIBUTION

I wish my friends, former community colleagues and all Ethiopians, including those who have attended this yearly festival organised by both the youth and Ethiopian community association in Victoria and the Ethio-Australian sports federation, a happy and successful new year.

Once again, it was good to see the annual Ethiopian soccer tournament & cultural festival was organised here in the hub of the majority of Ethiopians. However, I am not condoning to organising the occasion only in one city. The festival can be organised wherever the amicable location is chosen by members and organising committee. Nonetheless, I remember the last tournament was held in Melbourne in 2010 on one ground all inclusive.

 

2010 Ethiopian's Soccer Tournament Melbourne

It was good to see that the overwhelming people supported the principle of solidarity not disparity and frugality. I could not help but saddened to see some of my friends chose to be otherwise. All in all, the organisation and the turnout at the festival prepared by the community were to full capacity. There were more families and children with entertainment such as jumping on bouncing carnival castle balloon hired for them.

I went over to Yarraville, where the federation’s soccer tournament was held, not far from Altona North where the community’s soccer tournament was organised, to see some of my friends and observe the outcome. Obviously, there were few crowds and I was told that only few players turnout and they have to forfeit some games. This is what happens when festivals are held on the same days and times creating the unpredictability of the last minute decision by participants. One couldn’t help but think what would have happened had this been organised in unison.

      2010 The Bold & the beautiful Team

I wish to express my deep gratitude and appreciation for all the volunteers, organisers and participants. I am thankful for all of the support and encouragement everyone has given the community irrespective of the festival being held in two venues reprehensibly on the same days and times not far away from each other. Although, disappointed whatever the reason for the predicament to occur, I don’t intend to make it irreparable by naming, shaming and talking evil of the already damaged circumstances and I sincerely plead to others to refrain from abusing this gloomy status quo.     

I wanted to thank everyone personally because being the founding member of the community, it has always been my greatest aspiration for all Ethiopians to be united and celebrate our cultural heritage in an atmosphere of harmony. We all must know that if one is affected, we are all indirectly affected.

As a prominent business stall holder, I was the only proud and grateful individual who has displayed my business promotions based on our cultural ideals and all sales of merchandises and T-shirt prints reflecting on our cultures & positive aspirations.

Zelalem Print Display Stall

2012 is gone now. As our saying goes, ላለፈው ክረምት ቤት አይሰራም, (roughly translated), we can’t build a house for the past winter. We can only hope mutual agreements can be reached for the coming year festival and change of those agreements will not happen again, specially, close to last minute preparation for the festival.

2012 Ethiopian's Soccer Tournament Melbourne

I urge both parties of the organising committee to be committed and make a strong resolution to solve this dilemma and call for solidarity to organise a better, bigger annual festival in 2013 by inviting more business stall holders adding more colours to the celebration. Whatever private or individual differences the other groups or members might have, for the sake of the community and as an Ethiopian we need to look in to our communal responsibilities, no matter how difficult and unmanageable the circumstances might be. “United we stand, divided we fall”. ድር ቢያብር አንበሳ ያስር.

Albeit we all came from different cultural backgrounds, we have incurable enigmas of intolerable secrecy and silence in common impeding the manner to open communication and honest dialogues harbouring fear of retribution and ostracism. Time to accept, appreciate our differences and differing of opinions without hatemongering and work together with those colleagues who have a shared passion for making a difference for individuals & transforming the community for the better. Time for change to take its course!
It is said that those who do not learn from past mistakes are doomed to repeat it. Many mistakes and errors have been committed by successive leaders in the past. These mistakes need to be identified, studied and lessons drawn from them so that they will not be repeated again. We need to build collective agenda to advance and support these mistakes and undertake not to repeat them.

We mustn’t disrespect others who have helped us pave the high way to success and mustn’t engage in character assassination (ye saaw sim matifat) of anybody by giving in to other peoples gossip (waare) & trusting the tall poppy syndrome saga (und saaw ye telawoon hooloom saaw metilat, ye tewededewoon mawooded bana woo qe woom) – to hate or like someone just because everybody does - instead of believing in ourselves to make our own judgement about other people.

We must, always, remember that every difference of opinion & ideology is not a difference of principle and shouldn’t be construed as personal vendetta and should be discussed or expressed with respect.

I am a strong advocate, passionate, rational, and strong leader in human rights and equal opportunity issues affecting, not only Ethiopian community, other African communities, a diverse range of communities, the development of services for the disadvantaged and marginalised groups. I always believed in cross-cultural community building and creating a healthy society when I took the first step navigating through storms to establish Ethiopian community.

It is time to replace bitterness with reconciliation; hate with love that heals the community; revenge with forgiveness; hope with despair; hurt with healing; fear with courage; division with unity; doubt with faith; shame with honour;  deceit with candour and sincerity; anger with reason; cruelty with kindness and caring; enmity with friendship; duplicity with openness; complacency with action; indifference with passion; incivility with gracefulness; suspicion with trust; selfishness with altruism; dishonesty with integrity; convenience with virtue; cunning  with moralities; ignorance with knowledge; benightedness with imagination; acrimony with civility, desire with fulfilment.

If there is one thing I detest and reject in the Diaspora Ethiopians, it is political bluffing, power mongering, egos and self-promotion/centeredness and hypocrisy. Breaking up, narrow group think, personality worships, arrogance, hidden agendas, one group trying to undermine the other and so on will not advance the common cause and or respond to the unity of all Ethiopians especially the youths.

It is that none of us can survive without each other. None of us can hope to prosper while the rest are disenfranchised and subjugated. None of us can make progress while the rest regress or stand still. We are now faced with the fierce urgency of creating the conditions of unity.

Playing the ethnic card game is to fall victim to destructive identity politics that breeds division, hatred, conflict, and cynicism.

The process of unifying people is difficult and the road to unity is often littered with the debris of historical grievances, animosity and resentment.

The realities today are different than they were ten or twenty years ago. Aligning one’s thinking and actions with changing realities and circumstances is a sign of wisdom and political maturity.

In general, society seems to have put power, ethnicity, and profit ahead of humanity. Our world is still struggling with poverty, environmental pollution, disease and the devastation of war while grieving over memories of both world wars, Gallipoli, Korean, Congo and others. Greed, the struggle for power between the haves and have nots has taken us on a path towards competition instead of cooperation paving the way for destruction and we still continue to torture each other while mourning for the past. As a result of all these circumstances, we have been disconnected from our heart and soul and from the earth that sustain us.

Failure can be turned into an opportunity to learn and grow. I say it can because it requires a particular attitude to benefit from our failure. Without that mentality, all our failures will go to waste. This is true in politics as it is in personal life for a leader as well as a follower. So what is that mentality?

It is a mentality that is willing and able to reflect on past experience – past actions and their outcomes. It is only through such reflections that one learns one’s strengths, weaknesses and the environment and conditions in which actions were undertaken and what could have been done differently that could have resulted in a positive outcome. It is not enough to admit collective failure. One needs to evaluate one’s role in the failure. This is even more so if one is a leader under whose watch an organization – business or political – failed. Denying (to one self and others) failures and personal accountability and scapegoating or blaming on “globalization, end of cold war, etc.” will not do. Leaders without such a mentality cannot educate themselves from past failures and therefore deserve no second chance.

To me, being educated means being responsible, accountable, open-minded, tolerant, compassionate, decisive, insightful, considerate, ambitious, realistic, and perseverant.

We see individuals, political leaders, groups and organizations of all stripes stoking the fires of ethnic and tribal hatred, fanning the flames of sectarian and religious violence and instigating all forms of strife, disagreement and enmity.

By reciting my mantra of personal convictions daily & living a life of principles to the fullest in a lifelong journey with steadfast endurance, with so much despair and discomfort, eventually, achieving happiness and contentment in the process, exclusively, knowing the success of founding the institution for all Ethiopians through my life long struggle to survive and continuing to fight for social justice and equality to prevail in our communities everywhere thereby beaming on our homeland, I feel I have fulfilled my mission without regret.

Ethiopia is one of the most mosaic nations in the world, mothering over 80 different ethnic groups all deserving equal opportunities. I do not mind if my leader/president is from dominant (e.g. Oromo, Amara) or minority nationalities (Walaita, Guragie) as long as s/he demonstrates the all the qualities the leader has to offer and based on merit not idolized personality profiles. Indeed, I will be extra glad if the leader/president comes from the tiniest ethnicities. That should be celebrated as it is one powerful way of ensuring social equity and justice thereby transforming society.

In his autobiography, Gandhi wrote, “Man and his deed are two distinct things.  Whereas a good deed should call forth approbation and wicked deed disapprobation, the doer of the deed, whether good or wicked, always deserves respect or pity as the case may be. ‘Hate the sin and not the sinner’ is a precept which, though easy enough to understand, is rarely practiced, and that is why the poison of hatred spreads in the world….”

 If one hates another because of race, colour, religion, ethnicity or other factors, the result is more hate. Mandela said, “No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.” Needless to say that if hate is learned it can also be unlearned. If love can be taught it can be spread across the land.

We should really follow Gandhi’s precept that if we must hate, we “hate the sin and not the sinner.” It is a tough precept to follow and live by without perfecting oneself with enormous change of attitude & self-discipline. We have all been part of the problem and part of the solution at one time or another. If this is not true, then “he who is without sin should cast the first stone”. But now all of us have an opportunity to become part of the grand solution to the political problems facing all of us in the diaspora and in our country.

Let’s join together by resolving our differences and strengthen our solidarity to organise a cultural festival for all Ethiopians by inviting all business vendors to join by displaying their businesses at the chosen festival venues.

Good Health & Happiness

For more read at: https://timeforchangesociety.blogspot.com/2012/11/ethiopian-tournament-factions-thwarts.html

ETHIOPIAN TOURNAMENT FACTIONS THWART OUR TRADITIONAL VALUES

The establishment of Annual Ethiopian Soccer Tournament in Australia has been special not only for organizing to play soccer, but it reflects our tradition of family values by creating an atmosphere of unity, friendship and reunion.
This event was especially enjoyed by young Ethiopians who are growing up in Australia attending the event every year. The festival has planted a burning sense of nationalism as well as pride about who we are and the unity they trying to reflect.

                                              1996 Melbourne Ethiopian Tournament
For parents who have been telling their kids, how Ethiopians are good and that Ethiopian culture is special is a great opportunity to prove what they are talking about.
There were plenty of Ethiopian manners such as politeness, humbleness and respect around the ground while everyone in attendance was very happy to be among fellow countrymen and have a good time.
For the children of Ethiopia, events of the past 14 or more years and experimentation with alien ideology have brought only misery and divisiveness. While those who carried on this experimentation are getting older, the younger generation is seeking to try something different.

Ethiopian Soccer Tournament shined because it was fuelled by its participants' strength and character, indicative of the richness of Ethiopian culture. It also showed what Ethiopian values are individually and collectively. That is why this event was attended by huge number of young Ethiopians. One of them told me that nationalism and togetherness is the way to go for the young people.
In light of many negative news reports out of and about Ethiopia, and the polarizing political climate, the event provided a source of comfort, a display of nationalist feeling and a sense of togetherness.

Ethiopian Soccer Tournament is a beacon to all Ethiopians, the Ethiopia's politicians and leaders that the answer to the needs of Ethiopia is not found in alien ideologies and dividing cultures, but in each of us as we work together in solidarity for the common goals.
It is important to note that what keep this organization going are its founding principles which all of us like. These principles make it a non-political, inclusive, sports and cultural organization.

As in every other year, this year's event was not without controversy. The two big issues were whether the Ethio-Australian Soccer Federation should receive as much exposure that it got, and if it was appropriate for the federation to continue to form a new soccer tournament organization instead of strengthening the already existing club under one collective name working together with the sports & cultural body affiliated with Ethiopian community Association of Victoria dealing with the nature of sports & cultural organization unless otherwise both parties agreed to do all other businesses reaching at resolution not revolution.

Even if need be to work as a separate body of sports & cultural festivities federation, no issues are so important for all stake holders or factions and communities not to organize these once a year only social events in agreement or harmony.
Particularly, the acceptance of other sports factions and the federation was in question because of the influence it might have on the founding principles of our unity in the community and thwarts our tradition by creating divisions instead of unifications. God knows who is confusing who, as I only rely on my intuition of unity no matter what issues they (the differing groups) may have.

As we all know, last year’s annual Ethiopian soccer tournament was organized in two cities, Sydney and Adelaide, organizers failing to reach an agreement if there was one. Since the annual tournament events’ inception, Ethiopians from all Australian States have been coming together once a year, meeting as one Ethiopia to enjoy the soccer games and other social festivities. It is a time Ethiopians get together, not only for the sporting events, but for family reunions, cultural events and friendship. This gracious yearly event was principally initiated by an individual business owner whose idea was entirely reflected on organizing a cultural festive season for everyone annually. As time went by, everyone believed it is a free Ethiopian day festival ought to be organized by the Ethiopian Community Association rather than business ventures.

Although, this concept was precipitated by the community’s weakness, it obviously has come a long way to get where it is today. It is not very difficult to list who did what. It only can be said the hard work and dedication of those who are involved has paid off by making our community the longest functioning Ethiopian organization and still growing.

It was disheartening to see instead of collectively organizing the tournament; different factions were formed to organize events the same day as the Ethiopian community’s annual gathering. United, we conquer, divided we fall; the festival was inevitably divided between the factions and the community. While some members of the community attended the already formed Ethiopian community’s tournament, new members and young Ethiopians took part in the new factions and some found commonality and attended both tournaments in a bid to harmonize both parties and not to abandon their friendship in both as Ethiopiawinet.
As thousands of Ethiopians converged on Melbourne’s western suburbs for the year’s events in 2008, where both factions’ tournaments took place, Ethiopian flags, music, food, colors and sports drew young and old, men and women and Ethiopians originating from most every region of Ethiopia. These Ethiopians now live in many different cities and states throughout Australia, but they have not forgotten their Ethiopian roots. Despite the divisions, no other event has drawn more Ethiopians in the Diaspora to celebrate the beauty, diversity and joy of their cultural heritage than this one week in a year—a week that is super-charged with “everything Ethiopian.”

Although, there were not much of business stake holders at the ground, few were there to sell Ethiopian cuisines, jewellery and costumes. I am sure it would have been huge festival had plenty of Ethiopian business owners been notified to participate and had the tournament been organized by one united community in this once a year amicable gathering. The same scenario is repeating again and again like that of the political situation back home.

I was struck with the image of what a powerful force would emerge if such unity, joy and enthusiasm for Ethiopia could somehow be captured and used as the building blocks for the “one soccer tournament” I have been envisioning! Nowhere did I see this more than in the young Ethiopians who loved their heritage and each other without regard to tribalism, racial biases, factionalism and divisions found among older Ethiopians. This is the “New Ethiopia” of tomorrow that I saw on their faces. Imagine what we Ethiopians in the Diaspora could do in tackling our problems if we could transport such unity and openness to those in Ethiopia, not only to our families, but also to the greater family of Ethiopia.

However, on the other hand, I feared they were detached from the harsh realities of real life in Ethiopia. We rarely see any young people at any of the Ethiopian community meetings. Most everyone at these meetings is over thirty years of age. But at any soccer or social events and at the soccer presentation nights and New Year events, most everyone was under that age.

I wondered what would happen if older Ethiopians could embrace the youths’ view that placed little emphasis on ethnicity, political affinity, regional divisions and racial prejudices. I believe older parents are not including their children in the know what, why, when and how of the Ethiopian problem let alone some of the older ones fully participate in the community sector. I also wondered how well the youth understood the level of oppression, tyranny and hardship that Ethiopians were facing back home and wondered why no young people were attending the meetings. I then decided that the better of these two separate realities could be the answer. The question is how can we combine the best of both and act on it?

As I saw those flag waving happy young people, I was overwhelmed with the hope that somehow, this love of Ethiopia, alongside the joy of living in a free country like Australia with its openness and acceptance of other nationalities irrespective of its implicit racism, could somehow be channelled into these young people, by their parents, community and activity organizers, deeply caring about those stuck in the current situation and tragedy of life within Ethiopia. I wondered whether the gap between these two realities could come together to form a greater youth movement to free Ethiopia.

I also wondered whether older Ethiopians could learn from the youth who saw each other as “equally Ethiopian.” The youth were not being divided against one another based on ethnic suspicions and loyalties, regional background, political alliances, religious views and cultural backgrounds like their parents. Here in Australia, it is no longer mattered so much at least to the young people whose only joy is to get together and play soccer and have fun until they find out themselves where they truly belong.

In Ethiopia, something like ethnic loyalty and achieving dominance over other groups was equated with opportunity and even basic survival. Here it was equated with competition over who would win the soccer games—two different worlds.
The openness of the youth to each other showed a glimpse of a promising possibility—that if you the reader, not only the politicians, activists or educated Ethiopians, could change in this setting, we could change in another.

Despite the negative problems of Ethiopia, it makes me feel very happy to be part of it. When you look around, you see a rich background of Ethiopian images. You might notice the Ethiopian flags circling the stands or peaceful Ethiopians walking—young and old—smiling, holding the hands of their young children and perhaps, wearing Ethiopian flags on their clothing. You do not see the differences of ethnicity, but instead, you see people as Ethiopians or simply, people as people—all beautiful and unique.

Seventy per cent of the people at the soccer ground were young, meaning under the age of 35. They were showing their patronage of anything Ethiopia—buying Ethiopian flags, T-shirts with Ethiopian images and words, Ethiopian CDs with Ethiopian music and Ethiopian food. Hundreds of Ethiopians packed into the pavilion to watch the mini traditional dances of different Ethiopian ethnic cultural celebration before the game.

I have often talked about my dream of the diversity of Ethiopians becoming a beautiful society. What I saw at the soccer field were simply “Ethiopians,” not tribes, political groups or factions. What I saw was a momentary display of that beautiful society of Ethiopia, with all its diversity and complexity. I saw the solidarity in this society of different colours, shapes and sizes.
People frequently ask me what my wish is for Ethiopia and I can tell you, I saw it that day. I saw the dancing and the joy. I saw my society that I have lived and been dreaming about. I saw humanity before ethnicity. I looked at the beauty of each person as a unique human being. I saw the solidarity for a New Ethiopia. I temporarily disconnected from the harsh reality of what is going on in Ethiopia through participating in this celebration of our differences. When the music ended I was brought back to reality and the joy I had experienced was replaced with the knowledge that our family of Ethiopians were dying back home. I wanted all the more for this beautiful society to include them.

Those at the soccer field all seemed to be so in love with Ethiopia; yet, there was something missing - not only an understanding of how bad things were in Ethiopia, but a lack of involvement in changing the downward direction of the country. At every meeting, I saw no young people giving input or becoming involved. Those making the decisions for the future of Ethiopia were all older. Ninety-nine percent of them were men. I wondered where the women were too.

I also wondered why a whole generation of young Ethiopians is so disconnected from what will really change Ethiopia. Their love of the country will do nothing without action. Those young Ethiopians buying Ethiopian flags, T-shirts and so on should be taught and told about their country and that the future of the country is in their hands.
I was brought back to the reality of the children of Ethiopia who are dying because of the lack of clean water, malaria, or the lack of child and maternal health care. I think of the Ogadeni, Afar, Oromo or Anuak young women or girls who have been viciously sexually assaulted or raped by the military—the same military agents of the current regime who are supposed to be protecting them, but instead brutalizing them with impunity.

I think of those young and old who have spoken out against such abuses and ended up in jail. Consider the reality of life for the beggar, for the young girls selling their bodies because they have nothing to eat, the crying mother because she has no food for her children and for those running from Ethiopia for opportunity, but dying on the road or on board ships in the Red Sea instead of realizing their dreams of freedom while crossing to the unknown world or destinations.

I was brought to the reality of Meles making Ethiopia landlocked and then giving Ethiopian land to Sudan and foreign profiteers. And now he is gone, his protégé has taken over promising to finish what Meles has started. I think of how he has sent Ethiopian young men by force, with no choice, to die in a foreign land - Somalia.

I thought about the lack of acceptance between Ethiopians when someone will not like another Ethiopian simply because they are Oromo, Tigrayan, Gurage, Amhara, Adere, and Gambela or of some other ethnic background. I then thought about the divisions between leaders in our political organizations, religious organizations, and civic institutions who will not agree to disagree for the sake of a better Ethiopia. The reality of living with such hatred is that it robs us of our unity, joy and future as a country.

Gone are the naïve old days where activists and politicians design an ideology, strategy, and tactics, and tell everyone that their way is the best way. The only goal now is some form of institutionalized democracy and pluralism. The rest is flexible - whatever it takes to get there. One must be flexible while appearing decisive.

All of these realities hit me so much harder after I saw the solidarity we are trying to produce while creating divisions in institutions like soccer tournaments and the community. It is a tragedy filled with self-righteousness, greed and power motivated by personal ego attempting to create or build another dam instead of trying to find the solution to the fall out to the already established institution and rebuilding it in a united effort. This brought me to the reality that the purpose of living in this world is to live to the fullest of our purposes that God has given to every person. That nearly always means living with compassion and commitment for the well-being of others, going beyond a selfish existence where we focus only on our selves, those close to us or our families to say the least.

This reality of life for Ethiopians back home is vastly different than the Ethiopia being celebrated at this event. To this event Ethiopia is an illusion and any shreds of reality still attached to it are further disintegrating. As I celebrated with the bright and hopeful faces of young Ethiopians, I celebrated their solidarity and joy as I mourned in my heart for my people back home in Ethiopia and for those living here who unable to create solidarity and live in harmony, acceptance and compassion for all Ethiopians irrespective of ethnicity and build one community, many communities if need be, nonetheless, one Ethiopia.

I was reminded why I am doing what I am. I yearn for the two worlds to come together. Wake up and join the Struggle: Young people and women are a powerhouse in the struggle and making change for the better.
These young people at the soccer already have the mindset of freedom, democracy, the rule of law and equal rights between mixes of many people. They have gone to school in the West and have adopted the thinking that has formed the West. It now comes naturally to them without the baggage of the past failures of Ethiopian society. They know Australian people welcomed their parents to enjoy the freedom and opportunity to pursue their ambition with all its ups and downs. If this huge group of well-tolerated and educated Ethiopians could become engaged in changing Ethiopia, they would be a formidable force for good.

It will take a mindset that is willing to bear another’s burdens as a God-given opportunity to stand in the gap for their fellow countrymen and country women. Do they have the compassion and commitment to join the struggle for the future of Ethiopia? I think so, for if they do not, the Ethiopia they celebrate every year in such solidarity will continue to only be an illusion of what could have been. If they join their elders, along with the women, and challenge all Ethiopian political parties & politicians with what is really on their minds and hearts or if they tell them to stop this division or if they confront leaders who are going in the wrong direction to change or to step aside, they would have a tremendous impact.

At the same time, all new attendees could learn about the real Ethiopia and what happened to wreak havoc on Ethiopian society. It would open up the possibility of creating the solidarity in Ethiopia. We have much to do if we are to create this healthy environment at home.
Let’s even think of simple first steps. Imagine if all the attendees at this event would give just two dollars for the advancement of Ethiopia or to the starving children in Southern Ethiopia right now! With a group effort, they could build provide food, agricultural support, clean water, a hospital, a school, an orphanage, invest in developing private enterprise opportunities in the country or advance human rights and democracy in Ethiopia.

Young Ethiopians should not underestimate themselves. There is so much they could do to build respect, unity and reconciliation between people and community. They should consider taking on the cause of justice and human rights.
This is not about taking political sides. The youth can help older Ethiopians understand the meaning of working together in harmony without prejudices. Those older in the community should not protect them from the truth of the situation. Only then will we be able to realize the dream of a New Ethiopia!

My experience with these young people is I played soccer tournaments with them and I mentored them while I was serving as the President of Ethiopian Community’s Soccer Club by organizing soccer games in the Football Federation of Victoria in 2006. I surprised many by attending and playing soccer with them at my age which they find it very encouraging, an exemplary and positive act to follow.

I cannot get the idea out of my mind about what could happen if this young, talented, energetic and well-equipped group of Ethiopians awakened to take part in our struggle for a New Ethiopia. My question is can we help them bridge the gap between these two disconnected Ethiopians.
I am sharing these thoughts with you so that we, with help of each and individual interest, might bring these dreams into reality in Ethiopia, transforming a barren and harsh desert into a lush, spring-fed garden that could bring long-lasting sustenance and tranquillity to the soul of Ethiopians.

I believe organizing the tournament in every state in turn with a mutual agreement or the state where the majority of Ethiopians reside would be an ideal and also help to unite us and make it truly the peoples’ event forever, and help our tournament continue to be not only a shining model for Ethiopians, but an opportunity for transformation.

Therefore, let’s meltdown the walls of excuses and denigrations and instead, march together to achieve our common goals. It is the right time to talk about the one burning question in our minds and in our hearts the question that had given us so much headache and heartache for so long: Can we work together now and in the future to build a just and equitable community in Australia and a united society for all on that small piece of God’s earth we call our home, Ethiopia?

Can we act in unity to cherish our humanity in a single nationality, Ethiopian? Can we transition from the battle ground of recrimination and blame to a common ground of mutual concern, caring and respect? Can we work on the things that unite us and leave behind those issues that divide us? Can we find our destiny in harmony? The answer is a resounding, “Yes, we can!” to all of the questions above. Yes, we can because we belong to the same family, the extended Ethiopian family. It is true that our family members had been estranged from each other for a very long time.

We had not talked or communicated for years. We are not sure why that is so, but someone must have convinced us into believing that the mistakes and wounds of the past are so important that we should sacrifice our present and future for them. But now we say, yes, we can work together in harmony by putting our humanity before our ethnicity, by finding our identity in each other’s humanity, and our strength and greatness in our unity.

We can work together for a better future because we are willing to stand up and say to our fellow countrymen and -women, “Your pain is my pain. Your suffering is my suffering. Your indignity is my indignity. Your future is my future, and we will travel the same road to get there. And never again will we commit the crime of moral indifference against each other.”

For the longest time, we were blinded by historical grievances. We could only see each other from the prison bars of history; and penned like cattle behind the political bars of so-called ethnic federalism, we sneered at each other. We did not care much for each other. Indeed, we held each other in contempt from a distance. But when we opened our eyes shut blind by hatred and distrust and opened our hearts hardened by indifference, we could see that we are members of the same family living in the same home called Ethiopia.

We realized that as we wagged accusatory fingers at each other, our home had been set on fire. An arsonist had slipped by and stoked the fires of ethnic hatred which continued to burn in our hearts for so long. We were duped into believing that we are not our brothers’/sisters’ keepers. So, when innocent demonstrators protesting a stolen election were slaughtered in gunfire, we did not cry together because “they” were not part of us. When hundreds of thousands of our brothers and sisters were warehoused in jail without due process of law, tortured and killed, we pretended not to hear, not to understand the cry for help from “prisons that speak Oromiffa”.

When our Anuak brothers and sisters were massacred, we asked, “Who?” When our innocent brothers and sisters were bombed in the Ogaden, we shrugged it off as if they were strangers. When the Afaris were strafed because they said the Port of Assab is part of Ethiopia, we pretended to be blind, mute and deaf. When crimes against humanity were being committed by ruthless criminals, we were quick to slap the guilty and innocent together and direct our anger and outrage indiscriminately towards the innocent. When our brothers and sisters are scandalized as plotters of a so-called interhamwe, a genocidal massacre, against their compatriots, we failed to collectively object.

But no more! We were once blinded, but now we can see. We are all Ethiopia’s children – the Anuak, the Ogadeni, the Afari, the Gurage, the Gomuz, the Sidama, the Oromia, the Amhara, the Tigrian, the Wolaita, and the rest of us.

There is new thinking that is beginning to take hold among Ethiopians in the Diaspora. It is new thinking based on the realization that never again shall we become prisoners of the past. We have to start working together for a common future. We need an army of bridge builders and brigades of fire fighters. We need fire fighters to save our homeland from the conflagration of ethnic warfare, hatred and distrust. We need bridge builders to get us safely from our present predicament to a future where human rights are guaranteed, democracy is based on the consent of the people and no one is above the law.

Not much is needed to qualify for these jobs. You’ve got the job if you are willing to keep an open mind, rid yourself of hurtful bigotry and trust in the good will of others; and believe that our humanity is more important than our ethnicity or nationality. We are not prisoners of the past, but we are captains of our future.

We are our brothers’ keepers and our sisters’ too. Our destiny is in our hands, and we refuse to let others manipulate and magnify our fears. We can tear down the walls of hatred and bigotry anywhere we find them, and build vines of hope and understanding among all Ethiopians. We can achieve far more together than we can ever hope to achieve separately. Let’s tear down the wall of divisions, and hatred among all our Ethiopian Ethnic Communities, and be united to organize Annual Ethiopian Soccer Tournament and other national festivals together by respecting our individuality and Ethiopiawinet.

Let’s get busy building bridges and putting out fires in the coffee shops, on the streets, in our homes, in our emails, on the radio, on the websites and wherever we happen to meet each other. Bridge builders and fire fighters of Ethiopia, unite! I am writing this message because bitter, partisan fights and out-dated ideas, of the past, left and right, won’t solve the problems we face today. But a new spirit of unity and shared responsibility will.

Good health & happiness