The “I” and “MY” Doctor mixing failure with little knowledge

The “I” and “MY” Doctor mixing failure with little knowledge. Bad mix!

By my account Dr Berhanu used 149 or so “I”s and 45 “My”s in this paper(Dr Berhanu Bucknell paper). This paper is supposed to educate a captive audience at Bucknell about Ethiopia and democracy and US role. I say this because few of his friends organized the meeting on his behalf. Reading the paper I could not appreciate enough what Ledetu, Mushe and the rest were trying to tell Kinjit supporter’s way before Kinjit stumbled in to the grave yard. The man loves thy self!

A friend once told me Berhanu thought that the West was going to get him out of prison in no time and that he refused to listen to others telling him to ask for pardon. I know now why he thought as such. How could he not think to be important in world politics when he was visited by diplomats! I can imagine how important he must have felt then. Unfortunately, for him, the EPRDF government was not made in his image and did not allow the West to interfere. The government allowed the due process to finish its course. Berhanu may be telling us that he stood against the machination of the American Embassy to hoodwink him to agree to their “plan”. A plan which was much better offer on hindsight comparing to what he eventually signed to be free! But I am not buying his boisterous claim. Nor should you! Did he not sign he was guilty as charged and ask for a pardon in the end? And what was bad about the “plan” (endorsing the appointed mayor) any ways?

In all honesty the “I” and “My” doctor can not criticize America’s policy in Africa when he himself spins everything around him. No where in his paper does he really talk about Kinjit as institution, if it ever was. How could a man that see everything based on his where about and presence in life criticize any country if it projects a policy based on its interest? Or is the good doctor feeling an American from Bucknell worthy of criticizing the US Policy? I think he is feeling more like Isayas Afeworki of Eritrea. His criticism mirrors that of Isayas if you read carefully the article. Dr Berhanu either it is Emeye Ethiopia or Uncle Tom! Chose one.

Of all things what bother me in all of this is there are folks still following this guy thinking his college circuit speech is making head ways in helping the democratic process in Ethiopia. The guy can not think far from his nose and everything he says start with I and Them. And one can not build democratic institutions with that kind of mind set. Berhanu needs to learn Ethiopia is bigger than himself. Heck even Kinjit was bigger than himself though it did not end that way. Why is he telling us now that he was visited in prison by diplomats when Hailu as chairman and the vice chairman and secretary was available? Unless it is to tell us “I” am important and very valuable person (MVP). This doesn’t augur well with Ethiopian psych I know at all, but, what to make with his followers….!

The West policy on Africa may be less to be desired as it is now, but to think and pretend the West had the moral high ground when it comes to democracy in Africa and elsewhere at any point in time in history is simply a lie.The West as well as any other country defends its interest by any means necessary of which the least is by an undemocratic means. Tell me, Dr Berhanu, what the two US organizations that were kicked out of Ethiopia during election 2005 were doing? Were they importing democracy or were they grooming their obedient agents for power? Now did the US and the French choose to talk to you instead of Hailu Shawel and the other higher party officials because you were pretty face or a high Kinjit official than Birtukan and Hailu? If they have talked to Hailu and Birtukan then why are you talking about “I” and “MY” as if you were the only one?

The other day I watch Dr Merera making a fool of him in parliament. Though his intent could have been to look tuff and to undermine Prime Minister Meles report to Parliament I thought he was the fool. His questions were demeaning and un intelligent. I ask to myself is this all we have to show as a country for all the democratic process we have traveled thus far? We are 17 years in to a new nation building and all we have to show is a one party talking head (a.k.a) Dr Beyene, a buffoon DR Merera and an “I” and “My” Doctor! I tell you friends we should be thankful for the likes of Ledetu and Shemu.