Don’t Be Mad – Be Proactive

 

Satenaw                     

October 5, 2007

 

First Reaction

Have I read what the HR2003 or whatever its name is to qualify me to comment on it?

Absolutely not!  I do not know whether it has something good for Ethiopia.  Frankly I do not even care if is about glorifying the current government for its good governance or not. 

 

The reason that qualifies me to comment is the fact that two US Congressmen, I think one is a white republican and the other is a ‘black’ democrat formulating legislation for Ethiopia in the US Congress.  No foreign power has the right to meddle in the internal affairs of my country as long as my country does not do any harm to it. That is what qualifies me to speak with authority and pride.

 

What was to outrage me is the fact that legislation about Ethiopia is written in the US Congress.   ‘How dare’, was my first reaction. But I told myself not to be governed and led by emotion alone.

 

As Ben said, legislation that is pushed by minority (ex-Dergists and chauvinists- mine) Diaspora does not reflect the aspirations of the majority of Ethiopians or Americans of Ethiopian decent residing in America. But because of the apathy of the silent majority (or because the majority is aware that the minority group will finally die out) they have now succeeded in climbing the first hurdle in their attempt to convince the US Congress that Ethiopia is the 52nd or 53rd? State of the Super America!!

 

In your dreams!!

The Diaspora folks have lost it all.  On the one hand they would like to portray themselves as Ethiopians wanting to restore the old positive norm and culture of the Ethiopian people – integrity and independence.  On the other hand they are on a spree kneeling at the foots/boots of foreigners begging and urging them to interfere in the internal affairs of their country – an idea that would have the effect of making the bones of our ancestors move in the grave with anger and disbelief. 

 

Payne and Smith wanted a name.  Issayas of Eritrea and Al Mariam of a minority Diaspora representative worked up on these guys to punish Ethiopia or that is what they think. Payne and Smith, thinking that the Ethiopian Diaspora will help them win elections, gambled by interfering in a sovereign country’s internal affairs.  That is a calculated risk and they might have won some souls in their venture. Good for them.  They are not sold to principles but money. That is their business that is their raison d’etre. We Ethiopians have been trying to find decency and reason in places where they do not exist.  Maybe that is why many display anger at these two gentlemen and their collaborators.

 

Al Maryam, whom the EPRP boss Hama Tuma, chided for his name change, as is the case with his other comrades, is mad that Ethiopia has finally endorsed all her children and preferential treatment is now gone never to re-surface again.  He is not convinced that the ‘never to re-surface’ part of the above statement is true.  Therefore he is determined, unfortunately with some help from Berhanu Nega and others, to gamble. His motto is not ‘win-win’, but ‘win or lose’.  Despite his brave effort, one can say with certainty that he will ultimately lose the fight.

 

Ethiopia is on a Firm Ground 

 

But why is that we are so much involved with this topic?  Do we seriously think that this will hurt Ethiopia in a meaningful way? What will be the impact on our people?

 

I agree with Washera2 that the Ethiopian government, especially the Prime Minister use all his power to inform the members of the US Congress about the negative impacts of a move started by ill-informed members of the US Congress assisted by the desperate Issayas.  He should let the Americans know that human rights and democracy are the ultimate goals of Ethiopians and they do not need a big-brother to remind them about these concepts.

 

But in the final analysis concerned Ethiopians should be re-assured that HR2003 is not worth the ink it is written with. The Americans are with Ethiopia and its current government because their interest on fighting terrorism and other ills collided.  It is not because President Bush has a special attraction to Meles and Ethiopia that the cooperation is strong. It is because the US Administration is convinced that this country has the basic ingredients for mutual cooperation – mutual interest.

 

The overall policy of Ethiopia is on a firm ground.  Ethiopian government has rightly established sound economic and political relationship with the West as well as with the East – China, India and others.  The western powers always unsure of their future economic hold are not happy with the formation of independent states in the world.  Ethiopia is one independent nation firm on building a pluralistic society where there is a complete equality of cultures and religions. This internal policy in turn has galvanized the people of Ethiopia around one pole – that is the preservation of internal unity that rejects any foreign intervention in all its forms. This strong characteristic of Ethiopia is some times seen as ‘arrogance’ by some Western countries and they will always test Ethiopians when opportunities permit.  The strong statement to the media by Bereket Simon of Ethiopia stresses how Ethiopia is fierce in protecting herself and her interest and does not for a moment bow to any pressure.  However that does not mean that Ethiopia does not heed or follow the advice of friends.  It values the advice of friends and takes appropriate actions to remedy any problems that are detrimental to the progress of its people.

 

Ethiopians and their leaders are resolved to, to use PM Meles’ and his colleagues’ phrase, ‘to make poverty history’. It is therefore natural that friends who would like to contribute to these noble goals are warmly welcomed.  Ethiopians – the leaders and genuine critiques of the government alike- know that good governance and freedom of the individual are keys to achieving the stated goal and is being integrated in the development process.

 

Thus the works of few congressmen or the passing of any statement from any country is not to put a dent in the ongoing economic and political reform in Ethiopia. In time the Americans and the Western powers, realizing that their interference is causing more harm than good, will choose a compromise and play the ‘cooperative game’.  Therefore, I advise fellow Ethiopians that they should not be angry and furious at what is happening in the American circle of power right now.  But they should be aware of how ‘democracy’ works in the United States and show the Congressmen that they are better of aligning with main-stream Ethiopia rather than erratic and frantic Diaspora elements who are still lamenting on their loss of privileges that they used to enjoy exclusively.

 

Moving Forward

We should understand that these few spoilers could be of some minor nuisance in the struggle for an all-inclusive, strong and prosperous Ethiopia.  They might be successful in their disinformation and misinformation campaign. They have lost their soul and they do not anymore question the consequences of their actions. They will destroy Ethiopia if they think that their action will remove Meles or EPRDF from power. Although they are few in number, they are full of vengeance and fury.  Thus, we should not take them lightly.

 

It is therefore important that we continue writing to our Congress representatives and other policy makers and inform them about the real issues: the positive human rights, economic and political developments in Ethiopia.  We should let them know  that America’s best interest are served by a serious, long term calculations and not by misinformed and ill-intentioned congressmen who make it their business to meddle in the internal affairs of Ethiopia and side with disgruntled, defeated and outdated Ethiopian Diaspora politicians.

 

Information is power.  Once the Americans see that Ethiopia is a strong country with a very high degree of economic growth, they will start realizing that it is better to side with the victor – the current Ethiopian government and ordinary Ethiopians rather than with disgruntled elements who would never be able to make a dent on the path of progress that Ethiopia is following now. When Americans see that there are concerned Ethiopians here in the Diaspora who are pushing for a more democratic space while at the same time appreciating the government of Ethiopia for its glittering performances, they will realize that the vocal Diaspora leaders are breathing their last sigh and will be irrelevant to the political reform which is on-going in Ethiopia.  I ask all of us to be part of this vibrant force of change by engaging the leaders of Ethiopia positively. I would also like to kindly ask Ethiopiafirst, Aiga, and other websites to post sample letters and addresses in usable formats so that readers can send their comments and please to policymakers and legislators of the US Congress.

 

Angry reaction should not be a primary line of defence. Let’s convert our anger into a positive energy and reach all our American politicians- congressmen, senators and policy makers.