I recently read a press release that Ethiopians living in Pennsylvania are participating in the primaries to be held in their state. Supposedly, groups of Ethiopians were taking the time to phone Ethio-Americans in living in that state.
The calls were being made to encourage them to vote for Obama.
I took away 2 things from that press release.
- Now, more than ever, i realized that the Obama craze is for real and that it is a force to be reckoned with. There is one thing that this guy has in abundance – “the ability to inspire others”. People who could care less about politics in the past are now inspired to do something about the politics of this nation. Obama does not only inspire others, but his message seems to hit home faster than you can say ‘Obama’. And more than any other politician in history, he has the ability to unite any divide and transcend age, race and gender.
- Something else hit me hard. Ethiopians being encouraged to vote for Obama.
I have always been wary of popular figures. Nothing is wrong with being popular, but sometimes it can sway your decision making.
Nothing is more dangerous than people who vote with their heart and not their mind. After reading the press release, i was left to wonder if Ethio-Americans were going to participate in this primary due to ‘Obama’ or ‘the issues’.
If Ethio-Americans vote based on the prior, then we have a problem guys. I am very familiar with the reality of race in America. It is no secret that most blacks, including Ethiopians, would rather see one of their own making history.
But you should never choose race over good judgment. That is the main ingredient for disaster.
As a society, in the end, we are left with answering to our conscience. We can’t afford to be a society that overlooks substance and facts. And if everything that i have read in that press release comes to fruition, when it is all said and done, we would have overwhelmingly voted for Obama. And that would have made us a society that is blinded by popularity.
Never been to Pennsylvania myself, but from my understanding of the press release there are enough Ethiopians in the state to shift the outcome of the primaries in that state in Obama’s favor.
I have yet to see a group of Ethiopians strongly supporting and rallying behind Hillary. What? Do all Ethiopians detest Hillary? You know that can’t be true.
And that has forced me to ask myself some tough questions. and that is – “As a society are we lacking behind so far that we could easily be manipulated?”
The fact is we know better than that.
Ethiopians. We are not a bunch of herds that needs direction. We can not be told by any group (Ethiopians or not) who to vote for with out being told why. And the ‘why’ should be answered by our individual research, and not by folks who wish to take advantage of us based on heritage. Just because i speak your language doesn’t give you the right to tell me who to vote for with out you bothering to take the time to explain why.
Even though, i am elated to see my fellow country men participate in the U.S. political system, i am afraid to tell you that what i read on that press release is a very dangerous way of taking part in politics.
I know you can’t help it but be pulled by the Obama magnet. He is a guy i personally marvel. He is an eloquent speaker, inspiring and sensationally smart.
But if we MUST vote, his message would need to make sense to us Ethiopians.
We ought to vote with our mind and not our heart. When we do that, we would have accomplished something we can be proud of.
We are a passionate and smart bunch. Our good days is ahead of us. If we make smart decisions, we would be even more powerful in the political system of this nation.
We can’t achieve a strong voice if we vote uniformly. That would make us susceptible to abuse and we would be taken advantage of. When we say something, it must mean something. If that’s the case, we would be a voice that politicians would seek and want to hear from.
With that said, go and vote. But forget taking part in history by voting for ‘ a black guy’ or ‘a woman’. That doesn’t affect us. Dig into the issues of each candidate.
The issues that matter to us.
And that’s my last word – - -
What say you?
Filed under: culture | Tagged: ethio-americans, Ethiopia, ethiopians, hillary clinton, obama, vote
This is a strange commentary. Obama embodies ability, leadership and promise. So if a black man was to vote with his heart, in this case it would be a wonderful thing. Lets indeed be manipulated. Let us indeed coalesce and speak with one voice. This is not simply historic it is power. Remember that most African Americans are only a generation away from being unable to vote. Do not forget too that in many states a large chunk of black men cannot vote because they have been incarcerated by “three strikes” law that has made a person who wrote a bad check unable to vote. America is truly warehousing the black man. Lets nbot forget that these were the action of the “First Black President” Bill Clinton. So by all means every black man must be unified to vote for Obama.
Reading your commentary I could not help but think that you were writing about Clarence Thomas and not Obama.
Remember too that all societies in the US vote in their self interest, why should the blacks be asked repeatedly to wait for another time and another leader.
Nuff said.
Gebresadik – you are exactly what i have talked about in that article. People like you. Don’t take this personal, by any shape or form, but are you suggesting people should vote for one particular person just because they share his/ her skin color?
I don’t even know where to begin on this one. Knowing you, i must say you must have written this while your blood was boiling over a racism book you might have just finished reading.
As for Clarence Thompson, i believe you got it all wrong. People like Clarence do not believe in hand outs. Hand outs are what have gotten black people where they are in the 21st century.
Well, i could debate you on any of these for a lifetime. Personally, i don’t think i should vote for Obama just because i am black. Last time i checked that would make that action, by itself, systematic racism.
Of course I would take it personally. But unfortunately I cannot vote. Yours is the arguement of a soft soft mind. Is Malcolm X, MLK and Rosa Parks buried deep into the history of America. Oh I forgot too about wholesale warehousing of black Americans in jails. Interesting that the white arbiters of power never said ” Oh , I am thinking like a sheep”.
Police checks and all the varieties of systematic racism is personal.
Let me remind you too that I need not starve to feel the pain of a hungry child. I need not be raped to empathize with a woman who has.
BUT at the end of the day I still do not know what is so unpalatable about O’bama. He might even be Irish to suit your uncle Tom convictions.
I know your views are aligned with mine as you have written so in your other postings. But do not be so foolish as to simply goad people with variety and superfluous and ultimately insincere views. Have the courage of your convictions, the same way you do when talking about Eritrea.
Gebresadik
Why does anybody cares about Obama, peoples should care about Ethiopia. Obama is from Kenya, and Kenya have been helping the Oromos fight our government. If Obama is elected he will help the Oromos, and not the true Ethiopians.
Zelalem – i think you need help. What do you mean by the “true Ethiopians”? Please clarify yourself. Who are the real Ethiopians?
do u think democrats to be good for ethiopia?if u say yes, read something about CARTER he is the one to playe game in ethiopia the last election may2005 no one to help only ethiopian to ethiopan.
why deaspora specially ethiopian support /fanned/ obama for the better life in america or ethiopa future?
The bodies of 10 people have been found in a mosque in the Somali capital, after two days of clashes between Ethiopian troops and insurgents.
what do u think cames the future?please say samething
i said ethiopian better leave out in somalia it is not good for religions
You asked me who are real Ethiopians. You and me, we are real Ethiopians. The people who fight Ethiopia are not. If the Oromo’s go to Kenya and want to live there and fight everything about Ethiopia then they have to become Kenyan. Anyways they are already like the Kenyans. If somebody wants to have bad feelings about Ethiopia then they must reconsider who they like and move into that house.
Even the Polish is a proud Polish lady. We should also be proud Ethiopians. If an Ethiopian was running for the [president of Ethiopia I would be very proud, but in the back of my mind I have to think why he adopted US and left Ethiopia.
GA
Now I have seen it all. Lady, I have asked you nicely before now I am saying it again. Get lost.
Dont make me take off my belt
I figure Ethiopians would feel proud that Obama is running, his black heritage is Kenyan, East African, now i know alot of Ethios will say they dont relate to other africans, but why not support a black man running for office who happens to be half east african! i am proud of hiim for what hes doing, whatever his background, this country is so sick right now and still so divided in 2008, we need someone like him with an open honest dialogue.
I have never ever liked politics IN MY ENTIRE LIFE and now i FELLOW everything that OBAMA does it’s CRAZY he’s sooooo inspiring TO me !! even though i don’t live in the states it FREAKS me out sometimes …it’s funny how i didn’t know that where im living right now is having elections!!!
easter fasika ~~~ don’t wait for somebody to help ur country teach ur ppl how to act right and help each other instead OF HATING just BEING honest
peace
WoW, zelalem!!!
You sound like the guy on the radio in HOTEL RAWANDA.
I read your other post.
Quote: “When God was making man he first undercooked the clay and he was a white man, then he overcooked it and this was the African. The thrid time it was us. Be proud of being God’s children.”
Im kinda dark so God doesn’t love me? And by the way I AM African.
I am pro Africa and Ethiopia, but I do not share the views of so many here that Sen. Obama is the answer. He is clearly in the pockets of the invisible ruling class in America, which is all white. The senator will be used to sell the combining of America, Canada and Mexico, and street names will become a thing of the past, as everything on earth will be longitude and latitude, GPS trackable from the air. What does that tell you? Hard days ahead, and no politician can save us.
Zelalem,
I cant believe anachronisms like you still exist. I can’t tell if you are trying to be funny or provocative or if you simply believe it. Unfortunately I tend to believe in the latter since I know so many Ethiopians who share your views.
Let me tell you, I think this xenophobia is exactly what cotinues to ruin us as a nation and a people. Our hate will eventually come back to eat us.
Zelalem, i see where you are coming from bro, I really do. I understand the anger and frustration. And I sympathize. The only thing i have a problem with is your use of the term: “should”. A father should take care of his children because he’s responsible for their existence. A government should protect it’s country’s territorial integrity (coz that is part of the package). A doctor & a nurse should “prescribe regimens for the good of their patients according to their ability and judgment and never do harm to anyone” for such demands the ethical oath they willingly took .. etcetra. When it comes to “wanting” “to become” “Ethiopian”/”Christian”/”Muslim”, however, “should” just won’t do! A person would love his country, if he felt esteemed back by the men and women of his country. He would have a sense of belonging, if he felt he belonged. In the absence of these “would”s and “if”s, i doubt i can blame the guy for not would-ing/not wanting. That’s what’s happening to the Oromos in Kenya, or atleast to the ones you mentioned in your post.
Regarding the Obama-fever:
Ethiopians are crazy about Ronaldino as well. Does that mean we should devout our energies to him as well?!
Issues always matter.I am colour blind when it comes to voting.I do not care whether the candidate is white,black,green or blue.What matters the most is which of his or her plans will benefit me the most.Had I been in US,I would have voted for hillary.No I am not a woman.I like her health care plan more than obama’s.Not only that, she has better grasp of most of the issues than him.I do not also think obama has better judgement than than the other candidates.Now ofcourse Only Mc cain is left in the ring.His foreign policy sucks to say the least.He had plan to withdraw US troops from Iraq w/o even consulting with the generals on the ground.Now u tell me how one can craft a foreign strategy w/o knowing all the facts?I do not get it.I completely disagree with obama on his immigration plans.I do not think that a man who can not even choose his own spiritual leader very well deserves to be a president of the most powerful nation in the world.So had I been In US,I would just just forget obama and the old guy and vote for myself.Period.I wish hillary was in the race though.Take care guys.
Ethiopians for Obama has had many beneficial derivative effects. The registering of Ethiopians is helpful for the exertion of power in local and state elections. It has provided demographic information so lacking in the community that can make a difference of life or death in the medical area, not to mention the ability to identify potential advertising and sponsorship opportunities e.g., Heineken beer statistics show Ethiopians send 2 million dollars a week to the Netherlands. This is also an opportunity to teach the children the importance of the democratic process, something everyone wishes for in Ethiopia but barely practice here in America.
really i am astonished by your comment on obama.By any calculation obama fits for america.don not think narrowlly, Obama is not only an intelectual but also a model to other afro americans. YES WE CAN!!
OBAMA…has been shown how the world behaves, act, and live to the common purpose, higher purpose… that could benefit both the people and the country where we live. So Ethiopia and its people is part of the entire world thus have we gotten some lesson from what has happened in the US politics? Have our leaders imagined some sort of applicable politics that could work for the county (Ethiopia) not just for some group? We must learn from this young, blessed and powerful politician (BARACK OBMA).
This is my first time to participate in your website. I try to share my opinion for American Elections.
Congratulations for the democratic presidential election of America. Since we have not seen a democratic election at home, let us enjoy with others.
When does such a system come to Africa, particularly to Ethiopia?
I am very eager to see that day and praying to God to ‘lengthen’ my life until that–.
Most of us (Ethiopians) are very happy with the democrat election of USA. The people of Ethiopia (especially the Diaspora) expect more bright future from Obama’s new administration. However, I am not as such from the extreme optimist group because history tells me that the whites in general and the American’s in particular are looking everything from their advantages and beneficial perspective. It is a very recent history that the Bush (the ex-president of America) was the jealous of the woyannes because Meles was a good ‘alliance’ and obedience in combating terrorism in horn of Africa even if he is undemocratic, murderer for the people of Ethiopia. The Americans know the case of the 97 Ethiopian Election very well but they keep silent since they prioritize their benefits from Meles.
Does Obama change the situation or simply twist the case a little bit for disguising the agenda of America? Obama himself shall answer this question very well. As everyone has his own speculation, my estimation is the latter not the former case. I expect little from him. What is your opinion about this?
Please write me and share our Idea.
Your brother
Ayalneh from Ethiopia
wake up guys either obama or any american president will never help ethiopia. american helps other country based on her interest not you are black, white or green.