By Yilma Bekele

Psychologist Ellen McGrath calls it ‘the rumination rut’…. a style of thinking in which, like a hamster in a cage, you run in tight circles on a treadmill in your brain. It means obsessing about a problem, about a loss, about any kind of setback or ambiguity without moving past thought into the realm of action.’ This in turn makes us loose our focus. While our problem stays constant our focus wonders aimlessly. It is like trying to hit a moving target.

‘Land to the tiller’ was a cry in 1968. ‘Land to the tiller’ is still the cry of the vast majority of our people today. ‘Democracy, the Rule of Law and respect for basic Human Rights’ was the issue raised by Kinijit and other opposition parties during the May 2005 general election. ‘Democracy, Rule of Law and respect for Human Right’ are still the main demand today.

The last two years have shown the ‘Diaspora’ to be an agent of positive change in the affairs of our homeland. So much has been accomplished in such a short time. On the other hand those who will loose from positive change have not been idle either. Innumerable hurdles were thrown to derail the march for true Democracy.

Those within the ‘organization’ were used to disrupt the organization. It is a scientific method Biologists use to fight insects and other pests that threaten both humans and animals. They utilize what is known as ‘Sterile insect technique’. This method of biological control works by releasing millions of sterile or genetically modified insects in the general population thus disrupting the normal reproduction cycle.

When it comes to ‘human organization’ the same method is applied by inserting agents camouflaged as committed members. Properly handled they could even rise up to leadership position. Ato Ledetu is a perfect example of the ‘sterile insect technique’. Intentional or not it was executed perfectly. The opposition was in disarray. The population was subdued. The movement lost focus. There was too much up on the screen.

The same technique was exported among the ‘Diaspora’ organizations. The North American population was ideal. Since the fall of the Monarchy it has accommodated every breed of self declared ‘opposition’ to any existing regime. A few have manipulated the ‘love for mother Ethiopia’ the vast majority have to their own selfish ends. Most have used it as a ‘a cash machine’ to enrich themselves. It did not take long before there were illegal account transfers, undemocratic firings and name-calling. The ‘Diaspora’ in North America with the most population and money was in disarray. The movement lost focus. There was too much up on the screen.

It was Abraham Lincoln who said ‘you can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.’ The ‘Diaspora’ in North America at long last said enough was enough and refused to be fooled. It chartered a new path. The new organization was built from the bottom up. Appointment was replaced by elections. ‘Sterile Insect technique’ is not effective in such environment.

The movement stayed in focus. Focus, purpose and simplicity work together to create success. This time the movement took a step forward. The regime was forced to back down and release the detainees. Those who were watching the struggle from the periphery were willing to join. The pressure was mounting. The now famous HR2003 sailed thru the US House of Representatives unanimously. Passage in the Senate was around the corner.

‘Sterile insect technique’ was unleashed in a spectacular manner. It was dramatic. The ultimate betrayal. The giant turned out to be a dwarf. It was meant to demoralize us, break our back, and send us to a hellhole of depression. Bullies underestimate their victims. Never again is North Americas reply. We have risen beyond personalities. As the Ethiopian people have persevered under the constant onslaught of Woyane terror, we pledge to stand up against feudal impersonators.

We have learned to stay in focus. We are not going to be sidetracked. We have defined our goal and purpose and no amount of background noise is going to take our attention from the prize. No matter how long it takes we will stay the course and win. Keeping quiet is not an option. Staying neutral is not an option. Losing is not an option. We will not be distracted by our worries and fears, but rather take strength from the lofty goal we have set for our country and people, ‘Freedom and Democracy’ and Ethiopia will rise up again.

Our focus is the struggle to bring ‘Democracy, Justice and the Rule of Law’ to our motherland. Nothing more. Nothing less. We will not be distracted by shameless ‘leaders’, nor by negative propagandists. The possibility of losing does not compare to the certainty of wining. The ultimate prize is a glorious Ethiopia leading the Horn of Africa in science, technology and human value. As they say in US Navy Seals ‘the more you sweat in peace time the less you bleed in war’. We will focus and work hard today, so tomorrow our sons and daughters will benefit from our effort.
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Ato Yilma Bekele can be reached at [email protected]