YOU DON'T HAVE TO AGREE BUT SPEAK WITH RESPECT

I thought McCain was very arrogant and abusive by playing cheap lying tactics about Obama's credibility and abusing him by saying "he doesn't understand" and "he doesn't know" plus he kept repeating the same thing over and over again by going over his time limit and Jim Lehrer, the moderator, was allowing him for that. Obama was the clear winner despite the fact that Lehrer let McCain have the last word most of the time. Was that fair? Think about that, seriously. What about the debate rules? I hope the American people saw McCain for what he truly is - an old dinosaur with old ideas and abusive debater!!!

He’s completely out of touch. He’s somebody who’s giving tax cuts to the wealthy when it’s the middle class and low income earners who needs tax cuts. Just last week he thought the fundamentals of the economy were strong. So, he doesn’t get it. That’s what he has demonstrated. He’s out of touch. And when you try to use sort of insulting language as he did tonight it doesn’t really appeal to voters who are looking for a positive solution to their own lives and the struggles that they’re going through. McCain's language is "insulting" when he says that Obama “doesn't understand” in all his speech.

Obama conducted himself with dignity and respect, and Americans appreciate that kind of concerned forthrightness. You can see from the picture how warm and accepting, welcoming and sincere Obama is. That just qualifies Obama’s comment about McCain when he said respectfully, "It's not because John McCain doesn't care, it's because John McCain doesn't get it."

On the contrary, Obama was respecting him by agreeing with what McCain was saying. So, be warned, McCain was playing cheap and old abusive tricks trying to score points by criticizing his rival rather than getting to the specifics and what he can do as a President. I was impressed with Obama. He presented a platform of change, discussed the issues well and showed a plan. McCain certainly did not show any real platform of change and just profiled his experience of 26 years in office which led us to no where but economic disaster and an unqualified war that wasted American lives.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO AGREE BUT SPEAK WITH RESPECT

OBAMA IS CREATING GOOD KARMA

Come on America! This is wake-up call! McCain’s smart tactics to pick a woman of no substance and credentials is only to cover his weakness and downfall to gain vote against his rival for not picking a woman as his running mate. It is a vote getter trick!( http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,,24271327-5012748,00.html )

A RAY OF HOPE
McCain is a four-term Arizona senator, where has he been? What has he done all those years? Just support the Bills and changes that are presented by the Bush administration?
All the economic fall out now is a perfect example for the McCain’s term sluggish administration.
On the other hand, Obama is only a first-term senator from Illinois and records show that he has tremendously contributed so much to his Democratic party and in doing so he excelled in his KPI’s to run for the highest office in the land. Obama lamented Republican policies over eight years that he said "encouraged outsized bonuses to CEOs while ignoring middle-class Americans" and said: "Instead of prosperity trickling down, the pain has trickled up — from the struggles of hardworking Americans on Main Street to the largest firms of Wall Street."
Obama generally supports stronger consumer protections, better regulatory oversight and more government intervention, while McCain broadly prefers a market system of less federal involvement and red tape.
Obama seeks to cut into inequality between rich and poor by raising taxes on the wealthiest Americans and give breaks to the middle class and lower-income people.
Obama chastised McCain by saying: "It's not that I think John McCain doesn't care what's going on in the lives of most Americans. I just think he doesn't know. He doesn't get what's happening between the mountains in Sedona where he lives and the corridors of power where he works." That’s just a legitimate and honest assessment of McCain’s, three degrees of disaster, pure ignorance, poor judgement and pathetic economic mismanagement.

MCCAIN’S RANK OF TREACHERY
John McCain owns more houses than he can count and his wife wears $300,000 earrings. McCain divorced his first wife (after he cheated on her) to marry Cindy who was wealthy. Prior to that he was pretty much a loser. He eventually graduated, despite some difficulties near the bottom of his class and was a cocky, but bad, bad pilot in the Vietnam war leading to his plane getting shot down and him getting captured. This was the fifth plane McCain had lost in his short military career (and he only saw 20 hours of combat during the Vietnam war).
Further, McCain actually cooperated with the Vietnamese and provided them with information in exchange for medical care (not saying I blame him given his life was at stake, but merely stating what happened).
It makes you wonder whether John McCain is a real life instance of the Manchurian Candidate.
Barack Obama, on the other hand, was raised by a single white mom who needed food stamps. He worked hard, graduated from one of the highest Universities in the land, Harvard, and overcame tremendous odds and hardles to get where he is today. Phew! These are not opinions but prooven facts. To even think that he is an elitist is the biggest farce in the world.

A ray of sunshine is gradually beaming rainbows of hope for America and the rest of the world because OBAMA IS CREATING GOOD KARMA. Obama will bring audacity of hope to all. Read more very interesting comment on (www.abugidainfo.com/?p=6027 ).

BOOK OF LIES AND DECEIT
Jerome Corsi just published a new book full of lies and deceit. Sounds like the writers from The National Enquirer. This is nothing but another stint & sensational writing full of lies to arouse people more interested to read expecting what will happen next on fictional stories that never existed and to anyone’s demise nothing will happen at all. People are so attracted to bewildering stories they will continue to buy such stirring and dramatized stories of newspapers, magazines, and books so forth.
Obviously, this writer chose a good time and opportunity to make money regardless of his strong support for both parties and making evil effort to undermine Obama’s credibility. No fat chance, Pal. You can make the money but you can’t make the man the way you think.
Faithfully

What is it, Racism, Sexism, or Everything?

I am commenting on an unnecessary opinion Robyn Riley, from Heraldsun Australian newspaper, (www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,,23415573-5000112,00.html#submit-feedback.) has made against Richard Williams regarding the racist allegations, she assumed, he has made on behalf of his two professional, remarkable, tennis players, Venus and Serena. His perfectly brilliant comments are the deep rooted grassroots racism that has made not only his life difficult, the lives of every black in the world.
She failed to grasp the weight of his comments that they are neither ego nor delusional. As far as I know he is a perfectly healthy and caring father who has observed what has been happening to his tennis wonders regardless of the wealth they have gained from playing tennis, endorsements and their personal motivation to get in to the industry dominated by white fashionistas.
She needs to wake up to her conscience unless she perfectly denies that racism never existed and does not exist.

Australia is long way from accepting blacks into their community. The government’s intention to take in minute percentages of refugees from Africa comparing to other European countries is a perfect example of modern day hypocrisy and they are taking them because they are pressured by an international community and humane organisations. In the new millennium Australia still continues to show an implicit form of racism. ( www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,,24416160-661,00.html )
In case you haven’t noticed if you watch the news and sports on TV or read Australian newspapers, they are only showing or commenting on white winners, be it Australian or other, in the tennis or any sport competitions.

On any of the Australian media including SBS, which used to be the media outlet for ethnic communities, Barack Obama the Illinois Senator who is the American Democratic Presidential, hopeful, nominee, is hardly mentioned on the news, however briefly, except when there is negative news against his name while the rivals, John McCain or Hillary Clinton, names come up about hundred times if they managed to score a good point even if it doesn’t make any differences at all. This is an indirect racism and hypocrisy purposely trying to sabotage and suppress reports in the media for the promotion, advancement of black entrepreneurs and empowerment of power and prestige.

It is a perfect example of modern day racism that still bothers our white community unable to accept black advancements in all areas of achievements. Is it just pure sexism, racism or combination of everything? How many blacks suffer from the effect of racism in finding employment? (www.theage.com.au/national/hope-is-alive-despite-the-knockbacks-20080731-3nzq.html ) (www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,,24195608-2862,00.html ) It is so implicit and cruel even the most educated end up driving taxis and working in factories to support their families. The organizers of Wimbledon are at shame about the game for playing Venus out of the appropriate court she deserves as a defending champion.

The Australian media reports or writes very little if any on the Williams sisters. Always reflect at their lowest of lowest form, especially, channel 9 for not showing the women’s, Williams’s sisters, final when it was clearly indicated on the weekly TV programs. What about if the final was not all in the black? The Newspaper media pulls off sexism with infinitely greater pledge. What a dull and infantile article they write, sometimes. Hey, I say to you, crawl out of the Stone Age and into the 21st century. It’s time for change.
The Williams sister’s game has many strengths and even the most blue-collar of tennis fans could see that. It is so sickening to see the newspaper Medias are also biased that they hardly write about black sports' achievements.

I for one am looking forward to seeing the sisters rewind time and take us back to a great time in tennis. This year's Wimbledon has made for quite a good story. It's always interesting to see two sisters face off in a final, especially when they have such differing on court personas. I would much rather watch them than watch someone like Federer, who has got the game but no on court persona whatsoever and so boring with no charisma. At least Nadal helps to keep things interesting though.

Also you should remember that because the sisters have been equally impressive in the doubles competition you failed to show it.
Wimbledon refuses to give equal pay to female athletes. In a world where inequality between the sexes still exists, it is thus very important for the All England Club to send out the message that: Women are just as capable of making the same achievements as their male counterparts. No one should be discriminated in any ways for something they have no control of.

The talk about Venus and Serena spending times outside tennis has been going on for so long that it is becoming tiresome to hear. For one, it is their lives. Unlike some tennis players who struggle to go past the first couple of rounds of a grand slam, despite the fact that these players have almost no life outside tennis, the Williams sisters have managed to accomplish so much while wining a combination of 14 grand slams. With results like that, who can question that they are not "Full time Professionals"? And as outsiders, we do not have the right to judge the way they choose to live their lives. After all, if an actor can write books, why can't a tennis player design clothes?
I think the media and everyone should wake up to their conscience that the time for change has come. Face up to the reality, tolerate and accept black people's achievements, enough is enough, how long can you go on dominating your fellow human beings.

We need media vigilance against racism’s permanence, its modern implicitness and its insidiousness. Racism will always be with us in a more implicit manner than past treatment of aborigines and South Africa’s former apartheid policy and African-American segregation calamity. The responsibility is more accentuated for policy makers, political and community leaders, educators, religious groups, the mass media and the police, as they attempted to steer the community to moral, empathetic and humane ends. It is a social tragedy that this inhumane treatment still exists in today’s society. Further reading ( www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,,24035840-2862,00.html ).

So I say to my dear Robyn, you need to further educate yourself about the predicament of racism before engaging your brain in this very sensitive and grassroots domination by white population. You need to liberate yourself and reflect your ideology in a way that is acceptable and enlightening to others. Don’t do unto others, what youth don’t want others to do unto youth.

In good spirits,
Simeneh

SAY NO TO RACISM

Where is the mantra of "ALL PEOPLE ARE CREATED EQUAL?"

It is time for big change for mankind. Let's FACE reality.

In good spirits,

Simeneh

WE ALL ARE ETHIOPIANS

As a true blue Ethiopian, and a person of the Ethiopian Diaspora, it upsets me to see our people, all Ethiopians, keep steering for our individual differences instead of appreciating and coming together for our collective enrichment. I don't know about you, but hollering about our ethnic culture, trying to earn distinction as Gondere,Menze, Amhara, Tigre, Oromo, Guragie or ya addisabba lij, bragging about our ethnic superiority, to one another, has not earned us one break in life. We all, some of us, work like everyone else to make ends meet, if I missed a social club that offers benefits of being of a "special" ethnicity or culture, please someone let me know. Assuming that there is no such club, why then do we constantly go out of our way to elevate our egos at the expense of other Ethiopian ethnics.

While the unfortunate many are living in impoverished states of Ethiopia: Tigray, Oromia, Amhara, Harare, etc., the blessed minority of us, whether in Australia or elsewhere, are obsessed about our ethnic individualism instead of coming together to revive our respected country. We have been blessed with the gifts of intellect and ambition necessary to advance our cause; instead we use these gifts to attack each other. Trust me, you are not helping out the average Ethiopian by constantly disparaging your supposed enemy; the only thing you are doing is enabling the power hungry government and individuals who uses these differences to enrich themselves at the cost of other people.

It's easy to attack someone in the abstract, to denigrate a very weak individual, but next time you feel like uttering a word of hatred, regardless of your nationality or ethnicity, look at the ethnic, Ethiopian, woman in the store with two kids who did nothing to you, your words are aimed at her the same as they are at your supposed enemy.
Look at the, ethnic, Ethiopian, man who is working midnight shift driving taxis or trams or buses or working in the factory, trying to put his children in college, your words of hostility are wedged at him the same way they are wedged at your weak opponent.
Look at the, ethnic, Ethiopian child who is trying hard to attain the Australian dream, your word of contempt target her/him as much as it targets some powerless challenger.

We all know that there have been historical injustices and that no one ethnics’ hands come out totally clean, but how many generations we have to fight the same battles before we call a ceasefire. We should not be captivated by the sins of our fathers or the bitterness of past generations. The hurtful venom that is discharged in the name of ethnic pride is nothing but empty rhetoric that diminishes our collective aspirations and dreams.
The fingers of the hand are weak, you can’t clap with one hand, nor can a thumb by itself build a house, working together, they can move mountains, clenched they become a powerful force to protect our shared rights.

Imagine if we are united together in Australia to advocate for policies that advance our community and collective interests instead of denigrating each other’s achievements and personal journeys in life.

A perfect example would be, as my Ethiopian-Australian friends would certainly acknowledge, that they collectively supported my strong commitment and determination to establish the first Ethiopian Community Association in Victoria in 1985.
From there on, we strengthened our unity and established the first African Soccer Club comprised of various Ethiopian ethinc groups and Africans playing soccer match competitions every Sunday in the Amateur Soccer League of Victoria. Read more: https://timeforchangesociety.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-commencing-of-african-soccer-clubs.html

Why it all fall apart? What caused all the divisions? We need to understand our failings and learn from it, if we have to make a democratic community respecting our diversity which was my basic principles to form a community that entails all Ethiopians irrespective of our differences.
It is a very disenchanting story to see the downfall, why we all allow or agreed to disengage our communal and fraternal pursuit for enjoyment of life by creating divisions amongst ourselves. We should appreciate those who have helped us to succeed in our personal and business achievements.

My urge is, it is never too late, to create a dialogue that can filter our differences and unite our objectives to create an atmosphere of friendship, whether in Ethiopia or elsewhere, as we are people of diverse cultures living in an environment of democracy, prosperity, tolerance, mutual respect and harmony under the supremacy of Law and Justice.

After all, we have more in common than we have that sets us apart. The way forward for Ethiopians is not through ethnic extraordinarily, rather it is through social and economical collectivism, and we have to enter into a new age of a post-ethnic philosophy.
Think about the impact of our unity wherever we are and the effect it can have is even greater back in Ethiopia.
We should never forget the power of Unity: "United we stand, divided we fall. Let us not split into factions which must destroy that union upon which our existence hangs."

Next time you want to point a finger in the air to brag about being "number one", just remember that the finger you point upwards will not do anything to build or protect the very ethnic you are so proud of.
Collectively we are powerful; individually we are always going to be impotent, letting others exploit our minds, resources and historical wealth while we stand apart bragging about our ancestors and past accolades.

Watching Barack Obama's historic speech about race and its omnipresence in the lives of all Americans, I was inspired by his honesty and his tedious assessment of our collective and individual deeds that perpetuate and divide one community against another. It was this powerful moment that led me to some profound thought and how my own actions perpetuate the intangible yet real walls that separate neighbor from neighbor, co-worker from co-worker and in some instances a friend from a friend.
I feel I am reinvigorated and ready to strengthen the spirit of my community which I always believed; we are many, united as one.

The experience that constructs my life narrative is that of being an Ethiopian and an African-Australian. Sometimes I feel blessed because I have a connection to my culture; at other times, I feel as though I walk an invisible line, wavering between my Ethiopian culture and my African-Australian culture.
It is this double life, this distinction between two cultures that challenges the notion that I have transcended the divide between the African-Australian culture and my Ethiopian culture.

The racial divide that Barack Obama spoke about is not contained within the quarters of black and white Americans; it is an undercurrent that exists within people of the same color and, in some cases, of the same country. It reaches out beyond black and white, extending the reaches of division on tiny basis of dark and light, African and African-American. The same goes here in Australia; the divisions are so vivid, between different African-Australians and amongst Ethiopians.
It is hypocrisy, if we believe in the grassroots mainstream of multiculturalism in Australia, when we don’t even acknowledge our own long standing diversity that have lived and fought together to preserve our country’s freedom to the present.

I assumed that my experience walking the line between my Ethiopian and African-Australian identities had cautioned this divisive mindset. I figured that I was enlightened, that I transcended the ethnic divides simply because I am a sincere friend of many cultures, Ethiopians, Australians, African-Australians and those from countries in almost every continent.
To one degree or another, we are all guilty of the practices that kept us divided; the very victims of discrimination can often be its perpetrators. The hatred that has taken centuries to fester claims as victims those who preach it and those who are its target.
Discrimination does not reside in the narrow confines of black and white; it permeates all societies, the impacts of which are felt across racial and ethnic lines.

Therefore, for us, all Ethiopians, who seek to see a united Ethiopia where equality, prosperity, social justice and harmony in diversity would be and inherent features, this is a great opportunity. I think time has once again presented us with an opportunity to see a room for commonalities in difference and toward to establishing trust for united action against the struggle for power among parties everywhere and dictators in Ethiopia.

I love my Ethiopian heritage, I love my African-Australian experience, and I love my Australian journey; however, my own journey towards true inclusion and unity is far from attained. In our own ways, we all have our faults and strengths, which contribute, to the divisions and unity that exists between our communities.
Even if we disagree on political matters and ideologies, whatever parties we may engage in, members of any social gatherings, different ethnic communities, we should always exercise the enticing power of mutual respect between us.

Nonetheless, we all are Ethiopians. In general, our failings do not define us, that we are not still, and that we can grow beyond the walls that have defined our experiences to attain the true meaning of unity; to achieve the essence of diversity, out of many united fronts, is like Menelik’s army triumphant in the face of adversity.

In good spirits

SELF REVELATION

I treat and respect all people with my solid course of action, mind over matter, if they’re not likewise, I don’t mind & they don’t matter.

I pay my indelible gratitude to all the people that I have been in contact with, past and present, friends and families, regardless of their academic standing or status, who and what they are. As a result, I have gained a great deal of knowledge and extensive experiences dealing with the downtrodden and my intentions are not to use over anyone, but to share it with everyone.

We all want to see ourselves being successful in everything we do. However, we’ve to be ready to walk thru the rough roads that take us to success. Reaching the heights of success needs hard work, determination, willingness to change and keep on going.

When we see people who are at the top of their achievements, we only see their success. What we often forgot to see are the efforts they put in, the disappointments they faced and those hard moments when they felt like giving up. No matter how bumpy the road I’ve travelled was, I never gave up. I kept on walking thru that rough path even though I fell so many times. At times I was tired and exhausted, but I didn’t give up on my dreams. I was left alone but found my own company, when no one comforted me, never doubted myself when no one encouraged me.

Therefore, no matter how rough the road might seem, believe in yourself as I’ve and have faith in your hunches as I did. Keep walking with patience and trust as I’ve done, you’ll eventually get there.

I know some experiences had made me so delirious and negative but generally made me combat so many things that I didn’t like about me. I came to a point where I questioned my despair. What’s the point of being miserable if someone less fortunate, with no arms legs, eyesight, deaf…., than me can find joy? I noticed I go thru life wanting to be recognized, accepted, trying to please others and wanting to be someone. Finally, I discovered this is an ongoing pain that I’m fighting within myself having the desire to be liked, loved. It’s a rejection I’ve experienced for so long and I’ve not yet forgiven. I’ve realized if I’m not happy with who I’m and what I’ve got; having everything won’t make me happy. After looking at the people with no arms and legs unable to do anything but radiating pleasures of life on the streets, I ask myself, they’ve got nothing, where does that joy come from?

It has been a long time trying to find my lost soul, not knowing it has implicitly lived within me quietly for so long. I wasn’t the real person of the real identity everyone would think I ought to be. However, I have lived and felt, I must admit, like nobody without modestly revealing my true identity. Nevertheless, at the time, I was accepted in the society consequently and I have enjoyed the new hype being in the limelight by acting so immensely.

I created my false self with no intention of staying that way for so long and I never wanted to be somebody else. Sometimes circumstances force us to succumb to live up to the pressures of social conditions and that of ourselves livelihood. It all started in the late 70’s, after I left my country, when overseas people couldn’t say my name: Simeneh, so they started calling me Simon: ‘Simon Templar’. They associated my gathering pleasing personality with the timely star of the 60’s movie ‘Simon Templar’, a spy thriller television series known as ‘The Saint’. They gave me their preferences and I went along to fit in, gain status, the prospect of maybe better jobs and all the benefits of superficial social promotion in all the foreign countries I’ve travelled to. However, I was nothing like The Saint or the actor, just a coincidence of popularity of the sitcom & comic actor’s name at the period of showing movie.

                                 Simon in Athens                                            

I was and am always proud of who and what I was and where I came from till, I was faced with the probability and dilemma of trading my true identity for the purpose of social classification and other privileges to camouflage myself as a defense mechanism to survive, thrive and be alive exploiting all the superficial approaches.

Finally, as I got older and wiser, I realized that there was quite a gap between who I really was and my identity that I’ve presented to the world. I would like to unravel further this chapter of my life by telling you the evolving of my true story.

It all started when I wanted to be able to gain everything that I’ve ever wanted by living two different lives. Growing up, I had no cultural guidance to be myself with everything I did, be confident and open. It was never too late to try to spend less time to be a different person and used more time to be proud of who I’m. I no longer wanted to be trapped by the superficial self-characterization. I realized in an instant that I had distanced myself from my innate intelligence. I closed my eyes and put all of my attentions on it. I started to admit who I’d been, what I’d been hiding, why I’d been doing so and how unhappy I was. I began to surrender some aspects of myself to a greater mind. I then reminded myself of who I no longer wanted to be. I decided how I no longer wanted to live based on that different personality. I observed my unconscious behaviors, thoughts and feelings that reinforced my old beliefs and reviewed them until they became familiar to me. I thought about who I did want to be by reclaiming a new habit that will form my new personality.

Therefore, I retreated from my current lifestyles for some time. My friends and known ones thought I was losing my mind. In fact, I was losing my old mind, the way they never expected, in order to have a new mind with new habits. I was no longer living an ideal the world wanted, but one for myself. I didn’t want to see anyone again until I transformed myself and living every step of my examples that I was preaching. I needed to take timeout to make a true human revolution in my life and wanted to have joy from within and not from outside of me. It’s not as easy as it sounds having the same old friends and habits around and trying to assert a complete personal change.

Although my transformation wasn’t immediate, I wasn’t perturbed and feared anything that was happening around me during my long but steady journey toward a new personal change. I made some necessary changes to commit myself to exercises everyday carefully observing at my unwanted emotions one by one and I began abandoning and undoing every habit I’ve practiced along the way. I also made a gigantic decision to become vegetarian, absolutely restrained myself from drinking and as a result evaded seeing my friends indefinitely without prior notice and engaging in any alcohol inducing social get-togethers. I started meditative processes of unlearning my old habits and creating new ones by intentionally breaking the old habits and dismantling my old identity. That’s when I began to feel joyful soon after. I became at peace with myself and turn out to be happier after realizing & maintaining my predicament is nothing to do with anyone or anything outside of me.

Simon in Melbourne

Today, I make time to meditate and do yoga every morning to sustain my new habits, stay focused on my everyday exercises of gym workouts, playing tennis, cycling, walking with our dog, state of just being and never to fall backward, again.

Honestly, it has all been a self-help advantage with least possible acceptance and I have no regrets about my past witty or pity actions because I was young and on my journey of social and lifetime discovery. I have seen, grown up and lived in a society where one ethnic group had to change their names in order to belong to certain groups having no power to change the system and resorting to endure dominations. The stake was so high and the availability of opportunities which would have been otherwise with one’s birthright name if differing from the opposite ruling groups. Having seen and lived through all these social inequalities in my own country and regressing in my distant memory back in my days, obviously, had an effect on my ongoing lifestyle.

Like all kids, I grew up fancying and envying of some other kids’ names from different ethnic backgrounds when I was in school not because of whatever was going on, little did I know, but because their names sounded cute and good different.

Like every parent, my loving parents have given me the name exclusively associated with their elation, love and belonging not knowing the future consequences that the name will remain my authentic identity plate for life.

However, this change of names phenomenon is epidemic, and I finally came to know and recognize some derogatory incidents behind it. Most people change their birthright names for all sorts of reasons primarily for acceptance, to fit in, self-gratifications, enculturation, personal preferences and to name a few. Although, I’ve grown up in the Amhara racial background, totally enculturated, I lost the Oromo language I was born to and grew up with after I moved to the city and starting school where everything was taught in Amharic (the national language of the ruling elites). Like everyone else who has experienced this same scenario, my racial upbringing is an Ethiopian Oromo like all regional states within the country, Texas is in the USA.

Apart from my own back home experiences of name changing predicament, I came to know the widespread manifestations how few people around the world have also altered their birthright names. Also, in case you didn’t know, the following people, among many more, have changed their original names: Reginald Dwight to Elton John, Katheryn Hudson to Katy Perry, John Stephens to John Legend, Maurice Micklewhite to Michael Caine, Jennifer Anastassakis to Aniston, Destiny to Miley Cyrus and to name a few.

Even though there is no guarantee that once kids grow up, they will keep their parental names and beliefs forever. My honest opinion to prospective parents would be, to be cautious before naming their kids regardless of their cultural or religious background. Parents should reflect thoughtfully that just because they like the sound of the name must not be a vital reason to name their kids.

Well, regardless of what will happen in the future with my real name, reaching the peak of my acumen, despite people not liking it, having difficulty to say it or facing fewer opportunities in the future, it is time for change.

What started as a fitting in a wonder built up over years and became my new personality, self-image and identity that I have experienced more or less most of the time needs to change now. Somehow, I didn’t experience my false self all the time, because, thankfully, sometimes I was in touch with my true self, and those experiences, which I tend to think of as peak experiences, served to remind me of who I really was. I sometimes introduce myself with my real Ethiopian name and at times with my false Anglo-Saxon name.
The new status experiences of false Anglo-Saxon name grew kindly. Like I said, partly because of my name Simon association with the 60’s TV series movie ‘Simon Templar’, known as ‘The Saint’, starring Roger Moore (check it on YouTube).

Interestingly, everyone started calling me just that (Simon) in Athens, Greece, my first destination when I left my country, Ethiopia, and the rest is, like they say, history.

SIMON IN ATHENS, 1977

That was then; now my conscience, self-realization and adult life transformation (age of wisdom) won’t allow me to continue doing what I’ve always done. Three decades later I started to wonder and asked myself what has happened to my real birth right name.

I started to feel uncomfortable to introduce myself, with my Anglo-Saxon name, as ‘Simon’ to everyone I met. I also noticed how everyone rolled their eyes refuting it didn’t sound like my authentic Ethiopian given name.
When I saw my false self’s treatment by others, I realised that was how I actually treated myself and it became apparent to me how my troubles began.

I remember, when I was back home in Ethiopia, as I’ve explained earlier, a lot of people of different ethnic groups changed their names in order to get equal opportunities to survive and endure all the frailties of racial differences. So, I wasn’t surprised to do the same thing in an absolutely foreign country & culture to survive, thrive and stay alive as I have subconsciously inherited those mortifications and immoralities like everyone else.
Having done that, up and about till early 90’sand 2000; I became so popular with my new Anglo-Saxon name among friends, workmates, girls and almost everyone I met in general as my easy-going and crowd-pleasing nature also attracted full attention. Every introduction started with a joke of the game Simon says… a fun and challenging game that helps in exercising listening skills. I also had no trouble finding jobs, meeting lasses and making friends by fitting into the culture. No wonder I kept the name for so long. Yes, feels like, “It may seem a good idea at the time”.

 Considering my naiveté as smart move with an aspect of inauthenticity that brought an emptiness which my ego mind couldn’t abide, reclaiming my real name was the only option. Somehow, it automatically filled up my survival of flight or fight feelings with empty and inadequate reactions for some time for sure came at an emotional cost. One can imagine the perseverance of various lacks of psychological effects such as self-confidence, self-esteem, self-worth, self-respect, insecurities, self-doubt, pride, apprehensions, dignity, and to name a few, that I’ve endured as a result of the name changing spectacle. Who can I sue for that? There's no insurance claim either.

We all have our own ways of perceiving things differently. The desire of our hearts, expressed in our own unique ways, always embody essential qualities such as freedom, justice, peace, love and happiness.

We are all seeking wholeness, divinity and enlightenment because those are the aspects of our soul’s nature. The true self, the feeling, is whole and divine.

As I have conscientiously started to experience those important aspects of my true self, I was on the way to discovering and feeling a sense of who I was (am), why I was (am) here and where I was (am) going. This is more exciting, to me, and an important quest of finding myself than anything else I can dream of.

Moreover, if I’m not living the truth, I deny myself the pleasure of an authentic life. Authenticity allows me to drop my habits or/and masks to please everyone and be who I really was (am). Not everyone will like this, but it’s better to be liked for who I really am than loved for whom I’m not. How many people, including you, really know you? Many don’t give themselves a chance, as if they are a bad date they never want to see again because they have no fashion sense.

At the start, I kept regressing back to my old habits, but in time I got better by withdrawing myself temporarily, from friends and activities previously considered favorites, social interactions, for self-actualization at least until I get used to everything, in order to avoid all my old habits. When I know there are other ways of thinking and living that resonate with what my spirit wants not my ego; it’s impossible to live by the status quo, especially, if my conscience scale is getting high. By setting strong positive affirmations and insights daily, I had no choice left but to struggle to overpower my demons, not to surrender to the unhealthy, superficial attitudes of our society’s obsession by status, crowd pleaser ideals and empower myself to stick to my core principles that will suit my personalities in helping me to be myself and live peacefully without being swayed by transient worldly conundrums.

In order to live a life full of great relationships with my wonderful partner, my family, friends and everyone, perfect health, of course my conscience and success in all my endeavors, I needed to find my equilibrium. It is also imperative to strengthen my connection to all aspects of my true self. And it is simple; all I need is the courage to face the truth. Believing that only the truth can set me free, honestly riding that rocket ship into my inner space is the only way to reveal the wonder and beauty of who I was (am). When I rise above my experiences and beliefs and take responsibility for having created my current life’s situations, not blaming someone or something else, I am ready to find the true self and heal. I am already feeling better having the courage, to face the music now, by opening up the door for others with the same fate addressing my bumpy rides of experiences so far.

Therefore, I made up my mind to find the real me and use my birthright name without hesitation.

The identity I have inherited did not fit with my heritage, values, persona, beliefs and what I preach. So, it is time for me to practice everything I was (am) preaching – being authentic self and truthful.

I can’t tell you how relieved and comfortable I am since I have found me and started introducing my old soul, but new me to everyone I met. Therefore, I want everyone to know that from today on ward, only my correct name or birthright name, Simeneh must be used.

 Marcus Garvey, a Jamaican born Black Nationalist and leader of the Pan-Africanism movement, which sought to unify and connect people of African descent worldwide said, “A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots”.

I stopped trying to be accepted, fit into people’s penchants and found my woke, grit and resilience to accept myself principally.

Seriously, if everyone can say Schwarzenegger, certainly, they can “Say my name”, hey, sing it, correctly with little trouble. Simeneh, Simeneh, Simeneh… Whatever happens, I absolutely won’t be back! Please, try saying it now!

For those who still use “Simon” to call me for whatever the reason on their mind, I say to them, give it up, try it up & live it up. But if you didn't know the changes or wanna create conversations, welcome to say it.

Recently, a true anecdote, I introduced myself to someone with my real name and after his first attempt; he said to me, do you mind if I call you Sam? I just laughed my head off to tears and explained the story to him. That's right, not again! And I said to him, it's ok if you can’t say or remember it, but don’t call me Sam. Explaining to him, that’s how this whole enigma of my name change started in the first place.

So, having read who I was, who I’m now, and the challenges I’ve been through in making personal transformations, it’s time to reassess where your own life’s blueprint stands and move yourself to a new consciousness site. You probably may have done something similar in your life’s journey thus far. You must become very clear about what you’re doing, how you’re thinking, how you’re living, how you’re feeling and how you’re being… to the point that it isn’t you and you don’t want to be it any longer.

First and foremost, to my families back home in Ethiopia and in Australia who stood by my made-up name over the years, I thank you for your patience and understanding. You knew I have never meant to be someone else. It’s all been nothing, but fun filled appeal, above all self-gratification to survive & thrive in the life dominated by status, the rich and famous society where respect and appreciation is prejudiced by the who is who culture. Like everyone else, I just wanted to live without being judged by my name, color of my skin, race, nationality or status anymore. Despite my quest to fit in, for self-fulfillment, for pursuit of happiness, and for the inconveniences and painful conditions I have inflicted upon everyone in their daily lives by imitating me, I say to them, from the bottom of my heart, I am sorry.

To all my friends in Europe, where it all initiated as a joke and in America where I only used it scarcely, you must know that it has all been nothing but fun, part of growing up, naïveté, reflection of happy times and all of the above sermons; however, if you have been disappointed in my actions to change my name, I am truly sorry.

To all my friends in Australia, my community members and all other friends who knew me for what & who I was and where I came from, if you were disappointed, I say to you with all my heart, I am sorry.

Above all, we all have to take responsibility for our own actions, although, people in general look up to a role model for good aspirations. As far as I know, I made tremendous contributions to take the center stage to show how to have a good time amid all the daily worries we were facing seeking equal opportunities and adjusting to the mainstream society. I, somehow, inadvertently may have set a bad example in my social interactions and some of my actions may have impacted on some of my friends and colleagues, more or less in good terms, directly or indirectly changing, attempting or anticipated changing their names and lives at one time or another. I can’t express enough that I am really sorry if you’ve assumed so.

I also counsel all my African, Asian and other compatriots who renounce their birthright names in order to gain all the benefits mentioned in here, try to be united in refusing to forsake your names for whatever reason as they (the Westerners and Europeans) wouldn’t change their names with African, Asian or other nation’s names. Therefore, educate yourselves, teach others, never to alter your culture’s names and follow stereotype lifestyles.

                                      IT’S MY INDELIBLE HOPE THAT AFRICANS & ALL OTHERS RECLAIM THEIR BIRTHRIGHT NAMES

It also sounds and looks very odd to see most Africans, Asians and other nationalities with English or Anglo-Saxon names, but we never see other Westerners or Europeans with African, Asian or other nation’s names.

All the reasons, well at least some, are plainly explained in my personal life experiences why my name change was circumstantial back then and vastly accepted. It is an unbelievably an eye rolling narrative today, if your name doesn’t match your racial heritage.

Even some similar racial background individuals are communicating with foreign languages, making it challenging to understand for some and hard to exactly express their true feelings and intentions correctly, let alone in their own lingos. It’s an unfortunate that I don’t anticipate to exclude myself from this dilemma and sympathize with those who genuinely argue that they find it easier to speak and write in English, or any other language they feel comfortable with, not as bigheadedness or yearning for self-pride (excuse my language), as some might think, but their mother tongue has slowly slipped away as they gradually got enculturated.

My strong point here is, first and foremost, we should always try our best to communicate, express our intentions and deliberations in the languages we’re born with without feeling obligated, embarrassed, self-conscious or inadequate and proceed to the second best languages we find easier to explain our deliberations. No one should be pressured to express or write in other languages that are foreign to them.

Remember, English is a language like any other but not an ability or knowledge and should not to be used as a measure of one’s intelligence.

When Obama was told by his white surroundings during the election to use an English name called “Barry”, he refused, and let it be known that he is proud of his birthright heritage and refused to sell out to please anyone or gain status. He also goes to say, at his presidential candidacy dinner, “Many of you know that I got my name, Barack, from my father. What you may not know, Barack is actually Swahili for ‘That One’”. The point he was making here was also a rebuttal that his counterpart, former contender, John McCain, called him ‘That One’ during their presidential rally speech. He continued, “And I got my middle name, Hussein, from somebody who obviously didn’t think I’d ever run for president.”

If it is the name that matters, the Arabs and white people would have used the names of Africans when they first came in contact with Africans during their expeditions and explorations days.

That was then; it’s time for collective consciousness to take its course which will allow us to see everyone as one entity irrespective of their names and the languages they speak or use and stop pressuring anyone to change either.

Every day, I see and recognize that our own beliefs, attitudes and deliberations about life play as big a part in the creation of our collective consciousness as anyone else’s. We all are part of that journey.

“A mind stretched to a new idea never shrinks back to its original dimensions.” –Oliver Wendell Holmes

My final word to all my fellow brothers, sisters, sons and daughters in the diaspora, what may seem a good idea and fun, changing your names can be a complicated and deceitful manner on your long journey in life by concealing your authenticity. I say to you, forget whatever you’ve called yourselves in the past or now, realize all the morals, review all your options to live a real life and stay with your true identity, heritage, values and birthright name or forename that matches not only your persona, most importantly, your true origin as a whole.

Faithfully yours, 

The story continues: https://timeforchangesociety.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-start-end-of-my-journey-downunder.html

BARACK has the EXPERIENCE and WISDOM

Barack Obama has all the prerequisite to be the president of the United States of America.
Exceptionally, he would make the best modern era extraordinary president and commander-in-chief of the United States.
Barack Obama has immeasurable talent and wisdom to govern and lead this great nation. He is not by all means a cowboy or arrogant leader who will use his authority to maintain peace and social stability at home and around the world. Instead, he is a pragmatic, influential and persuasive diplomat who would resolve all matters through a civil communication.
So, do not be hoodwinked by Clinton’s reckless campaign of parading to get votes by talking about Barack’s inexperience. One should ask what her experience is. If Clinton wants to be back in the white house, she should tell the American people her own policies and experiences rather than condescending her opponent. Remember, what JFK said, “Think not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country”. The same goes for Clinton. Stop telling US what Barack Obama can and can’t do for US, but tell what you can do for US.
The Clintons want to go back to the white house with their personal problems and old ideas of her husband again telling her what to do. With the foreign policy issues where was Bill Clinton when 200,000 poor people of the African nation of Rwanda died from genocide? Didn’t he use guns not roses to kill more people of the old European Country of Yugoslav, now a divided nation of Bosnia and Kosovo, to settle the dispute? What about the unresolved peace deal in Northern Ireland and the impassable Middle East conflict between Israel and its Neighbours, root of all the problems the world can muster.
Come on! The past, old and looking for the gun when the tough gets going experience was, is and will be futile. About time America needs change. New Change they Can Believe in.
The one and only person that can undoubtedly bring those changes and lift the American spirit and dream from the brink of downfall is Barack Obama.
I believe Barack Obama practices what he preaches and that is in itself a sign of colossal leadership.
Barack Obama possesses the personal attributes of a great leader – an even temperament, an open-minded approach to even the most challenging problems, a willingness to listen to all views, clarity of vision, the ability to inspire, conviction and courage.

In good spirits,
Simeneh

AN INSPIRATION FOR THE NEW GENERATION

Barack Obama is either the reincarnated Abraham Lincoln or spiritually connected to Martin Luther King who has inspired all walks of life not only in America, around the world as well. It was a devastating agony that the world lost a charismatic persona that changed the social malfunctions of that time for ever.
Today, America and the world are at the highest point of happiness to regain that inspiration 40 years later. But live at the lowest of lowest life creating inequality and animosity at home and around the world. America needs to bring changes that make the world a liveable place without fear, war and spending and building unnecessary arms to destroy each other.
If I say that Barack Obama means equality, liberty and fraternity, I would not be further from the truth. In the so fast changing world we live in, change is so inevitable and only if that change is transparent and accountable to all. I believe the American people would make that judgement with complete care and honesty to vote for the person who would bring those changes to live not only the highest life, the happiest with equality,…..

Barack’s personal journey has been so admirable and encouraging overcoming overwhelming living hardships and the loss of his father early on and his mother to sickness and later death is a testimony to his unshakeable strength, determination, compassion, perseverance, honesty, integrity and ability to deal with obstacles, anything and everything, no matter how big, that stands in his way.

Therefore, my fellow American brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, I urge you to vote for Barack Obama who would bring about those changes you and the world need to live with dignity, high spirit and economic prosperity leading all humanity to a common goal-PEACE, LOVE and the Pursuit of HAPPINESS!

In good spirits,
Simeneh

OBAMA for PEACE

Barack Obama is not only eloquent, with that ability to speak both to you and to speak for you, he has a quality of thinking and intellectual and incredible emotional honesty that radiates from his presence is extraordinary.
Barack Obama clearly has an impeccable academic credentials and longer legislative experience than Hillary Clinton. Obama’s congressional records show that most of the Bills he has written became Laws.
Experience is not necessarily a function of age; otherwise John F. Kennedy, formerly a junior senator from Massachusetts, who turned out to be one of the greatest leaders in the world, 44 years old when he entered the White House, would not have become the leader of the United States of America.
Senator Barack Obama is the twenty first century God sent Messenger of peace to save the world.
His honest preaches and words of wisdom are very much like that of John F. Kennedy. There is a uniqueness and conviction in Barack Obama’s speech delivery. The similarities between John F. Kennedy and Barack Obama symbolises: the youth, the magnetism, the natural grace, the eloquence, the wit, the intelligence and the hope of a new generation.
Barack Obama also has tendencies of President Lincoln. Like Abraham Lincoln, Barack Obama challenges United States of America to rise up, to do what so many of us long to do, to call upon “the better angels of our nature”.
Come on! America this is a genuine wake up call. This is the biggest and best opportunity for you to elect Barack Obama as your President, if you want to live in equality, fraternity and liberty with the rest of the world.

May God Bless America
May God Save Obama
Ingood Spirits,
Simeneh