Recently the news items about the refugee crisis brought about by the Ukraine war have sort of opened the Pandora’s Box. The journalists of the West have been seen in their full nakedness of racism and underlying hatred on and contempt for others who aren’t like them. “This is not a third world country,” so a journalist put it on live TV. And the talk was about “white civilized Europeans” as unabashedly articulated time and again. One of the driving words has been “Civilized”. Such a refugee crisis is not expected to happen in Europe, or to put it other words in “White Europe! Especially their governments who seem to be moving all the levers of racism and xenophobia would have liked to be called as such, had not been for that thing they call political correctness.
“Relatively civilized,” so are the blond haired, blue eyed people of this world. When they talk about relatively civilized it isn’t even necessary to read between the lines. Putting it under a different sentence construction it means… “This is not about the uncivilized refugees of Africa!” Those very refugees on who dangerous walls were built, the dogs and the troops were set!
Those and other things being what they are the narratives of civilization are so twisted and knowledge free you could only feel sorry for those who are satisfied with their dreams while the realty is no near to anything they say.
Do they think that because theirs and mine ways of life are world apart theirs is ‘civilized’ and mine ‘uncivilized’? Do they think because I don’t have KFC, MacDonald’s and I am stuck with the basics of what nature offers theirs is ‘civilized’ and mine ‘uncivilized’? Do they think because they manufacture and own the most deadly weapons the world has ever seen, go about bombing these, annihilating that and completely destroying the other and I rather shun the production and distribution of such deadly weapons theirs is ‘civilized’ and mine ‘uncivilized’? Are they telling me while they rely on chemical-laden processed food I prefer to get them from the very land that produced them and use them as fresh as they come theirs is ‘civilized’ and mine ‘uncivilized’? Believe me we could come up with a thousand and some more questions if we keep moving down that line. But to what end? The media and many of their politicians are making sure we get the message, “We’re civilized, and you’re not!” You could only hope sooner or later their ego-driven fairy tales would just fade away and they’ll see reality not in black and white like they’re enjoying doing but in full color.
There are still ‘civilized’ Europeans and westerners (including Easterners who have opted to join) who ask Africans who are in tier countries for one reason or another “Do you people still live on trees and eat bananas? Yes sir, I can tell you we are crazy about bananas and eat lots and lots of them.
A couple of decade back I was one of a group of African media people in the USA on a month and half workshop. (Acting the rather reserved, some must have thought too timid, and not talking very much I don’t think U was much comfort to the other Africans. But here is the catch, a couple of us our minders said as much that I was disciplined. At first, such an accolade would’ve sent one to the nearest pub for that celebratory drink or two. I wouldn’t sell you down the river saying wasn’t happy. I was! It was years later that while talking with others the issue came up and I started looking at it from a different direction. What was the difference between the other Africans and me? Well they weren’t hesitant to make their opinions heard and made them loudly too. Then moving around places they gave their body the full freedom to move abut and weren’t counting the number of their steps and the gap between them. In a Midwestern state I was coupled with a local TV reporter who was said to be an expert in Ethiopian matters. Sitting for a cup of coffee his questions were like those I heard were the norm.
He asked me if we have cars and buildings and I probably nodded in affirmation. Now mind you, there opposite me in the well ventilated and spacious café was an expert on Ethiopian matters sought even by other media when it comes to cases connected with Ethiopia. And their being a few weeks before the downfall of The Derg Ethiopia featured most nightly. Ask him anything and he’ll give you the reliable answer. After all that is what you expect for all I could recall he was happy about it.
Now, the previous night back in Ethiopia an event which perhaps decided the country’s ultimate fate happened. Even I heard when at the wee hours of the morning one member of the group called me and turned me to turn the TV on. I did, and there it was. Seeping the decaffeinated coffee (for an Ethiopian!) I expected for him to raise the issue. Perhaps he might get a little supporting info from the horse’s mouth. He didn’t, so I decided to break it to him.
“The colonel, the Ethiopia leader fled to Zimbabwe.” (I’m not sure I used the term ‘fled’ then. I could have said anything stronger or lighter!) Now, what should I expect from my American host, and an expert on Ethiopia at that? We being in a Midwestern state where one witnessed more ‘cowboy’ kind of things I must have expected him to boom out with something like, “Really! Are you sure you heard that from a reliable source?” He never said that. His only question presented in a way that was unenthusiastic, to say the least, was that he asked, “Was he a bad guy?” I should have said “OMG!” if I was aware of any such ‘comment’ back then.
I’ve told you a personal experience with some expert on Ethiopia. Thanks; your applause accepted. Here is one for the road. In another event meant for us to have a glimpse of life in the American home I landed in the house of an elderly couple. I’ve to say that when it comes to manners they were the sweetest couple you could find anywhere. They have invited over a couple of neighbors too. This elderly couple, too, are supposed to know about Ethiopian matters more than others, and people listened to their explanations with interest. Once dinner is over they brought a beefy bundle of newspaper clippings. Are you ready for this? Every single story was about the Ethiopian famine. I went over some of them and sometimes I think I am the fool trying to expect anything better this time around.
Have they ever travelled to Ethiopia? Never! Have they seen documentaries and things like that about the country? No! How much do they know about Ethiopian history? Zero! And yet they were the voices to silence all voices when it comes to matters of Ethiopia. All through the media people or simple citizens there is one message filling the air; “We’re civilized, and you’re not!”
Ephrem Endale: Contributer
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SUNDAY EDITION 20 MARCH 2022