Ephrem Endale Contributer
This’s to you, who have been treating us like mortal enemies and seem to be going all the way to finally see us flat on our backs with absolutely no chance of getting up again. Why? Oh, why so much animosity towards us; us who never did you any harm; not even thought of it. Sorry, that’s the wrong way of starting any letter, don’t you think so? However, confused we might be by your present actions and future plans we should have kicked off with greetings. Even had we been sworn enemies a simple greeting wouldn’t have been about submission but about proving we aren’t as yet drained off the genes of humanity.
Don’t get us wrong we don’t want to be locked into any argument as to whether the greetings are heartfelt or something to be explained with one of those sweet-sounding rosy terms. Well, it would have been nice had the greetings really been that… heartfelt or any other synonyms. But we don’t want to mislead you; they’re anything but heartfelt. However nice we try to sound, however ‘brotherly’ we force ourselves to sound the many sinister and pure evil actions against us which litter the landscape don’t allow us to grow those angelic wings. So, “How have you been doing? We hope everything is alright with you.” that’s the end of the line.
Now, to get back into the real nuts and bolts of things there’s this soon-to-be eternal question nagging us; what have we done to you for you to be so evil, nasty and inhumane against us? Why are you foaming at the mouth so fiercely to see us down and out? I mean, we never shook your fence. How can we? We aren’t even neighbors. Time for facts; Fact 1: Many amongst us don’t have even the slightest idea you exist.
Fact 1: Repeat of fact one. You see how is that you try enemies out of people who for all practical purposes aren’t aware of your existence? We’re sure it is the same on your part. So why are you politicians, media personnel, so-called human rights and such organizations are ganging up against us? Of course if you think our opinions would be of any importance, catch; shouldn’t you people first clean the mess in your own backyards? That they aren’t talked about doesn’t mean they don’t exist! Since the monopoly over the global narrative is concentrated within the tightest circle anyone could think of who said everything is nice and dandy on anybody’s home turf! You know these days since many things are hidden or tucked away in the backyards it doesn’t mean just because things are not hitting the front pages they’re not happening.
Yes, we admit things aren’t what we’d have liked them to be. Yes, we are under siege by problems of past and present. Yes, we know now is the time to get together and design our own war plans of how going on the offensive against poverty, illiteracy, backwardness and all the vicious lot. Yes, we’ve got our own serious misunderstandings on issues which could easily be addressed through genuine and inclusive discussions amongst us. But alas! How can one do that when external forces which should first have examined their backside are thrusting their whatever in our affairs? That is the tragedy of hateful politics! How can we hold genuine discussions when others have their own game plan for us and are determined to force us into playing by their own rules? I mean they being prosecutor, judge and jury don’t you think that would be bad script unsuitable even for the worst Hollywood flop?
It’s sad that some seem to be making mistakes with impunity. But are they really mistakes? I mean there is a clear line between unintended mistakes and intended vice, isn’t there? But then how can anyone over and over deny what is on the ground deliberately and others see them other innocent mistakes? Others being those clueless dude cheerleaders who would bend as low any one would like them to as long as the pay is right. Because almost everything these days is about that, isn’t it? About the pay! That’s what the so-called lobbyists are after. “Show us the bucks and we’ll show you what we can do with it!
“Hey! Hey, you!”
“Er… sorry, do you mean us?”
“Yes we mean you. Who do you think we are talking to when there is no one around except you and us?”
“What can we do for you?”
“It’s not what you can do for us; it’s what you can do for yourself.”
“Sorry; we’re afraid we lost you. Can you elaborate?”
“Well, do you know after whom the fellows who promised to give you millions want you to go?”
“Not yet.”
“Well it’s after us! Isn’t that some coincidence?”
“Well…well, sorry for that. But it is about business; Nothing personal against you!”
“Ok; here is a deal; are you interested?”
“Depends on the specifics.”
“Well the specifics are that we’ll give you double what they promised you, and we want you to go after them and skin them alive.”
“Now you’re talking business. When do you want us to start?”
There is you are! The whole lot is in it for one and only one thing… money! What’s more, they’d do almost anything to ensure their money keeps coming. In the meantime, the innocent are dragged and sacrificed on the altar of greed and riches-by-any-means!
Look, don’t take it as any disrespect, but the fact is you’re playing that same old and tried tune which others as have been doing for decades. It is that same story of hate, arrogance and out right evil. Because when you get someone who comes after you with guns blazing, someone to whom you’ve done wrong, someone whose existence you might even be not aware of that’s evil the like of which is messing up this world.
So, a word or two to our would-be tormentors; Clean your own backyards (including the ones in those brains of yours too!) then and only then could we sit down and have our nice, little talk.
The Ethiopian Herald April 17/2022