As an Ethiopian nothing drives me more bonkers than waking up every morning, just to learn that something tragic, or depressing had happened in Ethiopia (either on the political arena, or the economical-and-business front).
In my entire existence, I have never felt any less of an Ethiopian through all this mayhem that Ethiopia seems to find itself in, time and again. In fact, I believe, Ethiopians have an undying patriotism about them. Patriotism oozes through our blood stream. We fight, and fight, and fight for one common goal – the betterment of Ethiopia.
As you all know, we have what we call – the Ignorant Ethiopian Diaspora. If you haven’t already felt like you have been attacked or disrespected, congrats, as you are not in that category. You are the average Ethiopian who wakes up every day, goes to work, support the family, and hope and pray for the best in Ethiopia.
However, there are also those who wake up every day, hoping and praying that Ethiopia turns into a Hell-on-Earth. They usually have some kind of twisted news (or article) on their websites, or they are contributing to some news site with their name preceded by a – “Ph.D.“(or, something they fancy to be). I don’t know about most people, but every time i see some laughable article by these wanna-be “experts”, I feel terribly insulted. And I am overwhelmed when I see the number of Ethiopians who follow in droves any such news fabrication.
The Recent Fuss about “Hailu Shawel and Meles” hand shake
The recent commonly shared news among most opposition websites, is the the now famous handshake between Hailu Shawel and Meles Zenawi, on their agreement of the 2010 Ethiopian election conduct code.
As far back as I can remember, I was the first person to call-out Hailu Shawel among with his Kinijit cronies, when they first popped up on the political stage as the “main” opposition groups to the current government. Here is a man (Hailu Shawel) that I concluded to be a power-hungry politician, and I had no doubt that anything he touched would crumble and degenerate.
At the time, I knew I would be the lone and unpopular voice, and I have accepted the lashing that was to come from my fellow Ethiopians, as Kinijit was popularly accepted to be the HOPE of Ethiopia.
Needless to say, my skepticism about Hailu Shawel didn’t take too long to prove right. As we all know now, the Kinijit Party ["Ethiopia's Best Hope"] had since dissolved, and each of its prominent members had moved to their next gig in politics.
Ironically, the very websites that propped up Hailu Shawel to his current status, are the very websites that are working over time to tear him down. I have no problem in naming names of websites who are the poster-child of hypocrisy, but we know who they are – and better yet – they know who they are. And, believe me, the time has come when the next revolution of Ethiopian bloggers and news sites are ready to put these agenda-driven websites into their spots.
I have had enough of it, and my motivation is not one that needs fueling. Our politicians have for the longest raped their own people, and now the Ignorant Ethiopian Diaspora Elites are doing the same. They are a bunch of pompous, egotistic and self-centered men, who manage to hide behind a keyboard and spit out whatever comes to their childish brain. They are mostly driven by the business-end, and are eager to feel important, in a sort of ‘power-broker’ way.
What’s a Hand Shake Got to Do With It?
I can’t even begin to discuss how low we have come. we have finally hit the ‘bottom‘ of our own despair. The Ethiopian diaspora is, perhaps, in the most critical and situated position to play a role towards bringing about awareness and democracy in Ethiopia, yet we are quick to tear each other apart.
When all is said and done, we have done nothing but add insult to an injury, and it is time to own this shameful act. We have managed to fail ourselves and, by default, our people.
We have come to a point where we are discussing hand-shakes, when the whole story should be about the events and the inside politics of how ex-enemies in Ethiopian politics could find a common ground if it benefits their individual aspirations and desires, and how the people are the ones to always finish last.
This should have been the moment where we should have been using our individual medium to teach the poor people of Ethiopia on how our politicians fail us, no matter what sacrifice we are willing to pay for their agendas, and how careful we should all be in building our hopes up on any future candidate(s) for office, no matter how promising she/he may sound.
But some have chosen to highlight the hand shake as a breaking news, and it is precisely because their egos have been bruised by their past promoted and chosen political candidate. But the fact is they got what they deserve, and my hope is that they learn from this experience and I certainly hope they take their time in choosing when to board the next massively popular ship.
The Choice Between Two Evils
One thing Ethiopians have been cursed with – and this phenomenon is prevalent through out Africa – is a poor and corrupt leadership. We have always been faced with a choice picking between two evils. And it is also the main source for our deep political division, almost to the point of killing one another.
We have to learn to say ‘no’ to all of the candidate choices in front of us, if we deem it to be necessary, as is the case now.
The Berhanu Nega’s, the Meles Zenawi’s, the Hailu Shawel’s and many others are ALL one and the same.
It will be a cold-day-in-hell before I support the likes of the self-proclaimed patriot Berhanu Nega. The notion of contributing 500 U.S. dollars to his Ginbot 7 political organization, so that he can raise arms and fulfill his political ambition at the cost of one of my brothers dying, is something that makes me cringe.I can’t bear that thought.
No politician, or political group, is worth an ounce of our blood. If we can say NO to Darfur in our neighboring country of Sudan, why in the world should we say YES by contributing 500 U.S. dollars to Ginbot 7, just to give birth to our own Darfur in Ethiopia?
Dr. Berhanu Nega, Tamrat Layne, & Meles Zenawi (Good-ol-days)
So, Berhanu Nega, guess what? Go to Hell ! And you can take with you all the rest that your butting heads against.
The revolution, this time around will be, and must be different. We are not going to resort to picking up guns. We say no to that. And the revolution is going to be different because we will be calling out those individuals and news sites that incite mayhem, we will expose them for what they are, we will form a united front that would force them out of their posh positions that they are holding for dear life.
The message is simple – be careful about what you say, and how you say it, because this time around, just when you least expected it, history might be written differently. David is contemplating beating up on Goliath. But secretly, he is hoping that Goliath would be listening to his advice.
How can i say thank you in a profound way? I can’t admire you enough on this particular article. Very tough as well as very candid analysis of the situation on the other end of the world (ethiopia). My friend you can count me in to bootstrap to challenge the f****d up status-quo. I been sick and tired, and Doc now i have a sensational and blunt voice in you.
Kudos to you Doc. Time to call a spade, a spade.
Don’t write just for the writing sake and please know what you are preaching before letting it out. Nothing compares Birhanu and Hailu, the mere definition of their names describes them. We know that Hailu has been authoritarian all the way from the beginning. He has been power hungry not starting from kinjit but from the derg era. Birhanu never deam of power. His relation to the woyane before was for get to know the powers and to find a solution from within. He didn’t see a way through so he goes out never to come back for any power. He is a true Ethiopian not to be judged the way you did. Your assesment of him makes you look a devoted but calculating Woyane. To get rid of tyranny in Ethiopia we need to overthrow Woyane and to do that mediocre is a proven failure.
Where have you been living? The diaspora websites are not hypocrites .they have common value of democracy and independent institutions. Politicians like hailu shawel abandoned this principle. Simple
@Diswoyane –
I wholeheartedly disagree with what you had to say. And don’t label me, because we don’t see eye-to-eye. I knew some would be offended by this post, but obviously we can dish it out but not take it. Are you a blind supporter? are you not willing to put them through a rigorous exam before you hand them any power? But that would be the wrong question, as you are sounding like a die hard Birhanu fan and an apologist for his empty rhetoric.
As long as he’s not willing to sneak through Ethiopian borders, and is willing to fight side by side with those he expects to die for his liberty, i am not taking him for serious. But let me guess, you would have an answer for that too right?
Listen, let’s not waste time. He is a shrewd business man, who had dumped the old gig and moved to the next-big-idea. And that is he wants to finance an arms rebellion.
Obviously, i hardly get tongue tied in calling them out, and that may sound heavy for some, but they chose this political lime light and we are just shining the lights on them. Fair game, i suppose?
How is it a man says he tried to work with Meles, and then Hailu Shawel, and then who’s next? His Ginbot 7 cowardice thugs that he will blame?
BIG JOKE!
@Dani –
Obviously, I have been busy to get in touch with reality. So what do you mean where have i been living? Is that how we hold dialogue these days? But then we want democracy in Ethiopia? Politicians like Nega are just going to replace those you claim to have abandoned their principle. We just have to watch them do it, because that’s when we believe it. As for those who question their motives, we are labeled Woyanne. remember, that’s precisely what this post is about.
people get the leadership they deserve — or rather leaders are the products of their own society. them, you and I … we’re all the same. Personally, where I defer from these politicians is because I’m not running for office. I’m in a different business …
we better educate the nation (ourselves and the others) so that we can vote wisely. Doc., keep up the work that provokes the right kind of dialogue!
Regarding this, as ‘incident’ like presented hand shaking/signatory event, the Mc. Cain like age old (by default gap filling) politician of Ethiopia a.k.a Eng. has finally got the lesson and is trying to catch up with Lidetu Ayalew: i.e. join the house of representative and build the fledgling democracy through the parliamentary practices.
I don’t claim to be an expert on the subject matter and I can’t explain how come. But I know for sure that every society is not without handicaps of its own, there always are some cancerous elements. That for me is the case with the good number of the Ethiopian diaspora: paranoia, delusion …
I may not agree or even dislike it (not too sure of the legal consequences of hating it though) but there’s a constitution in my country along with law makers, who’re learning their business. It is my opinion that I respect and encourage them for they have decided to be part of building the precedence for the culture of civilized dialogue in the Houses of Representatives. I’m also happy for some of them who’re making a decent living out of on this ‘on the job training’ of 2 – 3 yrs parliamentary terms. So, a kind of late but the Eng. & Co. are doing the natural but hell no that they’ll get my vote. Here is my take, Berhanu probably not even on my dead body, Lidetu Ayalew, may be but EPRDF: yes! They can count on one more vote, with some adjustment to their ways of doing business; I would even go out to get them more ballots!
PEACE!
DAWIT
What you have done doc. is bring balance. If you ask me i would say to you you are being a little timid in addressing the issue. Tell it like it is doc. We hate to be told the truth. We are a society filled with empty pride. That’s Ethiopians for you. Basically we are full of bullshit.
Diswoyane, you are delusional sick little bastard. Jib kehede wusha chohe. You have the audacity to heckle doc, for his honest attempt at painting the real picture about these politicians. You are the Woyane here. You are dictatorial in your comment teeling the rest of ethiopians who are not with the bloodthirsty Berhanu to screw ourselves. How dare you criticize Woyane when you are a carbon copy of their brutal act? You are filled with ignorance, and you blame us for it. Learn not to follow every politician who comes around, just for once.
Dawit -
As always, i enjoy reading your comments, and your unique insight.
Amen to That -
What a choice of name, by the way.:) I dont know if i am timid. I feel i can relay my message or opinion without going completely loose. We are all entitled to our opinion, and believe me, i also believe those who disagree with me have every right to do so. Perhaps, my approach is a bit different from yours, but at the end of the day, i can only say that, i was real to myself, i stay true to my principles and i am driven by my convictions.
Please, for my sake, go easy on the personal attack thing, not towards me, but towards other commenters. We should lead by example, no matter how hot and sensitive the topic at hand might be.
Thx
Dear Dr. Ethiopia: I guess you also enjoy the prefix like those with PhD whom you are accusing for committing many political crimes. Would I be wrong if I yes that you may have inherited the “prefix gene” just like those whom you are pointing your fingers?
Doctor: I disagree with some of your assertions.
The conventional wisdom of considering
thugs as representatives of the people or as they are less violent than those courageous who attempt to defend there own rights is wrong and misleading.
Can you tell us how the thugs who are ruining Ethiopia buy there weapons? Do they ask volunteers to give them financial support or they steal from the poors starving to death?
The thugs ruling Ethiopia do not ask money like the G7 to buy tanks and bombs. Instead they us the poor social security to get loan and buy weapons or steal from the poor whom themselves . Who would be more ethical the G7 or those gangsters who are sitting in Arat Killo?
You stated, if we can say NO to Darfur in our neighboring country of Sudan, why in the world should we say YES by contributing 500 U.S. dollars to Ginbot 7, just to give birth to our own Darfur in Ethiopia.
By the way the Genocide in Dafur is being commited by the SUDAN government not by those who try to remove the genociders….It is not the SPLA or its likes who are the main causes of the Genocide in Sudan. Therefore, the attempt to link the G7 with Al Bashir or Zenawi likes is very meiotic.
The TPLF thugs who are armed like a hell and who have been committing genocide against their own people using the tax payers money should have been blamed than those who are at least trying to defend themselves and say not to ethnic apartheid.
By the way, making a nonsense agreement and supporting tyranny by accepting the conditions the tyrants want people to accept is a crime. That is the reason why people are infuriated with Hailu Shawel.
Doctor : you seem to like the hand shake……! I guess that is not considered harm by doctors.
EthioSun
@EthioSun -
I appreciate your participation, and for sharing your views. It is debilitating to repeat myself. Why is it hard for some to understand? I mean, you ranted in 10 paragraphs about how the TPLF is a thug, and are you hoping that i would disagree with you? I am sorry to disappoint you here my friend, but we are on the same page there. How you can justify a bad action with another bad action, is just something that i would never understand for the life of me.
You agree that Berhanu and his thugs would openly ask for money to create a complete distraction, and then in the same sentence you seem to applaud him for his bluntness. Am i misunderstanding you there? Or is it just you can’t imagine yourself questioning these so-called oppositions. I mean i would like to hear you say that they both stink, and not one stinks more.
I feel like i have wasted my time, with all due respect, because i don’t feel we have discussed any specific issue here. You must be a new reader of Abesha Bunna Bet, because the presumption that I support TPLF is simply unfounded. I am an open critic of this government, perhaps, overly at times, as i believe my emotions are sometimes hard to suppress.
EthioSun, I don’t care about the hand shake.
I hope, at the least, i was clear on that on this article.
My whole point is WE, the people, are tired of war, bloodshed, and all I am saying is, it IS time to challenge ALL of these. Perhaps, the lack of education is really what shines in our constituents, because we always seem to think someone else knows what’s best for us.
And i am tired of choosing between, what i believe to be, TWO evils.
You are missing the point. The handshake on its own means nothing. You can say that about any action. I think you are delibrately missing the point. I know it is fashionable to crtisize the diaspora. Join the TPLF thugs. To keep silent about the perpetuator and go after the victim. Go figure. What kind of a person are you.
Dear Dr Ethiopia:
Thanks for the comment to my 10 paragraphs (Killils) . I think some one has missed the points. You were right one one thing, I was at your blog for first time.
First, I never said that you support one group or another. Secondly, I do not care which one you support. Thirdly, as I struggle to win my right for opportunity I would able to support what I like , I respect the opinion of others like you . Hopefully, my stand would be also respected the same way.
When it comes to the main point, supporting the evil by accusing the victims is not only immoral, it is also as actively collaborating or working with tyrants who are responsible for many countless crimes. Sadly, the attempt to link the Genocide with G7 leaving out the Tigrai thugs who have been blood sucking the starving Ethiopian children including those in Tigrai was to me very reckless and irresponsible. Since, all bad things do not have equal significance and magnitude in real life, one should not reach to a conclusion by comparing things that are not comparable.. Literally, the attempt to compare a group responsible for committing genocide with a group that you call Thugs (such as G 7) that is trying to defend the god given right is simple erroneous or idealistic.
The literal meaning of the hand shake is not bothersome to many including myself except issues related to transmitting infections such as (H1N1 or Cholera). The point with the hand shake is very transparent for many people . I hope that would be visible soon for the Doctors like you .
Finally, I agree that education is very important including obtaining PhDs . Hope that would help us to recognize priorities and identify the better evil.
Do you think the war against Fascist Italy or Nazi Germany was justified?
For some, like me, the tyrants from Tigrai who are starving 14 million as people are as fascist as Mussolini or Hitler. And they have to be removed!
EthioSun
While I agree with most of your analysis about Ethiopian politics and its players, I must add that I disagree with you on your cynical view towards our county’s political or politicians’ progression. We came a long way in a short period of time. My friend this is Africa and Ethiopia is in it. It has been only 35 years since the days of what we call Ethiopian Revolution, a day when almost every political group was armed to the teeth, and was looking to kill one another. Today, be it genuine or not, we have two opposing political groups shaking hands. It has been only few years since one of the two put the other to jail for life. I call that political maturity, not political prostitution. We should be responsible while assessing our political environment and the players affecting it. To argue that we are left to choose between two evils is baseless. Unless one is suffering from some form of amnesia; or one is deliberately denying our political history, there is enough evidence to suggest that there is progression in Ethiopian politics both at home and the Diaspora.
@Ezana –
In short, what you see as a progress, many would call it as ’settling-for-less’, but that would divert the subject in discussion. It is hard to engage when one has made up his/her mind, so to be as succinct as possible, i will just tell you we could do much much much better, and that the little progress that you would like to glorify is simply not substantial gains. We can’t boast double digit growth and have almost nothing to show for it. By every human measure, Ethiopia is a failure. Any improvement is something that inherently comes with every new government. The changes that “you” see are not self-sustaining.
And the notion that somehow our leaders are heaven sent, and that we should accept them or view them as such, is idiotic at best, and unacceptable. what you hope to see is not really what’s happening as we speak, unfortunately. And i certainly don’t think we have yet touched our potential in leaders we could produce in Ethiopia, and that remains a fact.
Betam yigermal inji Doc.
How on earth did you make sense of what this Ezana individual said? I find so many contradictions in his statement that it is not funny. I love people who are out of touch. What’s worse? They have convinced themselves that they are correct in everything they say. That’s precisely the dangerous mind that Ethiopia doesn’t deserve. Demo yemilew, what’s up with all the name-calling? Can’t you just tell them for once to F*** Off. I mean it is out of control the way you are attacked by some.
As always you stayed true to yourself by remaining calm and professional.
What single digit, what double digit!! First of all, my article was directed as both commending and opposing views to “Why We should be Sick-and-Tired of “Ethiopian Politics” I didn’t elaborate on Ethiopia’s current economic situation, nor did I say that there is progression in that area. I think the responder dwelled on something irrelevant to my article by saying, “We can’t boast double digit growth and have almost nothing to show for it.” All I said was there is progression when it comes to how our politicians carry their day to day business as opposed to what it used to be during the Ethiopian revolution and after, where and when we witnessed river of blood of loved ones. In my article by no means have I suggested that our political environment or politicians are perfect. All I said was there is progression. If you deny that, then you guys are the one who are out of touch of Ethiopia’s reality; by that I will have no choice but conclude that you are suffering from some form of amnesia. As far as settling for less rhetoric: a good politician, who is striving to achieve something big, will pick every small achievement on his way to the main one. If you go die hard in wanting to achieve your goal over night in spite of the a different reality on the ground, then I will call you as utopian as the early naive young student politicians who sang ‘democracy yahle gedeb ahununu’ TRANSLATION=> democracy now without any condition.
Detail response to Mr Dr Ethiopia’s Why We should be Sick-and-Tired of “Ethiopian Politics”
I am one of those Ethiopians who wake up in the morning and learn something new. Fortunately, my experiences are not similar to that of yours. I do wake up to good news as well as the bad ones. In other words, like most nations on this earth, my country produce good and bad. Unfortunately, some of us who lived too long in the Diaspora came to think like most westerners who see and produce negative news about Ethiopia in particular ad Africa in general.
I share with you that, aside “patriotism”; Ethiopians of all age, gender, creed, religion and strata have been dreaming/striving for a better Ethiopia. I also agree with you that we have so called ignorant/arrogant Ethiopians in the Diaspora. We have open-minded and progressive Ethiopians as well. Now, do I think that there are people who wake up everyday, hoping and praying that Ethiopia turns into a Hell-on-Earth? If you are referring to Ethiopians in the Diaspora or at home, my answer is absolutely no!!
Coming to ‘The Recent Fuss about “Hailu Shawel and Meles” hand shake’,
As far back as I can remember, I was the first person to call-out Hailu Shawel among with his Kinijit cronies, … Here is a man (Hailu Shawel) that I concluded to be a power-hungry politician, and I had no doubt that anything he touched would crumble and degenerate” You really have been toohard on Ato Hailu Shawel. Power hungry? I agree. Any politician has to be power hungry for a reason. If a politician strives to implement his or her agendas/programs in order to contribute to the betterment of society, one will have a better chance of doing so with the right political power. If one doesn’t have such power he/she will only play a role of warming a seat in parliament/congress.
As far as your cynical view towards Ato Hailu Shawel and his Kinijit cronies, I would say that is your prerogative. Personally, I believe these are genuine children of Ethiopia who put their lives on line for their people and country. I also believe those in power, means Meles and his associates, are genuine children of Ethiopia who have been working to do something they believe is good for the country and its people, they just have different views and formulas from that of the opposition. They both, Kinijit and EPRDF played historical role in bringing something better for their country. I hope you haven’t forgotten the fact that Ato Hailu Shawel and his “cronies’ put to prison for life. Let me ask you, Mr. Dr Ethiopia: Would you take that kind of risk for your country and people? I wouldn’t. I love to live. I may want to help my country, but not with my life; that, I have to leave for you the patriots.
Just because Kinijit dissolved, it does not mean it did not contribute to the cause. After all Kinijit was never intended to be a permanent entity. Regardless, it challenged the government and forced it politically which resulted in the government’s change of tactics by declaring emergency. All this was done without Kinijit firing a single bullet. You see I learn something from those young Ethiopians who crushed Degru’s regime. They showed us it is possible to bring an empire with few guns. By the same token Kinijit also taught us that we could achieve the impossible without being violent. You reminded me of what was being said about EPRP, a true party of the children of Ethiopia. It was a party that blamed for the chaos of the early 80s. Never the less, it made history. It changed the mind-set of an average Ethiopian. It taught us that the King was not God-elected as we used to believe. After all it prepared us for today. The better political system we witness in Ethiopia could be directly attributed to EPRP. Could you tell me which one of Ethiopia’s political or civic organization, today, that doesn’t have a member once belonged to EPRP?
Oh the websites!! I am happy to learn from you that the very websites that commended Ato Haile once are tearing him down. This shows me, again, maturity. In the early years, politics in Ethiopia become like religion. Once you are born a Christian you die Christian. Politics should not play the same role that religion does in affecting our lives. If you were a member of EPRP you remain EPRP, otherwise you would be labeled BANDA or ANJA, hence only God would help you as to what would happened to you. Our journalists, be it on or off line, should be free to express their view. They should not attach themselves to any party, at least when writing about it.
A hand shake is a symbolic translation of the issue that caused it.
I totally agree with you when it comes to what you wrote in regard to the handshake. I couldn’t say it any better than that. As far as I am concerned I love to applaud both groups for starching hand seeking a peaceful dialogue.
The Choice Between Two Evils?
As I mentioned in my previous article, I regard this non-sense, irresponsible and baseless. Yes, we Africans are cursed with bad governance. But we are less cursed now than it used to be, there is progression. This should not be the end, rather the beginning. We should strive and work for better. After all I would like to see you provide us, the readers, with details as to why you labeled the groups to be evils.
The Berhanu Neg’s, the Meles Zenawi’s, the Hailu Shawel’s and many others are All one and the same.
I am going to skip this one
My friend politics is a profession, a delicate one. It is totally different when you see it from out side as suppose to being inside. My ancestors once said, “ Kebero siyaut yamir, siyezut yadenagir.”
OnelOve
We just move on, after this one. We simply disagree, and unfortunately, for you, I must say the very people you respect (our politicians) are the people i would like to spit on, if given the chance. How else can i better explain that? I totally despise them, and my friend politics is something i breathe and eat, so don’t be condescending when you try to preach your frustrations and myopic view. I am tired of that talk, and it is usually uttered by those who know nothing about it, but believe that they do.
You keep comparing the current situation to our prior history. Are you simply sick? Who in the world does that anymore? Or are you just in awe of these fads that you are raving about? The fact is, we MUST talk about our potentials and what we could have been. Not where we are compared to a place where a rogue regime had kept us for the longest. It’s like helping to settle the dust in a place that has been bombed, and telling the people – “See! We’ve settled the dust for you”
What an utter joke and indifference towards your own people. Unfortunately, that’s not good enough for countless others, and people are getting tired by the day, by the hour and by the minute.
You can save your labels, and use meaningful words in expressing yourself, if you would like me to engage you and stimulate each other’s brain.
And that’s my last word.
It is all good, my friend, I will go to another Buna Bet.
So long.
Didn’t you have your cup of coffee?? You article is full of garbage…
The people you are trashing are people who contributed to the advancement of Ethiopia….
You just whine ….
“No one ever kicks a dead dog” ….they are alive and kicking …so is your anger
” Berhanu Nega, guess what? Go to Hell ! And you can take with you all the rest that your butting heads against.”
really ?!! I’M PROUD OF YOU !!!!!!!!!!!! DR.