Viewpoint Response to “Who am I?”

In the beginning of the series it is stated that members of the opposition and the ruling government hold diametrically opposed personal values and hence their respective roles in the Ethiopian politics. Such over simplification of the state of affairs leads to the underestimation of the struggle that awaits us. If I may use an example; a judge who gives out a capital punishment, and an ardent opponent to such punishment both start from the premise that the taking of human life is basically wrong. And yet one kills for it and the other does not see the need to. In the same way it is possible for two groups to have comparable values but use very different means to uphold those values. Indeed in a political arena, an authoritarian regime that believes with all its collective heart that, it is working for the benefit and welfare of his people and is willing to do any and everything in its power is the most dangerous.

The article seems to imply that the vicious cycle of poverty, war and famine that our people have been subjected to is a product of a societal moral and spiritual decay. And as a solution it is suggests that our society should try to espouse the Christian values of love, kindness, truthfulness and humility. Even though there is some truth in this allegation, it minimizes the immediate roles that lacks of education, leadership and good governance play in the perpetualization of our problems.
Almost every passing generation complains of the moral and character erosions that abound in the newer generation. Aristotle in his time admonished the younger generation for their lack of ‘respect to elders’, ‘loud obtrusiveness’, ‘love of material things’ and more… and that was twenty five hundred years ago. By taking analogies from the Bible it is tempting to maintain, that the current problems of our society is a product of the vices that have a grip on us as suggested in the article. However, it is my position that lack of education, leadership and virtual absence democracy and good governance contribute at least as much if not more.

The author recognizes that the virtues that he mentions are not the exclusive property of the Christian faith and yet through out the writing I see attempts to make them primarily Christian. I am a Christian and the scriptures tell me not every body going to end up being a Christian. Given this reality, I accept like most people, that democracy with all its imperfections is the principal solution for development and advancement. Faith as we know it is not a democracy. In the Christian faith, the apostles were not elected, but were appointed and God is not a product of the consensual acts of like-minded people. He was and will be.. is the beginning and the end, the alpha and omega.

The article suggests that, a moral and spiritual renewal of the individual is a prerequisite for a social overhaul. Though this is inarguable, the direction that is pointed out for it is. The article suggested recommitting our selves to the Christian values as a solution. Logical and traditional extension of such an approach is the imposition of faith-based initiatives into a system of governance. In a democracy, people have the right to choose their own vices and religion should not have a role in removing this freedom of choice. The most a religion should do is just take a stand. Indeed when one comes to think of it, the most precious gift that God has given mankind is the freedom of choice.

Jerusalem a cradle of monotheism, a holy land for three major religions, a place where every one tries to out do everyone else in religious fervor, has been a war zone through out the known history. History is also dotted with shameful acts that have been perpetuated by people who tried to correct the values of their community by imposing their religious convictions. The Spanish inquisition, the crusades, the destruction of the Indian civilization in Latin America, slavery in the Americas, the witch-hunt of the middle ages, king Leopold’s atrocities in the Belgian Congo and the genocide in Serbia are excellent examples.

Islam like Christianity holds love, kindness, humility and justice, as spiritual virtues. But when in the midst what was in reality was a societal moral decay, a group of people suggested that the solution to all ills was to go back to their religious ways, the Taliban were created. The rest is history. I am sure it has not escaped the author’s attention that the Islamic republics of the world are created with the identical pretext that was suggested in the article ‘who am I”. And nearly all are failed or failing states. Unless It is assumed that Christianity is different and its values are unique this fact it self should have dissuaded the article from intimating this approach.
In many of the prosperous stable democracies in the world, love, kindness, truthfulness, justice are considered to be virtues and yet these societies do not consider them selves religious, Canada, Sweden, Norway…etc.

I understand that the author is not suggesting that every body become a Christian. I agree a healthy exercise of moral renewal is welcome in a community any time. One might even try to use religious beliefs for this purpose, as suggested. However extreme caution is needed so that these attempts do not overflow into the political field. The author has made it clear that he is particularly addressing the Christian segment of the population. Nevertheless attempting to mobilize such a large segment using religious jabs is not with out danger. If a political progress is to be made out of such attempts, these values should be presented as universal virtues.

As a Christian I will feel comfortable with a political leadership that acknowledges the presence of a higher being or perhaps even is religious. I am also comfortable with a political system that is bold enough to declare that the creator is alive and functional…like.. “In God we trust”. However by conceding to what the article suggested I couldn’t risk the emergence of a political leader that imposes on people what for him/her is an article of faith.

If I may indulge into rhetoric, when I see eighteen/ nineteen year olds baring their chest to bullets in defiance of subjugation and in recognitions of their universal rights, when I see our aging on the streets saying “enough is enough”, I need no other proof to convince me that our people still possess the moral and spiritual integrity needed to shape our destiny.

——–
The writer can be reached for comments at [email protected].