Al Mariam's CommentariesAugust 1, 2022
Author’s Note:On July 26, 2022, PM Abiy Ahmed issued a Statement underscoring the importance of gratitude and especially to the Almighty for having helped Ethiopia face extreme challenges and (Alternate link for Statement.)PM Abiy’s Statement on gratitude to the Almighty addressed the manifest divine intervention in Ethiopia’s destiny.PM Abiy said all things are possibly with the Almighty.Ethiopia was down for the count as she faced internal enemies and the mighty Leviathans of the world ganged up on her.But Ethiopia rose up and continued the fight with the Almighty on her side.Ethiopia stared the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse — War, Pestilence/Plague, Famine and Death — and had her head bludgeoned and bloodied but unbowed.The freedom, independence and sovereignty of Ethiopia was defended and preserved by the blood of patriots who refused to surrender to terrorists and their foreign bankrollers.Ethiopians have lost much to bear in lives, treasure and peace of mind but they have also been blessed by the Almighty beyond measure.
Ethiopia will always be victorious because she has the Almighty as her defense.
Ethiopia is blessed to have such a great civilization and it is our duty to protect, defend and preserve it and share it with the world.
Ethiopia and Ethiopian have been blessed to finally take their place in the sun as the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam shines its light on them..
“Thank God no matter what happens.”
Over the past four years, I have dedicated two commentaries to thank H.E. Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed for all he has done for Ethiopia.
I wrote the first note of thanks on December 31, 2018 in commemoration of his stellar achievements in the first eight months in office. Below is an exact reproduction of that commentary.
I wrote the second note of thanks on April 2, 2021, on the second anniversary of his taking office.
In April 2021, I was exuberantly optimistic hoping we had “finally seen darkness and the Princes of Darkness disappear before the sunlight of a brand new day.”
Exultantly, I expressed my cherished hopes paraphrasing Shakespeare.
We see the end of
the long hard winter of our discontent
Made glorious summer by this sun (son) of Ethiopia
And all the clouds that lour’d upon our Ethiopia House
In the deep bosom of the ocean buried.
That was not to be.
In November 2021, the terrorist TPLF attacked the Ethiopian Northern Command and tried to sweep away our Ethiopia House in a river of blood.
But the Ethiopia House proved immovable. It is still standing and will stand until the end of time.
Indeed, standing tall on a foundation of Ethiopian brotherhood and sisterhood and their unshakeable faith in the Almighty.
I Thank God Almighty for keeping Ethiopia Standing Tall and Proud!
Ethiopia’s enemies across the seas and oceans and its children-turned-enemies in its bosom wonder how Ethiopia always comes up on top and clinches victory against all odds.
I feel like telling them to go and talk to our long distance runners who crisscross the globe collecting gold medals like pebbles on the beach.
But I know better.
Paraphrasing the words of James Russell Lowell, Ethiopia is always victorious because she is protected by
Troops of beautiful, tall angels who enshield her from all wrong and wrongdoers…
Let Ethiopia’s enemies beware:
Careless seems the great Avenger; Ethiopian history’s pages but record
One death-grapple in the darkness ‘twixt old systems and the Word;
Truth forever on the scaffold, Wrong forever on the throne,—
Yet that scaffold sways the future, and, behind the dim unknown,
Standeth God within the shadow, keeping watch above his own ETHIOPIA.
Our Ethiopia House keeps on standing tall and proud supported by the sinews of our fearless and vigilant Ethiopian National Defense Force and Regional Special Forces and their commanding officers.
THANK YOU! Ethiopian National Defense Force and Regional Special Forces and Commanding Officers.
I THANK the people of Ethiopia for making me personally proud for so many things, but most specially for conducting a peaceful election in 2021 and for coming together as one in the TPLF war on Ethiopia.
Ethiopia held its first ever democratic election certified by the African Union as free and fair. In many places, Ethiopians lined up to vote beginning at the stroke of midnight.
When the terrorist TPLF swept across the land massacring, pillaging and plundering, Ethiopians came as one: ONE ETHIOPIA.
There are so many to thank but space will not allow me to mention them all. THANK YOU ALL!
Last but not least, I THANK PRIME MINSITER AND COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF THE ENDF, DR. ABIY AHMED.
Six days after PM Abiy took office on April 2, 2018, I pledged to support him however long, arduous or difficult the journey may be to get Ethiopia on the road to peace and prosperity.
I made my position clear three weeks after PM Abiy began work:
I am convinced more than ever that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Ethiopians… That generation is PM Abiy’s, not my Hippo (older) generation. Ethiopia’s fate and destiny hangs in the balance of their success and failure. I will do whatever I can to make sure PM Abiy’s generation succeeds because state failure, political failure, economic failure and social failure are not options for Ethiopia!
For me, it has all been about PM Abiy’s generation and the generation following.
When PM Abiy took office, I made a promise I could not keep.
I promised my generation, especially in the diaspora, will be water carriers as his generation did all of the heavy lifting in building Ethiopia.
But the Ethiopian diaspora, especially the elites who have had opportunities to be become water carries have chosen the path of becoming lords of those doing the heavy lifting.
So, as I thank PM Abiy, I also apologize to him personally for my failure and the diaspora’s failure to not stand up when her enemies blustered Ethiopia was down and out for the count.
I support PM Abiy Ahmed because he breathes Ethiopia, talks Ethiopia, walks Ethiopia, sleeps Ethiopia, dreams Ethiopia, imagines Ethiopia and lives Ethiopia.
Ethiopia is in his mind 24/7/365.
Doggone it! That is what I do everyday too!
But PM Abiy does much more than breathe, talk, walk, sleep, dream, imagine and live Ethiopia.
PM Abiy builds dams, roads, bridges and homes for poor grandmas in Ethiopia. He fights for Ethiopia in the battlefield and faces the enemy unafraid. He plans and develops strategy for the economy to deal with crippling sanctions.
PM Abiy speaks truth to the high and mighty of the world on behalf of Ethiopia. He tells them I’d rather be a free Ethiopian in my grave than live as a puppet or a slave of terrorists and their bankrollers.
PM Abiy is a man of integrity, honesty and will never compromise on Ethiopian unity and sovereignty.
PM Abiy teaches, “We are Ethiopians when we are alive. We become Ethiopia when we rest in her soil.”
PM Abiy teaches the willfully ignorant that the only way to win is with ideas not guns.
PM Abiy plants billions of trees. He is about to complete the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. Ethiopia will export wheat to the world for the first time in its millennia-long history.
I thank PM Abiy for his Medemer ideas.
When Ethiopians understand the true power of Medemer, Ethiopia will become ETHIOPIA INVICTUS! (ETHIOPIA UNCONQERABLE!)
I and all Ethiopians who support PM Abiy have much to thank him for, but we would much rather thank the Almighty for giving us a leader who will lead Ethiopians in our exodus out of poverty into prosperity, out of the politics of ethnic identity into our national unity and inspires us all to come together not just in our humanity but our greater divinity.
THANK YOU PM ABIY. MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND MAKE YOUR ENEMIES YOUR FOOTSTOOL!
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Thank You PM Abiy Ahmed for All You Have Done for Ethiopia! (From December 31, 2018)
An open Thank You note to H.E. Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed
Dear Prime Minster Abiy:
For over a decade, I have used the last of my weekly commentaries to catalogue the crimes against humanity, the corruption and abuses of power that occurred in Ethiopia during the year.
But not this year.
This year is very special for me.
2018 is a year of gratitude.
I believe I resonate the feelings of millions of Ethiopians in my expressions of gratitude to the Almighty first and to all of the young Ethiopians who, through their blood, sweat and tears, managed to liberate Ethiopia from the iron clutches of ethnic apartheid.
I also believe millions of Ethiopians share my expressions of gratitude to you and The Team for toiling behind the scenes for years to root out ethnic hate, religious bigotry and social division in Ethiopia.
PM Abiy, when the Ethiopian Diaspora Trust Fund (EDTF) broke the USD$1 million last week, you expressed gratitude to all Ethiopians scattered throughout the world “for having kept our word”, our promise.
When you have been doing all of the heavy lifting over the past 8 months, and millions of us in the diaspora could not lift a dollar a day to support the EDTF, I am not sure we deserve such overwhelming gratitude from you.
But I humbly accept your magnanimous expression of gratitude as the chairperson of EDTF on behalf of the Ethiopian Diaspora.
But I would like to tell you, in the poetic words of Robert Frost, we Diaspora Ethiopians know we “have promises to keep, And miles to go before we sleep, And miles to go before we sleep.” For the work of EDTF has only just begun!
I have written this personal note as an expression of my personal gratitude for all you have done for Ethiopia over the past eight months.
The Dream(ers) Team
I also belatedly thank you and so many others for your collective labor of love as unknown and unsung heroes toiling invisibly for years to bring the people of Ethiopia into an age of unity, multiparty democracy and the rule of law.
Perhaps you may wonder why I should write a public personal note of thanks to you.
It is because I hear and read few expressions of gratitude for your monumental, unrivalled and historic achievements in just the few months you have been in office.
I do not want to admit it but it pains me to see that those who most admire and honor your achievements in glowing terms are not your compatriots.
Here are just a few examples.
In July, Herman Cohen, former U.S. Assistant Secretary for African Affairs twitted, “For the first time in my professional life, I am nominating someone for the Nobel Peace Prize: Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. If he brings multiparty democracy to #Ethiopia, the entire Horn of Africa will be transformed for the better.”
I am certain you will bring multiparty democracy to Ethiopia and the Nobel Prize will come to you. Mark my words!
In August, Black Star News declared, “Dr. Abiy Ahmed is a legitimate Nobel Peace Prize candidate.” I think you know my views on that.
The Financial Times wrote “Abiy Ahmed may be the most popular politician in Africa” and called you, “Ethiopia’s Mandela”. I think I said that first.
The New York Times says Abiy Ahmed is the “most closely watched leader in Africa.”
The Economist has been trying to figure out why “Ethiopians are going wild for Abiy Ahmed.”
Al Jazeera wondered if Abiy Ahmed is the real thing: “Are Ethiopians blinded by Abiymania?”
Two weeks ago, African Leadership Magazine declared you “2018 African Leader of the Year”.
Just a few days ago, BBC reported, “Abiy Ahmed has been doing the seemingly impossible ever since he unexpectedly became prime minister of Ethiopia in April.” He has done the “equivalent of making the sun rise from the west.”
The sun rising from the west?!
In August, CNN tried to explain “Why Ethiopians believe their new prime minister is a prophet”.
Today, CNN wrote, “Abiy Ahmed: The Ethiopian Prime Minister who captured Africa’s imagination.”
What did we, your people, write about you?
Suffice it to say, “A prophet has no honor in his own country and among his people.”
There are those who are quick to criticize you and insist that you walk on water before they even acknowledge your work let alone express their appreciation.
They demand that, at least if you cannot walk on water, you must solve all of Ethiopia’s problems overnight but no less than eight months.
I call your carping critics “nabobs of negativism”.
They are a bunch of feckless and self-righteous windbags and busybodies who are nothing more than empty barrels. I ignore them with contempt.
I must tell you that it really bothers me why your compatriots, particularly those in the learned and professional communities, withhold their gratitude and appreciation for your extraordinary accomplishments.
That has puzzled me for some time.
I am told public expression of gratitude and appreciation for a job well done is not part of “our Ethiopian tradition”.
I am told Ethiopians generally do not publicly and enthusiastically express gratitude they fear being perceived as “weak”. Others withhold gratitude because of personal “envy”.
Someone once gave me a curious explanation. “Ethiopians express their gratitude in silence.”
That impresses me as wrapping a beautiful gift for someone but never giving it.
Of course, I do not believe any of these explanations because they suggest we are an ungrateful nation.
I must tell you that in the land where I spent nearly one-half century, gratitude is a highly cherished value. It is a hallowed tradition.
To me, gratitude is the most important virtue in life.
I am a grateful person by nature.
When I celebrated Thanksgiving with my family last month, I told them during the invocation blessings that I must be the most thankful person on the planet.
I am so grateful to so many who helped me along my path in life.
I am so grateful to those who helped us raise donations for EDTF.
When I express gratitude, I feel good.
I get joy when I express gratitude to you for your extraordinary achievements and unparalleled service to Ethiopia over the past eight months.
Truth be told, my public expression of gratitude for your historic and monumental achievements washes away the anger, the bitterness, the resentment, the sadness, the despair, and the heartache I carried for the past 13 years after I joined the Ethiopian human rights movement.
I have been accused, from time to time, of never, ever having said a good word about the previous ethnic apartheid regime or it leaders. “How come you never say one good thing for the economic development and double-digit growth they brought about?”
I came to Ethiopia in September. I saw their double-digit growth. I laughed and then I cried.
I cried because as I traveled throughout the countryside, I found out first-hand the vast majority of the people did not have clean water to drink.
The schools I saw were a mockery of education. The youth I talked to were regretful of the lack of educational and employment opportunities.
And they talk about double-digit growth.
The arrogance of the ignorant!
The fact of the matter is I do not thank or express appreciation to murderers, torturers, thieves, criminals against humanity, haters and abusers of power and in general for Princes of Darkness.
But, PM Abiy, for over a decade, my year-end commentaries were tales of woe, heartache and tragedy in Ethiopia. They were chronicles of corruption and gross abuses of human rights in Ethiopia.
But not 2018!
This year, PM Abiy, marks, to paraphrase Shakespeare, the end of “the winter of our discontent/Made glorious summer by this sun (son) of Ethiopia/And all the clouds that lour’d upon our house/In the deep bosom of the ocean buried.”
Nine months ago, I along with millions of Ethiopians were in deep despair as the cloud of civil war and strife lowered on our House of Ethiopia.
Nine months ago, I saw a vision of darkness at noon in Ethiopia.
Nine months ago, I saw no light but the darkness of hate engulfing Ethiopia.
https://zehabesha.com/thank-you-pm-abiy-ahmed-for-all-you-have-done-for-ethiopia-from-december-31-2018/
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