Welcoming �Eritrean� Students at Addis Ababa University
Tecola Worq Hagos [October 14, 2010]

Because of deep love, one is courageous. Because of frugality, one is generous. Because of not daring to be ahead of the world, one becomes the leader of the world. 

Superior leaders get things done with very little motion. They impart instruction not through many words, but through a few deeds. They are informed deeply about everything but interfere hardly at all. They are catalysts, and though things would not get done as well if they weren't there, when they succeed they take no credit. And because they take no credit, credit never leaves them. 
Lao-tzu, 600 B.C

I read the news that Addis Ababa University has accepted almost two hundred students from �Eritrea.� This is one decision that I applaud greatly. I applaud the President of the University of Addis Ababa for making such a bold and wise decision. This is the type of political decision that endears the leadership of the Ethiopian Government to the People of Ethiopia that includes Eritrea. Despite the harsh reality at home of a brutal and violent Government of Meles Zenawi, the People of Ethiopia still have great decency and human compassion. At times, such benevolence rubs on to Meles Zenawi too. I realize that this might be an astute political gambit on a chessboard of politics that Meles Zenawi is often playing. I doubt if he has any humane dimension at all. Nevertheless, whether or not it might be just a cold blooded calculation of political gain on the part of the Government of Meles Zenawi, the fact remains that Ethiopians got a chance to welcome and embrace their brothers and sisters who were rudely disfranchised from the Motherland on an illusion of grandeur propagated by the historic enemies of Ethiopia. 

When I looked at the Video interview of several �Eritrean� students at the University, I witnessed how happy, sincere, and grateful they all were in expressing their heart-felt thank you to the generous people of Ethiopia. Watching the video, I said to myself, on that score alone, in allowing our Eritrean brothers and sisters to come home back to our common Motherland, I will take off few items from the huge pile of discontent I have accumulated on Meles Zenawi and his government�s misdeeds and violence against the people of Ethiopia. In my very unscientific survey of the situation among Diaspora Ethiopians I know and a few of my friends back home, I found it quite remarkable that almost all of my friends I talked with were happy in having Eritrean Students at Addis Ababa University in as far as it might lead to unity. The surprising response was that how much they miss their friends who were shipped to �Eritrea� that the political separation is a historic mistake going against the natural familial structure of Mother-Ethiopia. And a few even stated that the separation is a sin against God�s will. 

It is always tragic when innocent people are hurt due to the stupidity and often time unbounded ambition of their leaders. Eritrea should never have separated itself from Ethiopia, our Mother Country. Yes, there was a referendum claimed to represent the voices of 99.9% of the �Eritrean� people. Such a gimmick was juvenile, and there should have been no referendum of the sort conducted where the choice given sounds more like choosing between slavery and freedom. Ethiopia is no slave or colonial camp. If there has been oppression and great discontent, it has to do with leaders and their followers not per se the Nation of Ethiopia. Look brothers and sisters, did Issayas Afeworki become a democratic leader? Not at all. He is also the mirror image of all dictators that ever ruled over on people from time immemorial; he is the twin brother of Meles Zenawi. We the people are the solutions to our problems not our leaders or the leaders of foreign nations. Such benevolent gesture must not be wasted on schemes and ashatirs, but must be looked at an pursued with the noblest of goals�the unity of the single People of Ethiopia whether they are in Eritrea, Djibouti, Gambela, Kessela, Ogaden, or Sennar. 

Ethiopia is a great and wealthy nation full of potential abundance; it is the people who failed to take advantage of all that is available. I know the counter argument being that it is the Ethiopian leadership that is responsible for all the suffering and misery in Ethiopia. To a percentage that statement is true; however, the people of Ethiopia are no less responsible for the state of affairs facing us all at this time. Due to cowardice, selfishness, minimal social commitment, and greed, the Ethiopian public has failed to be a united, ethical, patriotic, and demanding society. Without our weakness and selfishness being the case, Meles Zenawi, or Mengistu Haile Mariam would never have succeeded to be leaders. We allowed midgets to step on our shoulders and to rule over us, there by transforming our great nation into a nation of weak and crippled people. 

My Brothers and Sisters, Welcome to Addis Ababa University.
God Bless Benevolent Ethiopia!

Tecola W. Hagos
Washington DC
October 14, 2010