What
Price for a Reconciled Ethiopia?
By Obang Metho | February 23, 2009
The responses we received to the last article put out
by the Solidarity Movement for a New Ethiopia (SMNE),
“AigaForum
versus Obang Metho: Is there Racism in Ethiopia?,”
were overwhelming and it has become clear that this
issue of racism is something that must continue to be
addressed. The purpose of this article is to give the
public information on the responses we received and
to offer suggestions to help us to productively move
forward in this discussion. One of our main goal is
the reconciliation of Ethiopians.
This is one of the reasons that we created the Solidarity
Movement, for reconciliation is the backbone of a New
Ethiopia. It is based on acknowledging what was done
to us and what we have done to others. Anything less
than that will hold us back. Ethiopia is infected and
dying and the only way to revive it is through truth,
God’s truth about respecting God’s creation—each
of us. This is the basis for confronting the issue of
racism today, but tomorrow it will definitely be something
else that must be addressed in order to have a healthy
society.
Let the discussions begin!
In the many hundreds of responses we received to the
above-mentioned article, no one denied what was said
about the existence of racism in Ethiopia. Instead,
many of those responding said that the labeling of our
people by skin-color is as serious of an issue as our
country’s tribally-based ethnic problems even
though it has never been talked about before. A number
of responders said that they did not think anyone would
have courage to bring up this sensitive topic, but my
response to that was; if we want a better Ethiopia,
we must! It is only through getting the truth out that
we can be reconciled across all divides and it is only
through reconciliation that Ethiopia will be healed.
If we avoid a topic that is driving a wedge between
us, we condemn the future of our country with insincere
words of chameleon unity. I do not want to be part of
that.
The existence of racism in Ethiopia is really what
led racist Aiga Forum to try to exploit it among Ethiopians
in order to accomplish their own purposes, but now,
people tell me they want this dialogue to continue.
In the past, some were afraid to bring up the topic
of racism because it was embarrassing for some to openly
admit to others outside of Ethiopia the depth of our
problem; however, the truth is, many outsiders, like
many western policy-makers, African Americans and Africans,
already know about how some Ethiopians treat the dark-skinned
members of their society. Copying or “cc:ing”
the article to Michael Steele, the Chairman of the Republican
National Committee and to the NAACP, has simply forced
some Ethiopians to look at what has been going on through
the eyes of outsiders, even though many already knew
it. However, I do not think the impact of the article
would have been the same if it had been kept “for
insiders only!”
Unintentionally, racist Aiga Forum has triggered an
open discussion of racism that they chose to push beyond
Ethiopians into American politics. Even though they
may now want to escape from the consequences of that,
they may not find it so easy to retreat. They should
continue to be held accountable for what they did until
they formally come forward and apologize to those maligned
parties. That is what Chairman Steele’s office
and we in the SMNE intend to do. We have already identified
more of the people who are behind this racist Aiga Forum
article and picture. Some of these racist individuals
are Aiga editor Esayas ATsbaha- an X-EPRP fighter, located
in San Jose, California and Zeru Hagos,
We really want to thank those Ethiopians who responded
and took this issue very seriously because, if we want
a better Ethiopia, we have to go for the truth, even
if it hurts both sides. We also want to thank those
Ethiopian websites, which posted it. They understand
that even though this is a sensitive issue, it will
never be resolved unless it is first acknowledged that
it exists. We are urging those websites who did not
post it, yet who are pro-democracy, to think about how
important it is in any effective democracy, to be able
to represent different perspectives so the public can
debate it with civility and mutual respect, sometimes
agreeing to disagree.
There were a number of Ethiopians who suggested to
me that we should strongly challenge some of the websites
about their failure to post the article, but my response
is that I want an Ethiopia where even when we disagree
with others, we still can embrace each other. For example,
some of the websites who did not post this article have
posted many others in the past and have contributed
greatly to keeping Ethiopians informed. If we always
had to agree with each other to stay in relationships
with other people, we would end up alone.
We must have some basic unconditional acceptance of
each other because I hope others who disagree with me
will talk to me about it rather than simply going the
other way. This part of our Ethiopian culture that rejects
others and cuts them off based on disagreement will
only hinder our progress as a country. Let us not be
afraid of either listening to what others believe or
stating our own beliefs. We can all learn from each
other.
What Ethiopians are saying:
We have received responses from a variety of Ethiopians,
from the mainstream, from minority groups, from people
within both groups of varying skin color, from white
westerners and from Africans. Here are a few comments:
- Mr. Achame, a man from the Southern Nations, told
me that the reason he has not participated in Ethiopian
political discussions and groups is because of the
racism and marginalization that he has experienced
when he has gone. He is a talented man, an activist
and a very good thinker who could contribute much
to Ethiopia, but such attitudes are limiting others
from gaining from his expertise.
- Mr. Andargachew Tsege, a well-known leader from
CUDP and now Ginbot 7 said, and gave permission to
use his comments, “Some of us are so ashamed
of the prevalence of such attitude [racism] in our
society, we pretend that it does not exist. This will
not take us anywhere except leading the oppressed
and the injured into a quagmire of bitterness and
resentment that will ultimately ruin all of us, including
the oppressor. I am grateful to Obang that he has
taken it up and is forcing all of us to confront ourselves.
My belief is that as long as tyranny prevails in our
country it will be impossible to cleanse our society
from such bigotry and prejudice. Our dream to create
a just, free and democratic society cannot be realized
without a major confrontation of the issues Obang
raised.
- An Ethiopian man from Israel told me about the discrimination
he and other Ethiopians were experiencing in that
country—even making it hard to find an apartment
to rent because of they are black.
- Ato Legesse, an Ethiopian taxi driver, living in
Washington DC, said that after reading the article,
he tried to put himself in the shoes of those who
were called racial names based on their skin color
and felt it was wrong and had to be one of the people
to stop it. He said he began by talking to other taxi
drivers at Dukem, an Ethiopian restaurant, many of
whom would commonly make racial insults to others
thinking “it was not a big deal;” however,
after considering the effect it was having on others,
he talked with these other taxi drivers about stopping
this and helping to confront others who were doing
it. He said that people were taking it very seriously
and it was making a difference.
- An Ethiopian man living in Dallas, a darker-skinned
Amhara, told me how glad he was that we now have to
talk about these issues.
- Ato Ayalew, an Ethiopian man told me that these
racial names are something we say “all the time”
and we say it is not a big deal; but now, when someone
like you is speaking up for “our human rights”
and is saying that this kind of talk is hurting him,
we should take it seriously and be concerned about
it. He said that no Ethiopian in the West who has
been called “nigger” would say it was
not a big deal to them so it should be exactly the
same to Ethiopians calling another person a baria.
- Ato Assegued, an Ethiopian man told me that his
sister had married a dark-skinned man from Jamaica
and that he and others in the family had been calling
their brother-in-law a nickname for “baria,”
but after he read the article, he told his sister
that it really touched him and promised that he would
never say it again and would not tolerate others doing
it around him either.
What price are we willing to pay for a New Ethiopia
where “humanity comes before ethnicity”
and where we take seriously the challenge that “no
one is free until we all are free?” If we want
a better society for ourselves and for our children,
are we each willing to take a penetratingly honest look
at ourselves? All of these people I have mentioned above,
plus many others that I cannot include, have already
done this and are doing their share in reaching out
to others to convince them to do the same.
This is how to make a break with our past dysfunctional
thinking.
Some of these people were not aware of how their words
were affecting other people, but now have become people
who will help make real our hopes and dreams for a New
Ethiopia. This is what I am asking all Ethiopians to
do—one by one. The principles of the Solidarity
Movement for a New Ethiopia are spread in this simple
way and can prevent the destruction and disintegration
of our country.
If we, one by one, make Ethiopia a place where some
other Ethiopian wants to stay, the collective impact
of many of us doing this will ripple through Ethiopian
society like a refreshing rain that sends new streams
of water to dry places. Keep in mind that there are
those opponents, some inside Ethiopia and some external
players outside our country, whose greatest hope and
wish is to hold us back from becoming one, strong, united
and powerful nation.
They believe their self-interests will only be realized
through keeping us weak or seeing us disintegrate into
many pieces. To avoid this, it will require much from
us as people. We must reconstruct our identity to be
people who do not only ask for justice, truth, freedom,
equality, respect and opportunity for ourselves, but
more so, be people who give it to others. This is the
kind of society I long to have and to pass on to my
children.
Some Ethiopians are asking, “Why is Obang raising
this issue now?” They tend to think this issue
does not matter to me or is secondary, but the truth
of the matter is that it does matter and that it is
hurting me. If these same people want to ignore or hide
the truth, does this mean that they do not really care
about my pain or the pain of others like me? Maybe so
which makes it all the more important to face it.
Put yourselves in my or other darker-skinned Ethiopian
peoples’ shoes and do not say it is not a big
deal. The truth is, I expect a great deal from Ethiopians
and believe we are all capable of improving our attitudes
and actions towards others, just like the people I mentioned
earlier.
As I have said before, I am committed to this struggle
for a NEW ETHIOPIA as someone who is seeking justice,
truth, equality and respect for one another. For this
reason, if I see something that will interfere with
that, it is my duty to say it out loud because I love
my fellow Ethiopians and I love my country. I cannot
stay silent—even if some do not want to hear it.
If something is seriously wrong, which will lead to
worsening the misery, alienation, hate and destruction
of our people, it must not be covered up or we become
part of the problem.
Some have warned that saying the truth will lead to
division. I say that not saying the truth leads to division.
The unity I seek is not a unity based on pretending
that everything is right when in fact it is not. The
unity I seek is based on ideology—the fact that
God has created every one of us in His image and that
each of us is equally valuable. Any other kind of unity
will not help our nation survive. I must state what
I believe to be the truth, not to please any people
or to win votes for any political office, but to hopefully
free people to a new way of thinking to the benefit
of all in Ethiopian society.
My desire is to see Ethiopia revived. I have great
expectations of Ethiopians because I am convinced that
you all are more than capable, with God’s help,
of becoming a transformed people who can be reconciled
to each another and who can learn to respect and cooperate
in building a more peaceful and harmonious society.
I know what it is like to grow up poor, marginalized
and excluded. As a young person, I knew that those governments
from the past could have laid the groundwork for a better
future for those of us in Gambella, but instead, only
left a legacy of continued exploitation and neglect.
Then I experienced the horror of the Gambellan massacre.
I remember the numbing shock I felt when I first opened
the email attachment I received from Gambella naming
hundreds of those I knew that were victims of the December
13th killing. Again, I knew that it was not only the
fault of our present government, but that previous governments
could have helped avert such a disaster by addressing
our societal problems by valuing all of us. Can we learn
from these past failures so we can leave a better legacy
for those coming after us? That is my hope for our country.
We can no longer do anything about those who have died
or who have lost opportunities, but we can do something
to build a new and better Ethiopia. For me, I have chosen
to contribute to that future even though I could have
easily chosen a different kind of life than the life
I am living today. Even some in my own family do not
understand why I am doing what I am doing when I could
be working to live the “American—or Canadian—dream.”
I could have forgotten about this struggle for justice
and equality in Ethiopia and about the hardship in Africa;
but instead, I have chosen to remain invested in building
a better future by calling people to love one another,
to accept one another, to forgive one another and to
embrace one another. Some may resist this message or
find it threatening, but I am not afraid to go forward
because I believe God has called me to this.
Until today, nothing has changed for many of our people,
so my mission has not yet been accomplished. I am not
like those who say our goal is only to overcome Meles
because simply replacing him, with no concrete change,
is not accomplishing my mission. Any who think this
way, have a very different agenda than do I.
I came into this struggle, not for politics, but as
a free man and I must be true to God and myself before
I can be true to anyone else. If my goal is to please
the public, to get their support or to be liked, I may
flatter you with what you want to hear rather than to
warn you about impending danger.
My conscience directs me to seek justice for those
who died—both Anuak and other Ethiopians—who
brought me to this work in the first place—for
it is such justice that will empower justice in the
future. Because that is my goal, what I have to say
may not always be welcomed, but I would rather be isolated
for the truth than be crowned or cheered for advancing
what is destructive and false.
Confronting Injustice Wherever it
is Found
If we want a healthy society, we should not be so
worried about our image because our image is worth less
than the suffering and pain of other people. If we want
a new Ethiopia, those structures that are flawed must
be redesigned or we will have the same old Ethiopia
that devalues minorities.
Part of our “unsound” societal structure
is built not only on the exclusionary or inclusionary
use of skin-color in deciding who gets through the front
door, but also on the belief that “my group,”
whatever it is, must be in charge and take everything,
while pushing everyone else aside. On the other hand,
those who are excluded can also become angry and hateful
towards an entire ethnicity of people who they see as
“collective oppressors” rather than as individuals,
with varying degrees of responsibility. This is also
wrong.
Contrary to what some think, the topic of racism based
on skin-color is not the only needed discussion we must
have in Ethiopia for today the topic might be racism,
but tomorrow it will be something else—like the
bitterness against all Tigrayan Ethiopians as a group
by some other Ethiopians, the labeling of Amharas as
oppressors when in fact, it is not the truth, the labeling
of the Ogadenis as terrorists when they are fighting
for their lives, or the labeling of all Oromo as OLF
or separatists when in fact what they all want is freedom
and equality like everyone else, the abusive treatment
of many of our women, sometimes treating them only as
sex objects, the way our young are sexually exploited
through prostitution or sexual trafficking or the way
some of our indigenous minorities are used to attract
tourists rather than to help them develop as a people,
still walking naked in the 21st century. The list can
go on!
How can we become an inclusive society where humanity
comes before ethnicity if we do not address the critical
issues that threaten the survival of Ethiopia as a people?
Our past leaders have not addressed these critical issues
and many still do not want to do so as if magically,
they will just disappear.
For example, as I mentioned earlier, some have been
afraid to post the recent article on racism, believing
it will divide the people because it has struck a nerve;
yet, two years ago when I confronted the Oromo about
their separatist positions, encouraging them to know
they are just as “Ethiopian” as everyone
else, it made the headlines.
Many Oromo now understand that no one should have to
be asked for the key to their own home. In the same
light, what broken relationships could begin healing
today if there was a public admission that racist attitudes
are wrong and must be corrected?
For those who want to “cover their ears”
to this truth, it may be provocative, but to those who
have been crying out for respect, it is liberating.
We cannot be afraid to address this for it may prevent
our country from breaking into pieces that might otherwise
happen due to some feeling a lack of acceptance, value
and belonging.
It is avoiding and denying the problem that causes
many to want to leave the country in anger and bitterness.
Until such genuine discussions enter the mainstream
of dialogue, we are in trouble. I hope those who have
blocked such efforts will join others who believe this
is the way to bring reconciliation and healing to Ethiopia
by 1) listening to others, 2) openly admitting where
we have failed, 3) apologizing, 4) sharing one’s
own hurts and wounds, 5) forgiving each other, and finally,
6) embracing one another as equal partners and members
of Ethiopian society.
We must start by talking—but not only about surface
issues. Ethiopia is known to others as “mysterious”
but this is just a “nice” word for a culture
known to “hide and cover up” that which
is going on beneath the surface. In our case, it is
infecting us and it must be exposed.
If anyone is convinced with the principles of the Solidarity
Movement for a New Ethiopia, come join and be part of
it. The SMNE is the solidarity of people-to-people,
friend-to-friend, family-to-family, community-to-community,
church-to-church, mosque-to-mosque, ethnic group-to-ethnic
group and political group-to-political group. This is
what we are standing for and the kind of reconciliation
we desire.
Societies are made up of individuals and unless we
deal with the hurt feelings and emotional pain of individual
people, we will not go anywhere. That is why the chameleon
unity of the past, which is still the unity some are
offering to us, must be discarded. It never worked before
and will only continue to bring dysfunction to Ethiopia.
Genuine unity will only be achieved through healthy
relationships, which right now are broken in many places.
There are many signs.
Has not Ethiopia become a country where we have not
valued truth, justice, mercy and compassion towards
one another? Have we not become a country that is so
dangerous or inhospitable to life that our people, for
many years, have been leaving or wanting to separate
into their own countries? Are we not a country that
is so harsh, uncaring and oppressive, especially to
our more vulnerable people that millions are in jeopardy
of dying? Have not our current and past regimes passed
on a legacy that has devalued and excluded others so
much that it is on the verge of collapse and disintegration?
What are the possible reasons for this and the solutions?
Come to your own conclusions as you read the following
Biblical passage about similar hardship faced by another
people at another time and determine for yourself if
any of this might apply to us now:
“This is what the LORD Almighty says:
‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion
to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless,
the alien or the poor. In your hearts do not think evil
of each other.’
“But they refused to pay attention,
stubbornly they turned their backs and stopped up their
ears. They made their hearts as hard as flint and would
not listen to the law or to the words that the LORD
Almighty had sent by his Spirit through the earlier
prophets. So the Lord Almighty was very angry.
“‘When I called, they did not
listen; so when they called, I would not listen,’
says the LORD Almighty. ‘I scattered them with
a whirlwind among all the nations, where they were strangers.
The land was left so desolate behind them that no one
could come or go. This is how they made the pleasant
land desolate.’” (Zechariah
7:9-14)
When someone is in pain, you can tell, because it triggers
changes shown on the faces of the hurting. What does
the face of Ethiopia look like right now? Most of us
would admit that it is filled with pain. The question
is whether there are solutions for that pain. Is it
possible that showing “true justice, mercy and
compassion” could be the answer?
I am convinced that we are bearing the fruits of our
rebellion against these principles God established regarding
how we should treat others and how we should not hold
evil in our hearts towards each other. Let us seek God’s
help in transforming our attitudes and actions so that
we can live in “a pleasant land” where we
can feed and take care of our own.
May God give those in pain, new and stronger voices
and may He help each of us to be more caring and attentive
listeners. May God also help us have the courage to
pay the price to accept the truth, the humility to admit
our failures, the strength to change our actions and
the heart to be reconciled with each other as a society
that truly embraces its people.
____________________________________________________________
Please do not hesitate to email me
if you have comments to: Obang@anuakjustice.org
Obang Metho, Executive Member of the Solidarity Movement
for a New Ethiopia
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