By Ethiopia Hagere
I was delighted to be part of the gathering organized to welcome the Amhara region leaders this week. I was happy that it was our country’s flag that was flying and not the Amhara region’s flag as customary in other regional meetings. The meeting accommodated everyone whether they came as an Amhara or an Ethiopian. The leaders assured us that they are staunch Ethiopianists even though their party by name represents the interests of ethnic Amharas.
And that is what made me feel a little bit uneasy. I am 75% Amhara and 25% Oromo. I love both sides of my heritage. However, I consider myself 100% Ethiopian. I grew up in a family that emphasized individual virtue and love of God and Ethiopia. I felt uneasy at the meeting because I found myself questioning my own heritage and that I didn’t fully belong in this meeting.
They were people passionately arguing for the rights and benefits of Amaras. God knows ethnic Amharas have been targeted and have been subjected to cruel and discriminatory practices for the past 27 years. I am not trying to minimize the impact and the need to organize to make sure this type of victimization never happens.
However, I always fought and advocated for the rights of all Ethiopians. Can the Amhara be free while others are oppressed? Aren’t our destinies intertwined? Isn’t the current change the result of Amaras and Oromos working together? Aren’t there tens of millions of Ethiopians with mixed heritage? Who is going to advocate for us? I believe parties with ethnic prefixes naturally exclude people from other ethnic groups. Parties should be formed on the basis of ideas and not on the trivial matter of ethnicity.
I had a chance to ask Ato Gedu when his party would change from a regional, ethnic-based party to a nationwide, all-inclusive party based on lofty ideals. He did not respond to my question directly, but his demeanor showed no objection to my suggestion.
I believe the bankrupt policies of the past 27 years that pinned one group against another to simply hold on to power have taught us many valuable lessons. As they say in the West, you cannot have your cake and eat it too. You cannot continuously advocate just for the development and wellbeing of your ethnic group and be surprised when the bonds that tie us together weaken. Our motto should be all for one and one for all. That is the history of Ethiopia. That is why we have survived as a country for many millennia.
God bless Ethiopia and may He shine his loving countenance upon ALL its citizens.
https://youtu.be/uDpgfqjQH6o
