"I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has
endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their
use." -Galileo Galilee
Galileo’s
lament of yesteryears is holding true among the Ethiopian Diaspora of the 21st
century. Today the so-called opposition among the Ethiopian Diaspora, which is
blessed with the good fortune of being exposed to western democratic values and
the benefit of western educational system, has chosen to forgo the power of
reasoning and reflective thought.
Some in the
Diaspora who claim to be political enemies of Meles have rejoiced when
Ethiopia’s economic interest in the Ogaden is attacked and Ethiopians are
massacred. They also suggested that some one else also go after the gold mines
around the country. They opposed the preemptive military campaign to stop the
enemies of Ethiopia such as ONLF and the OLF who have established a base inside
Somalia to continue to attack and destabilize the Ogaden Region. This has
long-term implication and lasting consequences that has nothing to do with the
liking or dislike of Meles.
They
confuse the long-term interest of the country with their hatred of Meles. They
don’t seem to grasp the dichotomy that the long term national security and
economic value that is derived from development of gas and oil resources that
is going to benefit the country for generations to come long after the Meles
government is gone. It does not take nuclear science to understand that these
are mutually exclusive positions.
Their smear
campaign and political demagoguery is intended to exaggerate dangers and stoke
up fears. They do not allow opposing views and open communication environment
in which the conversation of democracy can flourish.
For these
guys not react with shock and sadness at the death and destruction of their
fellow Ethiopians, either they must have become emotionally numb or they must
have reached intellectual meltdown.
God help
them and God Bless Ethiopia
Demissew
Gedamu
June 03,
2007