EthioFamily.com

  • EFF

3/30/2014

Ethiopia Anew: Reconciliation 101 (A response)

1 Comment

Read Now
 
It seems there is a big misunderstanding in the concept of reconciliation. I intend to write in series if the need warrants it. In this article, I would try to respond to the article written by Lydia entitled: “A Response to Zelalem Eshete P.H.D.” that was posted on Zehabesha on March 25.
Lydia writes in accusation mode: 

“By saying let’s “stand by the gap”, what gap can we stand by in today’s Ethiopia as if the Amharas have the upper hand or are somehow better positioned to fill in? Perhaps we are the missing piece to fill the void since we are pushed to the curb by false accusations of things that have happened a thousand years ago that nobody has evidence of or historical citation to back the accusations but some crooked TPLF “historians”. Is it they who are funding you to re-write history?

Here is my response, dear sister:

The popular phrase of “standing in the gap” is coined first in the Bible: “And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none” Ezekiel 22:30 KJV. Here is the background: The sin of the people had gotten so bad that God had begun to seek out a person who would intercede for the land by standing in the gap, but he found none.

I repeatedly stated that it doesn’t matter if we personally do not have a prejudice against another ethnic group. I even ask our children who have no clue whatsoever, to learn about our past and stand in the gap and become part of this historic process by acknowledging the shame. In fact, in my second article, I stated that it takes innocence to take on the ills of the past generation. 

Now that you established that you and your family are the innocent ones, I invite you to stand in the gap along with me for the future of Ethiopia. Our forefathers who are guilty of the crime are gone, and those who share their values at the present may never see the light to accept responsibility and own up their mistakes. Unless we take responsibility to stand in the gap, they will continue to make us prisoners of our past into eternity.

Should you accept the challenge: here is the first thing we do as Amhara ethnic people: confess. Again, don’t misunderstand me by thinking the religious terminology. I repeat the definition I provided in my original article for what “confess” means.  The Greek word for “confess” is homologeo, which means: “to say the same thing”.  Therefore, I am asking you to join me to stand in the gap, and confess (say the same thing as those who have something against us say). That is how Ethiopia starts to speak the same language. As we affirm and acknowledge the pains of our brothers and sisters, then there is a chance for healing. This is the first baby step.

Don’t be sidetracked by pointing fingers at others. We are not in a courtroom to figure out which ethnic group is guilty. This is reconciliation, where you focus on your actions to ask forgiveness and grant forgiveness to those who did you wrong. Accusation has no place here. This is a road less travelled.

If you want to learn the mistakes of our forefathers in our 3,000 years history, then I ask you to open up your mind and tune in and listen those who have been speaking their hurt loudly for years. They are not going away by just ignoring as if they don’t exist or giving them a deaf ear. I hope you understand.

Dr. Zelalem may be reached at one@EthioFamily.com

Share

1 Comment
woygud
3/31/2014 07:46:10 am

This an edited comments I posted on Zehabesha with few points added.
Dear Zelalem (PhD)
1. There was a recent clash in Negele Borena. Would you please go through Oromo meida outlets and see yourself if the news was reported, then ask yourself why it was not reported or if reported, analyze how it was reported. One may argue that it is difficult to generalize from such things, but I have observed such things for quite long.
2. Why Assefa Jalata (PhD) single out only Abyssinians and wrote that Abyssinians looked down to dark skinned Africans without mentioning the attitude of Oromos, Somalias, Eritreans, Sidamas, Wolaytas.. etc towards dark skinned Africans. I am a witness that different groups living in the East Africa including Abyssinians look down to their dark skinned African kin which is shameful, wrong and should be condemned. But why Prof. Assefa singled out only Abyssinians and never included Oromos, Eritreans, Sidamas….etc? Is it because he didn’t know about these groups? Is it because his objective was to target the “support” of African Americans and Jamaicans provide to Abyssinians? Was his objective to show how Abyssinians are racists when Oromos and others are not? If he has mentioned all relevant groups he knew who have such bad attitude, he should have been applauded. It is allegations made by such personalities you are asking to accept. Please read literatures written by Oromo nationalists and judge yourself. For example, read: Addis Ababa: Migration and the making of a multiethnic metropolis by Getahun Benti.
3. You said we are the first to do the harm in your in your previous article, I would rather ask you to refer to historical records in the 16th century. If you believe they were written by “Debtras” and is of less importance, then refute those scientific journals who found those sources reliable. At least read (if you have not read it before):
1. An article on Oromo Studies Journal Volume 14, Number 2, July 2007 (page 131) by Mohammad Hassen.
2. Northern Ethiopian Historiography during the Second Half of the Solomonic Period ( 154o-t7 69) by HIROK ISHIKAWA. You can find both articles for free on the net.
4. It is important to predict what follows after “repentance” or taking the responsibilities for alleged cruelties, what follows is compensation, positive discrimination to be included in a constitution; they may even justify the mistakes they were and are doing. This not personal stuff.
5. Is it really true that admitting the past oppression and taking for responsibility will solve the problem we are facing?

(I am son of a tenant who knew how oppressive the landlords were even to a tenant who belongs to the same ethnic group and I can imagine how they could be oppressive to those who are different (who speak different language and follow a different religion). Just reading Addis Alemayeh’s Fiker Eskemekabere is enough to know how rotten the system was. Yet I knew ethnic insults when I was in high school and my parents never knew such insults. The accusations are a way too exaggerated)

Reply



Leave a Reply.

Details

    Member

    Zelalem Eshete, Ph.D.
    Deeper Walk With God
    Picture
    Book on Ethiopia
    This book makes a case for a paradigm shift in our thinking on the matter of Ethiopia. Instead of feeling powerless in our usual political saga, ethnic divide, and religious tensions, the book motivates us to look deeper, rediscover our true identity, and arise to make change. The greater power of change is with the people.
    The world has heard enough of our suffering. Let's spotlight the other face of Ethiopia: To Be Known As We Truly Are.

    The world has heard enough of our lack of civilization. Let's spotlight the other face of Ethiopia: We Are One Big Intelligent Family.

    The world has heard enough of our poverty. Let's spotlight the other face of Ethiopia: Going Global Together.

    RSS Feed

  • EFF