A Bush Legacy
November 5, 2008 at 8:08 am 21 comments
Nothing more I’d like to do than join in the festive mood (Enkuan Des Alen, Enkuan Des Alen). But it’s hard to see the sun when there hangs a heavy cloud over you. This heavy cloud came in the form of a news pieces. A few minutes before annoucing Obama Jr’s victory, the Commander of Federal Police appeared on the ETV screen and asked us to lend him our ears. We obeyed. Apparently, Ethiopians have more things to worry about than John McCain becoming the most Senior American President in history: our own neck!. Sudan Tribune reports:
Ethiopia warns of immanent terrorist attacks
November 4, 2008 (ADDIS ABABA) – The Ethiopian authorities warned today of imminent terrorist attack and urged citizens to collaborate with security forces.
The Joint Taskforce of National Intelligence Security Service and the Federal Police said, in a press statement issued today, it has got information that may lead to crack down on a looming plotting to carry out terrorism in Ethiopia.
Read the rest here.
Now, Obama may have Bush to thank for 4 his victory. But I see no silver lining to the long shadows of the Governor of Texas even on the eve of his departure. Not to kick a man when he’s down, mind you. But everything this blot on modern history did since day 1 reminds one of ETV’s “Brother Monkey”. A.k.a. the mischievious ‘Moneky King’ “who loved playing havoc amongst the gods”. Now, unless the election result convinces the culprits to delay the attack in a kind of good-will ceasefire deal (the way they do with huge football tornaments), we are doomed.
Anybody?!
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1.
Carlos | November 5, 2008 at 9:21 am
I hope the announcement is just a nightmare
2.
Carlos | November 5, 2008 at 9:22 am
But, for Obama`s victory Enkuan derra sachu (Is it ok?)
3.
abesheet | November 5, 2008 at 9:39 am
Lol, Carlos. Pretty close. “Enkuan Aderresachu” is oftentimes used on holidays. Since it conveys the meaning “i’m glad you stayed alive to reach this day”. It can work in this case too. But “Enkuan Des Alachu” (“Congratulations”) is the correct expression.
Yeah.. the announcement was a nasty surprise. There I was, waiting to hear the election results and this guy pops up to tell me the election was the least of my worries. When i watch my colleagues congradulating one another (none of them seem to have watched ETV this morning) I want to scream at them to wake up and smell the bomb. I hope i’m over reacting. I pray i’m over reacting. Otherwise…
4.
Dr. Ethiopia | November 5, 2008 at 5:40 pm
Let me say some on two fronts.
First, Never in the history of my short life have i seen so many people crying around the world. Wanting him to win soooooooo bad. It is a marvelous moment, with a marvelous human being who is so deserving of it.
God is good. A heaven sent Obama is what this nation needed.
Secondly, my beloved E-T-H-I-O-P-I-A. The people that i consider true fighters. I have seen their courage through all sorts of mayhem and unspeakable tragedy. Yet, they convince me every day that they ARE my real Obamas.
As if we don’t have enough to worry about, now a terror plot? In Ethiopia? Well much like the Bush administration, our Premier has spent most of his time making enemies around his neighbors, and this is no way a war anyone of these suckers would want to fight us in uniform, so resorting to such tactics like terrorizing the people might actuaaly be considered a smart move for their hollow bones.
In the end, i am not for killing innocents to send one’s message, be it either on our side or anyone else’s.
It saddens me beyond words that innocent civilians have to worry about for the actions some guerilla fighter turned leader has taken across his borders.
No doubt, there will be times like this where people would resort to attacking us if we fail to execute our wars or invasions accurately and with precise targets. I did predict that this day would come and for the life of me i can’t understand how an incompetent government could not face rebellion, like we have done countless times in the past.
Let me take a deep breath . . . later
5.
abesheet | November 6, 2008 at 5:48 am
I can’t speak for 70 million people, Doc. But judging from me and all those around me I think I know why Ethiopians do not rebel when they are disatisfied. They are scared shitless. But not because they have a more cowardly bone in their body as the rest of the world, but because every time they demand for change, death seems to follow. Whatever change comes their way after that is not for the better, but for worse.
When i was growing up, every one I know had a hero in him (I don’t know if that’s the nationalist in us Dergue used, abused and manipulated; the fact that Orthodox Christianity was a “KeCHin Geta” and it’s a universal truth.. wherever an Orthodox christian church is a ‘Kechin Geta’ people see death as a solution to every little problem or the fact that we are a communist bunch and/or non-imperalist). But everybody knew what was right. And what was wrong (sometimes even when it isn’t). And was ready to go to the gallows for it. After “Qey Shibir”, Dergue, Badime, Mirch 97, etcetra, i think we just gave up and become a nation of compromise. We suck the teeth, we shake our heads, we look upto heaven and go on with our lives. “Maan lemaan yimotaal?”, seems to be the rule of the day. Because so many have died and so little has changed.
Take Teddy Afro’s case, for example. YeAhun.. yeQirb. The first time I heard he might be in for 5-15 years imprisonment, i was riding in a taxi and i have to choke back tears. I don’t think he’s perfect, and i certainly won’t stick my neck out for him. But I loved him as much as the next Ethiopian. And understand and sympathised with those who were brave enough to go to his first hearing, create some kind of havoc and get arrested. First time, maybe 200 boys were arrested. Then 100 young men. Then .. maybe eight. About a month ago, i read an Addis NeGer article how not even his closest friends visit him these days. Why? Because they were scared. The government has arrested one or two of them. Some have been held for questioning right on the spot. Etcetra. Tibebu Workye was detained for showing him a victory sign the other day. So Tibebu won’t do it next time around. You live it and learn it! Living it and learning it, that’s what we been doing. And that’s how they crushed our spirit. By showing us nothing comes out of our demands for change. Atleast, that’s how it’s been done at this neck of the wood! The fact that we are opening our doors for the rest of the world, or the rest of the world forcing it’s way into our houses, may have convinced us that nothing was worth dying. Or atleast what we hold onto may not be the only truth that governs the universe! Not easy being an Ethiopian on the 21st century. Beraad weyim tikus.. Abatochachin, or lijochacin. I think that’s what we are finding it hard to decide and be.
That all changes, ofcourse, when you step a foot out of the country and are standing on a safe distance from the consuming fire. Everybody becomes a “TeQawami”, a “shelai”, a “Fokari” then. Only it’s us they expect to respond; by dying; for “their” cause! My response: “excusez-moi?”
6.
Dr. Ethiopia | November 6, 2008 at 7:47 am
You certainly making it sound like you are going to fight and i am going to be a spectator of sorts, just because i am currently in the diaspora.
I guess i have no right to complain, since . . .
Let Meles do his thing while i bite my tongue. I can’t win for losing. I am not Ethiopian enough. So that’s that
7.
abesheet | November 6, 2008 at 7:53 am
What?! No. Lol. C’mon, Doc. U know me better than that. If i have thought of you as “living abroad”, I’d have told you so. You just brought it to mind. No. I was referring to much older people with much older agendas. The likes of Professor Mesfin, etcetra. YeShimaGile Findatas, or so i call them. Those who rave at us for not dying and killing. Those who maDerajet “GinBar”s so we could serve as “yeMaGeDo enjchet” and call us “wene yelelew yizb” when we refuse to do as told.
Never saw you as one of them. And why should i? You only represent yourself. What’s more you and I always can trash it out if and when we don’t see eye to eye. With these people, on the other hand, you can be only two things: friend or foe. Teketai or TeQawami. Kinjit or Woyane.
8.
Dr. Ethiopia | November 6, 2008 at 8:25 am
It drives me insane to realize that we are never going to come to consensus as one people under one nation. Obviously, few will die for a cause, but those wh odon’t take an active part in violence or armed conflict can participate by actively voicing their opinion or support.
The truth is i am more and more frustrated by the lack of consensus among those who feel persecuted. The infighting among those who feel injustice is bigger than any other time.
It is with this sort of division that we become our own worst enemy and we are experts in – self destruction.
I know what you mean now. But even those you mentioned serve as voices to those who need and deserve awakening. They can serve even a bigger cause by doing what they do – awakening the conscious, though they are not created for the movement they usually create.
Mind you, i don’t necessarily agree with them. “You can fool some of the people all the time, all of the people some of the time, but not all of the people all of the time”, said Abraham Lincoln. I think it applies to those whom you mentioned, which i believe is their intention – i.e. to fool all the people all of the time.
9.
abesheet | November 6, 2008 at 8:43 am
Well, I’ll be damned! 🙂 You and I actually agreed on something Doc. Has the world came to an end or sommink ;)?
Anywho, yeah, you are right. What’s so frustrating about these people isn’t the fact that they felt we needed redumption and self-assigned themselves are our redeemers. But the ways they try and use to redeem us seems to never mature. It’s same ole wine in new wine skins. Same ole restless, liyunetin meTaGess yemayichil, “leNante seleQomku yemilachihun hulu adirgu” kind of mentality. This is how Ethiopians understand “miHurinet” and old age. You grow, you wisen-up, you open your mouth and wisdom flows. Not with this ppl. Infact, the older they get, the scary they become. Except, ofcourse, Dr. Beyene Petros. I’m his biggest fan.
10.
Dr. Ethiopia | November 6, 2008 at 8:54 am
The world might have come to a stand still, since we a greed. Let me think of something to disagree upon. 🙂
Fan of Beyene Petros? Hmmmm. . . How about the devil? lol
Listen, we need a visionary and a dreamer. It is not we lack some, but it is frustrating we haven’t had one yet. If anything, Obama’s victory is a sign that anything is possible, and we can actually say ANYTHING, and believe it. If hope was dead, it was revived yesterday.
I am announcing my candidacy for Ethiopian presidency soon. Can i count on your vote? 🙂
11.
abesheet | November 6, 2008 at 9:14 am
The devil? Seriously?! Not that i have anything against the Devil (poor chump), but you disapprove of Dr. Beyene so much you compare him to the devil? What did he do exactly?
So long as Meles stays the Prime Minister, I’m all for Dr. 4 President 🙂
12.
Dr. Ethiopia | November 6, 2008 at 7:29 pm
LOL
Well I am with you on that one. That’s one smart men whom i think has so much untapped potential or misguided ideologies, i should say. He is capable of governing the U.S. in my humble opinion.
A very prudent politician, however.
13.
Ankami | November 7, 2008 at 9:36 am
Could be Birtukan the Ethiopian Obama in 2010?
14.
abesheet | November 7, 2008 at 11:37 am
Who knows, Ankami? Anything is possible, as the Dr. said. “In america”, some may protest, but I’m not one of those some. I can even see it, “The First Ethiopian Female President” – unfortunately, club-hopping doesn’t a resume make. Not a good one anyway. Better put your money on Haile.
15.
Ankami | November 7, 2008 at 11:51 am
Haile Gebresalassie? Is he in policy?
16.
abesheet | November 7, 2008 at 12:13 pm
No, but he’s been talking about going into politics. I wouldn’t advise him too but he’s got a pretty good shot. He’s loved by all, he’s known by all, he’s rich, he speaks a decent amount of english. And i doubt Meles would wanna throw him in jail were he to win Addis, in a knock out, as they say.
17.
Ankami | November 7, 2008 at 12:18 pm
But do you think he has capacity to be PM in Ethiopia. Perhaps you are talking for a Addis mayor?
18.
abesheet | November 7, 2008 at 2:56 pm
No, not Prime Minister, only Meles can be that in Ethiopia. But a President, what is there to it anyway? Signing papers. Greeting envoys. Appointing and dismissing Diplomats. A child can do it!
19.
Dr. Ethiopia | November 7, 2008 at 11:12 pm
I thnk when one refers to President, they tend to speak in American sense. I guess we must get it right in saying prime minister every time we speak of the power building body in Ethiopia.
As for Haile, he couldn’t run a city, nor a village. Politics is not his dynamics, and i am never one who would support someone on popularity ratings. He ought to first learn the nitty-gritty of politics, that is on top of haveing some politics and policy knowledge. All which he severely lacks.
If Haile runs for Premier position, if anything, he would empower to run for President of the World Bank. LOL
Birtukan? Nah! I don’t trust political party hoppers. Once Kinijit, tomorrow whatever fits her taste. Not a big fan of typical “go with the wind” politician. I believe she is smart and capable, but i only question her character and judgment. Hence, my being scared of her as a leader of my people.
20.
eswa | November 8, 2008 at 3:57 am
what are you guys talking about??
am reading all the post and the comments at once and am going mad!!!
perhaps I need a pop up mail whenever a new post appear at your blog.
I was at the crowded A.C. Powell square in Harlem before Obama’s victory was announced. Although I knew he was going to win from the CNN projection report, I was a bit worried how the anticipating crowd would react if Obama doesn’t win. is there going to be a revolt? but then I assured myself it didn’t happen when Al – Gore lost 8 yrs. ago
and my friend mentioned how its a shame elections around the world doesn’t result similarly. with no gun shot or bloodshed.
while those of us living abroad have escaped the “nation of compromise”, feeling of hope/helplessness has led our consciouses and spirits to a brutal blender, a twisted life of dilemmas, guilts, and regrets.
21.
Ras X | November 10, 2008 at 2:23 pm
“Self Development is a higher duty than Self Sacrifice”
-Elizabeth Cady Stanton