‘Ethiopia Tikedem’- (Ethiopia First)

AN AMBITIOUS STORY OF CHANGE
versus “YES WE CAN”

I hope you think and focus on the message not the messenger and you don’t spend too much time analysing the title ‘Ethiopia Tikdem’ (Ethiopia First) which was associated with the former Derg –military government. Although, the message mantra was by far a superior ambition, they failed to put it in practice. We can redeem that now!

Like everything else, in life, change is a vital course of existence. We all change as times go on, so is the rebuilding of the nation after natural devastation, invasion and unification with another nation. Whatever happened ages ago are history; whether it’s subjugation, isolation, corruption, migration or invasion, it can’t be redeemed. It’s redemption time.

What we can do now is to change that course of isolation, exploration, displacement, massacre, incarceration, torture, starvation, domination, association, or whatever we want to call it, with sincere gesture of reconciliation, forgiveness and appreciation to bring back everything that’s Ethiopian.

ETHIOPIA TIKIDEM 



Change entails new way of thinking, doing and being.

These days in age, we don’t need guns, weapons of mass destruction and separations to change course of history, by sharing practical concepts as an interconnected society, we can write and re-write anything until we get it right, peacefully.

We need to cultivate and nurture the concept of cultural helpfulness and social cohesion rather than our individual intelligence.

Nobody can control what has happened in the past which may have caused certain inconceivable factors to happen, but we have the resources & power at this moment and move forward to choose and plan what we can do to change things for the better.

The diverse political groups, individual actors, intellectuals and political activists must realize that the future of the Ethiopian state would only be solved via continued dialogue, negotiation & cooperation.

All Ethiopian ethno-nationalist groups must be considered integral actors in the changing process and all negotiation procedures occupying the place they deserve on the reconciliation and compromise issues.

Today, looking at the history of ethno nationalist movements such as EPRP, the Pan-Ethiopian nationalist movements emerged as inclusive political organizations, TPLF and EPLF, the rebellions with ethnic grievances as their agenda, that mostly emerged from Tigrigna speaking highlands as well as OLF, the Oromo Liberation Front arose as rebel organizations that are exclusive to their ethnic groups’ interests and their ethnocentric views, Ethiopia’s contemporary history shows that despite some political actors affiliated with such movements have come to evolve in their views of what the Ethiopian state should be. It is crucial to reminisce that these organisation’s political platforms remain embedded within their old ethnocentric agendas.

Autonomy for ethnic federal system was a self-gratifying fraught with conflicts denying fundamental freedom, human rights, economic and social opportunity and democracy to the vast majority of Ethiopians.

Ethnic federal system lent itself to manipulation by federal, regional and local authorities to serve TPLF/EPRDF government’s narrow economic, financial and political purposes and gave them carte blanche authority to erode bonds among Ethiopia’s diverse population.

It is time that all Ethiopians, academics, experts and laypeople take the initiatives to stop incessantly criticizing, forming fragmented organizations, activism as Amhara, Oromo, Annuaki, Somali or other. The potential outcome of a united group and advocacy is far greater.

Some of our scholars, I mean some, goes to the extreme argumentations and reflect gloomy perspectives to say nothing nice but repulsively criticize, denigrate, contemplate and spread their agnostic and ineffectual assessments that are obstacle to changes.

I said some because some individuals and intellectuals ultimately using our old mindset to do business while some are flexible to change and show a sense of optimism, opportunity and encouragement persistently. While the latter deserve unreserved commendations for their contributions for instigating a peaceful change in our country, we can still encourage the former to join peacefully.

Furthermore, unless all of our people 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.

                                                            "LOVE YOUR ENEMIES"

We must recognize that the most powerful weapon against any brutal government is unity and collective action. When the people unite, there is nothing they cannot achieve.  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.

The quest for freedom and change is steadily enduring and we all must stand together for fundamental change in a global village.

“YES WE CAN”, Obama’s “unlikely” story has a resemblance to that of our own Obama, Abiy Ahmed’s “Ethiopiawinet”. He is not just making rhetorical talks, but obviously building up the bases for change instead of jumping the crocodile to build the ceiling. Everything he’s done so far agrees with my own perception for change. Therefore, I take my hat off to him and do my part to help him achieve his mission for change.

                                                                     "YES WE CAN"

Here is a meritorious resemblance of the lives of the two most popular leaders, Obama and Abiy, from two different but friendliest countries.

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Barack Obama, USA                                                                           Abiy Ahmed, Ethiopia

Barack Obama was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, United States, in 1961. His mother is Stanley Ann Dunham, an American, English descent and His father is Barack Obama, Sr., from Kenya, Africa. Obama grew up without a father. His father returned to Kenya and saw Obama only once before dying in an automobile accident in 1982 and Obama’s mother lived in Hawaii before dying of ovarian cancer in 1994.

Of his early childhood, he described his struggles as a young adult to reconcile social perceptions of his multiracial heritage.

Obama has seven half siblings from his Kenyan father's family, six of them living, and a half-sister with whom he was raised.  

Obama was a Christian whose religious views developed in his adult life. In The Audacity of Hope, he describes his father as “raised a Muslim”, but a “confirmed atheist” when his parents met. Through working with black churches as a community organizer while in his twenties, he came to understand “the power of the African American religious tradition to spur social change”.

Obama met, his wife, Michelle Robinson when he was employed as a summer associate at the Chicago law firm and were married in 1992 and have two wonderful daughters together.

Obama graduated from law school and served as a professor of constitutional law and served as community organizer, senator and finally as President of the USA, the highest office in the land, The Whitehouse.

Abiy Ahmed was born in Agaro town, Jimma Zone, Oromia Region, Ethiopia, in 1976. His father, Ahmed Ali, is a Muslim and his mother, Tezeta Wolde, a Christian who passed away, like Obama’s mother, without seeing her son’s highest accomplishment. Like Obama, Abiy Ahmed also never habituated to seeing his father and he is the youngest of 6 siblings.

Abiy Ahmed, like Obama, was a product of two racial families with different beliefs and lifestyles. Like Obama, he grew up with his mother and amassed huge perseverance, resilience, and considerable self-discipline to succeed in a racially and culturally competitive upbringing.

Abiy, is married to Zinash Tayachew and have three daughters together, He met his wife while both were serving in the Ethiopian defence forces and reached the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

Like Obama, he’s a new breed of generations: a successful scholar in various professions, smart, witty, articulate, persuasive, humble, compassionate and humanitarian and has a quality & fine-looking, qualified and suitable to his current position.

              Barack & Wife Michelle Obama             Abiy Ahmed with Wife Zinash Tayachew

Like Obama, he appeals to the people to work together, “from the ground up”, not the other way around as this development was undeniably not reflected in the past successive government practices, thus, appeared to recycle status quo manifestations in our history.

Like Obama, Abiy 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 fronting our country, certainly, with our persistent support not defamation.

 I applaud him for his gestures of reconciliation and inclusion and I regret to say many of us in the diaspora have not publicly responded in kind.

It’s my deepest & foremost wish the country that I love will also change the national flag emblem with Ethiopian symbolism and ultimately choose its own democratic system of government and change all divided regions of the country by borders and people with identifications and restore the unity and Ethiopiawinet that have been uniquely Ethiopian values for centuries.

             NEW ETHIOPIAN FLAG

        

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ancient united Ethiopian map                            Recently divided regions

       



 United we can repair the pain

 Today, it’s not enough to create change at the level of symptoms and structures. We need to work together even more deeply to change the underlying paradigms of thought and to connect with our deeper sources of creativity and self in a heterogeneous society.

                                                        What is your life's blueprint?  

Let’s accept what is, let go of what was, and have hope & conviction in what will be.

I am so elated in a long time, with the nomination of the new Prime Minister and hopefully, he will be re-elected again by the people. I feel the winds of changes are really propelling our way, peacefully.

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step” – Lao Tzu. Need I say changing one thing at a time; Abiy certainly will surprise all his challengers.

Please, contain yourself from being hatemongering and antagonist for having or presenting my views different than yours and making any assumptions to judge me for what I stand for because whatever I wrote here wouldn’t be a characterization of my persona.

We all can have different opinion without contentions. It’s just my genuine insights, observations, thought provoking suggestions and propositions for the change we need and I don’t mean to offend anyone for no apparent reasons.

Most importantly, I send my greatest admirations to our youths who have sacrificed their lives and those who continued to make their voices for change amid their disrespectful spirits, the way the new Prime Minister is handling the adjustments, every now and then. My absolute admiration and appreciation also goes to my fellow Ethiopians –activists, all opposition party affiliates and homeland loving people everywhere and those loyal supporters in the diaspora who have used the technology to spread vital information to our people to bring democracy and justice for all with courageous demonstrations and persistent calls for equality and Ethiopiawinet.

We’ve the choice to live together in harmony or continue to live in a world of hate and inequality.

As one nation, we rise together as one people.

Let’s all watch each other’s back and more importantly that of the Prime Minister!

ONE ETHIOPIA FOR ALL, ALL FOR ONE ETHIOPIA!

Read more:

https://timeforchangesociety.blogspot.com.au/2018/04/the-awakening-memo-to-stand-with.html

https://timeforchangesociety.blogspot.com.au/2018/04/solidarity-is-key.html  

(የአማርኛ ጽሑፍ) ለአገራችን ለውጥ ጥሩ ሀሳብ፣ምክር፣ጊዜና መተባበር ወሳኝ ናቸው።    

SOLIDARITY IS THE KEY

ለአገራችን ለውጥ ጥሩ ሀሳብ፣ምክር፣ጊዜና መተባበር ወሳኝ ናቸው።

ኢትዮጵያ ውስጥ ዲሞክራሲ የሚመጣው ሁላችንም በትዕግስት በመተባበር፣አዲስ የተመረጠውን ጠ/ሚ ስናከብርና ስንረዳው ብቻ ነው። አንድ ሰው ትላንትና ተመርጦ አንድ ወር እንኳን ባልሞላበት ጊዜ ውስጥ ሥር ሰዶ ለብዙ ዓመታት የቆየውን የህወሃትን/ ወያኔን አገዛዝ ደምስስ ማለት “የቸኮለች አፍሳ ለቀመች” ተረት ስለሚሆንና እንደገና ወደ ነበርንበት ማጥ ውስጥ ተመልሰን ሊያስገባን እንደሚችል ታሪካችንን መለስ ብለን መመልከት ገንቢ ሀሳብ ነው።

የአገራችን ሕዝብ ለብዙ ዘመናት በኃያላን መንግሥታት ድምፁን ሳያሰማ እንደ ሕፃን ተገዶና ታዞ ኖሯል። ከዚያም ቦኋላ ይህንን ሁሉ መጐሳቆልን ተቀብሎ ለመኖር ምርር ብሎት እንደዛሬው ቄሮ በወጣቶቻችን  በተጀመረው አድማ በ1974 ዓ ም የጦር ኃይላችን ይህን አመቺ ጊዜን ተመክቶ በኃይል የመፈንቅለ መንግሥት በማድረግ ሕዝባችንን ለአሥራ ሰባት ዓመታት በጠመንጃ በማስፈራራት ከኖረ ቦኋላ በ1991 ዓ ም በሌላው የባሰ መራራ  መሪ ህወሃት/ወያኔ በተባለው የትግራይ ብሔር ነፃ አውጪ ድርጅት ተፈነቀለ።

ህወሃትም በተራው አገራችንን በክልል በመከፋፈልና ሕዝባችንን በብሔር በመለያየት ተስማምቶ ይኖር የነበረውን ሕብረተሰብ እርስ በርስ በማጠላላትና ትዕዛዙን አልቀበልም ያለውን በመግደልና በእስር ቤት በማጐሳቆል ኑሮአቸውን ከባድ በማድረግ እስከ ዛሬ ድረስ ኖሯል።

ሕዝባችን ላለፉት ሃያ ሰባት ዓመታት በመጐሳቆልና በመገደል መኖር መሮት በዛሬው ወጣቶቻችንና ተቆርቋሪ ግልሰቦች ሕይወት መስዋዕትነት የህወሃትን/ ወያኔን አገዛዝ በመቃወም ነባሩን የኢፌዲሪ ጠ/ሚኒስቴር በበደል አኗኗርና በጭካኔ ተፅኖዎች ተገዶ ከስልጣኑ በገዛ ፈቃዱ እንዲወርድ በማስደረግ በምትኩ አዲስና ለመላው ሕዝባችን የቆመ ጠ/ሚ እንዲመረጥ በማስደረጋቸው ከልብ የመንጨ ምስጋናችን የላቀ ነው።

ይህ በዚህ እንዳለ አዲሱ ጠ/ሚ ጥልቅ የሆነ እውቀትና የሥራ ልምድ ያለው በመሆኑ ብዙ የአመራር ማስተካከያና መሻሻያ መንገዶችን በመፈለግ ላይ ሳለ ጊዜ በመስጠትና መደረግ ያለባቸውን ነገሮች በሥነ ሥርዓት፣ በአክብሮትና በትዕግስት እንደመወያየትና የሚሠሩት ልማታማ ነገሮች በሙሉ በምን ዓይነት ዘዴ የህወሃትን/ ወያኔን ነብር ሳያስደነግጡ ወይንም ጦርነት ሳያስነሱ መሠራት እንዳለባቸው በከባድ ጥንቃቄ እንዲሠራ በማድረግ ፈንታ፣ ሁለት ወር እንኳን ሳይሞላው አሁኑኑ ይህን አድርግ፣ ያን አታድርግ፣ ብሎ ብዙ ትችቶችን ከመሰንዘር መቆጠብ ለለውጡም ውጤታማ እንደሚሆን ጥርጥር የለውም።

አቤቱታችን፣ ለብዙ ዘመናት በማንግሥታት፣ ለአሥራ ሰባት ዓመታት በደርግና ለሃያ ሰባት ዓመታት በህወሃት/ ወያኔ አገዛዝ ሥር ቆይተን ዛሬ ታዲያ ለአዲሱና ከመቼውም ጊዜ ከተሾሙት መሪዎች የሚበልጥ ጥሩ ሀሳብ ያለውና ልምድ ላለው መሪ ቢያንስ እንኳን የአንድ ዓመት ጊዜ ለምን አንሰጠውም？

WEGEN TESEBSEB Gossaye Tesfaye 

ይህን ሲወርድ ሲዋረድ የወረስነውን ባህሪያችን፤መወነጃጀልን፣መነቃቀፍን፣መቀናናትን፣ተንኮለኝነትን፣አድሎነትንና ሌሎችችንም ውጤታማ ወይንም ፍሬዓማ ያልሆኑ አስተሳሰባችንን ካልለወጥን አገራችን ልትለወጥ እንደማትችል አጥብቀን ማወቅ ይኖርብናል። እንዳየነው ብዙው ትችት የሚሰነዘረውም በዲያስፖራው ካሉት ምሁሮቻችን በመሆኑም በጣም ያሳዝናል።

እራሳችን ካልተለወጥን ማንኛውንም ነገር ለመለወጥ አንችልም። ይሄም አገርን ይጨምራል።
እንደ ድሮ በሰው ማምለክና በዘመድና ጐሳ መሿሿም አከተመ። በአዲሱ ክፍለ ዘመን ማንኛውም ሰው በችሎታው እንኳን ቢመረጥ ያለትብብራችን ብቻውን እንዳፈለገው ሊያደርግ እንደማይችል ተመራጮችና መራጮች አጥብቀው ማወቅ ይኖርባቸዋል። ደግነቱ አዲሱ ጠ/ሚ ዶ/ር አብይ አህመድ ከበቂ እውቀቱ ጋር ይህንንና እዚህ ውስጥ የተጠቀሱትን ሀሳቦች በሙሉ አጥብቆ ያወቀ በመሆኑ በቅን ልቦና ከሚናገራቸው ንግግሮች መረዳት ይቻላል።

BESAQ BETCAWETA MELKAMU TEBEJE

ስንት ደስታ አየን ስንት አየን መከራ፣ሲፈራረቁብን በተራ በተራ። 

ይህን ሁሉ ዓመታት ስንበደል ኖረን ዛሬ ጥሩ ለውጥ እየመጣ ሳለ፣ አሁኑኑ ካልሆነ ብለን በየቦታው ቡራከረዩ ማለታችን፣ እውር ነገ ትድናለህ ቢሉት ዛሬን እንዴት አድሬ ያለው ታሪክ ወይም ተረት በኛም ላይ ደረሰ ለማለት ያሳፍራል። ለብዙ ጊዜ ብርሃን ሳያይ የኖረው እውር፣ ዛሬን ማደር ከባድ መስሎ ታየው፣እኛም ለብዙ ዘመናትና ዓመታት ስንበደልና ስንቸገር ኖረን፣ አሁን ሙሉ በሙሉ ብርሃን ለማግኘት ጥቂት ቀናት፣ ወራት፣ ዓመት(ዓመታት)ምናልባት አንድ ዓመት ወይንም ሁለት ዓመት እስከ ምርጫ ጊዜ ድረስ መታገስ አቃተን።

ነገር ግን ምናልባት ህወሃት/ ወያኔ ችግር ከፈጠረና የአመራር ለውጦችን ለመቀበልና ከጠ/ሚሩ ጋር ለመሥራት እራስ ምታት ከሆነ እስከ ምርጫው ጊዜ ከመጠበቅ አሁኑኑ ጽንሰ ሀሳባቸው በግልጽ ከታወቀ፣ አዲሱ ጠ/ሚ ችግሩን ለሕዝቡ በመንገር ቶሎ ምርጫ እንዲደርግ ቢያደረግ ጤናማና አዲስ አመራር ያለው መንግሥት ለመመሥረት እንደሚችልና የአገራችንም ሕዝብ በተስፋ ለመኖር ይችላል። ነገር ግን ጠ/ሚሩ ምን ያህል የትዕዛዝ ኃይል እንዳለው በጉልህ ስላላየን በአሁኑ ጊዜ ለማወቅ አስቸጋሪ ነው።

ያም ሆነ ይህ የምርጫ ጊዜ በቶሎ እንዲሆን ካልተሳካ ጠ/ሚሩ ለሚያሳልፋቸው ብዙ የሥራ አመራር መሻሻያዎችና የመልካም ሀሳብ ነቀፌታዎቻችንን ብቻ ሳይሆን ትዕግስታዊ ድጋፋችንንም ከመቼውም ጊዜ ይበልጥ ይፈልጋል።

ሁላችንም የኢትዮጵያ ነን፣ ኢትዮጵያ የሁላችንም ናት።

ኢትዮጵያ በሰላም ትኑር።

ቀጥለው ያንብቡ：

https://timeforchangesociety.blogspot.com/2008/11/let-us-improvise.html

https://timeforchangesociety.blogspot.com.au/2009/02/grassroots-participation-is-vital.html

https://timeforchangesociety.blogspot.com/2009/06/solidarity-is-road-map-to-change.html

 http://timeforchangesociety.blogspot.com/2009/07/proposition-for-all-ethiopian.html

https://timeforchangesociety.blogspot.com/2016/10/blog-post.html

THE AWAKENING MEMO TO STAND WITH ETHIOPIAN OBAMA

I would like to express my congratulations, highest optimism and exuding hope with the election of the new Prime Minister, Dr. Abiy Ahmed, who stands for all Ethiopians.

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 should be discussed or expressed with respect.

In 2008, making the first black presidential nominee of a major U. S. political party, Barack Obama appealed to the nation in words that millions now hope will never be forgotten by US government: “America, we cannot turn back. Not with so much work to be done. Not with so many children to educate, and so many veterans to care for. Not with an economy to fix and cities to rebuild and farms to save. Not with so many families to protect and so many lives to mend…Let us keep that promise – that American promise – and in the words of scripture hold firmly, without wavering, to the hope that we confess.”

When Barack Obama took office, it was assessed the US faced the worst recession in eighty years, but he managed to fight back with swift decisions.

The economic downturn Obama inherited from President Bush was daunting with the US facing one of the worst financial crises: high debt, growing deficit, huge unemployment, financial institutions on the brink of collapse

After a century of trying, Obama declared the health care in America is not a privilege for a few; it's a right for everybody. Obama’s contribution to healthcare reform, by passing the Affordable Care Act also known as the signature accomplishment, Obama Care, has been a praiseworthy.

Obama put equality of opportunity policies in place to support students a path to college giving the low-income students free tuitions.

Obama also travelled around the world preaching a new world order.

Obama clearly told the African leaders on the future of Africans: “We must start from the simple premise that Africa’s future is up to Africans. I say this knowing full well the tragic past that has sometimes haunted this part of the world. I have the blood of Africa within me, and my family’s own story encompasses both the tragedies and triumphs of the larger African story. …”

“Development depends upon good governance. That is the ingredient which has been missing in far too many places, for far too long. That is the change that can unlock Africa’s potential. And that is a responsibility that can only be met by Africans. … “Africa doesn’t need strongmen, it needs strong institutions….”

He also launched the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) – programs that mentors and funds projects for the next generation of ambitious young African leaders.

Obama will be remembered and cherished for long time to come for his contributions to social changes, inspiring and motivational slogans such as “Change We Can Believe In”, “Yes We Can” and “The Audacity of Hope”, thoughts on reclaiming the American dream, that encourages every walk of life to tap their full potential in their pursuit of peace, happiness and equal opportunity regardless of “who they are”, “where they come from” and “wherever they live”.

Having closely watching and witnessing Obama, I found Ethiopia’s Prime Minister, Dr Abiy Ahmed’s liveliness and character is similar to that of Obama.

Abiy Ahmed, like Obama, was a product of two racial families with different beliefs and lifestyles. Like Obama, he grew up with his mother and amassed huge perseverance, resilience, and weighty discipline to succeed in a racially and culturally competitive upbringing.

Read more about his story: https://www.thereporterethiopia.com/article/rise-abiy-abiyot-ahmed

Like Obama, he’s a new breed of generations: smart, witty, articulate, humble, compassionate, and humanitarian and has a quality & fine-looking stature of a star.

Like Obama, he appeals to the people to work together “from the ground up” not the other way around as this scenario is undeniably not reflected in the past government’s dealings which seem to recycle a status quo in our history.

Therefore, is there anyone out there from any opposition parties or who can be handpicked amongst the crowd who will represent all Ethiopians far better than our own Obama, Abiy Ahmed, so we can start promoting his succession to the throne, in the coming election, by sharing his dreams and aspirations with no conflict of interest?

Why is there so much intra-group conflict, characterized by personal feuds and infighting in our society? And when there is conflict, why is conflict resolution so difficult?

One explanation is that we have been brought up in an environment where certain dysfunctional behaviours that hamper effective communication and cause conflict are the norm.

We can observe chronic feuding and infighting in families, extended families, friends, non-political civic organizations such as professional associations, churches, community organizations, charity organizations, and others.

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 advance and support these mistakes and undertake not to repeat them.

Indeed, the most infectious conflicts occur in apparently homogenous groups whose memberships have not only similar ideologies, but similar frames of reference, perspectives and interests.

The four parties under the EPRDF: the OPDO, the Amhara National Democratic Movement (ANDM), the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and the Southern Ethiopian People’s Democratic Movement (SEPDM) need to be vigilant and work together openly with no favouritism.

Marginalized political groups develop an ethno-nationalist discourse as opposed to democratic governance, arguing that their exclusion violates the principle of ethnic representation as outlined by TPLF’s own ethnic policy. The biggest challenge facing the future of democracy in Ethiopia is indeed this notion of ethnic entitlement. One can only hope this troubling form of identity politics has not yet become deeply entrenched to the point where a new order based on democratic norms will not be able to fill the crack created by ethnic division and the related deficit of trust among us.

Today, it’s not enough to create change at the level of symptoms and structures. We need to work together even more deeply to change the underlying paradigms of thought and to connect with our deeper sources of creativity and self in a heterogeneous society.

Ethnically, the population of Ethiopia is extremely diverse and there are more than 80 different ethnic groups declared within Ethiopia. Many languages are spoken by the inhabitants, including Amarigna, Oromigna, Tigrigna, Guragigna, Somaligna, and Arabigna. Numerous other local languages and dialects also are spoken while Amharic is the country's only official language.

Keep in mind that 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 like in our dominant past, rather we should appreciate our uniqueness for the benefits of everyone in the game.

While we can justly be proud of the fact that every generation of Ethiopians during those centuries have paid in blood to maintain our independence, we cannot but feel deeply insulted that at the dawn of the new millennium ours is one of the poorest countries in the world. Over the course of our second millennium we have gone from being one of the most advanced nations on earth to that of being one of the poorest.

Even donors who continue to support the regime is self-serving while maintaining an economic structure that keeps the poorest of the poor trapped in a cycle of poverty. This heroic country of ours deserve better than tired expressions.

Throughout this process we have not been colonized by any foreign nations, thanks to our hero forefathers and foremothers, and hence we have always been the authors of our destiny, both our successes and failures.

However, heroes can be defined in many ways that satisfies receiver’s views regardless of their differing, fields of endeavors, achievements and triumphs. It may sound like comparing apples and oranges to some who are still wallowing in the old beliefs and assumptions that heroes are only limited to warriors.

There are lots of heroes 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 tantrums on anyone one, because they didn’t not act or fulfil our expectations.

 “It's only after we've lost everything that we're free to do anything.” –Tyler Durden.

The apparent inconsistency rested plain the TPLF’s trickery and cynical ploy to divide the country along ethnic lines for the sole purpose of maintaining its hegemony.

The underlying problem is the lack of good governance and the absence of enabling factors: accountability, social justice, transparency and rule of law. Focusing on transient issue of favouritism will only serve to provoke and divert attention from the real struggle that is being waged, and to undermine our resolve to build a just society.

The fallacy of identity politics is its mishandling that created disunity and ethnocracy 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. A person's identity cannot be given to them instead a person must achieve a sense of identity through personal experience and self-search as a result of his/her cultural heritage and current surroundings.

Above all one can bear allegiance to multiple identities at any one time. Obviously, Dr Abiy Ahmed’s diverse combinations of generational experiences distinctively qualify him for the highest office in the land.

“No, no, we are not satisfied and will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.” –Martin Luther King Jr.

We need to break free from negative emotions of the past, out-dated beliefs and opinions how we do things which passed on to us via generational setting, inherited collective mind-patterns that have kept our generations in captivity creating so much of their suffering for eternities manifesting in our misery today.

“If you're walking down the right path and you're willing to keep walking, eventually you'll make progress.” –Barack Obama

Let’s accept what is, let go of what was, and have hope & conviction in what will be.

These days in age, we don’t need guns and weapons of mass destruction to change course of history, by sharing practical concepts as an interconnected society, we can write and re-write anything until we get it right, peacefully. The quickest way to change how we feel is to change how we think.

Therefore, my fellow Ethiopian brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, I urge you to fully accept our own Obama, Abiy Ahmed, “because change has come” to Ethiopia, who would bring about those changes he promised for our people to live with dignity, collaboration, high spirit and economic prosperity leading our young generations to a common goal –PEACE, LOVE and the Pursuit of HAPPINESS!

Let’s join together by resolving all trivial differences and strengthen the team spirit to communicate with all Ethiopians by inviting all local ethnic communities and business venders rather than talking about each other, feeling honestly and friendly to talk to each other.

ONE ETHIOPIA FOR ALL, ALL FOR ONE ETHIOPIA!

So, the time has come when we all need to learn new ways of doing things or businesses or interacting with others.

Important Reads:

https://timeforchangesociety.blogspot.com.au/2009/02/grassroots-participation-is-vital.html

http://timeforchangesociety.blogspot.com.au/2009/07/proposition-for-all-ethiopian.html  

https://timeforchangesociety.blogspot.com.au/2016/10/blog-post.html (‘በቃ ማለት በቃ’ ነው።)

https://timeforchangesociety.blogspot.com.au/2009/06/solidarity-is-road-map-to-change.html

https://timeforchangesociety.blogspot.com.au/2009/06/time-for-change.html

https://timeforchangesociety.blogspot.com.au/2009/04/change-of-heart-and-attitude.html

https://timeforchangesociety.blogspot.com.au/2009/02/we-need-change-not-vengeance.html

https://timeforchangesociety.blogspot.com.au/2009/02/grassroots-participation-is-vital.html

https://timeforchangesociety.blogspot.com.au/2008/11/let-us-improvise.html

https://timeforchangesociety.blogspot.com.au/2008/04/we-all-are-ethiopians.html

LIVE TOGETHER IN HARMONY OR SINK TOGETHER IN TRAGEDY

That's the ultimate pathway!

 

First and foremost, I wish to acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land on which we live, and pay my respect to their elders past and present.

There will be times when you shouldn’t compromise your core values, your integrity, and you will have the responsibility to speak up in the face of injustice and do all that you can to survive.

To do so society need to cultivate and nurture the concept of cultural helpfulness and social cohesion rather than individualistic hatemongering approach.

To appreciate how playing with the fire of racial hatred is so tense with unintended consequences, it will be good to remember that mutual recognition is a precondition for social trust. A sense of self-worth by any group in society is only partially internal; it also depends on the willingness of other competing groups in society to acknowledge the worth of the other.

Our marginalized future generation of black people are in desperate need of model leadership and guidance from the vast societal structure that are capable of mentoring the new generation into the new direction with improved possibilities without racial divisions and the rhetoric vision of status quo-business as usual.

There is no stronger weapon against inequality and no better path to equal opportunity than an education that unravels our genetically given potential.

The recent wave of crimes committed by our young black people, pigeonholed and racially profiled as organised gangsters, from various African countries is a testament to unimaginable injustices and treatments they have endured during their course of growing up in a totally different cultural background.

This cry for help by those juveniles committing various offences amounts to disappointments, frustrations and inability to see their full potential is attainable in their unconducive environments, in which they live, to gain equal access to opportunities that are available to others in order to create conventional possibilities for themselves and the community in which they live.  

If few people are benefiting while the majority are struggling, it would be a zero sum game, if not disintegrating and inhumane. That’s exactly what’s being perceived by our underprivileged and dispirited younger generations of African descent, and other blacks including the indigenous people, who didn’t have a strong mentors and supporting group in our community.

Everybody’s views should be represented and valued irrespective of their background, race, religion, status and academics preferences.

We are all making our contributions regardless of commendations, acknowledgements, appreciations and validations of our efforts, to improve any ongoing social, political and personal dilemmas in our community. Those contributions are somehow used by individuals in assisting and advancing their actions for a better outcome. That’s morally a good feeling!

These days in age, we don’t need guns and weapons of mass destruction to change course of history, of course, unless you’re a juvenile, dehumanized and lost your consciousness, by sharing practical concepts as an interconnected society, we can write and rewrite anything until we get it right, peacefully.

Don’t get me wrong that I’m not in any way condoning to any form of crime against humanity, but as we all can see, this is becoming the easiest way for those disparaged youths to earn their living.

Today, it’s not enough to create change at the level of symptoms and structures. We need to work together even more deeply to change the underlying paradigms of thought and to connect with our deeper sources of creativity and community.

Make no mistake, the time is ripe, in order to tap all the opportunities and possibilities that are available to a communal society like that of ours, and want to change the way we feel, we’ve got to change the way we think.

May this year be a time to resolve all our uncertainties and sustain peace and harmony in our family, friends, community, locally and globally.  

MUST READ INTERESTING COMMENTARIES: https://timeforchangesociety.blogspot.com/2016/01/fair-dinkum-australia.html 
https://timeforchangesociety.blogspot.com/2011/02/what-is-australia-day.html 
https://timeforchangesociety.blogspot.com/2011/08/preponderance-of-racism-over.html  

HAPPY ENKUTATASH ETHIOPIAN NEW YEAR

A TELL-TALE WORTH KNOWING

Enku-ta-ta-sh (እንቁጣጣሽ) is the first day of the New Year in Ethiopia based on the Coptic calendar, which was fixed to the Julian calendar. It occurs on Meskerem 1 on the Ethiopian month calendar, which is September 11 or 12 in the leap year of the worldwide Gregorian calendar.

By a calculation the Ethiopian calendar is currently seven years and eight months behind the global Gregorian calendar.

Enkutatash is also an important festival for the Ethiopians as it symbolizes the advent of good harvest weather. After months of torrential pour, the month of September sees clear skies and fresh, clear, beautiful atmosphere. The highlands all teeming with flowers and the land looks like it is made of clear gold as the Meskel –religious celebrations to commemorate the discovery of the true cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified –daisies bear flowers in the season.

The Origins of Enkutatash

Tracing the origins of the Enkutatash tradition, as historians site it, whether it’s factual or not, is a tell-tale biblical spectacle as the Ethiopian Queen of Sheba aka ‘Makeda’ came back from her visit to the fabled King Solomon, the elders (the chides) of the tribes as a welcome gesture offered her Jewels known as enku(jewels). This story is still under extreme study about its authenticity. However, Enkutatash translates to the ‘Gift of Jewels’ and has been celebrated henceforth in the season of spring. September (Meskerem) hence is the month which sees the transition period of the transformation from the old to the new and hereafter this month nestles within it the hopes for a brighter and better future.

The Origins of Meskel

Meskel (መስቀል) celebration occurs on the 17^th of Meskerem (September) in the Ethiopian calendar which is September 27 or 28 in leap years in the Gregorian calendar.

Meskel, a religious holiday celebrations in the Ethiopian Orthodox, commemorates the discovery of the cross by the Roman Empress St. Helena (Saint Helena), mother of Constantine the Great, in the fourth century, on which Jesus Christ was crucified.

According to written observations, in the year 326 AD Queen Helena went on a search for the true cross and was unsuccessful until she received help through a dream.

In accordance with her dream, she made a bonfire (Demera - ደመራ) and the smoke gave her direction to the spot where the cross was buried. To herald her success, Helena (also known as Nigist Eleni in Ethiopian) lit torches.

 Traditional Meskel Celebrations
 On the Eve of Meskel, bonfires ( ደመራ - Demera) are made out of dry leaves and wood, and lit alight in front of the houses. This lighting of the bonfires is then accompanied by the singing of songs by the young and the old. At wee hours of the morning, people dress themselves in traditional Ethiopian costumes as they pay a visit to the church which is followed by family meals comprising of injera which is basically a form of flat bread and wot –an equally famous Ethiopian staple stew. (These are famous cuisines available in every Ethiopian restaurant around the world. Please, visit your local venders and enjoy the feast.)

The girls in Ethiopia on New Year occasions go on singing songs from door to door and receive money for it, much like the tradition of Christmas choirs and carol singing children, the boys of Ethiopia on the other hand sell pictures of flowers that have been drawn by them. I remember, every year we couldn’t wait to exhibit our best flower drawings for competition and then after going around neighbourhoods to present the flowers to receive small amounts of money in return for appreciation, This was one of the best highlights of my childhood life. With the advent of the evening people go and visit their family and friends as they drink Tella, Tej and Araki –the locally homebrewed traditional Ethiopian beverages. (Please, visit your local Ethiopian restaurants and ask for if they sell them.) Also as the elders sit together and discuss about things that concern them and about their hopes for a New Year. The children wander around freely and happy to spend the money they have managed to earn giving out their flower drawings on the occasion.

Modern Celebrations

Nowadays, although, some still follow the traditional indoctrinations, others have embraced the city’s inhabitant’s way of life fancying the modern spirit and have adopted the more western way of sending out greetings instead of the traditional bunch of flowers that have been part of the Ethiopian customary since the beginning of the festivities.

MEMORANDUMS OF PEACE

To all my Ethiopian family, friends, people, wherever you maybe, back Home or scattered around the world, may the coming year be a very healthy, peaceful, prosperous and Happy Enkutatash.

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.

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 advance and support these mistakes and undertake not to repeat them.

Playing the ethnic card game is to fall victim to destructive identity politics that breeds division, hatred, conflict, and cynicism. One Ethiopia: no more trickery and cynical ploy to divide the country along ethnic line for the sole purpose of maintaining its hegemony.

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

We cannot transform our country without first educating, inspiring and transforming our people to the level that requires understanding, mutual respect and endeavor to unfold the bondage of ignorance and evil governance that capitalizes on our negligence to become informed and ready to defend collectively, as living organism of habitat do, to the perpetual continuity of our existence as Ethiopians. –Tesfaye Aman

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

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.

As Obama time after time stated in several of his deliveries, “change takes time”, it’s time for us to take responsibility for our own predicaments and stop the name and blame game!

May the coming year be a time to resolve all our uncertainties and sustain peace and harmony in our family, friends, community, locally and globally.

Health & Happiness