By Obo Arada Shawl = September 13, 2010
Prologue
It took me sixty-seven years to own a car, a car that was manufactured fifty years after my birth date. Why am I telling this is to remind my readers that as Eathiopians we were neither producers nor consumers of goods and services? As a nation, we were and are still peasant/farmers where no science and technology existed. As I wrote many times Arts was created in Africa, exported to Europe and was integrated with science before it crossed the Atlantic Ocean to reach America where technology the application of science was packaged for sale.
In other words, back at home, let alone during my generation even currently, there is hardly any industry or factory. There is no transport or communication. There is no science or technology. So what is to be done? Do Eathiopians still need Industry, Transport and Science? Or do we need Factory, Communication and Technology? The answer lies in the Eway model which will be explained when the time comes, a time of peace and harmony.
For now, I have some messages to all our young generation who are caught between the atom and the net. Here is the message.
I want you to completely understand that the age of the 20th century of the Atom was really the symbol of individuality. We were ignorant of the symbol as we were not part and parcel of this age. As Ethiopians we were centralized by family, religious and community values. While the Eway generation was struggling to be decentralized politically, all of a sudden a new age the age of the net with no centre, with no orbit and with no certainty has emerged to symbolize the 21st Century. The Eway Generation is beginning – though partially – do understand the century of your NET. We also ask you not to forget the Atomic age which brought psychological and political havoc to all Eathiopians. We will do our homework as you should do yours.
We have heard from the advocates of digital age and telecommunication of announcing the death of geography. We do not agree with them. We believe in the separation of place and space. My space or face book may be relevant for the net generation like yours but not so much for the Eway generation. As Eathiopians, place is very relevant and important for us all as God gave us the body, the mind and the soul in one place dwk…
Anyhow, before delving into discussion on the above ideas and concepts, it is imperative to tell to the net generation about the History (Adwa I), the Politics (AADWA III) and the Religion (Adwa II) of Eathiopia. We have to come up with these three (HPR) concepts, theories and application before we can move on to the next level. Let me briefly explain in the following manner.
History: Adwa I
I should like to remind all Eathiopians (Eritreans and Ethiopians) to be able to recognize that there are hundreds of histories. Examples are social history, economic, military, political, and religious or any other history which we can not lump together. The best example to understand history is to read a book titled What is history? By Edward Hallett Carr, Vintage Books, Cambridge1961
For people who are interested to know the history of Eritrea, Amariya or Oromia or whatever the case might be, I recommend to read, see or listen to the history of Adwa. All the so-called Liberation movements do base their claim on Adwa I.
Adwa I is about the battle of Adwa (1896) which was fought between Eathiopia and Italy. It was after this Adwas aftermath that our pride, our fear and our confusion have emerged and still continued to be evolved.
Again those who are interested in the history of confusion, fear and pride (CFP) as a result of Adwa I, can and should continue to harp on each other if that is where their passion lie in contributing to solve our perceived problems.
I wish to all believers, supporters and funs for Adwa I, to receive clarity, confidence and independence (CCI) on this historic day of New Year 2003. It is to be remembered that number 3 is part of the Eway model.
Religion: Adwa II
The age of innocence, and historians walked in the Garden of Eden, without a scrap of philosophy to cover them, naked and unashamed before the god of history. Since then, we have known Sin and experienced a Fall; and those historians who today pretend to dispense with a philosophy of history are merely trying, vainly and self-consciously, like members of a nudist colony, to recreate the Garden of Eden in their garden suburb. Today the awkward question can no longer be evaded. (Quoted from what is History? P: 21)
So what is the relation and distinction between Adwa II and AADWA III? Adwa II which represents the current Ethiopian government, in terms of religion may seem complex to a lot of people but not to me personally. The core value of Adwa II, in my opinion is Protestantism which says that there is a selfish man in everyman. This principle has been here over three centuries and has succeeded so far in America but not in Monasteries or in the Vatican. Board Room is not only complex and complicated to the Tigrai people alone but it is also remains the same for a lot of educated Eathiopians. Christianity is the main problem in the current Ethiopian affairs. What kind of Christianity are we interested in? I leave the answer to the young generation of Eathiopians. The TPLF is playing with fire if it continues to dwell on confusing ideas and issues that were and are relevant to our societies. For now, however, let me say, happy, new year.
Politics: AADWA III
AADWA III is a generation which has come and survived for five decades. And it will continue with or without organized religion. If EPRP was the party of the government, it would be a perfect bridge between two distinct cultures of Agame and Hamasien to extend an Ethiopian hand to all be it to the majority or the minority groups of people for EPRP has worked hard to sell DEMOCRACIA.
Ethiopia was a nation with the soul of a church moral inheritance belief in a nation. Small towns that cling to religion and prayer dont fear EPRP as experience has shown.
AADWA III is the generation that understood the positive and negative aspects of history of religion. Although most of our parents belonged to either Christian or Islam, most of us have become less religious based on understanding our Ethiopian theology and philosophy. Historically, the majority of Eathtiopians dont believe in rigid fundamental or rigorous practice. For this reason, the Eway Revolutionaries have become comrades so easily. Politics or Revolutionary politics have become the norms rather than the exception to a lot of the AADWA III followers.
It may be the reason why the uninitiated individual in terms of revolution accuse the Eway generation as anti-religion as anti-spiritual and what not. Actually the main reason, in my opinion, for the seemingly complex problem in political affairs in the Eway nation is because of the underlying theological and philosophical differences of Christianity among Eathiopian intellectuals. They all seem to divert from the real political solutions.
Conclusion
It is time to separate and distinguish among the three Adwas. Whom do we want to follow or to lead? Do we follow those who threaten us, cheat us or educate us? Let us not talk and counter talk about history or religion. They will lead us to nowhere.
Freedom is about society, state and government. Let us understand about our MAKK societies, Ethiopian state and what kind of government we should have? Those who want to follow Adwa I should get organized in order to have a common understanding of their history. Those who want to follow Adwa II, they can follow the TPLF trail and until they find themselves in more and more confusion and hallucination. Those who would like to follow the AADWA III; let them be educated mainly on political issues. Political education will liberate you as it has liberated me mentally, physically and psychologically.
The Eway model aims at justice and mercy whose duty is giving, lending and forgiving.
Happy New Year and NGDET.
TRUTH WILL PREVAIL
For comments and questions