Home | EthioNL English pages | EthioNL Dutch pages | Back to documents index |

Placing the nation, public above oneself

Posted on Friday, April 21 @ 23:55:24 MST by editor

Many Ethiopians believed Ethiopia would break up or cease to continue as a nation if Emperor Haile-Selassie I were to be deposed or die. Several people were under the notion that an Ethiopia that was not ruled by him would not survive.

He inculcated in the mind of many the idea that a prayer which he was not part of will not be answered even in Heaven. However, Ethiopia has survived and the "prayer" which he wasn't part of was "answered."
The same was true during the reign of Colonel Mengistu Haile-Mariam where a great number of people believed that Ethiopia's unity was dependent on his strong leadership. But after the downfall of his regime Ethiopia and Ethiopians have continued to flourish.
The EPRDF is the government currently in power. If its leadership and members think that "a prayer which they are not part of will not be answered" then they should realize that they are under a serious misapprehension. Ethiopia can survive and move forward without the EPRDF. And "a prayer" which the EPRDF was not, is not and will not be part will be "answered."
Therefore, governments and individual leaders need to do their utmost during their reign to serve their people and country responsibly so that they solve problems and make history as well as themselves and their country proud. They should never place themselves above their country and preach to their citizens to worship them in the belief that the people and the nation cannot survive without them.  
 Having said this it's both surprising and saddening that eventhough it is not a ruler or a government the CUD holds a similar view. Although this attitude has seriously damaged previous governments and leaders after a long stay in power, it has the gravely harmed the CUD shortly after its formation.
Predicating its strategy on this belief, the CUD refused to join parliament and take over the Addis Ababa City Administration. Since it didn't want to believe that its leadership could be imprisoned or endangered, it said to itself, "The people of Ethiopia would not keep silent when its leaders are jailed." It projected that tens of thousands of people would die for it. However, its projection failed and the Ethiopian people have continued their journey; they have not stopped to "pray" without it.
Another surprising thing is that some 100 of the 109 elected CUD MPs have taken up their seats in parliament. But those 9 MPs who have not joined parliament are saying to those who have that the latter's "prayer will not be answered even in Heaven" without their approval. First, a few politicians were saying the same to 75 million Ethiopians, now it's being uttered by a few CUD electees to the majority of their fellow electees.
It is commendable that CUD electees have joined parliament and are endeavoring to form a party. This will also benefit their jailed compatriots. However, a few of them are calling on the rest not to form a new party in the belief that if they are unable to do so then the others "shouldn't be able" to do the same.
What's been said so far, we believe, conveys two important messages to two parties - the first to politicians, the second to the public.
Whether they are in power or in opposition (representing a party or independently) politicians should refrain from adopting the attitude that their people and country cannot survive without them. Their "species" may come and go, they may rise to prominence, fall down, and be resurrected. But their people and the nation will continue to go on. If they do something good for their country they will be remembered, if not they will be forgotten. So it is incumbent upon them to endeavour and sacrifice themselves in defense of such ideals as peace, democracy, justice, development, solidarity and the like.
As regards the public there is one important thing it should take note of. And that is it is above any politician of any variety. It must always remember that politicians have the duty to serve it and not the vice versa. It must vigilantly exercise its power to ensure that politicians are discharging their duties properly.
It would be okay if political parties were established with a view to serving the Ethiopian people. But there is no Ethiopian who has been 'tailor-made" to serve these parties' needs.
Political parties should be praised if they bring about mutual love, peace, unity, cooperation, development and democracy within Ethiopia. If they do this the public should show support for them. If, however, the parties were unable to achieve this goal the public should, while maintaining its unity and mutual love, rein them in and bring them to order. There ought to be parties that compete to earn public support and not a public that competes to earn the parties' support. The public should clearly understand this and strive to strengthen its unity and love for each other. It must not polarize, be distrustful or cringe with fear for the sake of parties. Therefore, it should promptly rectify the errors it has committed thus far.
The prayer of the Ethiopian people will be answered even if parties don't take part in it!

Go to Source of article