BY ALEM HAILU G/KRISTOS
Alluding to 6:29 “If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also,” I heard a priest preaching via a microphone while I was passing by a church.
“Does that mean peace has no limit?” I posed a question to myself a bit confused. “What if the wicked ventures to exploit my patience? I may tolerate if something happens to me but what if the wicked attack those I have to take care of? Do I have to stay put exhibiting endless patience?” I found sitting on the horns of a dilemma is a bit frightening.
But I took consolation pondering on Matthew 18:22 forgive someone seventy times seven, which amounts to 490.
I noted that forgiveness is Okay if it is wedded with repentance on the part of the offender. We rebuke an offender to correct him. In the same vein, regarding punishment on Hebrews 12:6 it says “The Lord corrects those he loves. And he punishes everyone he accepts as his child.”
I reflected parents too have to discipline their children expected to backpedal from uncouth behavior. Governments too have to bring culprits before the rule of law. If a culprit put down his foot to come before court, the government must take the court before his doorsteps.
That day I was heading to a bar where my friend and I regularly meet to exchange ideas, do some reflections and discuss things. Often, he waits for me drinking Beer, which I shunned altogether after a physician made me jump out of my skin after he scared me “Don’t you think consuming alcohol again as your life will grind to a halt!” “Such a sugar spike in your blood is unheard of!” he frowned at me in a way I could not easily forget.
That is why I order a bottle of mineral water when I sit by my friend. “Why don’t you take Beer? Once in a while you have to do so. You don’t have to disrupt things outright. Our discussion couldn’t be hot as before. You see it is me alone that gets tipsy and try to bend your ears. We used to do that turn by turn. I feel a bit ashamed now,” he dressed his kinky hair.
“Don’t worry it is the issue that rather makes us worked up; specially the issue of Terrorist TPLF,”I punched the table.
“The bloodsucker, pilfer, fibber, imposter, psychopath and rapist TPLF is basking under the go ahead of hypocrites, EU and their subservient media outlets and organizations! What is astonishing is the fact that if the latter are requested by the former to jump, it is not ‘why?’ they ask it is rather ‘how many times?’” with his palm my friend brushed his hair backwards.
“Sure thing! Aghast! When such connivers shake hands with the barbaric TPLF their hands too will be fresh with bloods of the innocent mercilessly slain!” I said.
After ordering another round of Beer for him I scanned the customers-thirsty-turned bar following the baseless price hike of Beer and told him from A to Z the confusing idea I tossed and turned in my mind earlier on the road—“What action to take when one is torn apart between patience and self-defense?”
“Why is the bar empty?” I asked the waiter when he came back with the beer “I heard boozers have resorted to taking traditional home-made liquor Ale (Areke.)”
“They got you!” my friend pointed his finger to the balcony laughing.
“I hope that could be a good lesson for you. Unfounded price hike on part of businessmen is tacitly supporting the hideous TPLF that has put fueling possible revolution-triggering inflations. Driving a wedge between the government and citizens finding a loophole on the socioeconomic and political spheres is on the shortlist agenda of the leaked document of the terrorist,” I said before the waiter headed back to the balcony.
“Regarding the earlier subject you raised I could read your mind. You were comparatively painting in your mind the stubborn and blood-thirsty Terrorist TPLF and the sagacious and peace-votary government?” My friend eyed me by way of saying I buy your idea.
Happily I reacted, “Yes the government is on duty bound to parry any form of threat that militates against the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the nation as our forbearers did. Every citizen should feel security under Ethiopian skies. Peace and security are atop the incumbent’s agenda. It has to ensure an enduring peace. You see otherwise it will be accountable for severe consequences and criticisms attendant on its inaction.”
“You were wondering how the government could sit with crossed arms while Terrorist TPLF run amok with its killing spree,” he nodded his head by way of saying I can figure out the puzzle.
“Sure thing! The incumbent has to spare people of Tigray too from the wraths of leaders of the impish group that cannon fodders them.”
“Yesterday I saw an old captive nun on EBC whom TPLF sent to the front ,along with juveniles that comprised the weak, old and unskilled people, to form a human wave,” my friend could not help a sarcastic smile.
“YES.I saw it too. A girl child recruited a fighter said at least a member from a given family must go to the front. ‘As my father is an elderly man, almost a cabbage, I volunteered to come as the eldest child,’ ” I tried to express the absurdity with my finger.
I added “Some of them were skin and bones as the terrorist group starved them using food aid as a means of coercing people of Tigray to the front to perish in a lost battle. It doesn’t bat an eye if they die of hanger.”
“It as well uses scare tactic. After stabbing members of ENDF’s northern wing on the back it cried foul ‘agenocide is committed on people of Tigray!’ The Ethiopian saying goes “A flogger itself a whip cries itself!” my friend said referring to the group’s inclination for scapegoating.
“How could the global community specially UN turn a blind eye to the conscription of child soldiers sent to battlefields heavily drugged and women sexually abused indiscriminately. Where is their stewardship to children and women’s cause? Must they bury the truth 100 meters deep? How could it exercise double standard treating the Amhara and Afar victims with a cold shoulder simply talking about one part of the conflict?” I displayed vexation.
“Pertaining to some member of the global community, suffering defeat, when the terrorist group cries foul, they follow suit. Revoltingly, they resonate with its deviant nature of falsehood and destruction. They threaten the truth-adhering government assuming it will buckle under the pressure of groundless sanctions,” he dressed his hair from force of habit.
“But when the terrorist group shows superficial military advances they blow it up out of proportion emboldening it to press ahead with its barbarism,” I cut in.
“Yes partiality characterizes their feature. When Sudan encroaches on Ethiopian territory they stay tightlipped but cry foul ‘Eritrean soldiers are seen in Tigray’.When Ethiopia’s air space is invaded by historic enemies they put a veil before their eyes! What a lack of integrity! Disgusting!” he gulped down his beer and ordered for another one.
“UN (UNSC), contravening its convention, is interfering in the internal affair of Ethiopia directly talking with Terrorist TPLF leaders. And also opting to call the blood-thirsty troops the Tigrayan Defense Force members”I said and added
“The way they harp on western Tigray while referring Welkait and Humer even after repetitively told the case has to be settled by political discussion that could lead to referendum, showcases they are far from disinterested, ”
“Yes straining their eyes they labor to find a needle in a haystack when it comes to Ethiopia’s case. They try to sniff offence where offence is not meant” he said and added
“The media outlets that have a high affiliation with them blow things out of proportion not to mention the fabrications dishonest journalists concoct.”
“TPLF is born to lie and kill, and dishonest journalists are paid to amplify the make-believe stories “I said
Once more with a sarcastic smile he noted “Journalism has long made a nose dive. Terrorist TPLF has committed all war crimes: forced child soldiers to the front, demolished hospital and schools, attacked the feeble, old, toddlers in the risk zone as well as those who are unable to defend themselves. In such frenzy it did homed in on churches and mosques. Why then sham media outlets brush aside the elephant in the room.”
“They want to force the government that has the responsibility of protecting Tigrayan people from the brunt and iron grip of TPLF itself, for every single inch of Ethiopia is that of Tigray and every inch of Tigray is that of Ethiopia,” I said and added
“Holding a dove at a gunpoint Terrorist TPLF clamors for peace knowing full well that hypocrites, some UN members ,EU and historic enemies adore incentivizing it for its monstrous moves that one way or another buttresses their hidden agenda, “he said.
“TPLF’s bent for peace talk is a bait to buy time and start a 4th round invasion. Gasping for air it badly needs a stalemate, ”he once more gulped his Beer.
Even peace has its limit— 490.Terrorist TPLF has made trice’s as much offences. Action is needed, ”I said
“Once bitten twice shy,” goes the saying he said. ///
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD FRIDAY 16 SEPTEMBER 2022
