ETHIOPIAN ELECTION 2020

BONDING FACTS TO CONSIDER

Wherever you maybe, back Home or scattered around the world, now the fiesta or party, whatever you want to call it, celebrating Christmas & the New Year is over, it’s time to regroup our thoughts, think of how we could’ve done it differently to help unite abandoned friends, torn apart families, divided communities, the war torn relocation of people around the world & more importantly transform the country.

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 HABITS 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 review and correct these mistakes and undertake not to repeat them.

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

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 five, ten or twenty or fifty years ago. Aligning one’s thinking and actions with the changing times (realities) and circumstances is a sign of wisdom and humane maturity.

We’ve tried everything to transform our country and nothing seemed to work. You know what, the ‘time is up’ and the only way is U-N-I-T-Y without complaining pointlessly, competing recklessly, comparing enviously, criticizing unreasonably by name calling and shaming hatefully for mistakes of the past.

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 political affairs 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 experiences, 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.

Like in our past, denying (to one self and others) failures, personal accountability and scapegoating or blaming on someone will never help the progression.

Leaders with such mentality cannot educate themselves from past failures and therefore deserve no second chance to continue doing the same thing over and over again and again.

By incorporating democratic values to political party platforms with genuine intent, by employing tactics of political reconciliation through give and take, chances that such political actors can play a role in reviving the democratic fortunes of the state could be higher moving forward.

The transition from authoritarian rule towards an inclusive, accountable, and democratic governance requires not only commitment by all parties, but also carefully calculated and crafted steps and measures to bring a smooth transition towards a lasting and sustainable democracy. Democracy is more than the procedural minimums of free and fair elections under conditions of universal suffrage. It has more substantive dimensions, including effective citizenship, popular empowerment, the rule of law, functioning spirit of unity and robust institutions providing a range of public goods fairly and equitably to all citizens without discrimination and tribalism.

 If we eat together, we can work together.

Given our past traditional track records, patterns of cultural behaviours and many aphorisms of the social characterization, absolute power, hating and abandoning others just because our friends don’t like them and this favouritism tend to corrupt society, the cultural politics and both mind and spirit of those at the helm of their companions genuinely where other’s absolute influence has a tendency to encourage it. No more favouritism and let’s not repeat these vicious cycles, again. If we learn to eat together, we can learn to work together.

The distribution of powers and resources within the federal system, hence the famous nationalities question that lies at the heart of the current crisis and for almost two centuries has undermined the capacity of Ethiopians to live together. All the voices that count in the country and in the diaspora must continue to call for calm, for patience, and agreeing that change is now inevitable but needs to be given time.

All oppositions must have a certain amount of time to build their electoral mechanisms to call a free and fair election in 2020 to enable the country to step back from the unending abyss. For this to happen, a supreme authority needs to be established, emanating from all the main stakeholders, whether government, opposition or civil society, within the country and in the diaspora communities.

Irrespective of ethnic or other involvement, Ethiopian people want free and fair elections and democratically represented in policy and decision making.

The people want a complete reform not state of emergency or replacement of any of its governing officials that can only bring more rejection, insecurity and loss of lives.

That way we can save all the wise people currently nominated to replace the Ex-PM from being denigrated by the ruling elites, again and they can wait to be elected by the people democratically.

A divisive change has been tried so many times in the country’s successive past ruling elites and never been successful. Therefore, a fundamental change without creating divisions amongst its diverse people is the last resort that can bring a lasting and unwavering peace and freedom not only to the people also in the whole east African region.

Over the last 50 years of our political history, we have been let down by our politicians over and over again. Now we are saying to the so-called politicians, “Stop it! Enough is enough!” Fundamental changes are necessary to live together without dividing the country and the people. We must speak the truth and proclaim that these political groups do not possess even a basic understanding of our country and that they do not reflect Ethiopia in their conduct or decisions. Enough is enough, what’s happened in the past can’t be retrieved, let’s forgive and move forward by building bridges not restrictive boundaries.

 

ተነሳ ተራመድ ክንድህን አበርታ፣ ላገር ብልፅግና ለወገን አለኝታ

The song about Ethiopian prosperity & hope for its people, but never realized.

We are not going to change the country by doing things the same way again and again and again.

There are those who incessantly abuse, name and shame different ethnic group leaders just because they’re elected from our diverse ethnic groups. Even if anyone is at fault, our mindless hatemongering and untenable recommendations methods won’t help us. As Prof. Lumumba says, “Africa needs to practice a good political hygiene”. Our country should just do that, thank you.

We’ve done that in the past and it’s time to take a different route that will take us to climb the insurmountable tasks ahead in unison without seeking retribution for any crimes committed. We post all forms of holistic and inspirational messages for others and doing the opposite to inflame hate and hostility among our people.  

This fight will not be victorious through the ways of the elite but in the ways of the Ethiopian people for the sake of true democracy and the future stability of our country. Ethiopia is more than enough for her own people. It can provide joy, prosperity and the resources and means to achieve a better quality of life. If we all choose to focus on cooperation, rational decision making and wise choices, we will begin to experience a renewed Ethiopia.

The unity and connections we are going to create and the strong, transparent relationships and communication that we will establish with all people, groups and individuals are what we need to build a stronger and more secure Ethiopia. In true unity we can achieve all our hopes and dreams.

Structural changes are needed to restore confidence and respect for the coming political order, constitution and government institutions, including the politicians, judges, army officers, and so on who will be entrusted with the stable, fair and honest governance of Ethiopia.

We must keep in mind that in this modern era, people have full right to exercise their cultural heritages including their languages but it should not be to the extent that shake their own and others survival. We should not run for dominance/ knockout game rather we should appreciate our uniqueness for the benefits of everyone in the game.

The unity and connections we are going to create and the strong, transparent relationships and communication that we will establish with all people, groups and individuals are what we need to build a stronger and more secure Ethiopia. In true unity we can achieve all our hopes and dreams.

Structural changes are needed to restore confidence and respect for the coming political order, constitution and government institutions, including the politicians, judges, army officers, and so on who will be entrusted with the stable, fair and honest governance of Ethiopia.

We must keep in mind that in this modern era, people have full right to exercise their cultural heritages including their languages but it should not be to the extent that shake their own and others survival. We should not run for dominance/ knockout game rather we should appreciate our uniqueness for the benefits of everyone in the game.

Draconian rules, which undermined the rights of free expression and peaceful assembly, and prohibited any association with groups labeled terrorist organizations, such as independent media stations, ESAT TV and Radio and the Oromia Media Network. Break the rules and face up to five years in jail where torture is commonplace.

The notion of one race being superior to another is dead and buried for so long. The time of warmongering to kill each other with spears and shields is thing of the past and ...not to be repeated again.

We need to drive our actions and ideals side by side and hopefully stop the fate of repeating sins of the past –greed and power.

 

Our country desperately needs a renaissance, strong-willed leader, true development built on a firm foundation of human rights, inclusions and political pluralisms. Human development that caters to the needs of all our people, not only the economic growth based on a prescribed on the outdated, unjust economic model, which inevitably benefits a few, strengthens inequality, fosters corruptions and tribalism.

With the election time approaching that democracy, in its entirety, must be based on Ethiopian principles and morals not based on the Western style definition that serves only their purpose. It’s time Ethiopia can come up with a different style of democracy that serves our multiethnic population.

Abiy started his new deal of transformation, must be congratulated, with love and compassion without imprisonment and absence of freedom. Sadly, the habit of fixing everything with violence still unabated in our culture and understandably people demanded law and order to be imposed by the modern day pacifist Prime Minister. Then, when he acted to restore law and order punishing those who took advantage of his soft side, again, some people took offense and grilled his ethnicity as a reason to slander him.

The root cause of the problem must be unraveled and resolved first: a leader elected for the people, by the people and from any people–ethnic background. That’s the root of the problem and that’s what we fail to accept as one people and one country. Don’t hold your breath, don’t hold back election. Everyone must vote!

We also need to support whoever is making untenable mistakes as a human fallibility and should be corrected respectfully as part of the crusading operation for change.

It is absolutely imperative that we must not get emotional impulsively and should embrace our impatience and opinions until we participate, to identify the truth, in dynamic dialogues that transforms into actions.

“When you forgive, you in no way change the past, but you sure do change the future.”

This time, the election must be prepared wisely and performed democratically and all the Ethiopian people must be allowed to vote for their future leader unanimously. 

Let the discussions/dialogues, policies/plans, fresh/different concepts, peaceful critics…begin.

Good luck to all candidates/challengers and most of all voters.

Let’s talk the talk, if we want to pave the way for a good walk.

ONE ETHIOPIA FOR ALL, ALL FOR ONE ETHIOPIA!















OPPOSING & CRITICISING IS EASY…

መቃረንና መተቸት ቀላል ነው፣ ተደምሮና ተፈቃቅሮ መኖር ግን…

የኢትዮጵያዊነት አዋጅ!

እንደ ጠ/ሚኒስትራችን አብይ አህመድ አሜሪካዊው ዶ/ር ማርቲን ሉተር ኪንግ ስለ አሜሪካን ጥቁሮች ሰላምና ነፃነት እንደዚሁም የሰው ልጅ በሰላም አብሮ እንዲኖር በመታገሉ የኖቤል የሰላም ሽልማት በተቀበለበት ዕለት የተናገራቸው ንግግሮች ግልጽ የሆኑና እንደ አብይ አንጀት የሚያርሱ እውነታዊ አነጋገር በመሆናቸው የሚያድምጡት በሙሉ በአነጋገሩ፣ በገጸ ባሕሪውና በአቀራረቡ ተደንቀው የአዳራሹ ፀጥታ መርፌ ቢወድቅ እንደሚሰማ ያስታውቃል።

PM Abiy Ahmed Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Speech



ከበሻሻ እስከ ባሻ፣ ከዚያም ለዓለም ማስታወሻ፣ ታዲያ ከዚህ በላይ ምን እንፈልጋለን። ይቅርታ ምን ይጠበስ ብዬ መሳደብን ባውቅም ኅሊናዬ አልፈቅድ አለኝ። ያም ሆነ ይህ እንደ ማርቲን ሉተር ኪንግ አብያችንም የሰላም ሽልማቱን የተሸለመው በእንደዚህ ዓይነት አቀራርብ(ቪዲውን ተመልከቱ)ነው ሰላምን በጦርነትና በእሥራት ሳይሆን በመደመርና ፍቅር ለማምጣት ከአክራሪዎች ጋር ዘወተር በአሉባልታ ጦርነት ፍዳውን ያየው፣ አሁንም የሚያየው።

ማርቲን ሉተር ኪንግ የኖቤል ሰላም ሽልማት ሲቀበሉ የተናገሩት ንግግር (Martin Luther King Jr. Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Speech)

በየጊዜው በድኅረ ገጾች ላይ ፍቅር የተሞላበትና ገንቢ ሀሳብ ሳይሆን አስፀያፊ ትችቶችን፣ ጥላቻና ጎሰኝነት የተሞላበት ቅራኔዎችን፣ በጣም የሚዘገንኑና ለኅሊናም ጥሩ አመለካከት ያሌላቸው፣ ለአዲሱ ትውልድም ነቀርሳ የሚሆኑ አስተሳሰቦች መሆናቸውን እናስተውላለን።

ማርቲን ሉተር ኪንግ ስለ ፍቅርና ሰላም ያለ ጦርነት ንግግር (Martin Luther King Jr.’s Peace & love without violence speech)

ብዙውን ጊዜ ልብ ብለን እንደሆነ የሚተቹትና የሚቃረኑት ግለሰቦችም ሁሌም ማማትና የመቃረን ችሎታ ያላቸውና መልካም ነገርን ለማንፀባረቅ ወይንም ለማበርከት የማይችሉ መሆናቸውን ዘወትር እናያለን። በደንብ ማወቅ ያለብን ዛሬ ስለጓደኛቸው ባሕሪና ፀባይ ውድም አድርገው ያወሩልን ሰዎች፣ ነገ ለሌላው ስለ እናንተ እንደዚሁ እንደሚያወሩ ነው። እነዚህም ሰዎች የእራሳቸውን ጥሩ የሆነ የግል አስተሳሰብ እንኳን በደንብ ለመግለፅ ስላልለመዱ ሁሌም ለኃሜትና ትችት ይዳረጋሉ። ሁላችንም ምናልባት ጥቂቶቻችን እንደምናውቀው ማንም ከአዋቂ ቤተሰብ ወይንም አዋቂ ሆኖ የተወለደ ሰው የለም።

አንዳንዶቻችን በታታሪነት እራሳችንን በበጎ ለማዋል ወይንም ለማሻሻል ትዕግስትን ተጠቅመን፣ ሁሉንም ችለን፣ ጥሩውንና መጥፍውን ለመለየት ለምደናል። የግድ ፖለቲከኛ፣ሳይንቲስት፣ ጋዜጠኛ፣ ፈላስፋ፣ በጠቅላላው ምሁር መሆን የለብንም። ፖለቲከኛውንም፣ ጋዜጠኛውንም፣ ፈላስፋውንም፣ በደፈናው የተማሩትንም ሁሉ አይተናል። ተስፋ ቆርጠው ወይንም በግዴለሽነት ላለመጨቃጨቅ ዝም ብለው የሚኖሩትንም ሁሉ እናስታውሳለን። እውነቱን ለመናገር፣ በኢትዮጵያ ውስጥ በማንኛውም ጊዜ እንደ አብይ አህመድ ያለ ቅን፣ አዋቂ፣ ትሁትና ሞራሉ ከፍ ያለ አገር ወዳድ መሪ አልነበረም፣ አላየንምም። ይቅርታ ይህንንና ማንኛውንም በዚህ አስተያየት ውስጥ ያለውን ሀሳብና መልዕክት እንደችሎታቸው ያገለገሉትን መሪዎቻችንን ለማንቋሸሽና ለሠሩት ሥራ ምስጋና ቢስ ለመሆን ሳይሆን፣ ከነሱ የተሻለና ጥቅሙን ብቻ የማይፈልግ፣ የሕዝብን ስሞት የሚሰማና የሚረዳ መሪ ስለሆነ ብቻ ነው።

የጎሳ ፖለቲካና ጥላቻ እየጎላ በመታየቱም እስከዛሬ ድረስ ወደር የሌለውን ጠ/ሚ አብይ አህመድን ለምን የኖቤል የሰላም ሽልማት አገኙ ብለው የዋሁን ሕዝብ ሰብስበው እስካሁንም ድረስ የሚነጫነጩ አምባገነኖች ይስተዋላሉ። ጠ/ሚሩን እንደጥፋተኛ እንኳን ብንቆጥራቸው በዓለም ላይ አገራችንን ወክለው ለኖቤል በመቅረባቸው የመላው ሕዝባችን ድጋፍ ተገቢ እንደነበር ማሰቡ ተሳናቸው።

Silence is not golden

የዚህ ዓይነቱ የሚያሳፍር ሴራነት ባለፈው ጊዜ የገዛ ወገናችን ዶ/ር ቴዎድሮስ አድሓኖም የዓለም ጤና ድርጅት ዋና ኃላፊ ሆነው ከአገራችን በመመረጣቸው ብሔሩንና ከዚህ በፊት የበነበረበትን የሥራ ኃላፊነት በደንብ አልተወጣም በማለት ለሥራው እንዳይመረጥ ለዓለም ጤና ድርጅት መሥሪያ ቤት ክፍል ይግባኝ በመላክና ጩኸታቸውን ያስተጋቡ ብዙ አክቲቪስቶችን፣ ፖለቲከኞችን፣ ወዘተ አይተናል ግን አልተሳካላቸውም። እንደገና እነዚህ ሰዎች ማስተዋል የነበረባቸው የዶ/ር ቴዎድሮስን እንደ ዶ/ር አብይ ከአገራችን፣ ከአፍሪካ ለሥራው በመመረጣቸው ብቻ ትልቅ ድጋፍ በመስጠት በደስታ ተጥለቅልቀን በተቀበልን ነበር።

United, we win

ያም ሆነ ይህ በቅርብ ዘመናት ገኖ የኖረው ጎሰኝነት፣ ቅናት፣ምቀኝነት፣ ማዳላት፣ ወዘተ የመሳሰሉት ጎልተው ስለሚታዩ፣ ከዝሁ መጥፎ ሰው ሰራሽ በሽታ ለመላቀቅ ብዙ ሥራን ስለሚጠይቅ አስተሳሰባቸውን ለማሸነፍ ከመጣር ተስፋ በመቁረጥ ተቆራኝተው የሚኖሩ አሉ። ጥፋታቸውንም ስለሚያውቁ፣ ለመቀራረብ ያደረጉትና የተናገሩት መጥፎ ነገር ተጽኖው ስለከበዳቸው ላለመቅረብ እራሳቸውን የባሰ አርቀው ይገኛሉ። ጥሩ ድርጊት ያደረጉትም ሁሌ ያለ አግባብ የባኅሪ መጥፎነታቸው መወራት፣ ጎሰኝነትና ላደረጉት አስተዋጽኦ ምስጋና በመነፈጋቸው የመቀራረብ አቋማቸው ይሸረሸራል፣ ይመነምናል፣ በመጨረሻም ሰሚና አስተዋይ ሳያገኙ እንደ ተሰወሩ ይቀራሉ።

  ያ ሁሉ አለፈና መልካሙ ተበጀ

አዘለም ታቀፈም…እነዚሁ ጎሰኞች፣ አምባገነኖች፣ ፖለቲከኞች፣ ጋዘጠኞችና ፈላስፋዎች ሌተ ቀን ሕዝባችንን በጥሩ አንደበታቸው ማበረታታት ተስኗቸው በመጥፎ አስተሳሰባቸው ሲበክሉና ሲበታትኑ ይስተዋላሉ። የሰው ልጅ ምንም ጥፋት እንኳን ቢኖረው ያላዋቂ ሳሚ…እንደሚባለው፣ እንደተማረ ሰው በትዕግስት እርማቶችንና መደረግ የሚገባቸውን ሁኔታዊ ድርጊቶች በመልካም አንደበት ማስረዳት ሲችሉ ያደጉበትና የለመዱት የሠፈር የስድብ ውርጂብኝ የሚቀናቸው መሆኑን ሁሌም መርዝ ያዘለውን አስተያየታቸውን እናስተውላለን። ይህም እንደ ትውከት በሽታ አግርሿቸው ለጊዜ እፎይ ቢሉም፣ ሕመሙ ወይንም ትውከቱ በመሰራጨት ለሎች ጠንቅ እንደሚሆንም ደንታ እንደሌላቸው ይስተዋላል። ይህ ሁሌ ቅራኔንና ጥላቻን ብቻ የማንፀባረቅ አድራጎት ወይንም ደንታቢስነት ካልተሻሻለና ሕክምና ካላገኘ፣ ልምድ ሆኖ በኑሮ ላይ ጥልቅ የሆነ የዘላለም መሰናክል እንደሚሆንም መገንዘብ አስፈላጊ ነው።  

 መደመር አስፈላጊ ነው (We must unite)

ለነቀፋ ሳይሆን ይህን በየጊዜው በመረዳትና ካየናቸው ትዝብቶች በዚህ ዓይነት ጎልቶ የሚታየውን የግለሰባችንንና የሕብረተሰባችንን ችግር በግልጽ ለማሳወቅና እነዚህም ወገኖቻችንና ግለሰቦቻችን ሁሌ የሚያደርጉትን የተደጋገመ አላስፈላጊ ትችቶቻቸውንና አሽሙሮቻቸውን በማስተዋል፣ ድርጊታቸውን ማድረግ እንደነበረባቸውና እንዳልነበረባቸው የራሳቸውን ኅሊና በመጠየቅ ዘወትር ይህንኑ ዘዴ በማዘውተር ደጋግመው እራሳቸውን በጥሩ መንፈስ ለመለወጥ ስለሚችሉ ከልብ ያለንን የግል የኅሊና ንቃት አስተሳሰብ አስተያየታችንን ስናካፍላቸው/ችሁ በደስታ ነው።

በዚህ በአዲስቷ ኢትዮጵያ ከፍለ ዘመን የሚያዋጣን ተደምረን፣ ተስማምተን፣ ተፈቃቅረን መኖር ብቻ ነው።

 

መልካም ዕድል!



IDEAS TO UNITE US

More explanations on the recently posted comments of “MEDMER IS A UNITING NEW ABIYOT” - https://timeforchangesociety.blogspot.com/2019/11/medemer-is-uniting-new-abiyot.html

To Ermias’, a former player and member of Ethiopian national football team & a good friend of mine for a long time, remarks response and benefit all others who might have similar or their own side of comments who are modest and coy as always and reserved themselves scared of the maltreatments by others, this details hopefully, should justify their intended queries and curiosities.

Hi brother Ermias, thank you for your opinion regarding this sensitive issue that have come to light by our own sister, Toltu Tufa. We both know how our unity is important as we’ve been instrumental in uniting our community that served all Ethiopians. As we’ve also seen in many occasions in the eroding conditions of our members carrying their cultural stigma with them to this day. However, nothing altered our solidarity determined to keep our community that maintained to serve all Ethiopians. Please, understand young Toltu and try to grasp all the messages, before trying to punch the messengers, relating to this sensitive issue.

Sorry, Ermias, for taking your time to read overly written reply to your opinion. I needed to carefully explain this touchy subject carefully without taking any sides as I never did and never will. We are in a different century now, not 13^th, 14^th, or 17^th century, where people of all races are tied together in all sorts of interactions. Denial of anything is not a solution to our problems, but mistakes done by all parties and time to move forward to build new venues that can take all of us where we wanted to go. 

Please, also I suggest you read all the given sites for more clarification. I also trust you that you’ve read the other sites to answer your remarks about Europeans changing their names, which actually happens all around the world. However, my point is not about changing names, it’s about the significance of changing names in order to have all the social status, belonging, success in life and among others. There’s nothing fabricated about all these incidents taking place in our country and I’m not perturbed about all our past dead issues, but we can’t deny this sort of disparities have existed in all of Ethiopia irrespective of one ethnic group. However, you and people like you who have lived different lifestyles would not realize and feel the pain of the less fortunate.

Every time we Ethiopians discuss issues of cultural belonging and talking about concerns, we tend to take sides and label each other unnecessarily. However, as you know, I have never fallen, irrespective of the juicy remarks people make, in the issues of ethnic trap and I always, unequivocally, valued myself as a passionate Ethiopian who struggled so much to bring all our people together, but because of our upbringing cultural endemic problems of shunning and favouritism, enforced into an inescapable desertion like the rest of people who have done so.

The fallacy of identity politics is its mishandling that created our disunity and ethno-cracy instead of democracy. Take for example someone who was born in Addis Ababa (a cosmopolitan city by all account) whose parents came from two distinct ethnic heritages - say Amara and Oromo- and yet the only language s/he has spoken is Amharic. Which ethnic group this person ought to be “allocated”? What if by virtue of his/her upbringing and the multicultural environment of his/her surroundings s/he does not feel allegiance to any of his/her parent’s ethnic heritage? The issue could be complicated even more if we add to the mix of the unavoidable dynamics of intermarriage with other group that constitute the Ethiopian cultural mosaic. I can go on with other complex scenarios, but there is no need to press the point further, for only in the context of democracy that the questions of choice arises.

With all the chaos and horror of Cultural Revolution, it’s not something to be engaged in lightly, but it’s sometimes necessary. Error necessitates sacrifice to correct it and serious error necessitates serious sacrifice. To accept the truth means to sacrifice and if we’ve rejected the truth for a long time, then we’ve run-up a dangerously large sacrificial debt.

Forest fires burn out deadwood and return trapped elements to the soil. Sometimes, however, fires are suppressed, unnaturally. That doesn’t stop the deadwood from accumulating. Sooner or later, a fire will start. When it does, it will burn so hot that everything will be destroyed, even the soil in which the forest grows. Please, refrain yourself from misinterpreting this as a support for any revolt against society. Far from it, I don’t condone any violence to achieve peace or personal gain.

When we hear something incomprehensibly brutal, such ideas have manifested themselves. There’s no blaming any of this on unconsciousness, either, or repression. The process of bureaucratic stagnation and oppression is in the process and we’ve contributed by pretending everything is/was ok in the past. We couldn’t complain then, why not now? Why not take a stand about the issues we care about? If we do, other people, equally afraid to speak up, may come to our defence. And if not, maybe it’s time to transform. Good on you for making your point.

Moral problems, repression and lies by both individual and society warp the structure of Being and corrupt us all.

I’ve repeatedly observed the transformation of more existential desolation into outright hell by betrayal and deceit. Old enough to observe all the scenarios unfold. Obsessed by our unresolved past, we gather like ghosts around the deathbed, forcing tragedy into an unholy liaison with cowardice and resentment.

Even well lived lives can, of course, be warped, hurt and twisted by maltreatment and infirmity and uncontrollable catastrophe. The difficulties intrinsic to life itself are sufficient to weaken and overwhelm each of us, pushing us beyond our limits, breaking us at our weakest point. Not even the best lived life provides an absolute defence against vulnerability.

But the society that fights in the ruins of their earthquake devastated dwelling place is much less likely to rebuild than the society that are united and made strong by mutual trust and devotion. The honest human spirit may continually fail in its attempts to bring about paradise on earth. It may manage, however, to reduce the suffering associated on existence to a bearable level with communal allegiance.

The tragedy of Being is the consequence of our limitations and the vulnerability defining human experience. With love, encouragement and character intact, we can be resilient beyond imagining. What can’t be borne, however, is the absolute ruin produced by tragedy and deception.

The western world wrapped a dream like fantasy about the nature of evil around its central religious core. That fantasy had a protagonist, an adversarial personality, absolutely dedicated to the corruption of Being.  

Remember, it’s deceit that makes people miserable beyond what they can bear. It’s deceit that fills human souls with resentment and vengefulness. It’s deceit that killed hundreds of millions of people in so many of the wars. It’s deceit that still threatens us, most profoundly, today.

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

If there is one thing I detest and reject in the diaspora Ethiopians, its political bluffing, power mongering, egos and self-promotion/centeredness and hypocrisy. Breaking up, narrow group think, personality worships, nepotism, arrogance, enviousness, 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 our people, especially, the new breed of future generations.

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

It is common to read history backward and assume that a particular group is destined to become dominant, but conflict is part of the historical narrative and as such unavoidable part of human experience marked by complex relations and a never ending alternation between the oppressed and oppressors, families, friends and foes. A significant component of the walls of suspicion and hatred among us is the baggage that we carry in the form of historical narrative and particularly a deterministic notion of identity. I am not in any way suggesting we should not be unmoved by the past history of suffering and humiliation. After all, our experiences and memories help to shape our identity. Only by acknowledging our historical legacy, even when it might be painful, can we come to terms with our past as a way to better understand ourselves, identify our weaknesses and strengths and bridging the divide to a better future for all Ethiopians by challenging abusers, appreciating our diversity and bestowing our unity.

However, when we let our ego convince us that we have done no wrong and instead of repent begin to justify our actions, then we have chosen a state of denial over truth, flesh over Spirit. If we consciously war against our conscience, refuse to repent, ask for forgiveness and doing the right thing, choosing rather to justify our actions by whatever theory we can come up with allowing our ego defeat our conscience.

We might choose to go to war with our morality and reassure ourselves with our ego by saying… it was not my fault, I was born this way, it is genetic, my father or mother was this way, I was abused as a child, God made me to act this way…, it is a way of life – all men or women do this –everybody is doing it and so forth.

The list of excuses we might come up with abounds, every time we justify our sinful actions for self-glorification, it seems our ruthless ego (opinion of ourselves) has defeated our humane conscience to value somebody else’s good thoughts.

Don’t get me wrong, brother Ermias, you probably have seen it or sensed this action was taking place and there is nothing negative about telling the truth, “nothing but the truth”, rather than pretend and act as everything is hunky-dory.

Remember, we may not have the prestige of celebrities, the power of Pope or all other academic luminaries, but our differences of opinion and stories are unique and equally valued, effective and say something no one has expressed before. So, we all can make comments as one Ethiopians about the problems that hamper our transformation.

I take my hats off to those who are being resilient to care and share to disseminate what will be pivotal information for all of us to learn our past and absorb all as much as we can and put out the valued side of story and correct the blemished with good intentions in order to walk together.

The realities today are different than they were five, ten or twenty or fifty years ago. Aligning one’s thinking and actions with the changing times (realities) and circumstances is a sign of wisdom and humane maturity.

Let’s not waste time, it is time to stand with new reformers, rather than throwing barrages of unwarranted criticisms, cynicisms, envies, nepotisms & preferences, which honestly stand for all of us irrespective of one’s ethnic or racial backgrounds.

Let’s march together by joining “MEDEMER”.

More on contributions: https://timeforchangesociety.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-commencing-of-african-soccer-clubs.html

MEDEMER IS A UNITING NEW ABIYOT

WHATEVER HAPPENED WAS HISTORY, NOW MEDEMER IS THE ONLY CHOICE TO OVERCOME THAT.

Toltu Tofa's Story on the Project

As I see all sorts of commentaries filled with emotional remarks to refuse our own young Toltu Tufa’s personal axioms that are partly overstated on top of the stories she’s learned from her father. Mind you, you’ve not been there to know what her father has been through in his life back home. It's easy to mock someone else until you've lived in their shoes for a while.

The same is rue, as hard as it is to live with disability, you cannot feel what someone is going through in their daily lives unless you’re faced with one.

One thing is for sure, the idea of power by any ethnic group in control is omnipotent. The Oromos or any other ethnic groups may not be extremely subjugated to use their own language, however, unless they speak the national language(Amharic) and have names related to this group, their chances of transformation in their lives is redundant or marginal. Let’s be frank on this, unless you’re from the ruling racial background and you’re new to this pervasive experience and don’t have inkling whatsoever, the same goes for you not to criticize young Toltu for her stories are a personal determination to bring it to light, a reflection of her dad’s story of perseverance through the years as she was told. The new breed of generations may not know what has happened long ago as the current condition repudiates these disparities and has transformed principles even though the ruling regimes are trying to play the same old strategies to rule.

Please, continue reading the more relevantly expressed observations, while ago, in all of the following sites:
https://timeforchangesociety.blogspot.com/2016/10/blog-post.html BEKKA https://timeforchangesociety.blogspot.com/2009/07/need-to-forge-bonds-in-diaspora.html https://timeforchangesociety.blogspot.com/2008/04/we-all-are-ethiopians.html https://timeforchangesociety.blogspot.com/2009/04/change-of-heart-and-attitude.html

https://timeforchangesociety.blogspot.com/2009/06/time-for-change.html
https://timeforchangesociety.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-launching-of-ethiopian-community.html

LET'S NOT LIVE IN THE PAST!
ETHIOPIA FIRST!
R-E-S-P-E-C-T NEXT!

ALL PEOPLE'S PRIME MINISTER

LET'S ALL NOT TAKE SIDES, BUT STAND UP TO THE PROBLEM.

ETHIOPIANS

As Dr. Berhanu Nega undeniably and bluntly put it, “He doesn’t think his sense of Ethioipiawinet is as strong as Dr. Abiy’s”. Thank you for your honesty, brother. Is there any other with a better alternative who can build a better bridge? We’ve not seen so far, except jingoistic and juxtaposition talking misfit doodlebugs mesmerizing our people for their notoriety.

TRULY: BERHANU NEGA

The biggest challenge facing the future of democracy in Ethiopia is indeed this notion of ethnic entitlement and the division of federalism.

We can respect and allow all equitable benefits without losing our identity and nationality as Ethiopian.

PRIME MINISTER FOR ALL: ABIY AHMED

“While alive we are Ethiopians and when we die we become Ethiopia!” –Abiy Ahmed, Prime Minister of Ethiopia

A very empowering and inspiring thought that will enlighten the down trodden.
His greatest achievements will also put him above any contender who can passionately care for his country.

STRONG UNITY: PM ABIY AHMED

The current ill-conceived ethnic federalism imposed by the TPLF is immoral and unacceptable. A federal system that takes into account the geography, history, and culture of all Ethiopians is more sustainable. As Ethiopians, we should all be proud and embrace diversity.

The need for unity and transformation is greater than ever and all efforts must be made to bring people together in the pursuit of freedom through democracy, rule of law, justice and equality to achieve a real change and a better outcome in election 2020.

ETHIOPIAWINET IS ADDICTION: LEMMA MEGERSA

With all our abundant scholars and skillful luminaries we have in recent years, we seem to lack the drive, personality and willpower apart from sticking our fingers up for hasty criticisms that have no value and bring solutions to the ongoing pandemonium.

When the power of love overcomes the love for power our people will know peace and a good leader.

We also need to be mindful that we don’t aggravate the already volatile situation by taking sides and allowing favouritism. We need to support whoever is making untenable mistakes as a human fallibility and should be corrected respectfully as part of the crusading operation for change.



NO ONE IS BETTER AND ABOVE THE LAW

The root cause of the problem must be unraveled and resolved first: a leader elected for the people, by the people and from any people–ethnic background. That’s the root of the problem and that’s what we fail to accept as one people and one country.

APPRECIATE OUR DIVERSITY

Prime Minister Abiy started his new deal of transformation with love and compassion without imprisonment and absence of freedom. Sadly, the habit of fixing everything with violence still unabated in our culture and understandably people demanded law and order to be imposed by the modern day pacifist Prime Minister. Then, when he acted to restore law and order punishing those who took advantage of his soft side, again, some people took offense and grilled his ethnicity as a reason to slander him.

                                  UNITY NOT ETHNOCRACY 

“ለምንሰራው ሥራ ሁሉ እየተወቃቀስንና እይተታቸን መሻሻል አንችልም።”

This is the man who really understands and able to put himself in others shoes with no hesitation, because he’s been, you name it, through it all and has the tenacity, resilience and determination to change any harsh conditions.

“If you want to have a better performance than the crowd, you must do things differently from the crowd.” –John Templeton

Besides the Prime Minister, there are lots of people who have contributed to our social cohesion in their own way and need to be recognized open-mindedly. It’s not a conducive strategy to vent or throw tantrum on anyone because they didn’t not act or fulfil the way we’ve expected.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. taught, “Always avoid violence. If you succumb to the temptation of using violence in your struggle, unborn generations will be the recipients of a long and desolate night of bitterness, and your chief legacy to the future will be an endless reign of meaningless chaos.”

WE ARE MANY BUT ONE

Unless the people of Ethiopia can agree on the principles, values and structures that are essential to implement the key ingredients of inclusive values and principles, there will never be peaceful efforts to reform our nation.

No matter what has happened in the past, good or bad, we can’t obliterate history, what we can do, nevertheless, is forgive and move on knowing that the benefits are much greater than playing politics in a continuous vicious cycle to fix the past hefty maltreatments and other misdemeanors with so much unsubstantiated mendacities.

“When you forgive, you in no way change the past, but you sure do change the future.”

Our old habits can get so deeply engrained in us that they affect our attitude and rational at a social or organizational level.

    To criticize is easy, to unite our culture is demanding: Prof Berhanu Nega

Our country desperately needs a renaissance, strong-willed leader, true development built on a firm foundation of human rights, inclusions and political pluralisms. Human development that caters to the needs of all our people, not only the economic growth based on a prescribed on the outdated, unjust economic model, which inevitably benefits a few, strengthens inequality, fosters corruptions and tribalism.

If we’ve learned to eat together, we can learn to work together.

It is time to stand together with new reformers who honestly stand for all of us irrespective of one’s ethnic or racial backgrounds rather than throwing barrages of unwarranted criticisms, cynicisms, envies, nepotisms & preferences. Remember, this vicious cycle will happen again and again and again no matter who will be elected from any ethnic background unless we tackle problems civilly, accept and respect their democratic policies & their ethnicities.

ETHIOPIA BELONGS TO ALL OF US

We say to those at home and abroad who harbor hate and tribal divisions to give it up and join our journey of one thousand miles, TODAY.

Let’s all cherish and follow the “Medemer” phenomenon in the making and move forward peacefully.

Let’s also concentrate on the actions of Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed, as action speaks far better than his very poignant and persuasive speeches to win all Ethiopian multi-ethnic nationals to work together in the spirit of Ethiopiawinet, wisely.

ONE ETHIOPIA FOR ALL, ALL FOR ONE ETHIOPIA

WHO CAN WE TRUST SAGA

Men At The Right Time, The Right Place And For The Right Reasons

During their medal ceremony in the Olympic Stadium in Mexico City on October 16, 1968, African-American athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos each raised a black-gloved fist salute during the playing of the US national anthem. The two athletes fell into the center of a churning controversy for their salute as a symbol of black power and the human rights movement in America at large.

Silver medalist Peter Norman, a white Australian runner, didn’t raise his fist that day, but he stood with Smith and Carlos.
Peter Norman is standing still. He has just run second in the 200 meters at the 1968 Mexico Olympics.

At the medal receiving podium, behind him are Americans Tommie Smith and John Carlos. They bow their heads and raise their leather-gloved fists in a black power salute to protest racism and advocate for civil rights.

We must also not forget that this whole scenario was taking place at a time when his country was practicing white Australia policy.

As we can see, he didn’t raise his hands like his opponents did. What else did he do besides standing there starkly to deserve all the accolades?
History celebrates Peter Norman, not for his courage to support the two men, for his gallantly overcoming giants of the games, winning the silver medal and above all, being there standing alongside American heroic athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos who stood tall for humanity.

Norman was unmoving but he stood with Smith and Carlos by wearing an Olympic task for human rights badge alongside his silver medal. This was an attendance that changed his life.

A statue of the full podium, with Smith and Carlos without Norman, was erected at the runners' alma mater, San Jose State University in California, USA.

1968 Mexico Olympics, Tommie Smith, center, and John Carlos raise gloved hands

In Australia, Norman’s recognition, statue in his Olympic honor and the rest of public reputation, is his presence at the right time, the right place and for the right reasons that remembers him as the other different mortal that stood alongside the great African-Americans who courageously represented their people for equal rights.

If you haven’t already read “WHO CAN WE TRUST”, read collections of commentaries here: https://timeforchangesociety.blogspot.com/2019/08/who-can-we-trust.html

Speaking and being truthful to evade immoral ambiences.

If you’ve been living under the impression that we live in a post-racial society, this post & the recommended reads might make you uncomfortable as I assume is made evident by the title, but I think it’s worth the discomfort, so I hope you stick with it. At the very least, I hope that it starts a conversation or more sustained thoughts on the topic of race and the ways in which we are all affected by racism.

Not just a matter of individuals’ racist beliefs and actions, there is racism on the individual level and racism on the systemic level. When we talk about white supremacists and the actions of racist individuals, which is on the individual level. But systemic racism doesn’t require that all white people are racist individuals.

Every time someone from the opposite racial background tells a true story about something, why can’t we see it as simple personal opinion even if we don’t like to accept the truth? Similarly, we should not cover up the truth in order to protect the ongoing inequalities that have happened for so long.

The dissemination of fake racial news & media that perpetuates negative stereotypes about black people while simultaneously spreading positive stereotypes about white people and how this works to uphold the status quo that is systemic racism is individual’s interpretation.

1968 Mexico Olympic Mural of Peter Norman, Tommie Smith and John Carlos

Mind you, this event was reported at the time when media reports were mainly from one racial group over the other as most reporters of the time were from white racial society. Please, think about the truth of the matter instead of the manner in which the truth is presented, nothing, but the truth where everyone is adamant to talk about racial differences, especially, the painful years. Certainly, don’t intend to dwell in the past implications that have been unsympathetically hard-pressed upon black people as a result of utter ignorance and personal gain and expansionism.  

It’s not hard to see even in our modern day racial equality is at its utmost weakening point, but hard to discern with the necked eye as its operational cycle has become elusive and tremendously implicit. We can see some visibility in the media outlets where most white retired sport’s personalities have the opportunity to become media commentators while those from Indigenous and the nation’s resident blacks don’t share that opportunity. This is just one small tip of the iceberg misfortune out of the many disproportions that you probably know. However, lest we forget, things are changing at the speed of a turtle.

Please, don’t get angry. This reality existed and still remains to exist, unless we share the dilemma and do our part to live together in harmony. Why is it so hard to talk to white people about racism? If talking about racism bothers you, and you often find yourself feeling angry and defensive, this might be the read for you.

The half-truths and ridiculous misconceptions that have thoroughly corrupted the way race are represented in the classroom, pop culture, media, and politics. Centuries after some nations were founded on genocide, settler colonialism, and slavery, many of these people maybe waking up to the reality that the racial politics are still proliferating implicitly. But in the midst of this reckoning, widespread denial and misunderstandings about race persist, even as white supremacy and racial injustice are more visible than ever before.

The truth is urgently needed for our racist relatives, friends or bosses and a call to action for everyone who wants to challenge white supremacy and intersectional oppression in our society.

Racism should have no place in our lives, and should never be condoned. Education is our best means of combating ignorance and prejudice. It is so important to teach our children the value of cultural harmony, and if we infuse their learning process with these lessons, we will only be stronger in our campaign to eradicate racism from society.

Racism and any immoral ambience are disgusting and many people are completely aware of this and yet it remains to occur in society. Racism is ugly and it is something that will not go away until action is taken by everyone who is aware of how bad it has gotten. Don’t judge, this is the truth and exact observations of what has occurred and remains till this day, do something about it.

All schools should be prepared to accept and respect multicultural ideals and maintain its outlined principles as an ongoing harmonious contribution and agreement for students from different racial and religious backgrounds in order to lessen the torments and damages racism causes.

Prejudice is destructive in all its forms, especially racism. We all have the responsibility to break down the ignorant prejudices that dominate the beliefs of so many Australians. We must initiate to speak out whenever we witness racism and to educate those around us. Speak up, the truth!

If you act properly, your actions allow you to be psychologically integrated now and tomorrow and into the future while you benefit yourself, your family, your environment and that reverberating to the whole world. If you decide that you are not justified in your resentment of Racism, despite its inequity and pain, you may come to notice things you could do to reduce by a bit some unnecessary pain and suffering.

Ask yourself, “What should I do today, to make it better?” Guided by love and speaking truth and if you attend to some moral obligations, you will experience and find an ever deepening meaning. It’s not bliss. It’s not happiness. It’s something more like atonement for the criminal fact of your fractured and damaged Being. It’s payment of the debt you owe for the insane and horrible miracle of your existence. It’s how you make amends for the pathology of history.

We cannot get sick enough to help sick people get better. We cannot get poor enough to help poor people thrive. We can’t be bigoted to feel the empathy. It is only in our thriving that we have anything to offer anyone. If we want to be of an advantage to others, be as tapped in, tuned in and turned on as we can possibly be.