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During the time of Emperor Haile Selassie, I remember that when a new dignitary comes for a visit, flowers, plants, trees, and many other artificial or temporary gimmicks were put along the main streets in Addis Ababa to hide the ugliness of some of the poor areas of the city. During such a visit, some of us students were also told not to look straight on the eyes of the visitor; we were told to lower down our heads.

When a severe famine hit the Wollo province in 1972-73 and people were starving to death, the King’s officials denied there was a famine at all in Ethiopia.

I also heard from my Amharic teacher, who knew Menelik II, saying that, when Menelik II died, his death was not revealed to the people of Ethiopia for almost seven years; however, during those seven years his personal mule ruled the country. They dressed someone who looked like Menelik, put him on the King’s mule, and paraded him once a week or a month around the city, and the people would clap their hands and say: “Long live the King!”

At a very young age, I was ordained as a deacon and taken to a small house called Bethlehem, located on the east side of each Ethiopian Orthodox Church in the countryside. No one was allowed to enter this Bethlehem unless one was an ordained deacon or priest. This was the house where the priests or the deacons prepared the wine and the bread for the Eucharist. After I learned how to prepare it, I was strictly told never to reveal to any one that the bread and wine were indeed ordinary bread and ordinary wine. If I did, a tiger or a lion would come out of the woods and eat me up, and for a long , long time, I never told to any one what we deacons were doing in that beautiful house called Bethlehem.

When I went to Axum with a German Professor from Heidelberg University, I insisted the priest at Axum Zion Church to show me the Ark that worked so many wonders to the Israelites during their predicaments. He affirmed to me, pointing his right hand, that the Ark was there, right there inside that holy of holies, but no one was allowed to see the Ark. Then, I asked him: “How do I know the Ark lives here unless I see it with my own yes?” He responded to me that I had to believe what he had told me.

So Ethiopia from the beginning till now is full of secrecy and superficiality; I wish those who are in power were a little bit open about what they are doing, and how they are using the public money. One day the people of Ethiopia will open their eyes and reveal the hidden crimes committed upon them and revolt against them for more transparency and justice. I know the Ethiopian people understand what the Woyanne regime is doing, but they don’t have the power to change the government because Meles and his gangs have made them powerless for the time being; may be forever. I hope not.

for the honesty Yilma.

Ethiopia is regressing under TPLF, it begs to live and lives to beg. Unfortunately, they have taken my country along that road of a Welfare state.

Keep on doing what you just did and adopt, build the culture of working together, togetherness.

I really liked your excerpt:

" To quote Albert Einstein ‘the significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them.’
May God give our leaders the strength to do what is right! "

Long live United Republic of Ethiopia U.R.E.
Long live the true children of Ethiopia
Long live the unwavering, indefatigable brave Democrats of Ethiopia like those of the BUTAJIRA
Our struggle is peoples' Freedom and justice; maybe delayed but never stopped.
Ride on Sisters/Brothers Ethiopians
Our victory is certain

KINIJIT IS THE VICTORY TRAIN THAT MOVE FORWARD DROPPING THE DROPOUT AND THE PHONIES IN EVERY HALT.

Peace.
Tesfa

Thank you Yilma

My hats off to you for a beautiful piece. Well articulated. Thank you so much, and keep up the good work. I only hope that the voltures in power will get back to the their sences and right the wrongs for our nation's sake.