by T.Goshu
I read an article (a
commentary) titled “Abebe Gellaw Vs Guesh Abera – Amharic version” by
Wosenseged Gebrekidan posted on Awramba Times 26 January 2013.
Let
me first say that in general I appreciate the writer for expressing his
observation, feelings, criticism, and forwarding suggestive ideas about
the necessity of staying focused on the bigger picture (the survival of
the country), not on particular cases such as the alleged conspiracy by
one of the worshiper of the late Ato Meles Zenawi to attack/kill Abebe
Gellaw. I also appreciate his “genuine” concern about our poverty of
civility, tolerance, rationality, accommodativeness, and etc.
However,
when I read most of the expressions /statements between lines very
attentively, I have to say that his overall way of argument is over
-dominated with a kind of “smart and systematic “way of ‘defending “not
only Guesh but also the mastermind of the tyrannical ruling circle (the
late Ato Meles Zenwai) and those ruling elites who have no any other
better agenda and policy but to carry on the “great legacy” of their
“brain father”. Let me be more specific:
1)
He quoted his poem “Gedai ena Muach” (“the killer and the victim”) to
substantiate his argument. And I have to say that I listened to this
poem fairly a long time ago on a media which I do not remember and I
found it very meaningful as far as our culture of taking political power
by any illegitimate means including killing and staying in power using
that same if not much more horrible means is concerned. I hope
Wosenseged does know very well the continuation of this very sad
political history for a quarter of a century by the incumbent ruling
circle unless he wants to see the reality quite the contrary. But, when
he uses his poem to support this particular case, he did not want to
tell us why and how brothers and sisters kill each other, and most
importantly, he is not courageous and honest enough to tell the innocent
people of Ethiopia who is or are behind those deadly killings. Well,
rhetoric (be it in the form of poem or otherwise) is something but being
courageous enough to call all spades spades is another thing.
Unfortunately enough, Wosenseged is “courageous” for blaming the
diaspora in a very general and conclusive fashion instead of forwarding
his criticism in a constructive and forward –looking manner. His very
intention of showing a kind sympathy to those who are very active parts
of the dirty political drama is not difficult to understand and that is
cyinical.
2) He makes not only very
crude generalization but also a very ridiculous conclusion by simply
taking some bad and nasty expressions/words of those who appear in pal
-talks, web pages, and electronic media. I strongly agree that we need
to minimize if not avoid these kinds of extremely undesirable behaviors
and practices. I am saying minimize because it is very naïve or
unrealistic to expect something unwanted or harmful to go away because
we want to or with some sort of ‘miraculous “change. This kind of
perfection or near perfection is not attributable to the very nature of
human behavior and the process of human interaction. Yes, we have to
work hard to get out of a very backward and harmful behaviors and
practices. But, over exaggerating our lack of culture of civility,
tolerance, rationality, far-sightedness, forward-looking as if we are
not the product and members of it, and inundating this challenge of ours
with all kinds of complaining and counter –complaining, blaming and
counter –blaming, attacking or defending and counter-attacking or
defending with no forwarding constructive solutions does not take us
anywhere.
3) I strongly believe that
we have not only the problems of which Wosensegd is talking about but
also all kinds of backwardness in all walks of our lives. Now, the
question is what and who is one of the major contributors of the very
age-old and serious problems that keep going worse and worse? Needless
to say it was and is our rulers: monarchies ,princes, military dictators
and now the formers “ freedom fighters” who turned to be not only
dictators but who put the very survival of the country at risk and
exposed millions of innocent Ethiopians to a general crisis: political.
Socio-economic, human rights, moral and even religious. I wonder why and
how commentator Wosenseged did not want to make the case of Abebe
Gellaw and Guesh Abera (the very parasitic cadre of the inner circle of
TPLF) relevant to the very dirty political culture being played by the
party/front in political power. Believe or not, going around the bush
(the symptoms of illness) will never make sense leave alone contributing
to making a difference. I wish it could. But that is not the way it
works!
4) Wosenseged tries to argue
that it is wrong to amplify only the right/justified cause of one side
.I think he wants to mean that one has to be fair and balanced. As a
matter of principle and playing a fair and balanced game in the
existence of a relatively fair, free and equal political environment,
this argument is absolutely fantastic. But I do not know how this
argument can hold water when it comes to dealing with two not only
diametrically opposite but unfortunately one side is going after another
to the extent of destroying him or her. I do not know how the ‘diaspora
and some media” are to be blamed for not being fair and sympathetic to a
guy who allegedly conspired to attack an innocent fellow patriotic
Ethiopian because he got sad and mad about the death of his “earthly
god. “ Well, this hard fact might not make sense to Wosenseged, and that
is up to him. But, as I always argue, I remain with my strong argument
that advocating/supporting/sympathizing a government or ruling party
that is determined to use any deadly means and highly parasitic
political cadres has nothing to do with the right of exercising
democratic rights or civil rights. I have never come across any
democratic principle or doctrine that has something to do with the
policy of “the end justifies the means” (yetim fichew duqetun amchew).
That is putting a real sense democracy upside down!
5)
Wosensegd tries to make a point of ‘strength’ by saying that “As Abebe
is a hero, so has the other side.” In the first place, nobody has said
Abebe is the only hero. What genuinely concerned Ethiopians were and are
saying is that Abebe has done a heroic /patriotic job by challenging
the late dictatorial leader (Ato Meles Zenawi) right in front of so many
dignitaries and the world at large. Abebe had put the “great leader of
the century “in a very self-confidence crisis and made him uncover his
true nature of dictatorial behavior, that is “the attitude of nobody
dares to challenge me!” Abebe did act absolutely legally /lawfully or
politically and morally right! I do not know what Wosensegd wanted to
tell us when he said “the other side has its own hero too.” Did he mean
the side of the guy who allegedly conspired to attack Abebe is a hero? I
really do not get it. If that is the case, I am sorry to say but I have
to say that some of our fellow compatriots are in a state of serious
confusion or a wrong and dangerous state of mind.
6)
Yes, nobody with his or her right mind argues that Abebe and Guesh are
not Ethiopians. Yes, it is right both have the right to worry about
their country. However, it is totally different when it comes to the
question of what does to be a good citizen mean? What does thinking big
about Ethiopia mean? Dear Wosenseged, I strongly beg to differ if you
are trying to convince me that innocent citizens who have been and
continue to be forced to flee their beloved country by a tyrannical
ruling circle like Abebe Gellaw, and those who were sent abroad with the
blessing of the ruling party to do the dirty job they are assigned are
equally good and valuable assets of Ethiopia. Absolutely not!! Well, if
you are saying those guys such as Guesh and other parasitic cadres are
your heroes that are up to you. But, one thing must be crystal clear
.And that is siding with a deadly political machine has nothing to with
building democratic, peaceful and prosperous Ethiopia!!
7)
I wish I could go further. But let me add one more point. And that is
you tried to honor the late dictator, Ato Mels Zenawi by telling us that
“he passed away, and so did others who made history. Abebe will pass
away too, and so will I others.” Yes it is an ABC of fact that nobody is
created to be immortal. Yes, it is a very simple fact that the country
will continue to exist. I want to argue that the life time of
individuals and their passing away is not as simple as you wanted to
mystify it. I do not think it is a rocket science to know what did
dictators do and how they passed away and how they will be remembered is
absolutely different from the life history and the remembrance of those
who used to fight for political freedom, socio-economic, justice,
respect for human dignity. I am sorry to say but I have to say that
trying to put those two diametrically different sides in one scale is an
inexcusable insult to the very patriotic and genuine fellow
compatriots.
Anyway, whatever we may argue, the very reality on
the ground, the unbearable sufferings of the people and the very sign of
zero-tolerance to the continuation of the two decade dirty political
game will change the course of our political history!
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