
BY MENGESHA AMARE
What a blessed nation Ethiopia is! It houses a number of nations and nationalities cemented with long-aged religious and cultural coexistence. Citizens residing at every regional state have run activities in a well amalgamated manner. Even celebrations of religious festivities, public holidays have been bedecked with those who are not followers of that specific religion, but simply for the sake of making their fellow sister and brothers glad.
If truth be told, it is quite difficult to exclusively identify Ethiopians who is what and who originated where since all are assimilated in blood and flesh. Interestingly, Ethiopians as at every corner of the country do have their respective conflict resolution mechanisms whenever disparities and skirmishes arise. Yes, Ethiopians unity is an indestructible chain at all circumstances.
However, since recently this time tested and well glued liaison has been eroded, though a slight attempt it is, due to the pointless rivalry elites have come up with. Elites’ ill-breeding mission coupled with the cunning acts of conflict entrepreneurs and individuals or groups with a power monger spirit, citizens have become under a serious threat whenever public holidays and/or religious celebrations come.
Had it not been for the long standing as well as the eternal social cohesion set up since time immemorial, the sly moves of irresponsible elites and other external and internal foes of the country had provided Ethiopia with serious security challenges and mode of instability, but not at all except short-lived mayhem and confusion. This has been cleared and the country has now been trekking on the right boulevard thanks to the spirited and well-informed citizenry at every nook and cranny of the nation.
Needless to state, all Ethiopians have developed a long historical, religious and cultural connection.Even the world could confidently witness the intermarriage of religion, culture and values born either to the religions themselves or from the way of life of the people inherited from earlier generations in Ethiopia. That is why everyone says Ethiopians have developed an undying harmonious way of living.
Besides, much has been said on the religious co-existence and understanding among religious followers in Ethiopia in general, the religious co-existence and its dynamism has to be well exploited for the benefit of all citizenry. Yes, the presence of age old belongingness and respect among followers of many religions is of paramount importance in nurturing peace, development and common growth. It has been a result of long fusion and encounter and sharing of values among the believers of all religions.
Besides, there is a broad tolerance and respect of religious diversity in the country, and even churches and mosques are often situated within close proximity and relationships are peaceful. As history teaches us and even the experience of the past political history of the country show, disparaging and accusation are counterproductive for peace and do no good except fuelling hatred and conflicts.
It goes without saying that Ethiopians have indigenous cultural and traditional assets that have been used for long to strengthen solidarity, unity, peace and a sense of family among each other. However, these days, the assets seem to be less valued and eroded due to various reasons. Even, in some cases, some anti-peace elements are attempting to undermine these deep seated values and broadcasting discordancy and hatred.
Ethiopia’s contribution to national and regional peace is clearly demonstrated and the world over has started appreciating it, too. Here, the best way to achieve sustainable peace is to plant the seeds of tolerance and address the issues of division, sectarianism, and racism that are rampant in many places. And the media has to play its responsible part as the most important tool in spreading the values tolerance and peace.
Historically speaking, Ethiopia has been a nation endowed with religious culture of tolerance and co-existence between various religious followers. Religion in Ethiopia has been portrayed as pragmatic, tolerant, inclusive and syncretistic in many respects. Arguably such a picture reveals the inherent diversity and dynamics of religion in the country. The signs of chaos and insanity that may be observed in the human realm of the present day are an extension of a more fundamental commotion, ego-based nature of elites, not innocent citizen.
If various mechanisms are effective in handling and managing conflicts among the people, it is largely because they reflected the sociopolitical orientation of Ethiopians, addressing all the social, political and economic conflicts among a people who lived a communal way of life. Thus, it has been customary as well as common currency to happen upon people sitting down informally to discuss and agree on important issues.
Ethiopian traditional mechanisms of conflict prevention, management and resolution have been largely effective and respected, as the importance of the family in the conflict management process is highly highlighted, as well as the role of chiefs, elders, family heads and others, to anticipate and resolve conflicts.
In recent decades, tolerance has been proposed as a necessary response to the global rise in cultural and religious diversity. Tolerance is widely embraced in community, national, and international policies in relation to differences between people and groups. However, in both public and academic discourse, the notion of tolerance appears to have various meanings, which limits our ability to create, evaluate, and implement effective policies.
All national aspects, trivial, crucial or a matter of life and death, can be potentially well adjourned and confidently handled and citizens of all walks of life especially the elite ones have to develop spirit of giving priority for a nation—great Ethiopia. Thought the recent reform has thus faced an uphill battle to stabilize and effectively govern the country emanating from various sources, things are now turned into good following communal coexistence.
Editor’s Note: The views entertained in this article do not necessarily reflect the stance of The Ethiopian Herald
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD TUESDAY 18 APRIL 2023