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
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11 comments:
Selam Washera,
I read your piece that is addressed to Prof Al on ethiopiafirst.com. Two things amazed me the most:
1. Of all the articles that Prof Al wrote why Ben posted this one?
2. And of all those articles why this one becomes a concern for you to respond to him?
I don't have to master psychology to know or at least to guess this. It is because through wu-yi-yit and me me-ka-ker Ethiopians of all courses of life will get a chance to come together and work on their differences. It is because through wu-yi-yit and me me-ka-ker Ethiopians, regardless of our ethnic or political differences, can come up with a common solution that is going to benefit the country we love so dearly. As in the words of Aung San Suu Kyi: "A more significant phase should mean serious political dialogue."
In light of these and other innumerable facts, I can tell why you and Ben are scared of and what you are petrified about - CHANGE!! Don't worry it sure will come.
And finally, if you are loaded enough to pay for a telephone search company to get Prof Al's number, I bet you can get your ticket and hotel reservation now and fly to LA to attend his meeting on March 1st, 2009 and challenge him with your awe inspiring political ideology.
ke akibirot selamta gar
Mekbib
mekbma@yahoo.com
Dear Mekbib,
Much to my chagrin, I have read nearly every article that your Prof Al Mariam has written and have at times responded to him.
You don't seem to relaize that your mentor/boss/whatever you want to call him, Prof Al Mariam wants to keep the wu-yi-yit and me me-ka-ker only with Ethiopians of his choosing. So go back and read his article and try to figure out why I was incensed by it.
You also refer to me as scared and petrified of CHANGE. If you are talking about the change in the democratic movement in Ethiopia, it is already happening and we are working to help it grow. If you are talking about a change of regime, I will just say in your dreams!
You make it sound like a sarcastic remark when you imply that I am loaded with cash and should afford to attend one of the seminars given by Professor Al Mariam. It cost me $1.96 to locate his addresses and phone numbers. However, I would not pay even that much to listen to him. I may pay more to debate him and make him irrelevant. It is his kind of hate politics that has continued to divide us in the Diaspora and prevented a unified support for our beloved country.
This does not mean that there should not be diversity in our politics. The question is, when do people like you learn to play by the rules?
Hello Dr Washera,
I was amazed by your courage to open your mouth and insult the respected professor and educator Pro Al mariam.
I heard that you re a gray haired person but your behaviour tells otherwis. You seem to be suffering from inferiority
complex and boundless greed.
I feel sad when i think of those little babies whom you take care. they deserve much better than you. You lack
honesty and integrity. I wonder at which school you rehersed that famouth oath of the father of medicin.
It is also amazing to know that you haven't learned the english language well after living in the states for so long. Your IQ must sub-normal.
We all know that you are wagging your tail to please your masters in Ethiopia.
Make no mistake tomorrow's Ethiopia is of the people. You and your masters are well identified and will be checked accordingly.
So long!
Kagnew Shaleqa
ethio-hagere@hotmail.com
Dear Shaleqa Kagnew,
Thankfully, I don't have to respond to former Dergue cadres like yourself. Your time is up and I would advice you to retire peacefully in that sad corner of the universe that you inhabit, that is still filled with hatred. Leave Ethiopian politics to the new generation that believes in respect for all Ethiopians.
Selam Washera,
I read your articles from time to time it is very interesting and informing. I also like to thank you for your idea that believes in discussing out differences rather than bellew or feletew type of unnecessary rhetoric. By now, we should all know that this type of mentality does not take as anywhere…
I just want to mention something I noticed recently. After you mentioned in your recent article about the logo of Ethiopian media website, which reads, “TPLF cannot be reformed like apartheid” they have removed it from their website. This can prove everything is possible including Ethiopian media website reform as well. We should hope and pray to God the website administrators of Ethiopian media in time will entertain ideas that are different too.
Thank you,
Abeba T.
Dear washera,how are you doing?
I am an Ethiopian who lives here in the USA. As we all know,ours is a country of ancient mistries and wonders.It is the oldest civilization with its unique culture,people,history etc. I am very proud of my country.
I just read your comment to Al mariam`s(phd.) text on working together for a better Ethiopia. I have read and heard Prof.Al Mariam`s work to our people and country.It is not only me but also a lot of Ethiopians that support his work for human rights respect and for a better Ethiopia at large. There is a saying called"fact always wins!". You and i know what is happening in Ethiopia and who is doing what.
You must be an arogant or one of those selfish people who think just for themselves and leave the majority out to accuse a very respcted,nationalist,well known human activist and so on person like Prof. Al Mariam.
So i here by advise you that you better do what is good to the Ethiopian people and not confuse the mass because very soon people are going to be brought to justice for what they have done to others.
Expression, fullrich93@gmail.com
Ato washera
I don't know where to start but I am sensing some naïveté from your response. Why are you telling me that you spent $1.96? (Are you requesting a refund?) And why are telling us that in public? Is it to tell us that you are "unloaded?" - How gullible you are? But take this as a caveat: in addition to his political science expertise, Prof. Al is also a defense lawyer. If you are well aware of American defense lawyers, you should know what I am taking about.
Regarding the article Prof. Al wrote - your response make me wonder the level of your understanding of the English language. I am not crazy about the language per se - in fact I give much respect to those who present their case in Amharic. However, if one chooses to communicate in English, s/he should be up to the level otherwise s/he needs to take some ESL (English as Second Language) crash courses. In your response you said Prof. Al "wants to keep the wu-yi-yit and me-me-ka-ker only with Ethiopians of his choosing". My question is WHERE DID YOU READ THIS? That's why I questioned your level of understanding of the language. Besides, the Sunday meeting is open to the public and is FREE. Did I make it simple and understandable for you? Or do you want me to tell you in "lingua-woyanne"?
Oh! About the CHANGE issue I mentioned in my comment - don't shit in your pants - it is coming. I know it sends a chill down in your spine but it will be real. And it soon will happen through wu-yi-yit and me-me-ka-ker. So try your usual modus operandi and work hard to destroy this effort. After all, your bosses started their ethnic infested "struggle" by destroying bridges and other infrastructures. Since then the only thing they know is DESTRUCTION. And now you - a knucklehead "hodam" - are following the same thing to destroy our UNITY. Don't even dream about it.
And finally, I want to remind you about the Sunday meeting that Prof. Al has. I know you will listen and record it via Pal-Talk. And then you will listen to it for the whole month of March trying to translate it to English and by the first week of April you will post us the transcript.
Please keep listening and reading what Prof. Al says. At least it helps you improve your English.
Dear Mekbib,
Your own words speak volumes about who you are. I will refrain from commenting on your rambling remarks.
Good luck with your Sunday prayers with your icon(sic) Al Mariam.
Washera
You are a lost soul - sold for crumbs. It is so sad that me and you are equally called Ethiopians.
Oh - Just a comment - sort of an ESL: don't use too many "with"s in one sentence. There are alternatives called synonyms. If you don't know about synonyms . . . well I don't know how I can help.
Take it easy.
And I just read this on your partners webpage.
"EthiopiaFirst (via e-mail) invited Prof. Al Mariam and Ato Washera to have a discussion on the issue of "we-yi-yit & me me-ka-ker". Washera accepted our call & we're currently waiting the response from Prof. Al Mariam. I hope the good Professor will accept our humble invitation. (Ben)"
So you and this little "tijja woyane aka Ben" are requesting a talk with Prof. Al?
washera - who do you think you are? You don't even have balls to reveal yourself. Those of us who we know you can even post a picture showing what you wear today. We don't have to spent $1.69 (how much was that you spent?) But you are requesting Al to discuss with you? This is comedy of the centuary. In case you didn't know, Prof. Al is a seasoned lawyer who presented his case up to the highest level of the United States judicial system. Got that?
So don't expect Al to respond to you - here is a response to your request - NO.
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