A Path to National Healing: Understanding the Source of Conflict in Ethiopia
Posted: 18 Sep 2019, 12:19
When people feel hopeless and their outlook for the future seems bleak, it is only natural to become defensive and blame others who struggle just like us. The growing strife and ethnic clashes taking place in Ethiopia are not happening in a vacuum; the loss of civility and the metastasizing grievances are borne out of frustration with the current state of our nation and memories of violations that have never been addressed.
During times of tribulation, the people who gain the largest audience are not the ones who preach of unity but those who incite animosity. There is a reason why tribal demagogues garner wide appeal while those who counsel compassion and solidarity are frequently relegated to the sidelines. If you take a look back throughout history, some of the darkest moments of humanity occurred during times of national hardship. When people lack opportunity and feel their God given freedoms and pursuits of happiness are impeded, they withdraw inward and lash out in bitterness.
Such is the case in Ethiopia, where present desperation is compounded by historical injustices. Though I often speak against firebrands who leverage the pains of the marginalized for their own benefits, I try my best to not vilify the everyday Ethiopian who gets swept up in the emotions and becomes vindictive. Though I encounter my challenges and life is far from perfect, I am mindful of the fact that the average Ethiopian back home deals with a lot more adversities than I do. Who am I to judge from afar when I...continued...
Read full article at: https://ethiopians4cm.org/understanding ... -ethiopia/
During times of tribulation, the people who gain the largest audience are not the ones who preach of unity but those who incite animosity. There is a reason why tribal demagogues garner wide appeal while those who counsel compassion and solidarity are frequently relegated to the sidelines. If you take a look back throughout history, some of the darkest moments of humanity occurred during times of national hardship. When people lack opportunity and feel their God given freedoms and pursuits of happiness are impeded, they withdraw inward and lash out in bitterness.
Such is the case in Ethiopia, where present desperation is compounded by historical injustices. Though I often speak against firebrands who leverage the pains of the marginalized for their own benefits, I try my best to not vilify the everyday Ethiopian who gets swept up in the emotions and becomes vindictive. Though I encounter my challenges and life is far from perfect, I am mindful of the fact that the average Ethiopian back home deals with a lot more adversities than I do. Who am I to judge from afar when I...continued...
Read full article at: https://ethiopians4cm.org/understanding ... -ethiopia/