Abesha Bunna Bet

How the world turned its back on the real problem – (its leaders) – facing Ethiopia and Eritrea.

Like in any two society, whose government is not forthcoming about the truth, Ethiopians and Eritreans have become victims of their political leaders. I say this because, both on the Eritrean and Ethiopian side, there are people who believe one is superior to the other.

I am not going to dissect the issue here, but i am going to point out the obvious – the animosity between these two countries is not and has never been about the little desert town (Badme) that each claims to be its own.

Enough of that crap.

• Do you think each side cares about Badme a land that has virtually no natural resources of any kind? NO.
• Do you think Badme is worth risking the lives of tens of thousands of the Ethiopian and Eritrean young people? NO.

The reality is, so many people of these two nations has bought to the theory that somehow winning this border issue is critical to their nation.

Badme? No way. Ask yourself, would you send your brother or sister to war over Badme? A dusty city where people wouldn’t live in if they had a choice?

I doubt that you will risk the lives of your loved ones over an issue that is so small. Certainly, an issue that can be solved over a coffee table.

The whole world, including the leaders of Ethiopia and Eritrea, can try to make this a complicated issue, but we – the people – refuse to be taken for a fool. This whole scheme is bogus and should be treated as such.

So the real question becomes, “is the problem with the leadership?” I have for the longest believed for that to be the case.

So you can imagine that i wasn’t shocked when i recently viewed the interview with Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, where he was asked this specific question by Al-Jazeera’s Mohammed Adow .

And i quote:

Mohammed Adow (Al Jazzera): “In Addis Ababa today, Ethiopians and Eritreans are coexisting and living in harmony, when politically the leaders are going for each others throats, is the problem with leadership?”

Meles Zenawi: “I think so. Uh – - – because as you rightly said, the Eritrean people and the Ethiopian people are not only close neighbors, they’re also cousins. So technically there should be no reason why the two countries should be so estranged from each other. As you noted the real problem is leadership – policy followed by leadership.“

 

The above statement sums up what most have believed for the longest – that any war fought between these two countries under their current leadership should be treated as a war with a lot of garbage behind it which goes 30 years back.

Any other leaders in their position would have solved the border issue without any problems WHATSOEVER.

Now the question becomes “why the outside world, and specifically the United Nations, is acting blind to the obvious?”

I know Ethiopia and Eritrea are two very poor nations with no real resource (like Iraq) in which the world could benefit from, but at least can you not stop the bloodshed for the sake of humanity? Where is the lesson of Rwanda?

These young people who are dying are being missed by their loved ones everyday. The tears of so many are going to come back to haunt every one of us. These kids have lost their lives for i don’t know – “what exactly?”

Not to mention the animosity, dislike and hatred that the war had managed to create between the people of these two nations – that once considered each other brothers and sisters.

But i also have this to say to the people of Ethiopia and Eritrea.

If you are going to be taken for this ‘foolish ride’ that has gotten these two nations no where in particular, you have yourselves to blame.

Although it might seem improbable, the people of these two nations should speak in unity and force their leaders to end their feud for the sake of peace.

We must say no to any type of war, period. And ‘the Badme’ issue in reality is a no-issue which can be solved over night.

I have an idea.

Why don’t we tell the whole world to kiss-our-behind and use Badme as a historical city.

My suggestion?

Let’s make Badme a memorial city. A place where people of both nations can go to visit and honor the heroes of both nations who answered the call of duty and made the ultimate sacrifice for their beloved nations. I am convinced, the soldiers of both nations, has each believed they were doing this for the good of their country. Their leaders have called up on them and they answered the call. We should never disrespect their courageous action.

We should always remember that someone’s brother, sister, mother and/or father had died over the 1998 war between these two countries.

Our children and grandchildren would look back on this and shake their heads in disbelief.

What can we do that will help them point to the positive that could possibly be created from this tragedy?

I say, just like the 58,209 United States casualties in the Vietnam war are remembered, we should have a Wall Page of the list of casualties of this war in Badme. That way future generations would point to that Wall Page every time they are hesitant to go to war.

If Ethiopia and Eritrea could agree to share Badme and make it a place where their constituencies can visit to show their respect for the casualties of this awful war, history would look back on it and reward this simple action as – a courageous, exemplary and history-making moment.

• Imagine, Issayas Afeworki of Eritrea and Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia, standing together and shaking hands for the unveiling ceremony of a Page Wall in Badme where the name of all the soldiers who died there is permanently engraved for all of us to go visit and learn from this huge mistake?
• Imagine, how history would write a moment such as that one?
• Imagine, how our grandkids would be proud?
• Imagine, how the rest of the world would look at that and say “we have something learn from these two poor nations”?

Is that too hard to imagine? I don’t think so!

We are two nations that are capable of growing in bounds and leaps – if we can only DECIDE to work together. Imagine what we are depriving our beautiful people from? My heart aches as i think of that.

Besides i always remember this from Ghandi when i think of war and its uselessness:-

“When I despair, I remember that all through history the ways of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants, and murderers, and for a time they can seem invincible, but in the end they always fall. Think of it–always. ” - Mahatma Gandhi

I have never been one to pass judgments and in this post my intention is not to pass any judgments on the leaders of Ethiopia or Eritrea. I just happen to believe that the differences they face should be put to rest once and for all.

We are not buying ‘the Badme’ story.

So on behalf of the people of your nations, i would like to say “ENOUGH ALREADY.” You wasted a decade to get to where you are today – no where. Let’s give the next decade a real chance for peace and hope.

If people see half of the point i am trying to make in this post, my goal would be accomplished.

I’d love to hear your perspectives on this- leave a comment if you have anything to say…