Mereja.Forum

[Naga Tuma]

I am asking these questions with all due respect to those who decided to struggle for the causes that they believed in.

At the same time, I don't think that we should hesitate to ask logical questions that may also help reflect those who decided to struggle for real or perceived causes.

The first question came to my mind recently after reading or listening to the words of a Tigraway activist, which I do not disagree with. The words went something like Tigray is the cradle of Ethiopia, Ras Alula was a hero who fought at Dogali, among others. It reminded me exactly the kinds of words I used to hear in Colonel Menghistu Hailemariam's public speeches when I was young. He often spoke about Aksum, Ras Alula, Dogali and so on. I understand his dictatorship was unacceptable. I also understand that in recent times, Tigrigna folklore has flourished and it may be arguable that the struggle of the TPLF has contributed to it.

Then again, the raison d'être for creating a liberation struggle must be larger than cultural movements when the history is so paradoxical. Paradoxical because two parties claiming the same history ended up fighting against each other fiercely as separate parties instead of competing Ethiopian parties.

In my limited understanding, the raison d'être for the creation of the OLF was the perception that the Ethiopian government's treatment of the Afan Oromo speaking people was unfair. It defined the government and these group of people as separate parties. A lot of argument can be made for or against this case. That is not my question or argument here.

My question is that it is my understanding that the current faction of the OLF has acknowledged that the current government in Ethiopia is headed by a party that has claimed to be Afan Oromo speaking. Doesn't this logically mean that this acknowledgement alone has ended the raison d'être for the creation of the OLF? Mind you, I am not questioning here the raison d'être for its creation, which in and of itself is arguable, but the raison d'être for its existence today after this acknowledgement.

So, is it unfair to ask these questions in light of these points? I don't think so. Can someone convince anyone otherwise?

[Degnet]

I am asking these questions with all due respect to those who decided to struggle for the causes that they believed in.

At the same time, I don't think that we should hesitate to ask logical questions that may also help reflect those who decided to struggle for real or perceived causes.

The first question came to my mind recently after reading or listening to the words of a Tigraway activist, which I do not disagree with. The words went something like Tigray is the cradle of Ethiopia, Ras Alula was a hero who fought at Dogali, among others. It reminded me exactly the kinds of words I used to hear in Colonel Menghistu Hailemariam's public speeches when I was young. He often spoke about Aksum, Ras Alula, Dogali and so on. I understand his dictatorship was unacceptable. I also understand that in recent times, Tigrigna folklore has flourished and it may be arguable that the struggle of the TPLF has contributed to it.

Then again, the raison d'être for creating a liberation struggle must be larger than cultural movements when the history is so paradoxical. Paradoxical because two parties claiming the same history ended up fighting against each other fiercely as separate parties instead of competing Ethiopian parties.

In my limited understanding, the raison d'être for the creation of the OLF was the perception that the Ethiopian government's treatment of the Afan Oromo speaking people was unfair. It defined the government and these group of people as separate parties. A lot of argument can be made for or against this case. That is not my question or argument here.

My question is that it is my understanding that the current faction of the OLF has acknowledged that the current government in Ethiopia is headed by a party that has claimed to be Afan Oromo speaking. Doesn't this logically mean that this acknowledgement alone has ended the raison d'être for the creation of the OLF? Mind you, I am not questioning here the raison d'être for its creation, which in and of itself is arguable, but the raison d'être for its existence today after this acknowledgement.

So, is it unfair to ask these questions in light of these points? I don't think so. Can someone convince anyone otherwise?

Derg was the reason but it ended tragically,the opposite way,creating enemies on both sides.

[Degnet]

I am asking these questions with all due respect to those who decided to struggle for the causes that they believed in.

At the same time, I don't think that we should hesitate to ask logical questions that may also help reflect those who decided to struggle for real or perceived causes.

The first question came to my mind recently after reading or listening to the words of a Tigraway activist, which I do not disagree with. The words went something like Tigray is the cradle of Ethiopia, Ras Alula was a hero who fought at Dogali, among others. It reminded me exactly the kinds of words I used to hear in Colonel Menghistu Hailemariam's public speeches when I was young. He often spoke about Aksum, Ras Alula, Dogali and so on. I understand his dictatorship was unacceptable. I also understand that in recent times, Tigrigna folklore has flourished and it may be arguable that the struggle of the TPLF has contributed to it.

Then again, the raison d'être for creating a liberation struggle must be larger than cultural movements when the history is so paradoxical. Paradoxical because two parties claiming the same history ended up fighting against each other fiercely as separate parties instead of competing Ethiopian parties.

In my limited understanding, the raison d'être for the creation of the OLF was the perception that the Ethiopian government's treatment of the Afan Oromo speaking people was unfair. It defined the government and these group of people as separate parties. A lot of argument can be made for or against this case. That is not my question or argument here.

My question is that it is my understanding that the current faction of the OLF has acknowledged that the current government in Ethiopia is headed by a party that has claimed to be Afan Oromo speaking. Doesn't this logically mean that this acknowledgement alone has ended the raison d'être for the creation of the OLF? Mind you, I am not questioning here the raison d'être for its creation, which in and of itself is arguable, but the raison d'être for its existence today after this acknowledgement.

So, is it unfair to ask these questions in light of these points? I don't think so. Can someone convince anyone otherwise?

Derg was the reason but it ended tragically,the opposite way,creating enemies on both sides.In short it is only lies like some criminals here calling themselves Eritreans

[TGAA]

I don't think I am quite equipped to answer your question, but I will give it a shot. These two movements have started " their struggle" with real or perceived injustice peculiar to their particular Nationality or ethnicity. One assumes justice, equality, and fairness are virtues which we all agree with. In that respect, if there is an injustice we should know it when we see it regardless of the nationality we belong to. Weyan's and OLF although their grievance has different sources which they supposedly want to get rid of , what we have experienced 27 years of weyane and what we are experiencing now is that they want to replace and exploit using " an oppressed card" justice and equality and oppression are the veneer they use to get the power but they don't have conviction or interest to institute a true just and equitable society across the board. One thing is for sure if they become oppressors of others they will not be a democrat for the people they sware by as their true representatives.

[Naga Tuma]

Pastor (I mean respectfully) Degnet,

Are you suggesting that ኢትዮጵያ እጆችዋን ወደ እግዝኣብሄር ትዘረጋለች (ኢትዮጵያን ሀርኮተ እሺ ገረ ጎፍታት ኦል ቀብድ) was not heard?

TGAA,

We are all equipped with our opinions and I don't think we should hesitate to express them where necessary.

May be I didn't get across well enough the essence of my question, which is about the essence of forming a liberation front or organization. If I am not mistaken, liberation from a country, especially in the era that they were formed, literally meant an eventuality of leaving the country. The case of the EPLF is a good example. At least I haven't questioned it even if I would have loved more to see them stay. I still remember the day I said እዉነታቸዉን ነዉ የሚታገሉት right after attending a lecture in a required Ethiopian history course in college. This was at a time when the Dergue was still in power in Ethiopia and all of the liberation fronts were called ተገንጣይ. So, my questions are meant to be understood in the context of liberation as it was meant from the get go and the subsequent characterizations and claims that were widely understood. If the claims from the get go were about oppression, they would have been understood differently.

[sun]

I am asking these questions with all due respect to those who decided to struggle for the causes that they believed in.

At the same time, I don't think that we should hesitate to ask logical questions that may also help reflect those who decided to struggle for real or perceived causes.

The first question came to my mind recently after reading or listening to the words of a Tigraway activist, which I do not disagree with. The words went something like Tigray is the cradle of Ethiopia, Ras Alula was a hero who fought at Dogali, among others. It reminded me exactly the kinds of words I used to hear in Colonel Menghistu Hailemariam's public speeches when I was young. He often spoke about Aksum, Ras Alula, Dogali and so on. I understand his dictatorship was unacceptable. I also understand that in recent times, Tigrigna folklore has flourished and it may be arguable that the struggle of the TPLF has contributed to it.

Then again, the raison d'être for creating a liberation struggle must be larger than cultural movements when the history is so paradoxical. Paradoxical because two parties claiming the same history ended up fighting against each other fiercely as separate parties instead of competing Ethiopian parties.

In my limited understanding, the raison d'être for the creation of the OLF was the perception that the Ethiopian government's treatment of the Afan Oromo speaking people was unfair. It defined the government and these group of people as separate parties. A lot of argument can be made for or against this case. That is not my question or argument here.

My question is that it is my understanding that the current faction of the OLF has acknowledged that the current government in Ethiopia is headed by a party that has claimed to be Afan Oromo speaking. Doesn't this logically mean that this acknowledgement alone has ended the raison d'être for the creation of the OLF? Mind you, I am not questioning here the raison d'être for its creation, which in and of itself is arguable, but the raison d'être for its existence today after this acknowledgement.

So, is it unfair to ask these questions in light of these points? I don't think so. Can someone convince anyone otherwise?

"Raison d'être?" hmm...

"The town where everyone sleeps,
If I walk with nothing on my mind,
I can see it
Buried under the advancing crowd,
Is my trembling heart

Raison d'etre, in that way
Raison d'etre, in the same way
Smile, fall silent
Why do my emotions sway?
I'm looking for a key
I've always been looking
I can't see it anywhere
Where is key to that door...

What's more important than words?
The time keeps passing and you can't realize it
Waiting for a sign to be taught like this
Facing the vector that was pointed out.

Raison d'etre, in today's world too
Raison d'etre, I believe it
A faint light shining on a real love
I'm looking for a reason
I've always been looking
Where could it have dissappeared?
Where is that reason to live...

I hesitate to continue in this deep labyrinth
The cloady lenses could brighten

Raison d'etre, in that way
Raison d'etre, in the same way
Smile, fall silent
Why do my emotions sway?
I'm looking for a key
I've always been looking
I can't see it anywhere."