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EHIOPIAN INTELLECTUALS AND THEIR ROLE IN THE LIBERATION OF THE ETHIOPIAN
PEOPLE
An African American civil rights activist concerning the black intellectuals once he said: " Very often our people at home and abroad have been led to believe that a black man can only be considered an intellectual or scholar if he has been to Oxford University or Harvard University. This approach to education has only helped to produce black Europeans out of our educated people and false black scholars who have been a liability to the black race in Africa. An intellectual in my opnion constitutes a guiding light in a revolutionary period and is the bond that unites the abstract and the concrete." To liberate our people and to fight for our freedom, all we have to do is be an intelligent human being ! In my view, there are three groups of intellectuals. They are good, bad, and the confused. I prefered to use this words for each group not because to be rude or give bad image, but it is more easier for people to reflect each groups caracter to fit with my explanation below. I think it is understandable that all intellectuals mastered the wisdom and knowledge in their profession, also in other areas with their own effort. What I am trying here is to show readers how we need to see and examine the nature, behavior,danger also importance of each groups of intellectuals. The good Intellectuals They have good views and can do many positive things to their country and society at large. They are capable to bring solutions to social, political, economical, cultural problems in the society, generaly they are the true lights of the society.They are great leaders with principle, and have self confidence. They are honest and trusted to society.They are willing to pay any price. etc...the best example of this group is Dr. Taye Wolde Semayate. The bad Intellectuals The bad intellectuals are self-centered and have distractive views.They are always ready to work for outside forces against their own country and people.Their ambition is power and money.They always have double standard and not working for principle.They have wheedling tongue like the Siberian monk Rasputin. The best example of this group is Dr. Kinfe Abraham The confused Intellectuals The third kind of intellectual are very opportunist, narrow minded and hungry for power. They always go with the wind and dont have their own firm stand in any thing, also they are catalyst, shake, and full of fear. They dont have confidence, and have doubts in their intellectual ablite. They blame others for thier deeds, and to cover their own wickedness they use their tounge as their weapon.The best example of this group is Dr. Solomon Inquai & Dr.Gemechu Megersa the late comer. For the past 50 years or so Ethiopia produced too many intellectuals inside the country and abroad. Most of Ethiopian intellectuals, under different circumstances choose to live outside their country. Some are still in their country working in difficult situations with the primitive TPLF government who still belief it is right to govern a country by force and ethnic policy like in the medieval times. It was the wish of every Ethiopian family, when they teach their children one day they will be great leaders, teachers, doctors, professors, engineers, generals etc...and to be the next responsible generation to serve our beloved country honestly. It is under this cultural principle our families paid all the necessary price for our education also brought us to the adulthood. But lets ask our selves, how many of us full feel the dreams and wishs of our parents and carry out our responsiblity honestly to our nation ? I will live this question to all Ethiopians to examine them selves. I met some Ethiopian intellectuals, and they are very self centered also they do care very little for their country and people. It is very sad to see people like that who totaly forget their responsiblity. It is also very sad to see those intellectuals who played the bigest roll in their time to the distraction of our country, but now they reside in foreign lands and became observers. As it is said long ago by our African brother indeed they are false intellectuals and liability for the nation. It is my wish they will stand trial in time and get their fair panishment for all their evil deeds. It is fair to congragulate and thanks to those great Ethiopians who are working so hard to bring change and better condtions to our country and people. Those who paid the price with their lifes in the process people mite forget them, but history will never for them. They will be remembered for the generations to come. Our intellectuals who are still working so hard day and night for the same good couse are the hope of our future, and the common people have also the bigest responsiblity to co-operate with the intellectuals to bring good change for the common good of our country. In my opinion, at the present critical chapter of our history one of the bigest problem we are facing right now is the lack of Ethiopian intellectuals unity. The majority of our intellectuals are in silence, but I dont think it is their choice. It is due to the pressure imposed on them by the ethnic policy of TPLF goverment which makes them vulnerable, and front line targets in our society based on their ethnic origin. The lack of our intellectuals unity is also in many ways is connected to the very same reason. Those who are affected the most by the ethnic policy of TPLF are forced to live the country for their safety, but some still choose to stay in their country to face the enemy. One of the best example of our hero intellectual is Dr.Taye W/Semayate, but many others like him also are our leading figures, and future hope which I call them good intellectuals. In this critical time we need with thousands like Dr.Taye, but intellectuals like Dr.Solomon, Dr. Kinfa, Dr.Gemechu etc... they are liability and false black intellectuals to the nation. I call them bad and confused intellectuals intoxicated with money, power, lust and greed. I have a strong belief, if Ethiopian intellectuals come together for the common good of our society, all the problems we are facing today will get solution with in a very short period of time. In any society knowledge wise, the intellectuals are the one who have the highest level of consciousness, but if our intellectuals dont have the unity also understanding each other, how could the common people will have the unity ? The partispating of Ethiopian intellectuals for the common good of our country like one is a must. Our intellectuals need to organize themselves like one not divided. United Instituations is what we need to lay the foundation to our future co-existence. Some choose to organize themselves based on ethnic, region and old faded past political party mentality, this are some of the problems we see with in our intellectuals. It is the lack of Intellectuals unity, retreat and opportunist behavior is one of the reasons which exposed our entire nation for the biggest danger we are facing today. The power of the people fail in the hands of dictators one after the other as if it is transmitted by a virus, like the new SARS virus which jumps from person to person through the air. This cycle must have to be stopped. It needs the collective efforts and determination of all Ethiopian intellectuals. I think we all agree that intellectuals are the backbone and the lights of the society.With out the leadership and gidiance of the intellectual in this critical time of our history, I think even our existance as a nation is in question. The enemies of our nation is with in, and the process is to complex. It needs the guidance of experienced leadership.The enemy must have to be targeted carefully and wisely. I will live this question to all good Ethiopian intellectuals: There is a big force out there, but who is going to bring it together ? UNITY IS POWER ! By Tedla |