Time Out

June 24, 2013

The above
title is not for me; I am way past my time out, having lived through three
generations, with a fourth beginning its journey. Hence, sharing some
reflections on the past and the present may be timely. For the past eight
decades our country has gone through a traumatic journey whose end is still to
come. At this point in time I believe that we have reached a critical point,
where the future of the nation is in question. Particularly,
when external forces, including a large Ethiopian Diaspora, have assumed a
major role in our national life. Globalization and rapid communications
have shrunk the overall environment in which we exist transforming radically
all previous paradigms.

For
Ethiopia all these changes have not come peacefully and without pain; they
occurred with extremely violent quakes and upheavals. First was the brutal
Italian invasion that disaffected Ethiopia from its quasi pastoral middle age
existence. The occupation of the country with a huge army equipped with modern
arms, airplanes, thanks and poison gas; Italy’s large scale massacre of the
people and of the burgeoning educated class, brought profound changes in all
aspects of the country’s life. The post liberation period dedicated to re-establish
the state on modern foundations had also its own problems, it required a
radical transformation of thought and behavior of the leadership. Although the
reconstruction and modernization of the governing system was successfully
achieved, it failed to satisfy the overall developmental level the country had
reached. Moreover, the changes that occurred in the last four decades during
the revolutionary era, and that of the following Ethnocentric regime, have
brought the country into the most virulent and vicious internal crisis in its
history.

Governed
subsequently by two predatory regimes, a. the first introducing an ill digested
political ideology, b. the second adopting an ethnic based federal structure,
with a monopolized central power in the hands of an ethnic cabal. Consequently
the country has been reduced to the lowest standard of Human Development, in
spite an enormous infusion of foreign financial and technical aid. The
opposition to this lamentable and corrupt governance has been numerous but
ineffective. Not for lack of good intentions or lack of heroic sacrifice, even
though a whole generation lost its life and went into exile in the process. It
is said “that the way to hell is paved with good intentions”, this might be the
case with our country were many trials for good governance have failed, and we
have fallen into such disgraceful conditions.

Traumatized
by these tragic events our political revival has been hampered by lack of clear
direction and lack of a popular leadership that has public confidence and
inspires courage, sacrifice and unity of purpose from all. Two generations
later, a new spirit is arising especially amongst the younger generation, a
worldwide phenomena that is also coming to life in
Ethiopia. Therefore, it is incumbent for the elder generation to step back, and
help the young assume the leading role of salvaging Ethiopia out of the
quagmire created by ineffectual politics.

From their
part the youth must unequivocally realize that politics means dealing with the
real life and survival of the people and the country. It is a very heavy and
complex responsibility that must be assumed with gravity and diligence. There
is no room for political shenanigans and self centered
ambitions, it requires an altruistic spirit and absolute
moral integrity. A short glance at ours and other’s history suffice to learn of
past successes and failures of many regimes and empires. The pain and
suffering, the degradation and humiliation we suffer today are home grown. If
some foreign elements play havoc with our national destiny it is because of our
weakness, a rich land rendered poor and helpless by the doings of its own
children.

Ethiopia
is a great country and its People are great with tremendous potentials.
Inheritors of great religions Judeo-Christian and Islam our moral and ethical
standards are second to none. Throughout our long history our people have
created a unique way of life that reflects the multiple blends of diverse
ethnics and cultures. Our geographical position has been a pathway between the
great civilization of the Middle East and the Asia. It is the totality of this
atavistic past that gives a distinct character to our identity as Ethiopians. I
advise the young not to fall into the ethnic trap, fore there is no such thing as
a pure ethnic group, throughout the centuries there have been a long process of
miscegenation which still continues in our time. I trace my own family from
Amara, Tigre and Oromo origins, and even of some Islamic descent. When an
Ethiopian asks me from where I am I say from Addis Ababa because I was born
there from parents born in Gondar and Harrar, but
when a foreigner asks I say I am Ethiopian. If we have remained excluded from
the modern European influence, it is because our forefathers fought relentlessly
against all invaders to maintain our independence and national integrity.

That is
why is say “time out” for the generation of politicians whose time has run out,
failure cannot be worn as a combat badge, it can only serve as a lesson learned
from past mistakes and a spring board for the future. A new generation of
achievers is coming to be, let’s give them all the help they need on the long
and strenuous journey to rebuild Ethiopia. I hope that you will forgive me if I
quote a comment made by a young person in one of the Sodere
social blogs.  As you have all observed a subject of great debate beside
the Abay issue was Betty’s indiscretion, after all
the indignant comments a person called “Lastaw” said
quote:

” Welcome
to the new, global Ethiopia and Ethiopian-ism!

You can be “a skinny guy with a funny name” with
3.99 CGPA, or
You can be in the Forbes 100 powerful women list, or
You can be the Latin commencement speaker at Harvard, or
You can be the honorary doctorate recipient and commencement speaker at Holy
Names University, or
You can be one with three of the six degrees that your family collected in a
week, or
You can be an IBM scientist and be named innovator of the year, or
You can be the Chief of Spacecraft and Satellite Systems Engineer at NASA, or
You can be the Chief Engineer at AirBus and design
the A380, or
You can be appointed as the new Under-Secretary-General of DGACM by the UN
Secretary-General,
Or You
………………………………………………………………..!!!
Your passion, your dream and your choice – shaping the new
face of Ethiopia. Unquote”

I ask Sodere to forgive me for
copying one of the comments.

Well this
is the spirit of the New Ethiopia, let’s help the
young to achieve it. Bravo Semayawi Party !!!!!!