“ A FLAWED PHILOSOPHY ” 
A.G. Tsegay’s attempt to marry compassion and meritocracy, is doomed to fail.

In response to A.G. Tsegay’s (16/06/02) attack on Tigrai Org. and My Article, “Beat the Evil Forces and the Future is yours” 

By: Dr. G Bekele (18 June 2002)

“Compassion breeds inequality”. “Helping those who cannot help themselves,” continues to carry un undertow of condescension: the oppressed and the needy have nothing to give back. Thus the anthropologist Mary Douglas observes about Christian charity: “Compassion wounds”.  

Dear A.G.Tsegay, - (I hope you are not Tsegaye Gebriye of London I admire!)

I have read your Article “Meles Bashing” on Tigrai Net while millions who follow the dedicated Ethiopian web sites like Tigrai Net were left rubbing their eyes in sheer disbelief. I honestly admire your “compassion”, “meritocracy” “fear” and your “Political Correctness”. But what I refuse to agree with you and fear is, if we use your methods of “wait and see” to fully materialize, the fate of our country will be death. Therefore, we will have “waited too long” and then nothing will be left in our country and in particular Tigrai but ashes, dust, dead bodies and Shaebia to again loot our country and control our affairs. You wouldn’t like these to happen to the beautiful and historical Tigrai or in general our country Ethiopia. Would you? 

I am not prepared therefore, to lie to the Ethiopian people hence, I have made up my mind that Meles the “axis of evil” needs to go. And the wishes of 99% Ethiopians is that he goes too. Even the most dedicated followers of politics and EPRDF, I am not implying that you are one, are bored with the politics of this government because of their continuing massacres and treason. As you are well aware too, what we are seeing now is a fascist government that refused to listen to the Ethiopian people who will also become a potent force for many more years if we don’t stop it by all means. Therefore, all possible tools of politics should be used to topple Meles and the Bandas from power. These most obtuse and barbarous people of the world must go. Period!  

Although you dared to give my Article and myself all sorts of names and mistaken interpretations, what is an appropriate action in your opinion to take to save our country from Satan? I hope it succeeds in its quest but feel has only 5 to 10 percent of chance to succeed. You think “it is a silver bullet, but our hopes are high and we would get lucky” one day like the lotteries. And until this happens, I hope you are not saying we have to sit and watch the fire burning. Oh No! We had enough fire and death for 28 years. As Voltaire once said, “who ever condemn the theatre is an enemy to his country”. Also a Russian proverb says too, “Greeks tell the truth, but only once a year”. But we haven’t heard a single truth from Meles and EPRDF in eleven years.

As I do not know you, I make no complaints about you and show no disgust but such unity of purpose can only be found nowhere else, except in an ant’s nest. If my impression is correct too, you are making a mistake if you continue to believe in this dream and flawed philosophy. Furthermore, you seem to declare that EPRDF’s system is “untouchable”. But as a brave and loyal Ethiopian who also saw the dead, the badly displaced, witnessed the falseness, the brutality and the treason of this government, I strongly believe “the war on our enemies, would not be won on the rubbish defensive talking, or on compassion grounds. We must take the battle to the enemy, disrupt his plans, and confront the worst threats before they emerge”. Haven’t you realised that it was because of the public pressure and unity that he finally decided after a month’s waiting to appeal against that flawed decision? 

As you may have read Getachew Reda’s “A Moving Thoughts” Article - a true Ethiopian, who doesn’t know me either and who published many good articles said, my article I believe has not lacked “originality” and “substance” unless you saw it from a different angle. In fact, I have been “inundated” with calls, faxes and emails from admirers all over the world for bravely and undeservedly hitting the nail on the head and exposing such villainy, bringing forward to the public the horrifying atrocities now taking place in our country and above all for naming, shaming the bandas and the traitors. Praise the lord we have Patriotic web sites like Tigrai Net. Tsegay, the only thing we have to fear is fear itself. We need not lick their boots too.  

While all web site owners had their instincts, brains, expertise and rights to follow, you shouldn’t have “lambasted” them on the Internet. As they give services to the public, you mustn’t also take web sites perversity so “personally” unless it was your duty to do so. Hence thanks God I am with the majority of the Ethiopian people and not in a position to cave in because of your or that of others opposition. I also refuse to offer you a “line by line” response to your accusation. It may sound funny without being vulgar but, I am free of all prejudice hence is willing to love all mankind except Meles and his cronies who are destroying our country in front of our eyes. As Heinrich Heine (1797-1856) once said, “one should forgive one’s enemies, but not before they are hanged”. Tsegay, every one’s been talking but who is listening? 

As you can understand too, your article “changed nothing”. In fact you became a victim and an added bonus for the already praised article, which also created strength and equally put thousands of Ethiopians in tears. In addition to that, while Tigrai Net, Axumite, Ethiopian Commentator and Berhan News Board all gave a status of “Must Read Article” they too may have been praised for their patriotic actions and good judgements. Hence I assure you that our campaign will not end with a whimper, fear and compromise but with a bang. It is no good to criticize others if and when you are not doing some thing better and useful. It is also a mistake to defend bad criminals unless otherwise as I indicated you are an employee of Meles or you are his Solicitor. As the saying goes, “If they gave reward for finding fault, some people would get rich quick”. I wouldn’t say you are that sort of person but I am a bit curious.  

It also sounded like that of EPRDF’s motto; you can have democracy but you cannot exercise it like the Eritreans did when Meles broke them out using illegal referendum. Wouldn’t you really like to see your country win her enemies? How many millions of our brothers and sisters have to die and how many acres of land we have to give away to our enemies before we confront this inhuman, disdainful and savage government? It has become culture fighting each other instead of our mutual enemies. You terribly failed to understand the messages behind my article. The name of the “Message” was “Unite” not “Fight each other” assuming you’re one of us. Therefore, let us say this is not said of you but equally it would have been more helpful for the public and our country if you had produced politically correct or better ideas instead of criticising the web sights and as a result insult the general public who on the other hand appreciated my article. Can’t you understand also why not only Tigrai but other web sites gave the article a must read status? Though I intentionally wrote this to defend Tigrai Org, on my part, I feel thrilled and blown away, like I‘ve been hit on the back of the head with a blunt object in a good way. Hence I do not have ill feelings against you at all. But did I really commit any horrible crime similar to Meles by only using “pen” to expose murderers and traitors? If that was wrong, I don’t want to be right. But I stand open for correction at any time by those who know better than me for our country. 

I always carried out formidable campaign on behalf of the voiceless and the oppressed in my country but to no avail. But thankfully, I am still courageous, determined, tireless, principled and never afraid to speak out my mind or stand up for my people, my country and my beliefs. I believe we have to leave behind a legacy of achievement which any future politician or citizen would be proud of. Therefore, I laughed uneasily, still hoping there was a joke in the note somewhere when you stated “Tigrai Org is simply playing into the hands of those who are using every means to keep Meles’s regime in power”. Really? Come of it! Let the public judge. And without going to details, I am a well-known Ethiopian for my integrity, loyalty and Ethiopian-ness. I was and am the peoples champ despite this government’s failed campaign. Hence remember the carpenter’s rule “measure twice, but cut once”.  

So you’re serious then when you “lionise” a creep like Meles. In that case my article must have left you floundering and breathless. Wake up! He is slaughtering innocent and peaceful people of our country and passing our lands to our traditional enemies. So you think I shouldn’t bring a statement of grievances, be emotional about my nation and my country? I agree with you on the other hand that educational and constructive analysis should be presented but equally you failed to pick much of the educational, informative and constructive stuff under various headings in my “acrimonious” (as you called it) article. And you think too that only articles that are informative and verifiable deserve a “must read” status and that alone can bring this regime down. Again my 19 pages article surely must have some sort of information hence does not deserve total rejection even by you the most wise person. The only problem I could see was that it was not intended to make every one believe in it and be happy with it. It was intended to please Ethiopians and startle our enemies. 

I viewed this inaccurate account as politically motivated but I was refrained to use my bad languages (as you described it) while I honestly believed you are still one of us but from the frightened group. Otherwise, there is no room for fear with me or my Ethiopian brothers and sisters. But I was, I confess, taken aback. Don’t get me wrong I’m not immune to the allure of a charismatic bad person. This will suffice for now, hence I am also eager listening to you again and a variety of genuine people who have some good thoughts to share. So please flesh out your “vision” of a peaceful and democratic Ethiopia and how that can be achieved. In the absence of that then as in the past, I am also willing to fight a battle for my people and my country. Because I believe we are fighting a just cause, which will result in our victory at the end.

Therefore to borrow a phrase or two, despite some elements “shivering”, the real and brave Ethiopians will continue “Bashing and Trashing” traitor Meles and the bandas until our nation is liberated. We will force him to speak for Ethiopia not for Eritrea until his departure. At the same time, we will continue devising strategies to topple them from the power and bring them to justice for their crimes against humanity and country. These satanic armies and enemies of Ethiopia will be kicked out like that of the Derg in disgrace and in humiliation. We will keep on sounding the “Alarm” that it is time to put Ethiopians on power. Action is urgently required and that is why I used those strong languages for the first time in my life. As the saying goes a “ Good scare is better than advice”. That is the only language too they seem to understand. Therefore your method has been proved to be a flawed philosophy.  

The war against Shaebia has turned its back to the Ethiopian people to only fulfil Meles and Isayas’s cheating and treason ambition. People are killed but no public inquiry or legal action is taken against the perpetrators. No condolences or compensation is paid for the dead families. Instead the “dead” are cursed and blamed for the government’s atrocities. This is against the nation, which has been in a war for many years, and which has not yet recovered from its previous loses and is suffering from all sorts of things in the country. I wanted to alert the laid back and the frightened people like you to take urgent action to stop this mayhem and make the future peaceful to bring real democracy for our nation. It is possible and if we genuinely are united we can do it. Yes! We the Ethiopian people only fear the real Mighty God and he will answer our prayers soon. So I say to Tsegay, and those who believe in his ideas, “It is better to die on your feet than on your knees.  

TSEGAY, WALK UP & SAVE YOUR NATION!! 

My friend, in some circumstances, I quite agree with you if you are an Ethiopian and on our side too. But what are we two against so many? Think Again! 

Meles, The “Unwanted Child of Ethiopia” Must Go! 
Down with Mele’s Fascism, Treason and Dictatorship! 

LONG LIVE MOTHER ETHIOPIA!! 

PS: Tsegay, you are sincerely and wholeheartedly advised to clear your mess and see fit to acquire something dignified but unaccustomed humility and apologise to Tigrai Org, the other reputable and brave Web Sites like Axumite, Berhan News Board and Ethiopian Commentator who has been wrongly criticised for posting my Article. Furthermore, the reading public including Getachew Reda who repeatedly expressed admiration for my Article and also gave patriotic support to it should be apologize to.

Am I asking too much for the sake of our nation? Think about it! 

PPS: Should I also complain for giving a “Must Read” status to your “quarter page” Article (which does not contain information or education) and also similarly for not giving the same status to Getachew Reda’s compliment and complaint? Oh poor Tigrai Net you are in trouble again. Never mind, Keep Up With The Good Job! The enemy Camp is frightened and rocking!! 

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