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I just wanted to write and let everyone know how I feel about EthiopiaBy Endeee, from MedrekLocation: Addis Ababa --------------------------------------------- I left Ethiopia with my family at the age of nine and have lived for close to twenty-four years in various places. To tell you the truth I never did mix much with other Ethiopians when I lived abroad and had been distanced from my country and my people. My first trip back was in 1999 for a personal reason, at that time I did not get a chance to really enjoy my country but I did notice a deep feeling that I cannot explain take over. That feeling was a feeling of belonging while I was in Ethiopia. For the first time in my life I felt at HOME. Everywhere around me where people that looked like me, talked like me and I felt I was finally in a place I could call home. After my return aboard, I could not get that feeling out of me. I made several trips after that, four in one year at one time. I started studying the country, opportunities and potentials. It was 2002 and more of my brothers and sisters were coming back for good to Ethiopia. The country was moving in the right direction and people were finally seeing the big picture and were investing in various fields. The country felt like a plane about to take off, the government put in some incentives for people to come back, and a lot of us took the offer and moved back. I went back for the last time at the end of 2002, quit my job and moved back to a country I had left at the age of 9. My family and my friends thought I had lost it. In any case I was determined, with out much money and not a real plan. I moved to Ethiopia and got a job consulting for a foreign firm. This was the best move I had made in my life, I love Ethiopia and my people and my only regret is not moving back sooner. The one major negative thing in this country and with this government is the Ethnic policy that the Government pursues. I lived in Canada where you work, live and socialize with all kinds of people. Everyone is encouraged to keep his or her language and culture intact and it works. All people want to do is work, and provide a decent life for themselves and their families. I have been here throughout this whole election process and I can tell you it was an amazing feeling to see people lined up for eight hours for a chance to vote. I don’t need that loser carter to tell me how the elections went; the actual voting process was flawless. I think what really happened is that this government did not expect to lose and never was ready to actually hand over power. You all have to admit that EPRDF should be given credit for giving the Ethiopian people a chance to vote and for giving the opportunity to the opposition to talk to the people. Now where they messed up is after the fact, they talked the talk but it looks like they can’t walk the walk. Myself personally, I don’t care who sits in power so long as they have the interest of the people of Ethiopia. As long as they think, work and speak for the people. I don’t trust politicians at all; they to me are all power hungry and once they get it, almost never want to give it up. Meles is a smart man, but one that is disconnected with the average Ethiopian. This man almost never talks to his people; he sits up on his throne and dictates to the rest. I don’t even think the old Emperor acted above the people like Meles does. He sees himself as too intelligent and above the people he serves. He seems to be using his power to build himself a CV as an International player and not one that is bent on listening to his people and their demands. What we need NOW in Ethiopia is a new form leadership; it could be all the various parties that are in the picture. We need the government to invite all the parties and consult with the people on forming a new government. When I say all parties, I do mean the OLF as well as any other party that has a role to play in Ethiopia. They need to sit together and come up with a workable way where by every right of all Ethiopians is respected equally and where Ethiopians can get on with working for better Ethiopia. They need to come up with a new political system, one that is inclusive of the people and one that UNITES us as Ethiopians. All the ethnic groups can promote their cultures and language without stepping on each other. We need a system that promotes Ethiopia as well as our differences. We need to learn to respect each other, work with each other and build our country up. The three countries of East Africa (Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania) are uniting under one flag and union, with one passport, customs union, and eventually (2008) one political system. Now this could be an example to Ethiopia. They know and realize that the world is moving in a very different way, united you have a better chance of survival. We need to learn from this, come up with a better way to build a new and prosperous Ethiopia. For those of you in the Diaspora, you need to do a lot more than write e-mails and post stuff on the web. I have a lot of respect for those of you that are genuinely helping your country. For those of you that are getting together to build schools at home, send books, send computers, come and do surgery, come and teach, start a business. We don’t seem to be making much of a difference, there is close to a million of us abroad and what do we have to show for it. How have we made a difference to our people and country? How many of you have really done something for Ethiopia since you left? Ask your self this every time you start talking about Ethiopia this and Ethiopia that. I would rather you give up talking about Ethiopia and just live your life, the pretending to love this country and not doing anything about the state that she is in. There is a lot more to this country than politics. Do you know why the people of Addis Ababa are upset, it’s because unemployment is at over 50% in this city. What have you done about this from wherever you are? My friends and I have come back; we’re running businesses and are hiring young talented Ethiopians in all sectors. I believe if a thousand Ethiopians came back and started a business in Ethiopia and hired 10 people, that’s 10,000 jobs we create a year. Ethiopian’s don’t need you to speak for them, they need you to get involved in the economy, they need you to bring some of the USD and invest it at home. That is how you can help your people, nothing less, and nothing more. If you don’t have the money yourself, get together with some frinds and chip in and start doing something for your country. Put a kid through school, open a library, and send your old PC to a school here. Start a farm, buy Ethiopian made products. We have the various products that can be exported to the US and other countries in the west but our producers are unable to find buyers. What of we could create a market for Ethiopian made products. You don’t have to have money to help; all you need is a vision. There are some amazing Ethiopians that are quietly helping in anyway they can and making a difference. We need to see more of you get involved. It’s easy to say, “I love Ethiopia”, but put some action behind it. To hell with politics, our people need work and a better opportunity. From Jimma to Mekelle to Harar, our people have one thing in common POVERTY. All of us on this chat have a much better chance in life than these people who don’t know where the next meal is coming from. You have a chance to help and get involved. I do hope that this chapter in our history will go down without any more blood shade and we can all get back to work. Our people depend on us to lead them to better tomorrow. I know my post is not all about the current situation but if you think about it, our number one enemy is poverty. So what are you going to do about it. I did something about it, are you? gagi Joined: 06 Aug 2003Posts: 611 Posted: Mon Jun 13, 2005 8:12 am Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- endee, You are a great person with almost tantalizing vision. I do agree with you on amost all the points you touched upon. But your statement "to hell with politics" is a little bit utopian and out of touch. It is true the situation in our country has improved since TPLF has taken power. It is because of better political situation that you and other Ethiopians could go back and started to do a wonderful job. Is it not? Would you venture to do that if Durge was still in power? You see, political environment is essential. As you also observed, the political environment could even get much better if TPLF stops its mockery of democracy; if it did not violet the integrity of the ballot boxes. Any ways, it is a wonderful experience that you shared with us, and hope many will heed to your advice of being practically useful to their country. Thank you for dropping by. sony Joined: 15 Jun 2004 Posts: 1062 Posted: Mon Jun 13, 2005 8:19 am Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- endee You are in half sleep please wakeup! I am sure you are a smart person you will understand what I mean. BTW except your own personal adventure most of what you have said has been said many many times before. BTW read how much money the Diaspora brought home in the past years. If the Diaspora didn’t feed our people Melese wouldn’t have lasted that long endeee Joined: 13 Jun 2005 Posts: 4 Location: Addis Ababa Posted: Mon Jun 13, 2005 11:09 am Post subject: --------------------------------------------- It is quite a pleasure to hear all of your comments to my post and I would like the opportunity to answer some of your opinions towards my piece. Gagi, you wrote “But your statement "to hell with politics" is a little bit utopian and out of touch. It is true the situation in our country has improved since TPLF has taken power. It is because of better political situation that you and other Ethiopians could go back and started to do a wonderful job. Is it not? Would you venture to do that if Durge was still in power? You see, political environment is essential.” I do agree with you that politics is needed to set up the right environment for people to get on working and living. My statement was more to the overwhelming time we Ethiopian’s seem to spend on politics. I would rather we use some of that energy towards doing something concrete for our people. I have traveled all over Ethiopia and like I said before, our people are poor, hungry and a vast majority live a hand and mouth existence. You did point a very important things and that is, I would not be here if the Derg was still in power. This is very right, EPRDF has done some things right and I would not be correct to myself if I did not say that. I still see a lot to be done and I feel that EPRDF cannot possibly solve all of Ethiopia’s problems. They need to be more open and be willing to listen. The day I see a non-political appointed Minister in the EPRDF, is the day I know they have moved in the right direction. Sony, you wrote “You are in half sleep please wakeup! I am sure you are a smart person you will understand what I mean. BTW except your own personal adventure most of what you have said has been said many many times before. BTW read how much money the Diaspora brought home in the past years. If the Diaspora didn’t feed our people Melese wouldn’t have lasted that long”. What I have said might have been said before but saying something and doing something about it is totally another thing. As to the part where you said that the Diaspora contributes funds, this is true. I also know that over 40% of the Ethiopian Government funds come from aid and grants. This money that is sent is usually a quick fix and not something that can sustain Ethiopia. The money is usually sent to families left behind and not to build schools and or hospitals. When I say get involved, I mean much more than the money you and all of us send to our families. I would like to see us in the Diaspora get involved in a collective effort towards the development of Ethiopia. Money alone is not the solution, our people need training, books, computers and more importantly “hope”. To all of you out there, you might think that I’m this dreamer and nothing will come out of what I’m saying but I know there are others out there that feel the same way I do. I’m more of an action person and less talk, there’s a lot more like me that are here in Ethiopia and making a difference. Look at what the Indian Diaspora has managed to do in the IT field in India. It took some clever Indian to move back and start a software firm in India using the contacts and the experience he gained in the west. Now India has a huge software outsourcing empire as more got involved. Why can’t we do something like that? I know that we have some seriously talented Ethiopians in all fields in the US. It’s a matter of coordinating and moving towards one goal. I see no reason to wait until a better government is in place. Our people’s suffering is not getting by the day, the only way to better our country is by supporting our people and working towards eradicating poverty. gilach demena Joined: 02 Jun 2003 Posts: 366 Posted: Mon Jun 13, 2005 12:30 pm ---------------------------------------------------- endeee, I don't know how long you have been hanging around Medrek, but most of us here , Sony, Duriew, Nuru, Gagi, Awash, FM and etc were expounding the importance of getting involved in what ever capacity as the precondition to move the country forward on our cherished democratic path. Though I admire your dedication don't be judgmental, we all are helping and should do more, it is a matter of principle and obligation. Having said that, some of you do-gooders ( I say it in the most serious and humble way not in sarcasm please), overlooked or gave the most atrocious act since the Gambella massacre a lip service and urged medrekians to direct their frustration on other pressing issues. Yes those problems are critical but as has been said you need conducive political climate to live and work. Therefore there is no ifs or buts we have to first and foremost condemn the act and then, and only then can we move on. We may be witnessing the creation of a regime that is bent to take back the country to the DERG days or even worse to a Ruwanda like scenario. Your concern is not misplaced but un-prioritized. Duuriyew Joined: 16 Feb 2003 Posts: 519 Location: New York City Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2005 1:09 am ----------------------------------------------- Memeher, Thanks for the good words. Yes, apparently there was some racially inflammatory text messages flying around. I didn’t receive any myself but I have been told that they went along the lines of “killing tigres” or expelling them. I was certainly horrified to even hear about this. It makes me shiver even as I write the words now. It is the worst kind of message I can imagine. As to who is behind it, it is anyone’s guess. The CUD came out with a statement over the weekend condemning this act and calling for calm. This is definitely one discouraging aspect of the situation in Addis. Adisweqt, I have no authoritative information on who was responsible for the firings. I hear now that even some of the federal police are telling people it was not them. Many still speak of the special division “fetino derash” unit of Federal Police though. Gostosa, I’m not hearing much about the supposed independence question from OPDO…so I have not much to add. Regarding the moving of Oromia’s capital to Addis, it is not a rumour. It is happening. By the way, I hope there is more differences between OPDO and OLF than just the independence issue. To me, looking at superficially as I am not the most informed person here, it seems the EPRDF is simply trying to complicate the CUD’s job a bit more…once it takes over administration of Addis Ababa (i.e regarding the move of Oromia’s capital). Arat Kilo, Whether the opposition parties UEDF & CUD fail the Ethiopian people is not for me to decide. It seems to me that as long as the investigation on the election is going on, it would be completely irresponsible to be calling a strike. It is my personal belief that the “uprising” as you called it is not how we will get moving in the right direction in this country. If we were to get rid of Meles and co. through violence, I am afraid we will simply just go into another cycle of authoritative governments. My fear is that if all the parties don’t agree on how to proceed from here on, we will simply have more excuses for killing more 12 and 15 year olds in the streets of Addis…and we still may not have a more democratic government afterwards. It is important for us to keep our eyes on the prize…which is a more democratic and accountable government…whoever that may end up being. …also, I don’t think the opposition has been silent at all about the killings last week. They may not have been as militant as you perhaps wanted them to be but they have condemned the killings. Dr. Beyene, Dr. Merara, etc. have all been vocal. The problem is that they don’t have the media to carry their messages. It is also important to keep in mind that these people don’t exactly have much room to operate at this point. Endeee, All I have to say is bless you for coming back! I could read the message of getting intimately involved in Ethiopian affairs everyday at Medrek and still feel that it hasn’t been said enough. U da man bro! But I do think that politics is probably the most important issue in Ethiopia…as in any other country. Without the right atmosphere, little involvement is possible. I do know you right? Stop changing your names! zarre Your observation is valid to an extent. I am always aware such issues and often question myself. I have been trying to be as fair as I can possibly be given my own prejudices and preferences. However, I wonder how successful I have been. It would be nice for me to hear from the ‘obviously EPRDF supporters’ such as Adamu for example. I am of course not a reporter ‘proper’ and inject my own opinions at times. Nuru, I think it is a good idea that you have. U can send money down here through the private banks. However, I don’t know how you can reach the families that are affected. I am unfortunately unable to help you with this one. The report for today is that everything is calm as far as I can see and hear. Taxis are back on the streets and stores are open for business. Offices are also open and the UN has also resumed work. I went out for beer last night and saw many young people around the piassa area at the bars. There was some talk of being beat up by the Federali over the week but overall calm. Go to SOURCE of article |