I just want to inform you that I am outside Ethiopia and the images, videos of death and destruction I am seeing coming out of Ethiopia are heartbreaking and gut wrenching.
I am deeply saddened by the loss of our people. All those who were killed and wounded are our beloved Ethiopian family member.
My deepest sympathies go out to their family. May my condolences bring their comfort and may my prayers ease the pain of this tragic loss. May God give the peace that the family seek.
I condemn the ethnic violence, ethnic extremism and call on all our people to restrain from all forms of violence.
I also call on prime minister Abiy Ahmed and his government to take action by bringing criminals to justice and ensure the protection of all our citizens.
I call on all our Ethiopian stakeholders to call for calm. Death and destruction is not the answer to freedom and peace.
The choices we take now make as a people can open up better opportunities to flourish in the future or so deeply wound the fabric of our society that we do not recover.
I caution you all, the public with the greatest urgency, to act with honor and restraint, not allowing hatred and emotions to rule over wisdom.
If we the people recklessly and ruthlessly harm our fellow Ethiopians from different ethnic group, we are participating in a cycle of violence that will backfire on the innocent as well as the guilty.
As we see graphic images of our dead people, laying in pools of their own blood, do we not want to stop this? Do not allow yourself to become numb to the loss of these lives; yet, do not allow anger, ethnic hatred and seeds of revenge to take root.
We must choose moral leaders with principles, self-control, wisdom and boldness who will take a stand for what will be good for the long term, not just making rash, emotional decisions for the moment that we later regret.
Let us continue on the higher, principle-based road and we will be working on your behalf among key decision makers inside and outside Ethiopia; hopefully leading to justice, freedom and peace.
This is the time to reconcile, unity and prepare for the “unknowns of tomorrow” after ethnic federalism for when it comes, we the people must confront it, first as people of shared humanity and then as Ethiopians; not by our ethnicities or our differences, but by what unifies us—our homes, the land we all share and the mixed blood of our ancestors that flows in our veins making it impossible to truly identify its sources.
In order to confront our “tomorrow Ethiopia,” we should all be standing together as one family of Ethiopia to demand a New Ethiopia where everyone is included; where “my” justice will not come without the justice of my neighbor.
As we demand this, let us not miss the bigger picture—our humanity that we share with all ethnic groups in Ethiopia.
Every ethnic group in Ethiopia are our beloved brothers and sisters; valued and treasured by God Almighty who created all of us. All Ethiopians are us! Yes, those who committed crimes of destruction will face justice, but for anyone else, the New Ethiopia will include all our Ethiopian brothers and sisters in a more humane Ethiopia.
This is s time to reconcile,unity and transform—to forgive, to repent and to be willing to integrate with the people of our country, our neighbors and our fellow global citizens. With this in mind; stay firm, stay strong and let us raise the banner of honor to our humanity not our ethnicity.
As long as we do and as long as see other Ethiopians as part of our Ethiopian family, we will have a future with hope, purpose and blessing that we can pass on to our descendents.
As we look at our ancient land, we are reminded that the blood that flows through our veins and nourishes our bodies also connects us to each other as one people through our ancestors, even those beyond our regions and borders.
If we are to break the cycle of violence, ethnic hatred and the selfish use of power to serve oneself rather than the people; let’s be a shining examples of a new generation of change-makers.
I urge all of you to continue your exemplary conduct in this noble pursuit of unity, freedom, justice and democratic rights.
I strongly urge you all to make it a struggle for not only one ethnic group, but for all the people of Ethiopia, trusting in each other to guide and protect our country from disintegrating into chaos, massive killing and destruction.
Actions taken at critical times of history shape the future. So let’s take the right actions.
May peace reign in our nation and protect us from those that would seek our destruction.
May God help those who are in need, feed those that are hungry, comfort those that are sorrowing, heal those that are wounded and sick
May God bless Ethiopia and prepare each of us to remain alert and ready to contribute our share to the betterment of each one of us and to Ethiopia as a whole for “no one is free until all are free.
In the latest development I had found this very interesting announcement by the very capable US Ambassador to Ethiopia H.E. Michael Raynor about the current carnage unleashed by self-designated ‘liberators’ of my proud Oromos. The last paragraph tells it all. This is how wise men should do the talk.
‘In the end, each of us is responsible for our actions and decisions. Provoking violence is morally reprehensible. So too is failing to reject such provocation. All of us have the freedom — and more importantly, the responsibility — to choose peace, unity, and tolerance. There is never a good reason to do otherwise.’.
You hear that bigots? As I said before the government there should ask the US official to restrain their citizen. There is enough lesson from the experience of how Ayatollah Khomeini used to be appeased while living in France in the years leading to the 1979 so-called revolution. He was even allowed to charter Air France and return as de facto leader. When he arrived at Tehran he was so puffed up by the number of the people who gave him a hero’s welcome. The rest is history. The poison he seeded still remains to be a nightmare to the citizens of that country. He used every ounce of hysteria to accumulate sizable following so fanatic they would do anything for him. They stood at gates of raging fire because he promised them milk and honey eternally after sacrificing their priceless lives for him. In the meantime, the first item on order for him was to secretly marry an 18 yr old virgin. I remember what one Iranian told me way back in the early 1980’s. He was so enthused to tell me how the 18yr designated consort was examined by a gynecologist for virginity. If one build up so much hysteria from a distance and his followers are willing to put their dear lives in line to do whatever he tells them to do, then that by itself spells bigger trouble in the offing. So US officials there or here should restrain their loose cannon citizen. I agree with the dear Ambassador that the time now over there is for everyone to work together like hand and gloves and create a stable environment to encourage FDI the country needs very badly. The youth does not need to march into the streets welding deadly implements for much ado for nothing. But instead it needed to be flocked into waiting factory and work. Keep busy at least 8 hours a day. So everyone! Please take notice. Consider yourself forewarned!!!! Read it! Live it!!! This is the link:
https://www.facebook.com/us.emb.addisababa/?hc_ref=ARTJOA0_-zpPtkUdIRPIUYe7e8zoWvQ4CGzD0N6KdpfMiTLHg7jE4fQJJNvRMHEScHY&fref=nf&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARAxo1-GaslLVTT_Q3zC2xTJrGr_P-RCgVVLrn-vQXnG7b07OX532WqR4_Qz7EooR1B3vNrcKlUiZYaVQVlLGZ9JdlUOKgHVHtUKB_8kIvEqTjIh_fHlZ_X3vN571R4fnO8c4XtgXwa-NtNfVulbwmpZ3zSmSQQanF5ru-FajBg5B7t45eRVJFVWmx0Xpj8gVoHqO9vU6IHDCJQRMrcebrSTYEy6INRWcLDq8U-oMpuxDKQX8QLFBwoBdAa0MYlYHVtT6HZXLXlJWZAc-JBVk1pLpk6bjrip6EA5IJSnArUk7nWGPmYl7OyB10znTWKfjGN05esCRQ5Z_3l1A8m6_w&__tn__=kC-R
At some point in the history of the world there were those who concluded that enemies of their people were the people themselves. Nero condemned the residents of Rome to be their own enemies therefore they have to be torched into ashes in their own homes. Mussolini was said to have confided that the reason why the process he started to bring back Italy’s glory to the days of the great Roman Empire stalled or was dragging on him were Italians themselves. He was blaming the citizens of Italy for his miserable failures both at home and abroad. When Hitler found out that Germany’s defeat was imminent, he blamed the German for not fighting hard enough and ordered the torching of Berlin to the ground along every resident in it. Modern day terrorists who founded groups such as ISIS, Qaeda, Al-Shabaab and others alike were accusing Muslims themselves to be the enemies of the faith. And we have seen and see how they are indiscriminate in their massacre of civilian population in their own countries. And we should all remember all these demons were projecting images of angels and saviors to their targeted crowds before they achieved their objectives. Then no one will be safe including their own. If such individuals manage to yank away a territory they called, say, the Republic of Amhara and no one will come to their aid to rescue them from such brutes. They will be left to deal with it on their own. If the same fortune hit my own Oromos there will be no Amhara, Tigre, Somali, Afar or any other to come to our rescue. We have to deal with the Sheik Al-Bahr that was so methodical in latching on our backs all alone. We will be left to deal with it alone and to no avail.
Well, we Oromos were told to be our own enemies which means every Oromo is expendable and can be used as cannon fodder to advance the agendas of reckless self crowned leaders. There should not be any blinking at the fact that they will turn their ire on their own citizens if they have the chance to found their own ‘republic’. That is because there will be seemingly insurmountable stumbling blocks in ruling countries. The economy will go south and people will start grumbling right away. Their going all alone will not create sympathy for them and every ounce of cooperation is already gone from the first day the bigoted ‘leaders’ founded their style of a republic(fiefdom). Internal opposition will be followed by brutal purges. You need proof on this one too? You should’ve known that already. I don’t think you are that academically challenged. Such scenarios are inevitable. Consider you are forewarned!!!