An Attack That Defies Logic:  

The other day while browsing through the web I came across a couple of articles that were addressing a subject matter that was pretty much identical in tone and content. Both articles have, Mrs. Azeb Mesfin, wife of Melese Zenawi as their central theme. One article criticized GU for awarding her, The Martin Luther King Jr’s Legacy of Dream Award. The second one was an attack in general of Mrs. Azeb as a recipient.

If the criticism was based on questions whether her record and work on prevention of HIV-AIDS truly warrant or does not for such an award, I would not have any problem. Simply attacking her because she is the wife of  Melese is a twisted and sick logic. 

I’m sure the writers have lived in US for quite some time, when is the last time a wife of a US president attacked for her husbands perceived in competency or bad policy, never to my knowledge. Presently many in US believe President Bush has bungled his Iraq policy, does any one hold Laura Bush responsible for it, never to my knowledge. 

Mrs. Azeb is an independent, modern first lady, unique by African standard. Of course being a wife of the prime Minister has given her the tools and the opportunity to utilize the government machinery to effectively do what she does. For that matter how many of the African leaders’ wives use that opportunity. She is a role model for young Ethiopian women whose social status, for centuries was one of subservient to the men.  

Lately, it seems to me, it is becoming fashionable among the few, vocal Diaspora, to stand up and be counted as defenders of the imprisoned opposition leaders, by grabbing at any head line no matter how idiotic it is. Such an attack on Melese will undermine not help the true cause of the imprisoned honorable men and women, leaders of the opposition. 

A few words of advice;

1) Engage Melese, constructively, on true and provable, policy issues of economics, foreign and domestic …etc. Rumors and gossips have no place in building a harmonious society.

2) Instead of wasting one’s time writing about the suffering of our people, do something that would help ease its suffering. For Example; over population is a problem in Ethiopia, write about family planning or children health care and send it to public health institutions. Join deforestation organizations, they say, plant a tree and you will save life.

3) Voluntary services are proven and effective way of assisting any society whether advanced or underdeveloped. Volunteer your service to NGOs; The Ethiopian Medical Professional Association, lead By Dr. Engida is one such highly successful group.

The above is just a few suggestions but there are a multitude of things that Ethiopia needs and we can all become players. Governments come and governments go, our legacy should be to leave behind a healthy and educated generation and a healthy and productive land to live on. 

Finally, I have to put out a disclaimer to prevent or limit the wrath of all of the hate mongers; No I’m not a paid mouth piece of Melese nor am I a supporter of one party over another. My values are shaped and enriched by my family’s rich history and deep sense of Ethiopian nationalism.

God Bless Ethiopia

Demissew Gedamu

Feb 12, 2007