Ethiopia should be democratic unitary state with some languages as official!
Posted: 25 Apr 2021, 09:50
Ethnic federalism has failed. There cannot be 80 regionla government or state. Only one goverment is allowed. In a democratic unitary state there can be equality of all ethnic groups as expressed in the daily practice. Ethiopia could use 2 more languages as official languages.
Whether we like it or not except Tigray and to some extent amhara, most ot ethnic groups have poorly developed or undeveloped languages. some of their social organisation is primitive and should be replaced. Some are pastoralists and need more support. some run naked and need to be re-educated.
The idea of mutiethnicism is an expression of democracy not an end goal. We can say we have 80 ethnic groups and we use 80 languages. We are not all equal. Some of us are advanced as the historical circumstances we grow are advanced.
Forcing other to speak one language did not work during the time of Haile Selassie. Haile Selassie tried to make Ethiopia a one nation - having one religion, one language and one law. Some ethnic groups were practically discriminated as they had less opportunities if they did not speak amharic, Ethiopia's official language. Tigray was privelged in many way, but resented the idea of speaking amharic and took up arms for equality of ethnic groups. Oromos also resented the idea of serving one ethnic group by being serfs and taking another identitiy. It worked in many ways.
The problem in Ethiopia is the elites are one sided. They do not use averages or middle ways to resolve the problem. Ethiopia could have allowed both amharic and Tigrigna as these languages use Geez and are similar. The Oromos could have used Geez alphabet and spoken their language. Somalis the same
Whether we like it or not except Tigray and to some extent amhara, most ot ethnic groups have poorly developed or undeveloped languages. some of their social organisation is primitive and should be replaced. Some are pastoralists and need more support. some run naked and need to be re-educated.
The idea of mutiethnicism is an expression of democracy not an end goal. We can say we have 80 ethnic groups and we use 80 languages. We are not all equal. Some of us are advanced as the historical circumstances we grow are advanced.
Forcing other to speak one language did not work during the time of Haile Selassie. Haile Selassie tried to make Ethiopia a one nation - having one religion, one language and one law. Some ethnic groups were practically discriminated as they had less opportunities if they did not speak amharic, Ethiopia's official language. Tigray was privelged in many way, but resented the idea of speaking amharic and took up arms for equality of ethnic groups. Oromos also resented the idea of serving one ethnic group by being serfs and taking another identitiy. It worked in many ways.
The problem in Ethiopia is the elites are one sided. They do not use averages or middle ways to resolve the problem. Ethiopia could have allowed both amharic and Tigrigna as these languages use Geez and are similar. The Oromos could have used Geez alphabet and spoken their language. Somalis the same
