In the face of Ethiopia’s disastrous slippage in 2005, I cannot remain silent. As Martin Luther King, Jr. reminds us, “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”

As we begin a new year, I want to voice some thoughts with you about chartering a new direction for Ethiopia in 2006. This must be a direction in which old hatreds give way to new possibilities of living together harmoniously. You know what I mean.

“Some spoke of how they were taken away in mass round-ups in Addis Ababa and how they suffered appalling beatings at the hands of the security forces. Witnesses spoke of seeing people tortured and killed at Dedesa camp in west Ethiopia, where about 50,000 people were detained.” – The Observer; Jan 2, 2006 (Caption and photo montage: Ethiomedia; Photo: Courtesy of Andrew Heavens)

In order to promote some movement in this direction, I have undertaken to return to Ethiopia on January 7 for several weeks. First, in Addis Ababa, I shall attempt to meet with leaders from all sides in order to further the process of mutual understanding and joint constructive action.

I ask you now to join with the group of us who will not remain silent. You can do so by making a contribution, however modest or grand, to support the peace center.

Your contribution payable to Aiki Extensions, Inc. can be sent by check to:
Awassa Children’s Project
PO Box 824
Chicago, IL 60690-0824

or make a contribution through Paypal @ http://aiki-extensions.org/donors.html and select “Ethiopia Aikido Fund”.

If you would like email updates about this exciting endeavor, please send your name and email to [email protected].

Melkam addis amat’nna iwenetañña addis zemen.

Donald Levine (aka Liben)

—
Donald N. Levine
Peter B. Ritzma Professor
Department of Sociology
University of Chicago
1126 E. 59th St.
Chicago, IL 60637
(773) 702-7917