Ephrem Endale Contributer
Time seems to fly like it never did before, doesn’t it? When it comes to media blitz against one side for reasons which are neither plausible nor good-intentioned we just can’t forget what has happened to us for over a year.
The global media, particularly that of the West launched all-inclusive attack on Ethiopia and its people creating and disseminating so many cooked up stories always negatively portraying Ethiopians’ quest to keep the country’s territorial integrity intact and respond to disorder of the vilest kind. At first one can’t deny the universal shock and surprise on the part of Ethiopians at the actions of the Western media which for all practical purposes acted as combatants.
They have spewed a large body of misinformation to corrupt the outlook the intentional community as to the start the war in the northern part of our country and the overall conduct of the war. We can’t say many within the international community were taken for the ride.
The misinformation campaign was so well thought out and coordinated bringing strange bedfellows together no wonder that it did certain damages. Even within the Ethiopian society there were some who thought “No way; such giant media enterprises would descend into such cheap and barbaric depths.”
But soon the fog starts to fade away the picture becomes clearer; it was that moment of “Aha! So that was one driving force; why didn’t we think of it earlier?” I’ll tell you why we didn’t think of it earlier; because accusing such giant global enterprises of bias and such intentions would sound out of place making us subjects of ridicule. Putting the so-called mainstream Western media in that basket! No; that wouldn’t go well with those who hear about it.
“What’s wrong with this people? How can they ever think of such an outrage?” Look, I’ll be a very nice person and tell you what that ‘basket’ I was talking about is; RACISM! That was what it was about. It was about racism.
It was not the so-called victim-mentality which led to us to such a conclusion, but the hard facts on the ground. Even politicians, officials, representatives… etc.; of multiple sides trying to arm-twist us into accepting their wicked and yes, racist alternatives weren’t able to hide their racist motivations with words and those unconvincing plastic smiles.
So local journalists and commentators started telling the world why the media of the West was so determined to see the final hours of this very ancient and proud nation. RACISM! Of course, some souls perhaps innocently, but much of the time being ill-informed said, “Aren’t you taking things a little over the edge? Things can’t be that bad.” Well, things weren’t that bad; they were worse! But then more and more people started seeing the true colors of the so-called ‘liberal media’ of the West, and that resulted, if I may, in its undoing. Many just stopped tuning in to those channels.
The sentiment has come this far and many still shun these media outlets. From asking around and talking to people who are very keen about current affairs the media of the West which are now forming the narratives of the Russo-Ukrainian war don’t have, so I learned, that many followers. We’re talking about TV stations and the like which before the war in the northern part of our country have hundreds of thousands or even millions of viewers.
If they said it has happened, it has happened! Good night and goodbye! I mean you aren’t supposed to question the CNNs and BBCs of the world. Over the years we’ve been hearing about the armed conflicts in many parts of the world like, Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen, the Middle East etc. from these very stations, most of us never thinking there were two sides to any story.
But to tell you the truth none of us thought they’d go as far as what they are doing to paint a big Satanic Russia which all of a sudden has become the frightening monster of the world! The reportages of some of their staff were so crude you could only watch with open mouthed disbelief.
“This is not a third world country,” one said talking about Ukraine. It was not a statement meant to describe that country. It was a statement telling us that for anything there this first world, third world narratives. Or in other words the Caucasians on one side and all the rest, or the colored on the other. And when it comes to Africans it gets worse.
The so called uncivilized world is not making those weapons of mass destructions. It isn’t making these chemical weapons; it isn’t making that weapons which annihilate human life and keep structures intact. Being eligible for refugee status has become color specific; meaning if you’re someone of color even if you’re fleeing the mayhem in Ukraine you aren’t eligible.
Racism has come out with all its terrible fangs and nails showing. The so-called ‘liberal media’ (God help me!) of the west has shown the world its true colors. This time there was no need to play with words; maybe intentionally, maybe because they couldn’t hold down the racist genes so the books were open. And what the world read isn’t something that gives it the confidence in the media. Every story falls under suspicion; you can’t help it. This world is messier than many of us think it to be.
To top it all the so-called ‘liberal’ media is anything but that!
The Ethiopian Herald March 13/2022