BY MENGESHA AMARE
Friendship Square in Addis Ababa was recently bedecked with a surprising as well as mesmerizing scenario in which children, the youth, mothers, the elderly, scholars, religious leaders requested Ethiopia and its populace forgiveness through their representatives not to repeat what they have done so far. What a gallant stance it is!
Each and every citizen of the country through their respective representatives vowed to move in unison being baptized with forgiveness, fraternity, co-existence and unity. This move can confidently be taken as a transition from, for the last almost three decades, running a hatred politics, rivalry and sense of jealousy not to unite, to creating a unified country.
The deliberately sown seed is now becoming decayed and stinky following the vanishing of architects of disintegration and destruction who had been accustomed to lying from womb to tomb.
The day can be regarded as the time when the cornerstone of a hospitality, diligence community and clemency was firmly laid. Ethiopian generosity diligence is metamorphosing into a mature industry hereafter if peace prevails; all citizens are committed than ever to work together condemning corruption, hatred and divisive paths on which anti-Ethiopia elements have been journeying.
The oaths made by all the aforesaid segments of representatives include a selection of insightful topics and burning issues that offer a sigh of relief for all citizens of this great motherland-Ethiopia.
Yes, when people feel the pain of holding on to the wrongdoing in the past and decide not to continue in the future, they have a choice to relief-making forgiveness. “Forgiveness is for human growth and happiness. When we hold on to hurt, pain, resentment, rivalry, jealousy, diabolic spirit and anger, it harms us far more than it harms the offender.
It is commonly stated that until a person can forgive, he will not break that chain; and the person will still have an unhealthy hold on them,” said President Sahlework Zewde.
As learnt from the President, forgiveness brings people back to good physical and mental health. Eluding of negative emotions that blow our mind is a good idea. When we forgive people, they will be able to see all the positive qualities in the person and have a chance at a long-lasting, healthy relationship.
Speaking on the occasion, Peace Minister Muferiat Kamil said, “It is an undeniable fact that Ethiopians are ethically shaped and modern citizens of the African Continent. Unquestionably, Ethiopians’ morals are shaped by social norms, cultural practices, and religious influences.”
Without a shadow of doubt, ethics reflects beliefs about what is right, what is wrong, what is just, what is unjust, what is good, and what is bad in terms of human behavior. They serve as a compass to direct how people should behave toward each other, understand and fulfill their obligations to society, and live their lives.
It is to meet this peace-oriented parameter the above segments of the society vowed not to repeat what they calculatingly or unknowingly did earlier against their country and one another.
As to Muferiat, while ethical beliefs are held by individuals, they can also be reflected in the values, practices, and policies that shape the choices made by decision makers on behalf of their organizations, individuals, groups, and all sections of the society, she added.
As cited before, professionals such as managers, lawyers, accountants, teachers, among others, have vowed to well provide their country with the required service.
As to Muferiat, forgiveness frees people to live in the present. Reliving the wrong that was done to us keeps living in the past missing the contentment at present, but forgiveness allows people to move on without anger or contempt or seeking vengeance.
In its 3000 years of history, Ethiopia has been endowed with diverse ethnic groups, cultures and resources that need to be well nurtured through resolving confrontations and promoting forgiveness. The country is also on a fast track developmental process, which aspires to give room to liberty and prosperity.
A wide range of complex aesthetic, political, and philosophical questions governed the discussions that explored Ethiopia in multiple ways-history, language, literature, rich cultural heritage, and its time-tested coexistence.
As to Dr. Almaw Kifle, professionals’ representative, liberty, equality and fraternity are the foundations of peace and serenity to help the nation come up with the desired level and reputation. “As dialog and roundtable discussion is a clear manifestation of civility, we have to come together and solve all our problems, as scholars, in a very civilized manner.”
“We are not supposed to entertain ideas emotionally; it is better to analyze the situation in the context of national essence and integration of fellow citizens instead of merely blowing to the direction irresponsible individuals and groups have pursued. It is quite destructive and trying.”
He further stated that the main characteristic features are partly innovation and partly retention of the distinctive features of the past and the socio-cultural relations therein, through a process of revision and total transformation. Such cross-disciplinary work in the field of modernity molded with forgiveness has produced exciting works of interdisciplinary tenets.
This forgiveness, being one of the few attempts of bringing the generation together and making them committed than ever to serve their country, is the first of its kind and is believed to shape the posterity as the country desires.
Dr. Almaw also said foreignness is civility; modernity is a mosaic of thinking out of the box, not violating others’ rights, developing patriotic spirit to build a better nation and coming up with public serving mentality; condemning maladministration and any form of corruption.
The forum organized to forgive one another is, therefore, the first attempt to navigate the multiple points of Ethiopian new generation, the youth, scholars and intellectuals, the elderly and martyrs as well as the aesthetic realms from a social, economic, cultural, historical and time-tested coexistence points of view.
In a nutshell, providing one another with forgiveness is the best remedy to a range of problems as people are all flawed creatures so the saying goes, “To err is human; to forgive, divine.”
What matters here is there are mistakes and mishaps in relationships, blunders –the biggies and the juveniles happen. They often lead to disagreement, strife, sorrow, sullen, rivalry, and sense of betrayal. Forgiveness is human too.
Hence, carrying out such a heartily spirits can help us avoid bitterness and resentment and often will salvage a relationship over anger, regret, hatred, or resentment towards others.
Wrapping up the program, representatives together uttered in one voice, “We are all proud of being Ethiopians, indeed! We are committed than ever to work in unison for the development and prosperity of this great nation-Ethiopia!”
The Ethiopian Herald March 13/2021
