This is the first of many blogs, I plan to post!
After much soul searching, I reached to this conclusion. That most of us, Ethiopians, live in severe denial of the stance of our country Ethiopia in the sight of the world. Once again this is not an attempt to solve a generation old question “why Ethiopia is a world apart”, but it is an attempt to question some of our thinking patterns.
Growing up, as over three fourth of an un-fortunate citizens of this country, we learn the make believe story that we crammed from our public school and half slumber society. All of a sudden we grew up and found ourselves facing with the harsh reality with an un-true self image of being an Ethiopia, and what Ethiopia embodies to us.
My first awakening came on my arrival to America in the late 90’s. I was amazed with not only the very complex roads and infrastructures, but also how green the country was. Wow….! I was made to believe that Ethiopia was/is the most greenish nation on the planet earth. Since then, my questioning mind never rested but questioned ideas like “Ethiopia, was the only nation chosen by God, with so many divine promises. Ethiopia was the only nation that has so much natural resources, wild animals and diverse tribal existence. We are actually not black, but we are brown people with special culture, tradition and history. We are the nation that was never been colonized in the face of the 19th century, we are the land that was filled with hero’s like Tewodros. We are a unique nation that deserves the attention of the whole world.”
But, reality as harsh as it always is, explicitly announces Ethiopia as a nation that heavily relies on begging to survive on the face of the earth. A nation full of citizens where ‘pride has more important place than winning a daily bread’, a nation full of citizens who chose to live in the past glory they have never seen, but have no future plan that they don’t think they will exist tomorrow.’
I had to face this ruthless reality before I started peeling off the garbage that has been build generations ago. Garbage that buried the truth so deep, that we made to believe what doesn’t represent the truth as the truth.
Are we really who we say we are? Or rather, are we really who we ‘think’ we are?
I will keep peeling off the garbage of our thought pattern…. Hang on write back.
Selam Qwou. Teyakiw
4 comments:
Nobody talks about these things anymore, the picture we created to show the world that we’re Ethiopian but at the same not know what that means to us anymore. It is truly a nation left behind. The only pride we have to hang on to, for dear life, is the fact that we’ve never been colonized. Part of me holds that pride but the other part wonders what difference colonization would have brought, in a positive sense, to the country. After dwelling on this issue for about a minute I’m thankful, poor country and all, that we can hold our head up high while our pockets are empty with the knowledge that we’re getting screwed by our own politicians and not some blonde hair blue eyed monster.
Yes, Ethiopia is special for us all, and yes we are proud that we defeated a better armed colonial force to preserve our freedom, We are also proud of our rich cultural heritage, our diversity, our heros etc...
We are also aware that we have a long way to go in the path of modernization. Our proud heritage is something to build upon. It is not the culprit for where we are as a nation. There are many other countries that do not have a similar past, and are still just as poor. Every other modern state developed proclaiming its greatness in history, defining each epoch as a chance to reclaim that greatness. We are lucky that we have a history that unites us, and that if properly used can guide us into finding ourselves. Attempts to deconstruct it are folly leading to what we see now. Our history and heritage has been one of self reliance, today that heritage is pushed aside. There is no sense of national direction because everyone is busy looking for who they are. We are left behind despite our proud history, not because of it.
Ya so we are in denial! but how does that affect the present...
I'm Kenyan and I'd like to make a small contribution. The thing about civilizations is that they come and go. Remember that Romans once ruled the world, but Italy is not that influential these days. I think the most important thing about any civilization is to adapt to change. Eg, right now we are in translation from the Industrial Age to the information age, countries that recognize this and adjust accordingly will be prosperous in the years to come. And countries that were / are prosperous in the industrial age may not automatically be prosperous in the Information Age. Ethiopia should not continue to isolate herself from her neighbors, you guys should join the East African Community, otherwise you'll continue to lag behind.
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