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| Saturday, 13 December 2008 | |
 Diversity is strength!On Tuesday, the people of Ethiopia celebrated the Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Day. Various events were held thought the country to mark the day. One of the things of which we are proud as Ethiopians is the fact that Ethiopia is home to diverse nations, nationalities and peoples whose different languages and cultures have lent them beauty and strength as opposed to being a liability. This is why we say diversity is harmony, that it is strength. In some parts of the world, countries which only have two ethnic groups have been unable to co-exist peacefully. But here in Ethiopia some eighty nations, nationalities and peoples have been living together in peace and harmony for eons. We have demonstrated that in times of war we come together as a nation and repulse aggressors. Our diversity, a source of harmony and strength for us, thus has a particularly prominent place in our history. In addition to the diversity in languages and cultures, the fact that Christianity, Islam and Judaism are practiced peacefully in Ethiopia has created a mosaic that is also a wellspring of beauty and strength. The diversity of languages, cultures and religions has not proven to be a cause of conflict or intolerance. Rather, it is serving us as a foundation for tolerance and self-respect. As long as we make proper use of it, the recognition given to the diversity of nations and nationalities by the constitution can make us even stronger and not, as some claim, diminish our beauty or loosen our unity. However, for this to happen the Ethiopian people must respect their diversity and politicians must refrain from sowing the seeds of hatred and division instead of promoting harmony and unity. Irrespective of the type of crisis gripping the country, regardless of differences in language, culture, religion or political view, we need to have a national consensus on the key challenges facing the public and the solutions thereof. The desire to have democracy, justice, peace and a life free of poverty is an agenda shared by all nations and nationalities as well as followers of any faith. It is unimaginable one particular ethnic group aspires for democracy and justice and that another does not, or that the followers of a certain religion wish for hospitals and schools to be built for them while those of another religion have no such wish. All people have a similar stand on issues of fundamental rights. This is precisely the reason why politicians who foment hatred, dissension and polarization among the public rather than preaching unity and love should have no place in Ethiopian politics. Theirs is not an agenda shared by the public. In as much as diversity is beauty and strength, unless it is properly handled and utilized its can not be a source of beauty and strength. Therefore, regardless of their different views, our country's political parties and politicians need to adopt a philosophy which brings the public closer together and not create hatred or polarization on issues which are in the public's interest. If they fail to do so, the public must turn its back on them. Our goal, however, must not just be to maintain the beauty and strength of our diversity. It should rather be to take it to a higher level and strengthen it further. Our unity and harmony must not be that of making a strong showing only during a time of foreign aggression. It should always be nourished. And we must exploit it to achieve economic growth and to extricate ourselves from abject poverty. Our diversity must not be limited to becoming something over which we praise ourselves or an opportunity for government when it is celebrated like it was this week. It needs to be utilized as a means to promote tours and thereby contribute to achieve economic development. Its role, however, should not be to generate earnings from tourists but to play a part in the growth of the global fashion. Different hairdos like afro and braiding, wearing tattoos as well as jewelry on the nose and ears etc, which have been with us for thousands of years, are regarded as expressions of modern fashion today. Hence, if we promote this aspect of our tradition, it can serve as a money spinner. The same thing can be said for such other features of our culture as our music and dancing. If we refrain from pursuing a parochial view accentuating the individual member regions of our federal state or each nation and nationality, and instead pool our resources and energy we can undoubtedly make a meaningful contribution to Africa's growth besides developing our own country. Our diversity indeed, does us proud. But it's only when we strengthen and nourish it that we can not only be proud of it but also use it as an important tool to fight poverty and embark on the path to development. So, when we celebrate the Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Day, we need not only reflect on how we got here but also think of how to make our future brighter and better. |
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