SEATTLE –
You know how we Ethiopians are still a little stingy not only in matters of money but in giving recognition to those who give us their labor of love for free to the good of all Ethiopians. But sometimes we do give respect and recognition even if it comes a little late.
That is what we did this weekend to four of our precious Ethiopians in Seattle. Weynegus Debeb and his wife Mulumebet Retta as well as Desse and his wife Tewabech were honored on June 4 at the $1.2 million dollar Ethiopian Community Building Hall which they helped purchase last year.
We know how they labored for years to give birth to such a fascinating and gorgeous building. We know how hard they worked to realize this dream of ours in Seattle. Weyngus has and still contributes his skills to maintain as well as run the building. If Weyngus is not working or if he is not in his Andinet TV studio, you will definitely find him at the Ethiopian community center doing something. I have been wondering too many times whether Weynegus has any time for himself or for his family. His selfless dedication for the community is simply UNBELIEVABLE.
And Desse was every where to raise money in order to purchase the building. He left no stone unturned to get the money: asking everyone anywhere and at all times. He never gave up. He did not care for some of the rejections he may have experienced. He is a determined man with a mission. We have a hard time expressing ourselves in simple words and sentences. But Desse can speak to you with poems without reading for at least half an hour. He is an Ethiopian through and through and crazy about his homeland.
Every time Desse talks about Ethiopia, tears run down his cheeks and chocks with an avalanche of emotions. We have witnessed this many times. He always wears a sweater designed to reflect our Ethiopian flag that you see on his picture on this video. I rarely saw anyone who love Ethiopia so much as Desse does. It is awesome and contagious. His talk, his love, his joke, his fun, his story, his poems etc are nothing but all about Ethiopia. Desse is a marvellous man of honor.
Hats off to this four outstanding men and women of honor and all the great Ethiopians in Seattle who supported them to purchase the community building. You will be remembered and honored for the generations to come.
Please watch the video of the recognition event of these four great men and women of honor in Seattle by clicking the link below on Ethiomedia. Such a high quality video presentations is done by Ethiomedia and its great and talented editor, Abraha Belai, who, by the way, is past due for a recognition of excellence in web journalism and contribution to the Ethiopian Diaspora at large and the Ethiopian Community in Seattle in particular.
Long live Ethiopians and their community!
God bless Ethiopians and Ethiopia!
— The writer, human rights activist Kirubeal Bekele, can be reached at [email protected].
