Why is the Diaspora panicking?

By Tadesse T. Tsion

May 11, 2006

There are multiple shades of fundamentalism, but those who qualify for its narrow mindedness, bigotry, erratic emotionalism and snake handling behavior are those in the Diaspora, whose shaggy hairs keep falling off (like the feathers of a tree pigeon in a scolding wind of the Sahara), at the sound of good economic news from Ethiopia.

Why are these people panicking?

Precisely, because that is their only weapon of salvo against the EPRDF, and good economic news and stability under the aegis of the present government anchor discordant, painful sound in their ears. They can’t help it. Each time they hear that Ethiopia has shown some progress in her development, they feel violated, personally. I have seen wounded faces, incarcerated tongues and peppery eyes of the Diaspora when good news came. When we get overjoyed that the good news, deemed polluted to them, are actually music to our ears, they feel betrayed. Some neglect the fact that Ethiopia belongs to many other ethnics, including to those of us, who, having suffered a flagrant violation of our rights under the past regimes, are now basking in the sun.

I truly can’t help feeling good about the news that a hospital has been built in my birthplace or electricity has gone beyond the urban areas and has reached impossible corners. We understand now how much we have been betrayed by the previous regimes. We do.

And the Diaspora elements, ensconced in the comforts of the Western capitals, having halfheartedly negated their affinity to the previous murderers (notice I didn’t say “disavowed”), are now wearing a different outfit, and aghast at our newfound joy. For the first time in our histories, however, roads are coming to our villages, electricity is entering our towns, hospitals are emerging, schools are mushrooming, and our people are enjoying their freedom. Again, the Diaspora is mad!

They ask outlandish questions to obfuscate the facts. When, for example, one asks: Where is the Beef? (Fekade Shewakena and Co.), one has to think twice to realize that the beef is in the form of the multiple roads, the numerous schools and the various hospitals built in every region, regions once given a cold shoulder by the then masters. Ato Shewakena has repeatedly mentioned that he isn’t an economist (he didn’t have to announce that; a deaf could tell), but he has scandalously trashed the incredible progresses made by the current government. Okay, my friend, what else?

This, certainly, is a hard pill for most to swallow. They don’t understand (having been brainwashed for all their lives that they are our masters) that the new Ethiopia is for all, and I have a right to her just like every other Ethiopian, and I am happy as a lark that my region, denied even a modicum of decent administration once, is now hustling and bustling, completely in charge of its destiny. Does that pain you? I understand.

The behavior of the extreme fundamentalist is allied to those devoid of social conscience, and what we are witnessing today in the various website is clear: The mentality of the authors (Shewakena, Genanaw, Terfa & Co.) is no different than the extremists of yesterday (Getachew Haile, Negussie Ayele, Girma Bekele & Co.), whose prime job was to destroy the Woyannes and the Oromos.

Truly, the bellicose Diasopra, having lost its necromancy does look terribly foolish even to the ferenjis, where a tyro reporter is beginning to see their sham.

Ask this question: Why would an Ethiopian with sincere motives, get hysterical at the rosy news of his country’s progress? Now remember: statistical numbers showing Ethiopia’s progress aren’t the delirious inventions of the ruling party, but bona fide statistics supported by IMF, World Bank and other multiple agencies as reported by Reuters. (By the way Reuters and other foreign news agencies are deemed as agents of the Seitan, meaning Satan.)

Obviously, the McCarthyism of the Diaspora, having tried every known sorcery to discredit the Tigriyans (the EPRDF), has dug deep into the fears of the innocent people, making most of us jittery, with some having a problem of trust issue.

Fear has many manifestations. Irresponsible talk by irresponsible individuals has fanned the flames of fear. False accusations have been loosely made. Opportunities to debate with them on our shared destiny with impunity along a wide range of issues are shattered. Our ability to explore to the edges of a problem, together, challenging orthodoxy without reservations and run the gamut of ideas in search of solutions is now in doubt.

But one thing is true, Ato Shewakena.

Ethiopia will move on. We might even disengage ourselves one day (leaving in the joint the rotten ideas of the naysayer) and create a fabulous society with all Ethiopians, united and harmonious.

Yes, Ethiopia is moving on. I know this outcome would torment you, but it’s a fact.

And I am smiling.