February 25, 2009
Dear Professor Al Mariam,
I read with interest and amazement your article on Ethiomedia entitled "Seeking paths to Ethiopian Diaspora Dialogue and Consultations (wu-yi-yit and me me-ka-ker)."
You make fairly radical statements about how to proceed with engaging the Diaspora in a civic dialogue and consultation to be able to take a coordinated action against the Ethiopian government. You seem to assign this role for what you call pro-democracy Ethiopians at home and in the Diaspora, who are willing to "bite" strategically to bring about substantial change in Ethiopia. You elaborate on how busy you have been trying to identify stakeholders from a broad-section of the Ethiopian Diaspora activist for the collective action you plan to take.
I felt you were convincingly mapping out your corner of opposition politics when, all of a sudden, I noticed a shift in your argument. After confessing your lack of expertise in the field of dialogue facilitation, you admit that you could be wrong about your long held beliefs. You then tell us how dialogue involves listening to each other respectfully and offer our views with sincerity and civility. You go further and tell us how you have become less judgmental of those who do not agree with your point of and let the gravitational power of truth to keep us all grounded in common sense and reality.
Whose truth my friend? Your truth or mine? If I disagree with you, does that make me a mean, nasty and vicious junkyard dog? Is Wu-yi-yit and Me me-ka-ker only for your own ilk?
I have followed your writings for a long time. You are very well versed in the English language and on a whole bunch of legal mumbo jumbo. But what seems to run as a main theme in all of them is how hateful and mean-spirited you are of the present Ethiopian government and will not live a single stone unturned to try to topple it.
The problem with your logic is that all you have are words. Words which you manipulate every which way, to convince us that your way is the right way. You have now cloaked yourself with a pro-democracy mantle and are lecturing us about dialogue and consultations, when you don't even understand who the dialogue should be with. You continue to burn your bridges with the ruling party in Ethiopia and its supporters, in the process creating a hostile environment among Diaspora Ethiopians where, I suspect, you have some support.
I would like to use this opportunity to plead with you to stop your mirth and reverence for evil things in life. Until you understand that we all have a stake in the success of the democratic process in Ethiopia and start a dialogue and consultation among opposition groups and supporters of the government, your efforts would be futile and bound to fail.
I have tried to get in touch with you on several occasions in the past. I even paid for a phone number search company and tried to leave you a message, but have never heard from you.
I hope you will take this as an invitation for a dialogue and consultation by one disgruntled Diaspora Ethiopian. I know Ethiomedia will not post this response, but I hope you can respond to me.
Washera
Washera_2@comcast.net
Thursday, February 26, 2009
WHAT NEXT, PRIME MINISTER MELES ZENAWI?
Washera_2
February 16, 2009
For someone who devours anything I could find on PM Meles Zenawi, the last two weeks have been a very rich harvest. First, there was the endless question and answer session with the members of the Ethiopian Youth Association at their Annual Youth Conference. Then, there was hours and hours spent briefing, call it educating, the local media. That was followed by several hours of the same for local and foreign journalists, of course in English. I was so hooked to the Youth Conference that I had several windows open to download the nine minute sessions that I could listen to it one after another. That was the only inconvenience, but I heard them all. Thanks to Walta Information Center, I was able to listen to the English press conference in its entirety.
The man amazes me. His mastery of the two languages, in this instance Amharic and English tends to be forgotten as you travel with him through a vivid picture of a vast array of issues, from climate control to detailed economic analysis of not only the Ethiopian reality, but the global mess as a whole. I have watched many a US Presidential press conference in my life. But I have never witnessed one with the caliber and talent that I saw in PM Meles. Even President Obama lacks the economic prowess that our PM dispatches at will.
He seems to tap very easily to a large volume of knowledge, obviously accumulated through years of reading, leading and learning from the experiences of other world leaders. No question was left unanswered, except perhaps the human and material cost of our Somalia expedition. This was deliberate and I am sure the questionnaire got a satisfactory response to his sarcastic remark.
Let me try to summarize some of the issues that stuck in my mind as I listened to these question and answer sessions.
It was indeed gratifying to see Ethiopian youth organized throughout the Kilils and their representatives, 7,000 strong, show up for their Annual Conference. The Prime Minister was not there to give them money for their recreation centers or find them jobs, although a large financial outlay is in the works for exactly that purpose. What I saw to be priceless and a long-lasting investment was the advice that this dedicated, smart and knowledgeable young leader was bestowing in their blossoming young minds. He was not mincing words when he told them their responsibilities to a good work ethic. Neither was he campaigning for his party when he told them what democracy meant and how to participate in it and vote for any one they wanted to. His only demand was that each and every one of them fights to make it a peaceful and free election. He is one of a kind and they will not soon forget this moment, as he has left a mark in their budding brain cells. God willing, he will be around for a long time and will help them for many more years.
As we turn to the national and international media scene, we see a man capable of dealing with any issue, unlike any one I have ever known. The curve balls thrown at him by some smart aleck journalist land softly in the middle of his palm.
At the local level, the Bertukan Mideksa saga was inquired about on more than one occasion. But the simple and straightforward legal explanation he furnished shamed many of those doubters. The message was crystal clear to the opposition. Be peaceful, respect the constitution, obey the rules and the playing field is open to all.
On Somalia, he made it quite clear that the forces involved in organizing the conspiracy against Ethiopia (Eritrea), intoxicated Jihadists in Somalia (Al Shabab) and certain armed groups inside Ethiopia, had all suffered a knock out blow. The remaining elements inside Somalia are felt to be moderate and willing to work with Ethiopia in the long run.
He was not too enthusiastic about Gaddafi's United States of Africa concept and wants to make the economic platform palatable before dreaming about something akin to the United States of America. However, he does not think it is an impossible task in the very long run. He said he will take him on his desire to resolve the Ethiopian-Eritrean problem. But, he knows in his heart that the guy at the other end can never be trusted.
His detailed explanation of the global economic mess in general and our own country in particular was a masterful performance. You can see his economic genius shining through as he spells out the decisive steps he took to soften the impact on our economy. You couldn't have wished for any one better to author a path out of the quagmire we are all in.
He was asked about the mixed messages he was sending regarding his retirement from his present position. His explanation was simple and truthful. He hoped to see no contradictions between his desire to "move on", as he put it, and his parties desire for his services. People tend to forget that he is still very young and has a lot to offer in many other positions to the people and country that he has brought so much respect and economic growth, far beyond what his predecessors have done. Of course, he was humbled by the accolades he received for his hard work and successes, deferring it instead to his party.
I hope and prey that many in the Diaspora will truly understand this man and his tireless struggle for peace, economic prosperity and respect for the rule of law and contribute their part in the economic, social and political spheres to this old nation with an emerging democracy.
February 16, 2009
For someone who devours anything I could find on PM Meles Zenawi, the last two weeks have been a very rich harvest. First, there was the endless question and answer session with the members of the Ethiopian Youth Association at their Annual Youth Conference. Then, there was hours and hours spent briefing, call it educating, the local media. That was followed by several hours of the same for local and foreign journalists, of course in English. I was so hooked to the Youth Conference that I had several windows open to download the nine minute sessions that I could listen to it one after another. That was the only inconvenience, but I heard them all. Thanks to Walta Information Center, I was able to listen to the English press conference in its entirety.
The man amazes me. His mastery of the two languages, in this instance Amharic and English tends to be forgotten as you travel with him through a vivid picture of a vast array of issues, from climate control to detailed economic analysis of not only the Ethiopian reality, but the global mess as a whole. I have watched many a US Presidential press conference in my life. But I have never witnessed one with the caliber and talent that I saw in PM Meles. Even President Obama lacks the economic prowess that our PM dispatches at will.
He seems to tap very easily to a large volume of knowledge, obviously accumulated through years of reading, leading and learning from the experiences of other world leaders. No question was left unanswered, except perhaps the human and material cost of our Somalia expedition. This was deliberate and I am sure the questionnaire got a satisfactory response to his sarcastic remark.
Let me try to summarize some of the issues that stuck in my mind as I listened to these question and answer sessions.
It was indeed gratifying to see Ethiopian youth organized throughout the Kilils and their representatives, 7,000 strong, show up for their Annual Conference. The Prime Minister was not there to give them money for their recreation centers or find them jobs, although a large financial outlay is in the works for exactly that purpose. What I saw to be priceless and a long-lasting investment was the advice that this dedicated, smart and knowledgeable young leader was bestowing in their blossoming young minds. He was not mincing words when he told them their responsibilities to a good work ethic. Neither was he campaigning for his party when he told them what democracy meant and how to participate in it and vote for any one they wanted to. His only demand was that each and every one of them fights to make it a peaceful and free election. He is one of a kind and they will not soon forget this moment, as he has left a mark in their budding brain cells. God willing, he will be around for a long time and will help them for many more years.
As we turn to the national and international media scene, we see a man capable of dealing with any issue, unlike any one I have ever known. The curve balls thrown at him by some smart aleck journalist land softly in the middle of his palm.
At the local level, the Bertukan Mideksa saga was inquired about on more than one occasion. But the simple and straightforward legal explanation he furnished shamed many of those doubters. The message was crystal clear to the opposition. Be peaceful, respect the constitution, obey the rules and the playing field is open to all.
On Somalia, he made it quite clear that the forces involved in organizing the conspiracy against Ethiopia (Eritrea), intoxicated Jihadists in Somalia (Al Shabab) and certain armed groups inside Ethiopia, had all suffered a knock out blow. The remaining elements inside Somalia are felt to be moderate and willing to work with Ethiopia in the long run.
He was not too enthusiastic about Gaddafi's United States of Africa concept and wants to make the economic platform palatable before dreaming about something akin to the United States of America. However, he does not think it is an impossible task in the very long run. He said he will take him on his desire to resolve the Ethiopian-Eritrean problem. But, he knows in his heart that the guy at the other end can never be trusted.
His detailed explanation of the global economic mess in general and our own country in particular was a masterful performance. You can see his economic genius shining through as he spells out the decisive steps he took to soften the impact on our economy. You couldn't have wished for any one better to author a path out of the quagmire we are all in.
He was asked about the mixed messages he was sending regarding his retirement from his present position. His explanation was simple and truthful. He hoped to see no contradictions between his desire to "move on", as he put it, and his parties desire for his services. People tend to forget that he is still very young and has a lot to offer in many other positions to the people and country that he has brought so much respect and economic growth, far beyond what his predecessors have done. Of course, he was humbled by the accolades he received for his hard work and successes, deferring it instead to his party.
I hope and prey that many in the Diaspora will truly understand this man and his tireless struggle for peace, economic prosperity and respect for the rule of law and contribute their part in the economic, social and political spheres to this old nation with an emerging democracy.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)