The Parallel Lines
The parallel lines in the Ethiopians life are not relenting. What that indicates is there is a need to build bridges that will cross or connect those thinking parallel lines that are continuing into an uncertain future, because it is possible that they could put the nation and those who are on the wrong thinking parallel line at a disadvantage where there might be a point of no return. There had always been different camps in the country that were willing to reconcile, at least some of their differences, but lately the drive seems to be very determined to get something that is not really that evasive to speculate. The dwellers of the various camps seem to have created parallel lines that will not allow having any means of accessing each other for eternity. In real life, what this would mean is unless those who are following one of the parallel lines get what they want, there will not be any reconciliation. It is difficult to say this will benefit the nation or not because when looking at the determination level, everyone is fully confident that what they are doing is the right thing for the nation, for themselves, and for the rest of the Ethiopians.
The members of the various camps are brandishing their raison d’etre that made them to choose and belong to the various camps that have become parallel lines with no hope of creating any kind of positive and constructive connection. If we look at modern roads they can cover vast distance by going opposite directions, but there are intersections wherever there is a need for them so that it will be possible to cross the roads that go opposite directions in order to enter other feeding roads or it might even be possible to merge in the one that goes the opposite direction if the traffic situation allows it. That is how normally things should work, but if we look at two thinking parallel lines unless both of them or one of them bend or get slanted they cannot cross each other or other lines to connect them should be drawn similar to roads to create connection or bridges. In the absence of that, they would continue to remain parallel lines no matter how far they are going to be stretched. While being parallels, they will continue to do whatever they think is right similar to what is happening in the Ethiopian community currently. Because for anyone who tunes into what is happening in the Ethiopian community, it is obvious that they will encounter the thinking parallel lines that seem to be determined not to reconcile.
When there is a situation like that the onlookers could either be swayed to whatever diatribe each camp is coming up with or they might take their time and make their own informed decision. It could be difficult to recommend which camp would be better to belong to, because the reasons for belonging in each camp differ and it is mostly based on ethnic line in our case where there is a determined group that is out to put itself in the shoes of those who are running things in the country, while those who are in charge of things in the country are brandishing their achievements. In all this, the nation is chugging along even if it will always be strapped with problems that could be beyond its resources and ability to rectify in the near future. But if things continue like they are currently it is not going to be long before the country solves its problems, because it seems that most of the shortcomings and solutions had been identified.
For example, the country is heavily dependent on rain for its main economic backbone, and if for natural reasons there is no rain one season the consequence could be severe. The solution for this had been known for many years and the fact that those who are in charge are aware of it and are in the process of coming up with man-made solutions such as irrigation that is necessary and the fact that the nation has plenty of underdeveloped water resources that could be put to work to solve the problem would make the job easier.
There is, however, a problem of resources to make this a reality and it could take time to undertake such projects similar to what is happening to the number of dams that are built to accomplish several purposes. There is no reason why these same dams cannot be used for irrigation purposes provided that there is enough water, which is the likelihood. In a situation like this the fact that a new American president is in office would not mean anything negative, because the Ethiopian government has the blueprint and all it might want could be the know-how and the financing to make such projects a reality. The reason why this is important is accusing those who are in charge in the country is losing its teeth, because it seems that there are experts from all over the world that are working to solve the nation’s problem. In a situation like this, ethnic strife of any kind would not make a dent on such effort.
The main problem in the country is the outcome of population explosion and the failure of the current agriculture system to produce what the 80 million plus people (not 80 million minus, which would have been another solution) need for sustenance. If there is something the outside world has to be shown it is this failure, because there is readily available solution for it and it could be corrected within a decade or two for good if the appropriate measures are taken. However, firstly there is no guarantee that there will be someone from outside who can undertake the whole project and show the required results, because there could be internal nemesis that will naturally interfere. There is politics where for whatever reason there might be a certain interest group that will feel threatened if a given geographical region becomes successful in its farming endeavor since not all locations or regions are fit to a large mechanized farming. If we assume that there will not be such problems, unless the effort originates from within, every nation has its own problems to tackle, especially at this juncture where even the rich and advanced countries are trying to revive their own economy that is plagued by recession. In fact, even if their problem is temporary and could be corrected soon, it does not mean the outside world would be in a position to solve our problem, because it is vast and it could only be done by the indigenous people who have to solve their own problem at their own pace.
What this would demonstrate is there are many sources that are barking the wrong tree where they spend their time, energy, and resources to make the administration in our country look bad instead of creating a synergy to solve the nation’s problem. In this case, no matter what kind of opposition there is from outside that is giving all sorts of names to the local administration, the reality is it is a waste of time and resources that will divide the diaspora because everyone, more or less, has come to know the government is doing the right things and might be unmatched by anyone for a long time to come, in spite of some of the claimed malfeasance that cannot be proven in the court of law or even to justify a given claim and accusation. The reason for that had been attributed to the kind of coordinating role the government had been playing for a long time by involving various experts from all parts of the world. It is enough to look at what kind of investment they are attracting, as one recent investment alone had promised to create one million jobs and that is unheard of in Africa.
Therefore, even if there are grievances about the country being run by a very few minority group and there still are areas that require more systematic approaches, the fact that there might not be others who will take the place of this minority group and perform at their level of integrity would mean that people have to work hard to attain such a level and goal. If we want democracy in the country it will have to be a working democracy where there will be able bodied individuals who are able to assume responsibility to advance the cause of democracy, instead of looking over their shoulders while lining up their pockets. Because of that more than any other reason, no one will listen to the tired claim and demand where it seems that there are determined individuals who will be asking governments such as the USA to give them license to rob the nation. It does not mean anyone in his or her right mind will allow such a thing, but it is not fair to try to manipulate people like this, especially the unfortunate diaspora and such individuals should be openly condemned and should be coerced to join forces in order to create a synergy that will try to solve the nation’s problems such as what was mentioned above.
Anyone approached with a noble purpose would at least be elated because no one is trying to dupe him or her in a broad daylight or waste their time. If what is needed is democracy in the country it is not the trees, the birds, or the other creatures in the woods that will make it reality, it is the people. From what we are seeing, some people are falling behind and we have to do our best to help them, because what they are doing could shift time, energy, and resources to useless efforts instead of putting them to good use. And it is never too late to change a theme since it could be done overnight, especially in our time where people are highly interconnected.
The members of the various camps are brandishing their raison d’etre that made them to choose and belong to the various camps that have become parallel lines with no hope of creating any kind of positive and constructive connection. If we look at modern roads they can cover vast distance by going opposite directions, but there are intersections wherever there is a need for them so that it will be possible to cross the roads that go opposite directions in order to enter other feeding roads or it might even be possible to merge in the one that goes the opposite direction if the traffic situation allows it. That is how normally things should work, but if we look at two thinking parallel lines unless both of them or one of them bend or get slanted they cannot cross each other or other lines to connect them should be drawn similar to roads to create connection or bridges. In the absence of that, they would continue to remain parallel lines no matter how far they are going to be stretched. While being parallels, they will continue to do whatever they think is right similar to what is happening in the Ethiopian community currently. Because for anyone who tunes into what is happening in the Ethiopian community, it is obvious that they will encounter the thinking parallel lines that seem to be determined not to reconcile.
When there is a situation like that the onlookers could either be swayed to whatever diatribe each camp is coming up with or they might take their time and make their own informed decision. It could be difficult to recommend which camp would be better to belong to, because the reasons for belonging in each camp differ and it is mostly based on ethnic line in our case where there is a determined group that is out to put itself in the shoes of those who are running things in the country, while those who are in charge of things in the country are brandishing their achievements. In all this, the nation is chugging along even if it will always be strapped with problems that could be beyond its resources and ability to rectify in the near future. But if things continue like they are currently it is not going to be long before the country solves its problems, because it seems that most of the shortcomings and solutions had been identified.
For example, the country is heavily dependent on rain for its main economic backbone, and if for natural reasons there is no rain one season the consequence could be severe. The solution for this had been known for many years and the fact that those who are in charge are aware of it and are in the process of coming up with man-made solutions such as irrigation that is necessary and the fact that the nation has plenty of underdeveloped water resources that could be put to work to solve the problem would make the job easier.
There is, however, a problem of resources to make this a reality and it could take time to undertake such projects similar to what is happening to the number of dams that are built to accomplish several purposes. There is no reason why these same dams cannot be used for irrigation purposes provided that there is enough water, which is the likelihood. In a situation like this the fact that a new American president is in office would not mean anything negative, because the Ethiopian government has the blueprint and all it might want could be the know-how and the financing to make such projects a reality. The reason why this is important is accusing those who are in charge in the country is losing its teeth, because it seems that there are experts from all over the world that are working to solve the nation’s problem. In a situation like this, ethnic strife of any kind would not make a dent on such effort.
The main problem in the country is the outcome of population explosion and the failure of the current agriculture system to produce what the 80 million plus people (not 80 million minus, which would have been another solution) need for sustenance. If there is something the outside world has to be shown it is this failure, because there is readily available solution for it and it could be corrected within a decade or two for good if the appropriate measures are taken. However, firstly there is no guarantee that there will be someone from outside who can undertake the whole project and show the required results, because there could be internal nemesis that will naturally interfere. There is politics where for whatever reason there might be a certain interest group that will feel threatened if a given geographical region becomes successful in its farming endeavor since not all locations or regions are fit to a large mechanized farming. If we assume that there will not be such problems, unless the effort originates from within, every nation has its own problems to tackle, especially at this juncture where even the rich and advanced countries are trying to revive their own economy that is plagued by recession. In fact, even if their problem is temporary and could be corrected soon, it does not mean the outside world would be in a position to solve our problem, because it is vast and it could only be done by the indigenous people who have to solve their own problem at their own pace.
What this would demonstrate is there are many sources that are barking the wrong tree where they spend their time, energy, and resources to make the administration in our country look bad instead of creating a synergy to solve the nation’s problem. In this case, no matter what kind of opposition there is from outside that is giving all sorts of names to the local administration, the reality is it is a waste of time and resources that will divide the diaspora because everyone, more or less, has come to know the government is doing the right things and might be unmatched by anyone for a long time to come, in spite of some of the claimed malfeasance that cannot be proven in the court of law or even to justify a given claim and accusation. The reason for that had been attributed to the kind of coordinating role the government had been playing for a long time by involving various experts from all parts of the world. It is enough to look at what kind of investment they are attracting, as one recent investment alone had promised to create one million jobs and that is unheard of in Africa.
Therefore, even if there are grievances about the country being run by a very few minority group and there still are areas that require more systematic approaches, the fact that there might not be others who will take the place of this minority group and perform at their level of integrity would mean that people have to work hard to attain such a level and goal. If we want democracy in the country it will have to be a working democracy where there will be able bodied individuals who are able to assume responsibility to advance the cause of democracy, instead of looking over their shoulders while lining up their pockets. Because of that more than any other reason, no one will listen to the tired claim and demand where it seems that there are determined individuals who will be asking governments such as the USA to give them license to rob the nation. It does not mean anyone in his or her right mind will allow such a thing, but it is not fair to try to manipulate people like this, especially the unfortunate diaspora and such individuals should be openly condemned and should be coerced to join forces in order to create a synergy that will try to solve the nation’s problems such as what was mentioned above.
Anyone approached with a noble purpose would at least be elated because no one is trying to dupe him or her in a broad daylight or waste their time. If what is needed is democracy in the country it is not the trees, the birds, or the other creatures in the woods that will make it reality, it is the people. From what we are seeing, some people are falling behind and we have to do our best to help them, because what they are doing could shift time, energy, and resources to useless efforts instead of putting them to good use. And it is never too late to change a theme since it could be done overnight, especially in our time where people are highly interconnected.
posted by Ethio-Probe @ 8:10 AM
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