Today is the 37th day since Ethiopia’s brutal dictator Meles Zenawi disappeared. Only the top echelon of the ruling TPLF junta and some foreign governments know what happened to him. The people of Ethiopia, and even rank-and-file members of the ruling party, are in the dark.
To make matters worse for the regime, the ruling party, Tigrean People Liberation Front (TPLF), broke up its 8-day long meeting Friday because it is unable to come to an agreement on the future of the party.
Our heritage is our 88 beautiful tribes who are bonded not by federalism but above all Ethiopiawinet::
by Teddy Fikre dated: Friday, Juy 27th, 2012
Do you know the sound of age? It does not sound like tic, tic, tic; age is more like a tick that sucks the blood from your soul and leaves you in senior citizen amongst the denizen of the soon to be lifeless bodies. I know, a bit graphic right but it is the blunt truth. We are all bonded and bound to the rest that came before us. We will in due time disappear into the ether and be buried in graves. The only thing that will remain when we are nothing more than memories are our legacies. Our legacy is our heritage.
So this s the crux of the matter before us, our legacy is our heritage. Our heritage is timeless and endless. Long after our time on this earth is finished, what will stay behind and be written in the stars is the history of our culture, our tradition, and our common aspirations—the only thing that will remain is our heritage. Heritage is the core of a people; we are defined not by our existence but by the very essence of our history and our culture. Our heritage is our inheritance, we are nothing more and nothing less than the history of Ethiopia passed down to us one generation the next.
Our heritage is Adwa. Our heritage is undefeated. Our heritage is buna. Our heritage is 13 months of Sunshine. Our heritage is our enat (mother) Ethiopia. Our heritage got Obama elected! In our hearts beats the heritage of ten thousand Adwa Jegnas and forty million emamas. Our heritage is our genes and our menfes, we breathe and live our history through our stories and our fables. Irrespective of our philosophy, our ideology, our God, or our preferences, we are all in the end tied and wedded to our heritage and our intertwined interdependence.
Our heritage is our flag without a symbol on it. Our heritage is found in our names; Desta, Tesfaye, Fikre, Haile, Emnet, Luladey, Aster, Makeda, Meron—in these names you will find a folklore of our heritage and our oneness to the ones before us. We are the manifestation of our parents’ aspirations and the dreams of our forefathers. We are heritage through our eskista and our injera, each shoulder shake and every gursha is the continuation of our heritage by other means. Our heritage is found in the smiles of innocent children and in the grasp and slow walk of old men. Our heritage is in our musika and our getems, our heritage is timeless and classic.
Our heritage is not acronyms because liberation fronts are a front that murder people instead of liberating them. Our heritage is not found in… (Continued)…
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Ethiopian Heritage Festival Weekend
[click to visit ESHNA and find out about this weekend’s event]
This weekend, July 27th – July 29th, The Ethiopian Heritage Society of North America (EHSNA) is sponsoring the second annual Ethiopian Heritage Festival at Georgetown University. The event will be a cultural extravaganza featuring some of Ethiopia’s most famous singers, food, culture, history, and activities for children.
The Ethiopian Heritage Society of North America (EHSNA) was founded to preserve and retell the story and history of Ethiopians by Ethiopians for all people who ove Ethiopia. Ethiopia is a land of blessings and a history unparalleled in human civilization. Ethiopia was the first African country to defeated a Western Colonial power (Italy) in the battle of Adwa. Ethiopia is where coffee was discovered. Ethiopia is mentioned in the Bible 13 times, only Israel surpasses Ethiopia’s name in the bible.
AUTHOR
Teddy Fikre
[click to view profile and follow on twitter @teddyfikre]
[High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay. UN Photo/JC McIlwaine]
(UN News Center) — The top United Nations human rights official today said she is “seriously alarmed” by the current climate of intimidation against journalists and human rights defenders in Ethiopia due to an overly broad interpretation of laws concerning terrorism and civil society in the country.“The recent sentencing of 20 Ethiopians, including prominent blogger Eskinder Nega, journalists and opposition figures, under the vague anti-terrorism law has brought into stark focus the precarious situation of journalists, human rights defenders and Government critics in the country,” the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, said in a news release.Charging journalists and political opposition members with terrorism and treason charges is seriously limiting their legitimate rights to freedom of expression and association, Ms. Pillay noted, and urged the Government to review its legislation, as well as its interpretation and application by the courts.
“The overly broad definitions in the July 2009 anti-terrorism law of Ethiopia result in criminalizing the exercise of fundamental human rights,” Ms. Pillay said. “Taken together, such laws have created a climate of intimidation.”
The human rights chief emphasized that the harsh sentences handed down to journalists and the excessive restrictions placed on human rights and non-governmental organizations are stifling dissent and undermining the freedom of opinion in Ethiopia.
She also noted that, since 2009, there has been a dramatic reduction in the number of organizations working on human rights issues, particularly on civil and political rights, which she referred to as “deeply disturbing.”
“Laws to combat terrorism must be consistent with the Government’s human rights obligations under international conventions as well as the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and other regional instruments to which Ethiopia is party,” Pillay said, reiterating that the United Nations is ready to help Ethiopia review its legislation.
Today is the 36th day since Ethiopia’s dictator Meles Zenawi has disappeared from the public view. The ruling Woyanne tribal junta says Meles is recovering from a minor illness, but there is a growing belief that he is dead.
A pilot who was flying top officials of a certain African country has informed Ethiopian Review Intelligence Unit today that the officials have told him Meles Zenawi is dead. (Names are withheld for the pilot’s safety.)
Also today, one foreign journalist who is based in Addis Ababa told Ethiopian Review that she has received warning from Woyanne propaganda chief Bereket Simon not to write any thing about Meles Zenawi’s condition, or else face expulsion from the country.
The highly secretive TPLF meeting is continuing for the 8th day today. A major announcement is expected by early next week, according to Ethiopian Review sources.
Ethiopian Heritage Society in North America’s annual Ethiopian cultural festival will open Friday, July 26, 2012, at Georgetown University. Click here for more info.
Opening Ceremony: Friday, July 27, 2012 at 5:00 PM
Place: Georgetown University, 3700 O St NW, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20007
Welcome to the 2nd EHSNA Annual Celebration: by Dr. Shakespeare Fayissa, President, EHSNA
Welcome to Georgetown University: by Prof. Maurice Jackson, Department of History, Georgetown University
Abune Melketsedik will be honored by the Ethiopian Heritage Society in North America this weekend at the annual Ethiopian festival for his life time contribution for the betterment of Ethiopia.
By Yilma Bekele
I have the good fortune of residing in Oakland, California where His Holiness Abune Melketsedek, Secretary of Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church in exile and head of Mekane Selam Medhane Alem Cathedral resides. Writing about his Eminence is not easy. Most famous people are attracted to the limelight. Being the story is part of their psychological makeup. Their motto ‘It is all about me’ is what attracts people towards them. Politicians, actors, athletes are perfect examples of the self-centered among us. Here in the US even religious leaders are not immune from this disease of me first philosophy.
Our Orthodox Tewahedo experience is different. Pictures of our church leaders are not the main attraction. Their name is not written in big letters outside the church or lit in neon for all passers by to see. The emphasis is where it should be, mans relationship to his/her God. Our father dearly refereed to as Abatachen by all exemplifies that doctrine. His holiness is no more than a simple servant of God doing his work to serve his beloved Church and his dear country. There is nothing complicated about him. For such a giant of a person in the life of our Church and Country, for a person with decades of unsurpassed service to both he surprises us all by the simplicity in his interactions with all and his sunny disposition under all circumstances.
These values did not just happen. They are the result of his devotion and strong belief that has sustained him ever since he embarked on the road of serving God. He has traveled many happy and not so happy roads. He has reached the apex of his Tewahedo Church as well us being imprisoned like a common criminal. He has humbly advised Emperor Haile Selassie on spiritual matters, as well as the Deanship of Trinity Cathedral the largest Orthodox Church In Addis Abeba. He has also experienced the life of an exile, a common refugee in a place he never dreamt he would find himself. When you see Abatachen you will never read all the trials and tribulation he has gone thru. What you see is a kind smiling face always worried about the comfort and well being of others. When you meet him personally his eyes twinkle with all the love and his face brightens like the mid day sun to welcome you.
Our holy father has this ability to make you feel safe and comfortable around him. He speaks simply and clearly. He listens intensely and makes his points direct and easy to understand. As a young one he has fulfilled the requirements of his church as deacon, priest, and studied Zema, Quine among others. Abatachen was one of the first chosen to go abroad and study the modern workings of religion, philosophy and how the outside world functions. He received his degree in theology from Halky Greek Theological College in Istanbul, Turkey. He speaks Geez, Amharic, Greek, and English fluently and understands Tigregna, Arabic, Hebrew, Turkish and Italian. He has found the time to write several books both in Amharic and English on spiritual matters to help his people understand this ancient religion he is a leader of.
Upon exile from his beloved homeland he did not land into an established Church and a functioning congregation. He started from scratch and was able to build a home away from home for all his children. When he came to Oakland he found a congregation that was being tossed around from Greek Orthodox to Serbian Orthodox Churches with no place of its won. In 1993 at long last an old abandoned Catholic Church was acquired and the process of rebuilding started with earnest. The inside was filled with stray animals and discarded items while the outside has turned into a weed garden. Here is a story as told to me by my friend Asrat one of the founders of the church. Abatachen ordered ten brooms and gathered all the young people in the Church. When they got there Abatachen after blessing the place got the brooms to the side of the room while all eyes were looking to see what was going to happen. Most were assuming locals would be hired to do the cleaning while they supervise. To their surprise Abatachen picked one broom fore himself at which point everybody run towards him to take the broom away to stop him from such menial labor. To their surprise he handed them each their own individual broom and started to clean without wasting a second. How could anyone walk away from this act of leadership by example?
The fact that his room did not have adequate heating, even had broken glass in the window did not deter Abatachen from making the Church a place where all felt welcome and proud. It was a lesson in humility to see Abatachen prepare meals for the young deacons that have to go to adult school. Today Oakland Medhane Alem Tewahedo Cathedral is located in a modern building with a large Kitchen, meeting facility that also serves as a school for the young ones, office space and a parking lot. That is not all Abatachen helped increase the number of Churches in North America from five to over forty with the number of members estimated over fifty thousand. The modernizing influence he started in Ethiopia has continued in attracting and promoting a bigger role for women in church matters. There is no question his vision has resulted in strengthening the church beyond anyone’s expectations. If Oakland is a clue to that assertion it is easy to see the important and key role our mothers, sisters and daughters are playing in making the congregation strong and vibrant.
At the ripe age of ninety his Holiness has become a globetrotting ambassador traveling as far away as Australia and South Africa not counting all of North America his home base. Abatachen is both a peacemaker and a combatant. He was forced to flee his homeland because he would not accept wrong deeds no matter where they come from. Exile has not been easy. The illegal regime that has circumvented our Tewahedo Church at home is always waging a relentless war abroad too. Abatachen due to the central role he plays in keeping his flock together has been the target they would like to destroy. Our Holy father has dealt with this unequal struggle against a State with patience, wisdom from long experience and guidance from God and been able to steer his flock in the path of steadfastness, focused and unyielding to being bullied by cowards.
It is with deep satisfaction we witnessed the resolution by the Holy Synod in Exile standing on the side of our Moslem brethren in their bitter conflict with the dictatorial regime currently in power in Ethiopia. That is what love for country and religion is all about. Our two religions have lived side by side since time immemorial and the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church’s firm stand on this matter is in the tradition of our ancient religion and its adherence to preserving peace and tranquility in our country. This act alone is proof that our Holy Father’s presence in North America at this critical time in our history our God is always looking after our ancient land, that he will not abandon his children where ever they might be scattered.
This year it is a proud and joyous moment in North America. His spiritual children are celebrating and honoring Abatachen at the annual Ethiopian Heritage Society celebration in Washington DC on July 27th. His Holiness is the guest of honor and what a deserving leader they picked. No one exemplifies lifetime dedication and service to country and people. Ethiopians in Oakland are blessed to have such a shepherd who has managed to keep his flock together in peace and love in this time of turbulence in our homeland and places of exile. We are proud that our people in North America are cognizant of his tireless work on behalf of his people and country and are paying due respect for decades of service. We all wish him a long life; we pray that our God allows him to return to his native land in peace and health. God be with Abatachen.
If you live in the DC Metro area please go to Ethiopian Heritage Society festival at George Town University, Harbin field Multi sports facility from July 27 to 29th. As we made our country proud during the recent ESFNA event in Dallas let us show our unity in diversity to all those that preach our demise. Our love for each other and our ancient land is what keeps us going when all else seem to fail.
Do you know the sound of age? It does not sound like tic, tic, tic; age is more like a tick that sucks the blood from your soul and leaves you in senior citizen amongst the denizen of the soon to be lifeless bodies. I know, a bit graphic right but it is the blunt truth. We are all bonded and bound to the rest that came before us. We will in due time disappear into the ether and be buried in graves. The only thing that will remain when we are nothing more than memories are our legacies. Our legacy is our heritage.
