As Ethiopia commemorates the 84th Patriots’ Victory Day, we find ourselves not merely looking back in solemn reverence, but also casting our gaze forward with a renewed sense of responsibility. The victory over fascist aggression eight decades ago is more than a historic milestone—it is a powerful testament to a generation that gave everything for liberty.
Today, as Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed poignantly noted, the time has come for a new generation of patriots—those who will not fight in trenches, but who will battle with knowledge, discipline, and unwavering love for Ethiopia to defeat the new enemy: poverty.
The Ethiopian patriots of 1935–1941 were not deterred by the technological superiority of their enemy, nor disheartened by overwhelming odds. With little more than conviction and courage, they turned hills and valleys into grounds of resistance and delivered a message of defiance to all would-be colonizers. They won us freedom. Yet, as the Prime Minister rightly emphasized, freedom without prosperity is incomplete. Our generation must now rise to fulfill what our ancestors began—not with bullets, but with books; not with swords, but with skills; not with rebellion, but with resilience.
Ethiopia today is standing at a crossroads. The struggle now is against an entrenched poverty that continues to limit the potential of millions. It is a war waged on economic, technological, educational, and institutional fronts. In this modern-day battle, patriotism is not measured by how loudly one proclaims love for their country, but by how much one is willing to sacrifice, work, and innovate for its development. Prime Minister Abiy’s call for “second-generation patriots” is both timely and necessary. These patriots are those who choose to stay and serve; those who start businesses, teach in schools, till the land more efficiently, and reform the systems that still hinder equitable growth.
The spirit of the forefathers was built on unity, sacrifice, and a relentless desire for a sovereign Ethiopia. Those values must now find new expressions. Ethiopia’s sovereignty today must be defined not only by the absence of foreign rule, but by the presence of opportunity for all its citizens. Our liberty must be made whole through economic self-reliance, food security, modern infrastructure, and an educated, healthy population.
President Taye Atseke Selassie echoed this sentiment, urging today’s youth to learn from the courage and dedication of those who came before. His call to action is a reminder that the legacy of our patriots is not confined to monuments or parades, but must live on in the work we do every day to better our nation. National pride must be evident in the refusal to tolerate corruption, in the discipline to serve with integrity, and in the courage to innovate for the common good.
The renovation of the Patriots’ Victory Monument is more than symbolic. It is a declaration that Ethiopia remembers—and that memory carries a mandate. The towering statue, the names engraved in stone, the wreaths laid by dignitaries—these are not the end, but the beginning. They are the foundations upon which the second generation of patriots must build a new Ethiopia.
As we move forward, we must recognize that today’s patriotism wears a different uniform. It is seen in engineers building roads, doctors serving rural communities, civil servants upholding justice, and farmers embracing innovation. It is driven by a profound sense of responsibility to complete the mission started by the heroes of the past: a truly free, prosperous, and dignified Ethiopia.
Let this year’s Patriots’ Victory Day not just be a celebration of what was won, but a charge to all Ethiopians—young and old—to fight for what must still be achieved. In doing so, we not only honor our ancestors, but also ensure that their sacrifices were not in vain.
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD TUESDAY 6 MAY 2025
