But behind the passion stand great principles. “The protection of fundamental human rights was a foundation stone in the establishment of the United States over 200 years ago. A central goal of U.S. foreign policy has been the promotion of respect for human rights, as embodied in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.” In the memorable words of Jimmy Carter, “America did not invent human rights. In a very real sense human rights invented America.” Exhibit A: The Declaration of Independence.
What Can We Learn From Members of Congress in Advancing Ethiopian Human Rights?
Passion, More Passion
What we saw in the Committee room on September 26 is something that we rarely see in our community: deep, passionate commitment to a cause which forces us to overflow with the truth. If members of Congress can be so passionate about human rights in Ethiopia, why can’t we? When these members of Congress and other supporters advocate on behalf of the cause of democracy and human rights in Ethiopia they do not hide their emotions or hide behind cute pseudonyms and fearsome-sounding pen names. Unlike many of our invisible, nameless and faceless cyber-warriors, they do not launch missiles of barbed words comfortably ensconced behind their keyboards. They don’t conceal their message in scholastic arguments or pedantry. They stand up in public and say what they mean, and mean what they say! That is what we should learn from our members of Congress. Saying it like it is!
But why can’t we say it like it is? Could it be because we really do not believe in what we say, and say what we believe. How can anyone expect to offer an intellectually respectable view or analysis when that person is afraid to reveal his/her identity? Who would accept a soulless message or believe in it? If one is afraid of public scrutiny, ridicule or castigation, then one ought to remain silent. We must not be paper tigers willing to shout and criticize the adversary only when he is not looking, or when he does not know our names. If the people for whom we struggle can risk their lives and liberties everyday and put everything o the line, we must not fear standing up in public for them in our own names, in our own persons, and say it like it is.
Infuse Your Passion With the First Amendment
Living in America and as American citizens, we have something that few people on earth have, and the vast majority would kill to have: The right to free speech. This most precious of our civil liberties was placed for safekeeping in the Constitution so that we, the people, will NEVER fear anyone, any official or any government, when we want to say our peace.
Since 1791, the First Amendment has served as the peoples’ impregnable shield against censorship. Many great Americans have stood up and exercised their right to free speech in times of peace and war, in hard times and good times. Paul Robeson stood against the withering persecution of McCarthy’s communist witch hunt. Thousands of ordinary American youth challenged their government and brought an end to the Vietnam War exercising their First Amendment rights. Even the brash young man, Gregory Johnson, could feel wholly confident in his right to freedom of speech that he burned Old Glory, the American flag, with impunity in a public place as thousands of patriots looked on heartsick.
Let us use our right to free speech to hold government accountable, to demand answers from public officials, to challenge them and to keep them honest. Let’s use our powers as American taxpayers to make sure “vicious dictators” do not use weapons of war which paid for by our tax dollars to be used against civilians, our brothers and sisters. IF WE DOT NOT SPEAK OUT AND SPEAK UP AS TAXPAYERS AND ALLOW AMERICAN HUMVEES AND MACHINE GUNS TO BE USED AGAINST THE CIVILIAN POPULATION IN ETHIOPIA, WE ARE GUILTY OF MORAL COMPLICITY IN ANY CRIMES COMMITTED. On this question, there is no opportunity for fence sitting, and for indifference. You have to take a stand, or stand trial in the court of your own conscience.
But let us not misuse our constitutional right to free expression. When we misuse the First Amendment to insult, demean, belittle, dishonor, disrespect and humiliate each other, not only do we squander and dishonor our precious right, in our verbal slugfest, we let those tyrants and dictators off the hook. We end up becoming their laughing stock.
We Must Act Out of A Sense of Duty, No Place For Moral Indifference
Members of Congress passed H.R. 2003 out of constitutional duty under Art. I, sec. 8 of the U.S. Constitution and in exercise of their “power of the purse”. Of course, we do not have a constitutional duty to help our people, but we do have an equally compelling moral duty to act. That moral duty arises from the moral imperative to stand up against evil. As Edmund Burke said, “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” Let’s not forget, the good women as well… continued on next page
10 thoughts on “One small step for the U.S. Congress, one giant leap for Ethiopian human rights”
Prof Al Mariam – We are so proud of Mr Donald Payne, the Capitain of the Freedom Train – Ethiopia and all freedom loving people owe him big.
As an Ethiopian I am very proud of you (Prof Al Mariam) for your relentless energy and wisdom in this very frustrating time. You help draft this legislation and answered all the questions at every turn and guided the legislators through the complex political landscape!!!
You are my hero – unflinching, unassuming, a man of highest integrity and most of all intellectually loaded. I hope Ethiopia and Ethiopians will celebrate your contribution one day in a free and Democratic Ethiopia – You are a man of substance in times of bravado and hypocrisy shown by others.
Prof Al Mariam – I salute you and wish to express my sincere thanks!!!
Gashie Alemayehu
Earlier today I was sharing this quotation of Victor Hugo with my paltalk brothers and sister and now when I read it on your article, I said to myself ‘indeed the time has come and it is now’!!
“One can resist the invasion of an army, but one cannot resist the invasion of ideas whose time has come.”
It is our time NOW and we are the future of Ethiopia!!!
God Bless you for your wonderful message.
I concur with everyone. You have achieved something no one has been able to do, help pass bill against the Woyanes despite their religious clowns led by Ephrem, and their $50K most powerful lobbyists.
Many in Washington including the recently appointed the so-called phony acters and Hailu Shawl foreign relation clowns have tried to do it until you came to the scene and took charge.
Keep it up and please don’t worry. Let them get the credit and we know who is doing the actual work, Al Mariam and his supporters.
Dawit Hailu
Prof. Alemayehu I have no words to express my appreciation
the one word only one word I can say is You are Ande Le-Enato Ye Ethiopia Amelake Eskezezerhe Yebarkeh. Yo have offered somithing that cannot be quantifyied in any shape or form. Thank You !!! Thank You!!!!!
Prof. Alemayehu i don’t know how i express my respect to you ,today we need the real ethiopian like you, don’t lesson or give attention for those loser just do it and you show them the way of thinking ,strugling and caring for your people not like them made “hamete” for 35 years and it will be more unless if they need progress i hope you and kinjet delegates are ready to teach them, any way you are my hero ,you are hero for ethiopian and any one who have a good vision for ethiopian democarcy and human right strugle
god bless you! god bless Ethiopia
Prof. Alemayehu, I read your piece with absolute interest and the hope that very humane , knowledgable & very dedicated people like you and people like congressman Payne and his fellow congress members out there are doing something for humanity and the service of truth. We were at the verge of getting frustrated by the stand and double standard The US taken towards the human right abuse and governance by coercion and terrorizing it’s own citizen as compared to that of American open disapproval of vote rigging and human right abuse in UKRAIN & GEORGIA. Fortunately because of you and those American freedom fighters in congress we are able to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I also appreciate the statment you made about vigillance and the challenge this bill faces in the senate as being repeatedly being portrayed by the regim & it’s supporters in Ethiopia and the US. please, please and again please donot get frustrated from temporary hitches and failures, because the fate of millions of people and the country enlarge depends on fighters of your caliber. Never loose hope as the ALMIGHTY won’t let those fighting for the truth down. May God give you the strength and the wisdom in your fight.
Hello Prof Al Mariam, You have united us when they try to divide us, you have made a call for action, you have done it professionaly and with integrity. you should proud of your great work. your are one in a million. we all love you
and keep it up .
You are a respectful and different person. It is such type of educated individuals that our country needs at this time. you are doing a great job. Let God be with you.
Prof Al Mariam – it was just absolutely fantastic to read your message to all of us. Thank you from the bottom my heart for the work you have been doing to advance human right in our home land Ethiopia.
Ethiopians and history will remember your contribution for generation to come.
Victor Hugo
“One can resist the invasion of an army, but one cannot resist the invasion of ideas whose time has come.”
very true indeed!