A long bow and misplaced indignation

May 31, 2013

I have followed the conversations between Dr. Fikre Tolossa and Dr. Beyan Asoba
with interest. I have also read an article by Yajemal(B.B) on another website as a
reply to Dr. Tolosa’s initial letter to Dr. Beyan Asoba. My focus is on the excessive
stretch of arguments of Dr Fikre and the heightened, charged and in my view
misplaced indignation of the responses of the two gentlemen on Dr. Fikre’s writings. I
leave the historical, anthropological and linguistic substances of the debate to all the
learned ones.

Let me first briefly summarise my understanding of the threads of Dr. Fikre’s
arguments. He contends that based on his analysis of the history of Ethiopian races of
pre Solomonic dynasty, the Cushitic Oromos were primary partners/rulers of the
nation. And have also been intermittently ruling Ethiopia after the advent of the
Solomonic Dynasty. He also emphasises the close linkage between the dominant races
throughout the history of the country. His conclusion is that we are a country of
intermingled, and to large extent indiscernible groups of people as far our genial
linage is concerned. And hence he advises that we should strive to focus on our
common heritage and nationhood. My take from his letter is that it tries to draw a
positive line of thought and focus on the strength of our bondage rather than the gulf
of our differences.

On the other hand, Dr. Beyan and Yajemal not only refute his claims but consider it a
futile ploy by a disguised ‘Abyssinian chauvinist’ to gloss over the sufferings of the
Oromo people for thousands of years. They start by doubting the identity of Dr Fikre
and end with their assertion that he is actually a symbol of same old same old
patronising Abyssinian ploy trying yet again pacify the Oromo people’s struggle.

Here is a question to all concerned? How far do you want to dig the rabbit hole in
order to find a story, myth, relic, artefact, wall drawings and linguistic syllables to
support your political arguments of 2013? I am sure that all the gentlemen would
agree that history is not science. For all I know, it is a bag of goodies filled with a
subjective arrangement of the objectively known – with a big missing part for the
unknown. My point is that the objective of our primary endeavour should be how we
can individually and collectively bring about a better understanding, respect and
forward looking discourse in our debates. And when we seek support from history for
a current political argument we should always exercise the utmost caution and use it
responsibly with an eye for a better understanding of each other.

I am not dismissing the importance of history, heritage and culture to understand ones
identity. But and a big but, this should not be made into a tool to build walls between
people in order to right a past wrong or drive wedges among people to ascend to an
imagined political throne.

For these reasons I think Dr. Fikre is drawing a long bow to substantiate his
arguments, however well intentioned they maybe. While I believe that his historical
analysis would find a rightful place in an academic setting, it would be a stretch to
think that it would have a positive impact to our current and immediate woes.

I also think that Dr Beyan and Yajemal are being insincere in their indignation
because I have found no ill intention on the part of Dr Fikre to deny their basic
argument about the suffering of the Oromo people. Especially their allegation and
slant on Dr. Fikre’s identity and objective is beneath the standards of a healthy debate.

Ethiopians of all ethnic origins have been suffering from elite imported ideologies at
least for the last thirty five years. They have endured unmeasurable economic and
social turmoil in the hands of their own ‘learned’ children who preached to have
found the ‘philosophers stone’ that will bring a state of nirvana to the people. Those
‘learned’ once each had their newly minted history books and thought the people who
they really are. They said ‘forget what you have been told until now, we will tell you
how you came about and who your enemies are’. And all the while they have got
away with it. I don’t see anything new in the current discourse between the learned
doctors as to the veracities of their arguments, apart from the fact that they are not
holding the palace fort in Addis Ababa (or dare I say Finfine).