TOO FUNNY! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Posted: 23 Apr 2021, 13:11
I have a fairly interesting story of a taxi ride I had, a couple nights back. I rode it from Washington National Airport to my home, because I didn’t want to wait for Lyft. Upon entering the vehicle, I’m usually the first to greet & engage with the driver.
This time, I was met by an individual who was equally acknowledging and willing to converse. We exchanged small talk for a few, about how business was now that an ease on lockdown started & people were flying more.
He explained how he knew of several cab drivers who contracted COVID, & were no longer alive. Pleasantries continued to be exchanged between us; expressing ideas of gratefulness for life, not taking things for granted, etc...
Then the conversation took a hard turn left, when I inquired about his nationality. I asked:
He replied adamantly,Where are you from? Ethiopia?
Confused & puzzled, I asked inquisitively:NO!, Tigray.
But isn’t Tigray, a province of Ethiopia?
he stated,Yes,
He must have seen my perplexed reaction in the rear view mirror, because he quickly countered,but WE no longer identify ourselves as Ethiopian.
I of course, holding nothing back, staunchly said,Where are you from?
This is where, things got dicey.Eritrea.
he voiced.Ohhh..., your people are killing my people.
I adjusted my position in the backseat, sat up & answered,
I pressed!what do you mean by that?
was said in an aggravated tone - (essentially the same b.s. lies) recycled.Eritrean soldiers are raping, looting and killing my people.
I answered
that’s a lie, & there’s no evidence to prove such egregious accusations.
was quickly fired back at me, & I saidAre you, a President Isaias supporter?
I stopped him before he presented another question, & asked one of my own.that’s irrelevant. I’m an Eritrean nationalist.
He ignorantly answered in a blasé manner,Are you familiar with what the TPLF has done to my country, over the last 30 yrs!?
I took this as him being condescending, & I quickly tried to shut the conversation down. I said,No, what?
Irritated, he fired back,you know what, never mind!
I expressedwhy?
It’s useless to have a conversation with someone, who’se unwilling to acknowledge facts.
he enquired.What facts are those, sir?
The indisputable fact, that the TPLF was dedicated to undermine & usurp the Eritrean gov.
he jokingly said.Oh, c’mon...
See, that’s what I mean. The disrespectful disregard for historical facts & the actions taken by your party leaders & the deceased Meles towards Eritrea, is why Eritreans do not believe or have empathy for Tegaru; especially those who’ve been supportive of TPLF.
he quietly uttered,You know what,
I condescendingly responded,I can tolerate what the Ethiopians are doing to us, but Eritreans?! We are the same people, we speak the same language - we’re supposed to be brothers.
Oh c’mon! Was that same interconnection felt when Tigrayan’s illegally crossed into Eritrea, raped, looted & indiscriminately killed Eritreans during the border war? Or when 100’s of thousands, were forcibly deported from Addis?
I finished by saying,Sadly what I hear & what comes off to me is this disingenuous belief ‘we’re the same’ when your ppl oppressed/suppressed my people but now that you’re no longer the ruling party, we’ve quickly become the enemy.
He didn’t respond to my last comment, and we were nearing my destination.I truly pray for those who are innocent, and that they be spared during this conflict, however, as for those playing both sides of the fence, they are no brother/sister to Eritrea|ns.
The last couple minutes he perceived to be quite vexatious, sitting in silence & saying nothing, I stated,
He flicked his blinker & pulled into my neighborhood. I asked,please turn right at the next turn.
he assertively statedwhat’s the fare?
I exited quietly. It was interesting how quickly the sense of “brotherhood” vanished, once I referred to historical grievances committed by his people upon my people. Rather than speaking candidly, he chose to relegate my points & reverted to emotional attacks by labeling me insensitive.nothing, I don’t want your money.
