Wolde Tewolde alias Obo Arada Shawl, August 3, 2007
A time to killA time to dieA time to reflect
Leadership 101 has arrived
Defining Moment (LEADERSHIP)
And that having been relieved from the sentences of death and from the agony of imprisonment, the fate of CUD leadership seems to be over. Last week, a new phase of struggle is made. The Team of Debteraw Website has to be commended for bringing forward into the limelight those heroes and heroine Ethiopians/Eritreans who stood for Justice and Freedom for all Ethiopians regardless of ethnicity, nationality or religion. Debteraw Team in its Web Page has launched a second step – posting -the pictures of the leaders of struggle who not only reject the TPLF’s way of governance but also defy death to save Ethiopia and Ethiopians. How many of us do we know about this leadership and followership? What kind of Azmatches/zematches were they? What were their personal background, their common cause, their common bond and their political experiences? It is high time to know them closely. Hurray – Bravo – Congratulations to Debteraw’s team.
Better late than never, the Ethiopian intellectuals and other experts will see for themselves who and what these heroes and heroines stood for. And to learn why and how they are living under the cruel shameless and faceless government of present day Ethiopia. The fiercest battle is no longer between the left and the right but between partisanship and bipartisanship. That is between those with ethnic names who follow the style of TPLF and those who follow EPRP’s bipartisanship.
The following local title also known as the PENTAGONAL LEADERSHIP is an amalgam from past Ethiopian tradition. From the way of doing businesses, it seems that they all have forgotten the Ethiopian Revolution. I hasten to add that the DERG’s way was perhaps revolutionary but it was not a Revolution in the true sense of the concept. The DERG was appropriately labeled as Fascist as it was engaged in demagogue, violence and nationalism, the hallmark of fascism. That was why it has crumbled in the end. Call me by my name. What is my name?
The KEGNATZMATCHES headed by CUD
The GRAZMATCHES headed by TPLF
The FITAWRARIS headed by UEDF
THE RASES headed by PFDJ
The DEJAZMATCHES headed by OLF are all advised to solve, first and foremost, their own crisis before they attempt to salvage AETHIOPIA.
A good thing is happening in Ethiopian politics: though
On the one hand, it seems to me, that five types of leadership are emerging – fighting for partisanship albeit with dictatorial leadership style. All of them seem to fight for their own party even though all of them do not have a political party. Nevertheless, some sanity may actually be returning to Ethiopian politics. Too often, organization leaders hide their values in vague languages and programs. The leaderships of the above named organizations operate in the old system of feudalism where there was no rule of law but law of fear. The old titles seem to be replaced by Doctors and Generals! Debteraw prefers the traditional titles of GRAZMATCHes and so on, unless we can come up with better titles.
While on the other hand, The AZMATCHES & ZEMATCHES headed by EPRP also known as the EWAY Collective LEADERSHIP that demand justice for all victims and freedom for all living individuals. It is about leadership and follows ship in the true sense of the words. Justice and freedom are its criteria. Title is not a primary importance to EPRP. EPRP is about responsibility (disciplined) and it is about choices (Democracia)
The Eway Revolution was an initiation of all progressive forces that merged into the leadership of Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Party or Eritrean Peoples Revolutionary Party.
EPRP seems to be ready to tell its stories, its values and visions. How about the rest? Are they ready to do the same? The public has the right and the desire to know what really has happened in the past. It is not for revenge but for learning purposes. Call me by my name. What is my name? Faith-Love and Hope.
THE CONCEPT OF CHANGE (REVOLUTION)
ALL changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; For what we leave behind us is a part of ourselves We must die to one life before we can enter into another (Anatole France)
Debteraw has carried out his responsibilities for all Ethiopians as READ, namely
- Revolutionary
- Educator
- Artist and
- Democrat
Debteraw always suggest that individuals should be critical thinkers in order to be an agent for change. He worked so hard as a teacher and as an advisor to change the educational curriculum of Ethiopian schools.
He consistently advocated for making KINET (Arts) as the property domain of HAFASH, SEFIEW HZB, MASSES or however you call them.
As far as Democracy is concerned, Debteraw used to tease college freshmen students as follows “TE’TERATER YABAT NEW METERATER”. This was not as some opposition group’s claim that he meant for malicious intent. It was an effective guide for the new comers to be critical in their learning. I hope all of them are thanking him for his advice.
It is not about side issues such as left or right. It is about real issues of faith of the people, love from the power holders and hope from the universities Debteraw struggled to be a true revolutionary until a political system that is legitimate and acceptable to all Ethiopians be instituted.
There is an old saying that champions do not become champions in the ring – they are merely recognized there. The case of EPRP is a case in point. The three qualities that are necessary for the collective leadership of EPRP are competence, connection and character (3Cs). For the follower ships of EPRP, trust is the fundamental issue. Trust comes in turn from Relationships. Both collective leadership and follower ship have Shared experiences, common bonds, and common causes resulting in strong glue of relationships. As a result, both groups respect, trust and reciprocate in their mutual pain or care.
THE NEW ATTEMPT (MAN)
If we keep missing the purpose of why the Ethiopian Revolution has taken place, we are again doomed to failure.
At the onset of the Ethiopian Revolution, the land question was of paramount importance to the rural population (peasants) and the question of enrollment in the university was also crucial to the urban population of Ethiopia.
Debteraw was against the nationalization of lands in Toto and he was anti quota system of enrollment to the university. Piecemeal and in isolation was not palatable for Debteraw’s idea of Revolution. As we have seen in both instances, Debteraw and his party of EPRP were right then and now in regard to these issues.
What about now? What is this attempt of negotiation? It is not negotiation. It is arbitration, no it about mediation (Shimagle) and so on and so forth.
Mediation-Arbitration-Negotiation (MAN) should work in unison not in isolation.
Debteraw has told us in the past that the land issue of Ethiopia or Education cannot be done in isolation. We have to remember the issue of unity-in-diversity. It is not about size and shape when we speak about diversity. The diversity by the TPLF’s of ethnic diversity and the Shaebia’s language diversity is a balloon. It is designed as a marketing device for organizing people. It does not have real substance. Think of Badme and think of Kinjit!!!
The French have a marketing expression that sum up this strategy rather neatly. Cherchez le creneau. “ Look for the hole.” Cherchez le creneau and then fill it. Those Ethiopians who live and struggle from European countries seem not to follow or seem to heed to EU directives and instructions.
That advice goes against the “bigger and better” philosophy ingrained into the American spirit. Americans have been taught to think in a certain way in the power of positive thinking and as a result they may sell a lot but in the process they can destroy a person’s ability to find a creneau. Ethiopians/Eritreans in America do not seem to accept this bigger and better concept.
However, CUD and TPLF seem to fight for the favor of USA government. Both seem to clap with one hand. Can they do it? We shall see! A gun of the TPLF, a Vote of CUD is not compatible. What both are missing are the peoples’ voice, our voices, workers, teachers, farmers and students of Ethiopia and Eritrea.
To find a creneau, EPRP has the ability to think in reverse, to go against the grain. That is if everyone else is going north it can see if it can find its creneau by going south. A strategy that worked for Christopher Columbus who discovered America should also work for Ethiopians and Eritreans.
Kindling new hope (Woman)
It is said that women have choices and
Men have responsibilities.
Men from Ethiopia and Eritrea have taken responsibilities for far too long. Even Menghistu Haile Mariam has announced that he was given the responsibility to lead the Revolution. Who gave him the responsibility? Men can answer me this question. So far, I have not seen a single organization that takes care of its responsibilities seriously. Everything was for self-aggrandizement. Women have to be tested. After all this is the time for Choices. We should challenge them. I hope they will not repeat what we have done, using power for our own survival.
We must make at least one assumption; boys and girls are born differently. That is not to say that we are unequal, have different basic human rights, or that either gender is the lesser. It is to acknowledge a very basic biological reality. Maleness and femaleness are complementary, not identical.
What Debteraw and his colleagues did not focus was to build a family. Their own family was enough for sacrificial lamb. They sacrificed their own families. Should or would God revenge now? I doubt but he will give justice to all the victimized Ethiopians or Eritreans.
Conversation for women is more focused on context while for men it is on content.
Women talk to affiliate, men to pass information. Because of this, women are likely to want to speak at great length, enjoying the connectedness. By contrast men will be prone to listening for the problem and getting on with solving it. This is a perfect time for Ethiopians to be connected by women and a perfect timing for us men to listen. Let us pass information to them.
Currently we as Ethiopians and Eritreans should demand for Debteraw’s release from the dungeon that he is in. Choice is the answer. By the way Debteraw’s middle name is anchi a female, Beta not Alpha. As an Alpha, Debteraw fought for the rights of Adam (Eritrean), and now he is fighting for Eve (Ethiopian).
CONCLUDING REMARKS
It is not enough to be convinced that one’s idea is different – the message must be heard, too. EPRP has terribly failed on this one.
The solution is to think in terms of opposition rather than progress. It is not a question of being better but of showing oneself to be different. EPRP has done this. What about the rest political organizations of Ethiopia and Eritrea? They will be in a better position if they do not blame EPRP. It is far better to understand it closely.
The end of the era of continuous progress as ESZ (Ezana-Solomon-Zagwe), or MTY (Minilik-Tewodros-Yohannes) should give way to an era of creativity and revelation.
EPRP is listening to new sources of inspiration. New comers are having their say as well as those people who have been struggling for over 33 years.
Finally it does not matter whether we are of that ethnic or nationality, whether we are in America or Europe, whether we have power or powerless, have killed or been killed. What counts is that we are all motivated to IMMORTalized Debteraw. So, let us ask ourselves the question. Are we sufficiently honest to tell the truth and underline the lies, which jeopardize the future of Ethiopia? Is it about fear? It is telling about truth. Ethiopians and Eritreans are ready for the truth. The fighting faith of Debteraw will prevail.
For comments or questions: woldetewolde@yahoo.com
Confusion from a confused creature!!
My suggestion to you … my prescription to the confusion, my dear comrade is, your own yearning … a cure from the past… “ye Selassie tebel’ (The wholly water of the trinity).
Your message is a mixed bag of forward looking and extremely backward comparisons, views and opinions. You mix yesteryears Grazmatches with tomorrows progressive “coop leadership body of EPRP”; the Ethiopian Adam with Eritrean Eve (or is it the reverse?), Derg’s brutality with Ehapa’s revolutionary conviction… etc you name names of places, people, titles, and countries which have asymmetrical antidote to the problem of their people; you mix rich with poor, knickknack with quality …. Simply put you create havoc of confusions, mountains of contradiction and your thoughts disappear without a trace.
I think you are scared to take a position on so many critical issues of the time and hence instead of writing defending or attacking a position on critical issues you choose to write a bag of confusion. Chief among these critical issues, the Ethiopia and Eritrea issue. Get a clear voice, get a clear stand and be a pioneer that you once were and defend and/or attack a position. Show your true colors.
Yours truly,
Tilahun
I say it is not confusion but count-me-I-know something kind or wanabe political analyst.
The writer has picked some facts here and there, knows this is an EPRP site, and wants to show off what the writer has.
Political maturity does not mean knwing somethings here and there. Not so. It does not matter when you were born. The basic tenet of political analysis is knowing what you are talking about.
The writer’s message is as mixed up as the writer’s facts are. Looking at it in general one would think that it lacks maturity, consistency, and direction. Well the fact is it is not mature, consistent, and has no point to put your fingure at.
I like it as an attempt by a political novice to be part of the political discourse of the present time. Good trial but it should not start by claiming as a teacher and let me tell you this you listen attitude.
Whatever one knows should be put in such a way that others-may-know-better thinking.
From your mumbo jumbo, I would like to talk about the acronym MAN standing for Mediation, Arbitration, and Negotiation. From the business world I serve, we refer to these three words as Alternative Dispute Resolution, that is, alternative to going through litigation of the court system.
Meles Zenawi went the litigation route to resolve his conflict with the opposition because the Courts are within his sphere of influence.
The way of a fair deal would have been first to engage the opposition in a give and take negotiation, failing that he should have tried mediation or arbitraton before he handed down the case to the courts. In mediation the mediators’ recommendations are not binding while in arbitration, the decision would be binding. Meles used surrogates like Prof. Ephraim Isaac and others as mediators (shimglina) to simply serve his interest to deflect the outside pressure coming at him from the European Union and others. He created his own face saving device to release the prisoners that should not have been imprisoned in the first place.
All the best.
Abate Kassa
[...] CALL ME BY MY NAME: A debate with Debteraw, XV Wolde Tewolde alias Obo Arada Shawl, August 3, 2007 A time to killA time to dieA time to reflect Leadership 101 has […] [...]
“And that having been relieved from the sentences of death and from the agony of imprisonment, the fate of CUD leadership seems to be over. Last week, a new phase of struggle is made. The Team of Debteraw Website has to be commended for bringing forward into the limelight those heroes and heroine Ethiopians/Eritreans who stood for Justice and Freedom for all Ethiopians regardless of ethnicity, nationality or religion. Debteraw Team in its Web Page has launched a second step – posting -the pictures of the leaders of struggle who not only reject the TPLF’s way of governance but also defy death to save Ethiopia and Ethiopians”
Ato Wolde Tewlde,among many tasks of a writer is to think deeply, to forward provocative as well as constructive ideas that brings social change and assist mutuality between those who assumed to have common cause. This is not only enough.
A writer must write an article which can last as long as mal governance is prevaling.other wise you should throw your pen away and torn apart your paper.
Let me come to my point. You said the “the fate of CUDP leadership seems to be over.
How do you dare to say that?
By what reason? Do the CUDP leaderships to speak out everything why they arrived at such decision? How it is non sense to think in your way?
2nd you quote and congratulate the posted picture of EPRP leaders whose where about and existence is unknown. I believe they deserve to be posted although you are too late to do it. But let me tell you one thing in relation to the members of EPRP. Members of EPRP are not dedicated that much for your hero leaders. You did not do a significant movement to release your leaders as well as to follow their foot print. I can say boldly in Amharic. You deserved to be called YESAT LIJ AMED. You are living in the country of Yankee while your leaders who song the songs of Yankee go home are living with their promise.
Although the error and confusion of Welde Tewolde is as incountable as sands of river, I would like only to point out his literature.
First, to know your point and purpose is a simple ABC of a writer.
Next, start writing by refraining yourself from using jargon.exccsive languge and too much adjective.
3rd it is not advisable to use running or marathon sentence.
More over, the writing should serve its objective by following its them.otherwise the reader will put it into its proper place or waste basket. Unfortunatly,most of the writing of Welde Tewolde suffers to be guided by this simple criteria. He used to mention hundreds of topics without concluding or expounding the others in the manner of inconsistency.
If you want to be called by your name,call others by their name and deeds.
Selam Wolde Tewolde,
Continue on your writing what you started,
no body has dogma of writing your style is your style.
Aba Shawel has been consistent for last 14 parts of his writings.
Solomon
First of all thanks to all of you who commented on my article.
Name calling or calling by my name?
To Mr.TILAHUN: I am both an Ethiopian and an Eritrean at the same time. Do you have a problem with that? Do you think I am not qualified? Please, let me know.
To Mr. YINEGAL: Yes, call me by my name. I am yinegal every morning not every evening. I am not a wannabe politician, I have never been one. But I was and still am a Revolutionary. Take it or leave it. It is your choice and it is my choice -call me by my name not name me what I want to be. I know what I want and need.
To Mr. ABATE KASSA: You showed me that your interest lies in MAN. This is the most if not the single most needed concept for our community at large. Please keep debating on this subject.
To Mr. GELAW: “Seems to be over” is a deep thought. over what? the agony of imprisonment, the continuation of struggle or something else. Please, do not take things out of context. The idea of this article is about leadership 101. I do not think you have a doubt in this! the name calling of “YESAT LIJ AMED” is not warranted. We have passed that stage. Don’t you think so? Let us not forget that the ashes you or somebody else sowed will be a seed for Ethiopia to prosper and progress.
To Mr. ADMASU: Thank you for your comments. You are right, I am not a writer. I have never wrote a book. As long as some folks understand me, it is OK. I think you understand what I am trying to write. Take it as a thought for food. Repairing cells is useful because we destroy 50,000 brain cells every day. We have to replace them. Don’t agree? Ethiopians normally use our brains not our body or spirit.
To Mr. Tumtu: Yes, I am called by my name and my deeds. Wolde Tewolde is my name and my deeds is reflected in my deeds of OBO, Arada and Shawl.
Keep Faith-Love-Hope in unity not in isolation.
Last time I read your response for somebody “I was in identiy crisis like you and I resolved.”
How do you resolved. I need to learn from you.
Thank you
Dear Tamrat Kibrom:
First of all thank you for asking.Our forefathers wisdom TEYAKI AWAKI has been forgotten by this generation. That is the first step to come out of identity crisis.
Secondly, your name has all the three elements for a real name. That is all our names are given to us from Religious (Biblical), family and popularity. But yours seems to include all three. You are lucky. Call me by my name is applicable to you. Tell your name as it is. Most likely those who tease you or abuse you hide their real names. Having said that, let me go to your question.
The context in which I was writing about identity crisis was mainly about nationality or originality. As you know, basically there were two groups in our country who were struggling or fighting. The first group was for nationalism fighting against oppression. The second group was for economic determinism struggling against exploitation. What this means is fighting for FLAG and FOOD respectively.
I feel I am getting you into more trouble. I cannot go on explaining unless I know what exactly what you are asking for. I wish I know your problem. Is it about politics, religion, social, ethnic, language or race/blood?
In my case, it was about BELIEF mixed up with BENEFIT OR BLOOD. Most people dwell on benefit or blood but they pretend that they have political belief about nation or nationality. In most cases they pretend and this pretension goes far enough to attack other innocent people like you and me that we do not belong to the social group or blood group.
It is better to tell you how I groom my children if it can be a lesson for you. My children were born in Addis Ababa and now they are in USA and my origin is from Eritrea. So I always tell them that they can be an Ethiopian, an American or an Eritrean. It is their choice. I believe in CHOICE (DEMOCRACIA). And they accept it. That is all. I think the main reason for our communities members is that people do not want to get old and as a result most act like children who daily are fond of peer pressure!!!
So don’t get pressurized by your folks. But please, write me a spefic question so that I do not have to guess. Thanks for your inquiries.
Meteyeq Yadergal
LIq