Badme, the Grave Yard of the Youth

For those who want to have a deeper understanding to the Ethio - Eritrea war, I am recommending my own short research paper that I wrote during my last year as a University Student. I believe this was one of my honors classes, I very much enjoyed it. I was looking for an old file in my computer and ended up rereading and relearning somethings including my own writing style and tone...  

Badme, the Grave Yard of the Youth 

Apr.  26, 2010

Contents

Management of Claim

Badme, the Grave Yard of the Youth……………………………………………………………………1

Brief chronological timeline of Ethiopia……………………………………………………………….2

Brief chronological timeline of Eritrea ………………………………………………………………..4

Geographic Influences

Dissecting Badme and its timeline…………………………………......................................................5

            Border as catalyst……………………………………………………………………………………………….9

            Consequence……………………………………………………………………………………………………11

Historical Influences

            Historical relationship………………………………………………………………………………………13

Appendix

Map of the disputed territorial claim………………..……………………………………………….15

Works Cited…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….....16

Badme, the Grave Yard of the Youth

Eritrea’s three decades, rebellious struggle ended with Eritrea’s formal independence in 1993 from Ethiopia. Five years later Eritrea and Ethiopia found themselves waging war over a skirmish territorial claim dispute. Badme, a small village located between the western part of Eritrea and the northern part of Ethiopia with an area of less than 60 square miles wide and home to 5,000 local farmers became the epicenter of a full scale of war that extended to the whole 620 miles border between Eritrea and Ethiopia; igniting unmatched military conflict by recent years in Africa. Some 50,000-75,000 Eritreans and Ethiopian soldiers lost their lives in the two-year war (Negash, p. 3).

There exists nothing particularly special about this skirmish village, yet the explicit contentious claims made by both the Eritrean and Ethiopian governments; it nonetheless meets all three, territorial claim requirements as defined in class note of Dr. Hensel’s Geography, History and Int’l Relations class. The issue that seemed a minor misunderstanding of border dispute turned into a full-scale war. This paper will examine the issue of conflict regarding Badme and whether the sacrifices made by both neighboring countries to retain the village were justifiable.

On May 6, 1998, Eritrean soldiers entered into Badme, an area where there was a history of border dispute but it had previously never been a major issue. The town of Badme had been administered under the Ethiopian government as was Eritrea itself pre its independence. The local Ethiopian securities tried to push the Eritrean soldiers back across the border, but the Eritrean soldiers refused and few deaths resulted as a consequence of the incident. Shortly after, in what seemed the Eritrean government had expected how the scenario would play out, sent its military to the area signifying the start of militarized conflict from that point; one side blaming the other for inciting the first (Negash, p. 1).

The Ethiopian air force then bombed Eritrea’s capital City Asmara and within hours Eritrea retaliated by bombing Tigray’s Capital city Mekelle. This air strike hit an elementary school and ultimately killed 54 people, 12 of which were children, and injuring 233 civilians. The conflict left a scar between nations and threatens to break the bond and common identity those nations carried for generations. Tensions were running high on both sides and things only got worse, escalating towards full war over “…an inconsequential piece of real estate…but highly charged with symbolism as the two nations sort out their relationship after a 20-year war that ended with Eritrea breaking off from the larger nation.” (Negash, p. 3)

Brief chronological timeline of Ethiopia

History books state that the current Ethiopian formerly known, as Abyssinians are descendents or mixed of three groups of people. 1. The Hamitic, Cushitic-speaking people who came from western Asia and settled in North Eastern Africa about 10,000 years ago, 2. The Sabean, Semitic locally known as Habeshas, who crossed the Red Sea from the middle east around the 7^th-8^th century BC. Lastly, the third groups were the Nilotic people from the Nile valley who penetrated into the Western part of current Ethiopia (Habteselassie, p. 9).

In 1869 an Italian private company bought Massawa, and the Italian government formally took it in 1872. While the Ethiopian ruler Emperor Yohannes IV was fighting war against the Egyptians. The Italians were advancing from Massawa to the northern Ethiopian highlands. Emperor Menelik become became Ethiopians ruler following Yohannes’s death. In 1889, Ethiopia and Italy signed the Treaty of Wichale, which focused on designation of boundaries to solve the increasing territorial and border conflicts. Italy then gave Menelik 4 mil francs to buy 28 cannons and rifles. Soon the Ethiopian Emperor realized that back in Europe, Italy had unilaterally claimed Ethiopia’s protectorate; enraged Menelik denounced the treaty in 1893 (Negash, p. 5-10).

In Italy’s quest to expand control in East Africa, continued pushing advancement to the northern part of Ethiopia. Then in March 1896, Italy faced a crashing defeat by the Ethiopian forces in the Battle of Adwa, a small town in northern Ethiopia (Habteselassie, p. 121-125). After the fall of the Axis powers in 1945, Britain administered the Italian colonies in East Africa, and in 1952 the UN decided to include Eritrea as part of the Ethiopian federation. In 1962, however, Emperor Haile Selassie unilaterally abolished the federation and imposed imperial rule throughout Eritrea (Timeline). 

Discontent Eritreans formed the Eritrean Liberation Front (ELF) in 1958. Following this configuration, Haile Silasie is over thrown in 1974 by military junta known as Durg. This event gave birth to the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Party (EPRP), (comma) a pro representative democracy movement turned armed rebels. The difference in ideological principles facilitated the formation of another rebel group called the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) rebel faction (Timeline).

Brief chronological timeline of Eritrea

Eritrea with its 5 million population encompasses at least nine different ethnic groups. Eritrean’s modern history begins in 1882 when Italy occupied Massawa, a port in the Red Sea. Then only home to 300,000 local residents in which the Tigrayan predominantly, Orthodox Christians ethnic accounted for 40% of the total population and 20% of the territory (Negash & Tronvoll 5). The Italian occupation split the natural unit of many nations into Italy ruled Eritrea while their brothers remained divided by a border under the control of Ethiopian authorities. Centuries back, Eritrea was part of the Ethiopian kingdom of Axum/Aksum from 300-600BC. Around 600, Arabs from the Middle East introduce Islam to the coastal areas of the Red Sea. Controlled and occupied by outsider forces such as by the Ottoman Empire, Egyptians and later it fall under the Italian colony in the late 1880s. With the ELF movement gaining support and experience, the torch for independence was lit (Timeline).

In 1970 political ideology differences caused split within the ELF; the leftist faction of ELF become known as the Eritrean People’s Liberation Front (EPLF). ELF and EPLF continued to attack the Ethiopian forces separately and at times attacking each other. When the Ethiopian Emperor was overthrown in a military coup in 1974, support from the Soviet Union and Cuba helped the Ethiopian communist military junta reverse the significant advances that were made by the Eritrean guerrilla fighters in the early 1980s. With EPLF in Eritrea and TPLF in Tigray Region Ethiopia, through separate or coordinated military attacks against the Derg, EPLF capturing the Eritrean capital, Asmara, and independence was declared for a provisional government. Once TPLF captured Addis Ababa in 1991, it backed its former guerrilla ally’s quest for a formal independence. Through the referendum the Eritreans showed their landslide support for independence from Ethiopia and accordingly Eritrea became independent and member of the United Nations in 1993 (Gilkes).

Just two years into its independence, Eritrea started showing hostility in the horn of Africa, with an initial invasion of the Hanish islands in the Red Sea, which were previously under Yemen control. Through a nuetral negotiation in 1998, an international arbitration panel gave the Greater Hanish Island to Yemen and other smaller islands were divided between the two. Asmara seemed to take another step backward, spoiling the seed of hope for democracy that was bestowed by many to the revolutionary rebels that were now the country’s leaders. In 2002 the Eritrean government made it clear that neither election nor the formation of political parties would be allowed in the country in the near future. Eritrea was also accused by neighboring Sudan and Djibouti, for taking part in a rebel offensive in Sudan’s eastern territory and digging trenches at the Ras Doumeira border and infiltrating Djiboutian territory. This resulted in the killing of at least nine Djiboutian soldiers respectively. The US even considered putting Eritrea as state sponsors of terrorism in 2007 (Timeline).

Dissecting Badme and its timeline

Triangle shaped Badme, is approximately 150 square-miles, a village home to approximately 5,000 local farmers. Until the locals were displaced by the war in 1998-2000, the village was administered under Ethiopia, and therefore the residents have for generations believed they are Ethiopians. This is exemplified by a 47-year-old local farmer who said, "I simply don't understand why there is confusion. We are Ethiopians and we have been in Badme for generations," (Badme: Village in no man's land). According to the local Head of Administration, Mr. Wolde Mariam, approximately 1,000 Eritreans lived amongst the Ethiopians. These Eritrean residents of the village believed Badme to be part of Eritrea (Badme: Village in no man's land). Once the war broke out in Badme, the territorial dispute was raised in a few more towns that lay within the border boundaries. Small towns such as Tsorona, Zalambessa and Bure were some of the towns that saw intensive military fighting (Badme).

 After the Ethiopia-Italy treaty, the border was delimited in 1900, 1902 and 1908, but because the border was never clearly demarcated there continued to be dispute regarding the official border. The TPLF and ELF subsequently clashed over the border dispute in 1976. After Eritrean soldiers entered Badme on May 6, 1998, and a costly war ensued, the village returned under Ethiopian control on March 1, 1999. Eritrea and Ethiopia agreed for a ceasefire and peace agreements in 2000. In 2001 both parties agreed to a UN-proposed mediator demarcation of the disputed border. On April 2003 the boundary commission ruled Badme as part of the Eritrean territory; but Ethiopia rejects the ruling, and a year later rejects the virtual demarcation. In 2005, Eritrea puts restriction on the UN peacekeeping by asking peacekeepers of North American, Europe and Russia to leave. The International commission finds Eritrea to have broken international law when it attacked Ethiopia in 1998. Then in 2007, Eritrea accepts the commission border demarcation but Ethiopia rejects the request. The arbitration commission orders Eritrea to pay Ethiopia compensation for the 1998-2000 border war, and finally in 2009 the UN accuses Eritrea for supporting and arming Somalian insurgents. After this both armies remain within the border with the buffer zone between them (Permanent).

After a consistent joint attempt by the Organization of African Unity (OAU), the United States and the U.N. Security Council, Ethiopia’s head of state Prime Minister, Meles Zenawi, and his Eritrean counterpart President Issaias Afewerki, agreed to ceasefire and signed a peace pact on Dec 12, 2000 in Algiers, Algeria. The framework peace pact was drafted by the OAU in the hope of bringing stability and peace to these horn of African foes. Under the peace pact agreement, both parties agreed for a 15 mile-wide buffer zone with in the Eritrean territory to be patrolled by the U.N. Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) that would deploy close to 4,200 troops to the buffer zone (). The pact also created an establishment of a neutral five member Boundary Commission, tasked with delimitation and demarcation of the colonial treaty border based on the colonial treaties of (1900, 1902 and 1908).

The Commission was explicitly forbidden from having the power to make decisions ex aequo et bono, meaning that the parties objected to giving the arbitration panel to give their principles judgment on what is fair and just. The parties agreed to cooperate with an independent investigation body to determine the May 6, 1998 initiating incidents to the conflict; among others, the parties agreed to honor and accept the decisions and awards of the independent commission’s as final and binding; as well as pay a monetary awards verdict against them immediately thereafter (Permanent).

The Eritrea-Ethiopia Claims Commission “was directed to decide through binding arbitration all claims for loss, damage or injury by one Government against the other, and by nationals” (Permanent). The commission based in The Hague, Netherlands demarcated the line in Nov.  2007, by current map coordinates in which Eritrea accepted the decision but Ethiopia rejected the “virtual demarcation”; stating, “…it would only accept the commission's ruling after negotiations with Eritrea on the mechanics of how the border demarcation would take place.” (Permanent). Once the commission fulfilled its mandate, it dissolved itself, therefore leaving the obligation and responsibilities to both parties to deal with independently (Permanent).

The claims brought to the arbitration commission by both Ethiopia and Eritrea, were partially or wholly awarded in some instances and the claims were dismissed on the bases of the commission’s findings. Ethiopia was awarded a total of $174,036,520, and $161,455,000 to Eritrea plus an additional $2,065,865 for Eritrean individual claimants; and in turn the commission ruled Eritrea to pay Ethiopia a net payment slightly over $10 million.  Although both Eritrea and Ethiopia accepted the final award decision, Ethiopia expressed its discontent on the insufficiency of the awards, given that the commission earlier found Eritrea to have violated the jus ad bellum (party who incited the war in 1998). Eritrea in its defense remains disgust that Ethiopia still resists the Commission’s ruling to demarcate the conflicting border (Permanent).

Border as catalyst

The un-established border was an issue since the Italian occupation of Eritrea, and the border dispute was simply an outlet to deep-rooted tensions between the political and ideological differences. In addition there was a growing strain economic relationships between Addis Ababa and Asmara. The tension goes back to the infancy stage of those now in power, to when the EPLF, now know as People’s Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ), Eritrea’s one and only political party since its independence in 1991; and TPLF the leading party of the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) which is Ethiopia’s ruling coalition since it toppled the Derg in 1991). EPLF’s /PFDJ and TPLF’s political ideology difference started as early as they started drafting their revolutionary manifesto as guerilla fighting (Gilkes).

Through an overwhelming public uprising and the a support from the military the Ethiopian Monarchy was broken and Emperor Haile Selasie, was overthrown in 1974. EPLF who has been fighting against the Emperial rule of Ethiopia since 1952 was stronger and had much more experience by 1974, which is the year TPLF and EPRP started their armed struggle. EPLF started supporting and training both Ethiopian rebels (EPRP and TPLF). TPLF objected to EPRP’s political ideologies and thus refused to allow EPRP to operate within Tigray Region, a move that aggravated and created friction between TPLF and EPLF (because EPLF’s aim was focused mainly on over throwing the Derg; therefore EPLF wanted TPLF and EPRP to work in usison to overthrow the Derg. During this time ELF, EPLF’s competing rebels were operating inside both Tigray Region and Eritrea to carry attacks against the Derg. TPLF sought to work with ELF, perceiving it to be a win-win situation until they faced border conflict in Badme in 1976. In addition, ELF’s continued to support TPLF’s competing armed group, Tigray Liberation Front (TLF) in the same Tigray Region. ELF and EPRP (TPLF’s other foe) managed to come to good terms and form alliances. Then TPLF drove EPRP out of Tigray and evicted ELF with the help of EPLF (Negash, p. 12-16).

PLF objected to TPLF’s 1976 manifesto that focused on liberation of Ethiopian nationalities and creating an ethnic federation. EPLF found it to be an unsustainable strategy, fearing that those nationalities would give greater focus to national identity and make it difficult establish a peaceful, homogenous national identity. Eritrea’s fear was that ethnic identity would rise in Ethiopia and future conflict amongst those ethnic groups within Ethiopia would cross the border to Eritrea; due to the overlap of ethnic groups divided only by a vague border (Negash, p. 15-16).

EPLF and TPLF’s other major ideological difference was that both rebels’ viewed the Soviet Union as the main arms provider to the Derg. Russia was viewed by TPLF as a revisionist party and they believed the system was “social-imperialist,” and therefore TPLF sought support in the Albanian model of communism. EPLF on the other hand believed the Soviet Union was a socialist system with a Leninist-style. Concomitantly, the communist party argued Russia’s support to the Derg military junta was a misunderstanding based on the political context present in the horn of Africa (Negash, p. 16-17).

 Ethiopia and Eritrea faced great conflict while determining the boundaries of their 620 mile, shared border. It is important to note that this discrepancy encompasses problems related to geographic location, historical relationship, colonial legacy, tangible and intangible values, states with multiple nations, nations with multiple states and rivalry. When Eritrea gained its independence, Ethiopia was left landlocked, which was an extensive hindrance to its economic development. The ports on the Red Sea costal line had always been important to the Ethiopian economy. Even when Eritrea was under the Italian colony, at least 25% of Ethiopia’s import and export goods were carried out through the Massawa port. It was one of the three most important reasons Italy sought to colonize Eritrea in the first place. Another important characteristic of Eritrea came from being a source of soldiers for Italy’s adventure else where in Africa, along with the strategic importance of the Red Sea region (Negash, P. 7-8).

Consequence

The war was highly consequential and costly to both countries, from its monetary expensive to its disruption of the citizen’s daily lives. It is believed that both countries spent several million dollars on military arms at a time when they can’t afford to feed their citizens. As noted, the 620 mile long border is inhabited by at least 5 different ethnic groups where thousands of Eritreans and Ethiopians live on opposing sides of the border. Due to this arrangement, after the war broke out 350,000 Ethiopians and 250,000 Eritreans were displaced.

During the few months of de facto cease fire, the Eritreans dug trenches and propagated it by saying Eritrea would never leave Badme. The Ethiopians coined the military engagement in Badme as “Operation Sunset”, and they fought their way to reclaim Badme, but it was achieved with heavy casualty from each side. Both countries estimated to have lost some 70,000-120,000 soldiers in the two-year war (Negash & Tronvoll 2).

Both governments have been trying to undermine each other’s securities by supporting and harboring rebel groups ever since the war. The refugee has also increased people fleeing both countries. In the Agence France-Presse report as recent as April 15, 2010, Ethiopia was opening a 4^th refugee camp in Tigray Region to accommodate for the ever-increasing Eritrean refugees. The Administration for Refugee and Returnee Affairs states that about 2,000 young Eritreans flee the country to “…avoid excessive repression, gross human rights violations and forced conscription into the army." Many human rights groups claim that Eritrea has turned into a "giant prison" (Agence).

From an economic perspective, both countries lose an immeasurable amount of potential foreign investment achieved by fostering cooperative cross border trade. Ethiopia now loses millions of dollars for port fees, while Eritrea’s ports are not being used. Eritrea on the other side loses its main trading partner prior to the war (Last). Large amounts of arable farm land is now unusable due to more than 400,000 landmines laid in those bordering territories. In addition, both sides have bombed major towns, thereby destroying important infrastructure (Reuters).

Eritrea-Ethiopia historical relationships

Two competing ethnic groups the Amharas and Tigrayan ruled the Ethiopia-Eritrean highlands during Ethiopian history since the early years of 14^th century. The Amhara and the Tigrayans are essentially cousins, and share the same race, religion, culture and language with some variation. Occupying the then southern parts of Ethiopia, the Amaharas, were more populated and the region was more arable and resourceful than the land of their Tigrayan cousins. The Tigrayans consequently, occupied the Northern part of the Ethiopian-Eritrean highlands. Besides the Tigrayans who live on both sides of the Eritrea-Ethiopia border along with other ethnic groups such as; the Afar, Saho, Kunama and Erob which creates a conflict between both states. (Negash, p. 5-9).

Geographer Ciampi noted that the Eritrea-Ethiopia border was negotiated and delimited in 1900, 1902 and 1908 but it was not properly demarcated. Italy deliberately refused the demarcation of the border in order to push its control and expand its umpire to the horn of Africa. In violation of the 1900 border treaty; it unilaterally interpreted the border to be under its Eritrean controlled territory, known as the Badme village. In 1916 Ethiopia tried to protest against the Italian presence in the areas inside the delimited treaty, but Ethiopia was not in a position to stand strong against the Italian power. This unilaterally drawn map is what the Eritrean government believes to be the product of the treaty of July 10, 1900 and holds it as the Uti Possidetis. Around 1930 Italy established some control in the Badme area and pushed its way to colonize Ethiopia, but Ethiopia resisted and the allied powers won the war and the control was then transferred to the British (Negash, p. 23-24).

In conclusion, Daniela Kroslak, deputy director of the Africa Program at the International Crisis Group, summarizes the issue best, as she noted, the virtual demarcation of the border did not solve the problem and the Eritrean government became frustrated with the UN for not pressuring Ethiopia to obey by independent decision, demanded that the peacekeepers leave the 15 mile buffer zone within its territory.  Although, when Eritrean expelled UN Peacekeepers and put restrictions on supplies, it managed to aggravate many countries that turned the international attention away from insisting on Ethiopia's compliance to deal with Eritrea's bad behavior. As Kroslak states, “The lingering, slow-simmering conflict on the border is unsustainable. Not only does it risk war, but it is used by both countries' governments to justify political repression. With an enemy always threatening and a war ever near, both regimes have clamped down on their societies, impeding all hope of democracy and economic growth” (Kroslak).

A lasting peace needs to address deep-rooted issues, such as growing authoritarianism and regional rivalry and of course physical demarcation keeping the interests of the local residents close. Clear, border boundaries and a better relationship with the west are two priority interests for Eritrea; while Ethiopian seeks to obtain access to Eritrean ports and ultimately stop the support of Ethiopia’s internal armed insurgencies (Kroslak).

Map of the disputed territorial claim

Works Cited

Agence France-Presse (15 Apr. 2010). Ethiopia opens new camp for Eritrean refugees. [online] Available: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100415/wl_africa_afp/eritreaethiopiarefugeesrights_20100415174022 (22 Apr. 2010).

BBC News (22 April, 2002). Badme: Village in no man's land. [online] Available: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/1943527.stm (23 Apr. 2010).

BBC News. (24 Dec. 2009). Timeline: Eritrea. [online] Available: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/country_profiles/1070861.stm (20 Apr. 2010).

Gilkes, P. (11 Oct. 2005). Foreign Policy In Focus. The War Between Ethiopia and Eritrea. [online] Available: http://www.fpif.org/reports/the_war_between_ethiopia_and_eritrea (15 Apr. 2010).

Habteselassie, K., and Dina, M. (1972). Ethiopia: A Short Illustrated History. Addis Abeba: Ministry of Education and Fine Arts.

Kroslak, D. (8 Aug. 2008). Unfinished Peace in the Horn of Africa. [online] Available: http://www.crisisgroup.org/en/regions/africa/horn-of-africa/ethiopia-eritrea/kroslak-unfinished-peace-in-the-horn-of-africa.aspx (21 Apr. 2010).

Last, A. (13 Apr. 2000). War blocks Ethiopia's lifeline. [online] Available: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/712032.stm (23 Apr. 2010).

Negash, T., and Tronvoll, K. (2000). Brothers at War: Making Sense of the Eritrean-Ethiopian War. Athens: Ohio University Press.

Permanent Court of Arbitration (17 Aug. 2009). Eritrea-Ethiopia Claims Commission. [online] Available: http://www.pca-cpa.org/showpage.asp?pag_id=1151 (20 Mar. 2010).

Reuters (03 June 2008). Eritrea-Ethiopia border. [online] Available: http://www.alertnet.org/db/crisisprofiles/EE_BOR.htm?v=in_detail (23 Ar. 2010).

The Trust Gap Between White Officers and Young Black Men

I just got to watch and read the different accounts of what happen to Mike Brown who was shot dead Mike's accomplice in the conveniencestore robbery minutes before they got approached by the police officer Darren Wilson differs from the accounts of the officer who shot Mike told by his friends. And a third account what I consider is the most insightful piece recorded by accident (because it seems there is no motive to alter what he witnessed and was casually explaining what he saw in the background of a video.  Another cue is Mike’s friend Darian did say, the officer said "I will shoot" and a shot goes off in the car…this could be possible if the officer was feeling under threat physically. If he was completely under control of his gun and no one was reaching out for his gun I don't know how a shot would go off in the car. All in all the biggest questions is what was the reason/cause or motive behind the trigger? What is hard to understand is, 

in Ferguson MO.  The accounts told by Mike’s friend Darian Johnson,

A, If it is true Mike was in fact running away, why would the police officer shoot him or why would he fire a shot towards Mike? 

B, If Mike was in fact rushing (coming at the officer at full speed as the officer says) why would Mike charge at an officer who has his gun withdrawn already, it goes against common sense? 

C, Is it then possible that Mike fought the officer, possibly reached for the officer's gun, shot goes off...Mike & his friend run, the officer chases & fires a shot, Mike then decides to surrender and turns towards the officer. Then the officer remembers he was told there was arms robbery and convinced Mike might be rushing at him and might shoot him, so he fires shots in fear? The problem with that is, the officer would probably have known by then Mike didn't had a gun.  

It is tragic to lose a precious life at such a young age at the hand of a law enforcement agent. May the young man’s soul rest in peace. It is also important to seek for the truth nothing but the truth, for the public to have the patience for the facts before reacting and have the discipline to be guided by reason over emotions. What else is important? Remembering the law is important, but equally important is understanding when in the middle of heated argument or confrontation people don’t think of what is the appropriate law to apply. They react based on what their inner intuition is driving them or communicating to them. We are talking about split of seconds. At that stage the brain doesn’t have the luxury to think of the law and what you are supposed to do and not do according to the law. That is why although perhaps some felt it is character assassin to release the account of things what had happened in the store where Mike was allegedly rubbing Link (it however brings invaluable insight as to what might have been in the mind of the officer) just like it is important to know if the officer is racist or not.

We have to give the law enforcement agents the benefit of the doubt when it comes to the general theory that they are indeed out there to keep law and order and not out there trying to gun down young black men. I just sincerely believe in that, I have been stopped many times by both black and white officer while driving. Sometimes I knew why I was being stopped sometimes I am clueless. Sometimes I am humbled with their caring reactions and advise, sometimes I get warnings, or appropriate tickets, sometimes not so much).  What is the most important thing out of it all is that, our first interaction with the officer engaging us. If your first perception is, shoot what did I do (what law did I break) vs. here it goes I am being profiled it could have world of difference on how everything else ensues. And yes I am aware and sure our previous experience has its own trigger that it plays in such situations…

 One can ask if let’s say the law enforcement agents are out there to keep the safety of the citizens why then are there one too many young black men dying at the hands of white law enforcements compared to white young men? Is the life of a young black man not as precious as that of a white young man? I am sure every one of us would respond of course the life of a young man is equally valued as of that another young man.

If we wish to solve the problem we need to first ask the hard question “why?”, from more of a psychological angle.  Why and where does the problem emanate?       

1. Is there a perception in the subconscious mind of the white officers that young black men’s life isn’t valued as of their own or white young men’s?
2. Is there a perception in the subconscious mind of law enforcement officers that, young black men do not value life as much, therefore they feel threatened and fear for their own life during a confrontation? Hence, officers’ reactions tend to shoot first believing that they could end up being killed.
3. Is there a perception in the subconscious mind of young black men to fight or flight in the presence of confrontational situation with white law enforcement agents?

Based on our perception & intuition of things we make sense of our surrounding and our presence in them. Our actions or the lack there of are driven accordingly. In order to bring meaningful progress, we have to be in touch with our biases and perceptions, yes we all have them. Demanding and asking for justice is always appropriate and righteous. But justice isn’t really a solution. Justice is reactive. We need to work on the bigger problem, which is giving more focus not on specific accounts, but rather identifying the cause of the subconscious perception that drives the action to pull the trigger.

May the family and the community find the strength to deal with such terrible tragedy. 

Greetings from Tigray

When you visit new place for the first time it keeps your brain and your spirit stimulated with so much new information. That is even much greater when the place you visit is one that has special memories and holds sentimental values to oneself. Every day that I am blessed to spend it in Ethiopia, I feel relaxed, present & ALIVE. I am happy to see so much progress and optimist and inspired by the amount of work that still needs to be done. Humbled by some tireless government employees who work on behalf their people, grateful to all vigilant individuals who stand up for what they believe.

I think International Tigray Festival 2014 was a monumental, I feel lucky to have been part of it. I am confident we will see others follow the lead and I hope to see International Ethiopian Festival in the near future celebrated in Ethiopia. There is so much potential to be fostered out of a continuously connected Ethiopians living in the motherland and in the Diaspora.

To my friends, it is not for lack of effort from my end, I can’t tell you how insufficient the network is here, so please know your attempt to reach me is much appreciated. As always it has been a great reminder how efficient the western systems are and how much Ethiopia needs it in order to really reach middle-income country and expand its middle class population. Until next time, stay blessed.

With smiles from Mekelle,

Daniel 

Let's Go Places

Let's go places we never been
Leap over circadian clock  
Hip-hop cascading slopes
Beat-box to the rhythm of our feet

Let's sway, through the narrow alley
Caress your auricular nervous
Until I see the crescent moon 
harbored on the corner of your Pupils,
And lit your transparent heart.

Rock me to the sun
Echo my silence
Give me to the wind, 
but, kiss me not; until my return.

Have faith darling...
Reach out to your obedient God
Yeah..., there...
Do you see? a piece of you, 
In a whole a lot of me?

Dani, 5/14/2014

What people reveal without trying to reveal about their personalities…

I really enjoy listening to people who frequently quote or make reference to books for many reasons. Some of my reasons are listed below, and as you read on keep in mind a challenge for yourself, that is to share something that you have observed/learned.

1. The obvious: people who are readers inspire me to be a well read individual. Yes, it seems it isn’t that difficult to be an avid reader, if you have the interest, commitment and discipline; but really is there anything more challenging than these.

2. In depth: when you pay close attention to avid readers, they are knowledgeable and are excellent communicators. They are not verbose; they cut through the unnecessary words and phrases. Precise & very articulate. They easily make convincing argument because they are able to make connections between events and patters.

3. The revelation: what is even more humbling about individuals who share where they got their ideas and supporting arguments is what they revel without trying to revel anything. People who are quick to give others credits are those who are sincere and have no need to prove anything to others. They are already content with themselves and they are not trying to impress others. They don't try to pretend they came up with the ideas themselves, they know they are not the center of the world. Knowledge is in everyone and no one ever comes up with something without being inspired by something else. Everything is connected and taking pride in something as a sole proprietary I think is a good sign of one's inner void or lack of self-esteem.

4. The reason: Why some are well read compared to others? Perhaps a matter of personality, avid readers are likely to be introverts by a greater margin than extroverts. Growing up they prefer their alone time with books than social gatherings. How are introverts different from extraverts? For one they are more reflective, speak less, have an appeal for data and figures, and are more analytical.

Disclaimer: this is purely from my own observation; so feel free to share your disapproval, and yes this does generalize, but really isn’t that what reality is based on.

Yours truly,
#LifelongStudent

The Moon & The Sea

Explanation About The Inception of This Poem:

I am not usually a fan of explaining the thoughts or feelings for the inception of a poem. I think there is beauty and fulfillment for the mind to explore the values and weights of each word it reads as capable as it is imagining it. There is freedom in knowing, you are righteous in the definition that you agreed with your inner self. Freedom from your thoughts not being restricted by the writer, because otherwise you might get a sense of you are just making things up, how could you be right in interpreting something that the writer didn’t mean.

So this is how these few words came to be scratched on a paper of which contained list of names on the other side. I wrote it in about 10 minutes and there is a little left over maybe I will make that parse, that I might make part II to this. Imagine being in the U.S.A and taking a migrant to his/her first job interview. Now assume, you wish that individual a different job than that, but opportunities are limited. You sit there and watch and wonder, what must be the thoughts and feelings of the migrant individual trying to get this job.

I agree with myself that this poem as having two or more contrasting interpretations to it. Because you do not really know the individual’s feelings; whether he/she is eager to obtain this job and would be happy, or wishes he/she had never left his/her homeland or anything in between. You can ask but really, words are not going to do the inner feelings justice anyway, not to mention there might be a language barrier to communicate to begin with.

ONE side of the INTERPRETATION is: the feeling of traveling in a high spirit having the moon is a guide, but obviously not preferred; because the moon comes out at night and if one has the choice, people would rather travel with the sun during the day. You travel with the moon “Up to the white sandy shore” this is meant to indicate you can no longer travel afar from the shore perhaps an indication of class and wealth, because those who have means to travel on the sea they sure can. “Made love to the whispering breeze | With all my two billion pores…” you arrive at your final destination to where you no longer have a path or hope to travel hence you are alert yet overwhelmed with the amount of stimulation/information/cultural gap etc. Just about everything is new to you. Actually I initially had the line saying, “With all my two billion naked pores…” but it felt painful to be so unprotected and I dropped the naked word out. For the record, I remember reading somewhere apparently science would like us to know the average human body has just a little above two billion pores, just fyi ☺ but I stand to be corrected.

And the last stanza…

“I kneeled before the dancing sea

For its solvent chloride to marry me.”

I thought the individual would be so broken down inside, that, it has come to this, the life of America that he/she dreamt of from a distant but familiar homeland isn’t really what he/she is finding and has no choice but to be broken down with an inescapable power of the sea. Why is this inescapable? Because, if you are in the sea, the sea is the homogenous, you are the outlier (you are the different one in their) and you can hardly fight your way out of a violent/dancing sea. Therefore, your best bet is to accept your defeat, kneel down to the power that be and allow yourself to immerse in the environment, despite the taste of the sea salt.

THE SECOND side of the INTERPRETATION is: Life is wonderful and you are living above the ground and below the Heavens, hence why you would travel along side of the moon. Until, you got something else that captivates you even better and let the moon do its travel on her own. White sandy shore, I would think would give people the sense of purity and joy because it is followed with a complete euphoria that awakens your entire being. You are making love arguably the highest form of ecstasy. There in the dancing sea, you would not want to let this pass but be entwined with it for the rest of your days. The salt gives the sea, a taste it is no longer salt and water, these elements has dissolved into each other and the blessed individual would want to be in that state therefore wishing and begging to be part of that happiness.

The image along with the poem hardly depicts hardship and one might ask why? Well, my thought was, the image is visible to the public, anyone passing by can see it, and so if you think about taking a sample of the over 300 million people living in the U.S.A and ask them how they think migrants life is like here in the states compared to wherever they came from? I bet most people would think migrants life must be quite wonderful to be in the US far away from what ever place they came from and what ever reason it was they came here to avoid. In that sense life would seem nothing less than jubilation. I would believe that would reflect the view of the majority if you were to take a survey; yes, perhaps quite accurate or irony to an immigrant actually living it. 

Last but not least, I have a favor to ask, 1. Would your preference been with the inclusion of the explanation or with out it & 2. Would you mind sharing why?

Waiting in Vain by Bob Marley

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ukRwPRxYi0 —

KeysEndo MaErey MeArey ከይስእንዶ ማዕረይ ማዓረይ

Elfnesh

I hope and pray that someday I will be blessed to marry a woman who will bear us a daughter who will in turn resemble fraction of you. I have heard of angels, but I have never seen them smile, walk or talk. I just know you Elf.nesh, the definition of humility, with a heart that of an innocent child. The closer I am to you, the joyous I am on this Earth. Your caressing fingertips reinvigorate life; your presence conquers the peace, you live love not in words but in silence.

Your beaming pupils emit grace & dignity with care and affection /
Your faith inscribed between those perfectly patterned wrinkles /
Your joy in abundance, always over flowing, smiles reflected from your infectious enamel teeth to gift it to the starving world /
Your love, your love is an addictive warm sensation of an oasis reservoir that flows through your calluses hands.

እልፍነሽ

የንጋቱን ፀዳል ቀድሞ - ኑሮ ሲፋለመኝ
የማይነጠቅ ነጥቆ - ራቆቴን ሲለቀኝ

ብሌኖችሽን ሳይ - ጨለማው ጭልጥ አለ
ጥርሶችሽን ስመለከት - ፈገግታ ተረገዘ ፤ ሳቅም ገነፈለ

ትንፋስሽን ሳዳምጥ - ነገን ኣስተማረኝ
ጣቶችሽ ሲዳብሱኝ - ሂወት ዘሩልኝ

እልፍነሽ - እልፍፍፍፍፍ-ነሽ!
የደስታዬን ተካፋይ - የፍቅር ፏፏቴ
ቀና ብለሽ እስክታዪኝ -ይሄው አደግኩልሽ
ፍቅርን ያስተማርሽኝ - ኣብሮ ኣደግ ፤ ሁለተኛ እናቴ።

እወ ዓብየልኪ

ወዮ ዕሸል ነይረ - ግርም ሎሚ ነዊሐኪ
ዓይኒ ዓይነይ - ብፍሽኽታ ኣንቃዕሪርኪ
የመና ደኒቁኪ - መስኖይ ተሓጒስኪ

ወዮ ዕሸል ነይረ - ድጋም ኢለ ግማሽ
በፂሐዮ ጣይታ - ብሩኽ ኢድ እልፍነሽ

ክንዲ ኣደይ ክንዲ ሓፍተይ
ክንዲ ኹሉ ዓባዬይ ማሓዛይ።

- Daniel

5 Small Steps to be Happy

When New Year comes around, I try to choose few words which I want to make my new year resolution; however rather than waiting to start those on new years day, it is even better if you can make them your habit by then.  For this year, Happiness is on top of my list, and so I thought, doing Shawn Anchor's 5 Ways to Turn Happiness Into An Advantage was a perfect opportunity. I recruited a friend to do this small challenge with me. We will do our own things, but having a motivator is always helpful (going forward if it is not private and if it is worth sharing I will blog about it, otherwise, I will be keeping it on my note pad for the next 21 days).

Click the links above to learn in details how it works, but here is the short explanation of how it works.

1. Everyday, we are to write 3 things that we are grateful for.

2. Journal one positive experience that we had with in the past 24 hours (spend writing at least 2 minutes.

3. One act of kindnesa

4. At least 10 minutes of exercise and

5. 2 minutes of meditation.

So here it begins. The 3 things that I am grateful for today are:

1. I woke up and when I thought of my act of kindness, it made me happy. Because it was a great reminder on how wonderful some people are and how their influence on you grows over time.

2. I walked outside and during this winter season, the weather was so amazingly nice that, I decided to change and go running through the woods for a while.

3. I was interpreting for about an hour and half this morning and, interpretation is one of those things that allow you to experience what Roman Krznaric calls, The Power Empathy a way to place yourself in the shoe of others and attempt to see the word through their eyes, because when you are interpreting you are trying to explain things as accurately as you can of what is being said regardless of what you know and what you think. It gives you a sense of how others process information in their head.

JOURNAL: I work for an organization that saves lives. Literally. And I think my job is so rewarding. Extremely diverse office, if you walk into our office, I bet if you care to count, in one day you probably can count over 30 languages. Amongst many one of things I do is, I sit with clients and I ask them their short and long term goals. Some people have never thought about their long-term goals in the sense that most of us (us = most of you reading this). You can ask, what can you envision yourself possibly doing in 5 years and some people just never considered that thought? They feel intimidate to even suggest that they can rise up to some of their desires. This makes me feel so privileged for the fact that I have this sense of feeling and confidence I can be what ever I want to be. Not everyone feels that way. When I push them further and try to get a sense of what they are fond of…they say well it would be nice to be….a nurse (just an exa.) and let go a light hearted smile that just glows on their face when they imagine about it. Every time I get to see that from a client it inspires me, reminds me of my privileged, and makes me feel humble.

While I am at it, I thought I share, my office is doing this fundraising which you can find here and we are only $1K short of our goal, feel appreciated to drop in your blessings.  

Be happy and success will follow.

Cheers,

Daniel

Your First Instinct (‘Go With Your Guts’)

One of the best ways to focus on the task at hand is to address it. That could be either through

communicating directly with others or through writing (at least for me). Give the ideas/thoughts that you would rather not occupy yourself in yet continue to recycle itself in your head a full freedom to fly off first class. Here is a ticket that I bought on the fly (scratched quickly) so that I can allow myself the undivided attention and solitude with the other ideas fighting themselves to come up to the surface.

Go with your guts they say, for a reason. Your instincts (snap judgment) is a decision that the brain makes in a such a quick glance of reflection yet it is the summary of all the information it has gathered up to date in its entire life. Yes, it could be hard to explain in words but the brain knows more than it is able to explain why it feels certain way. If you allow it and follow your instinct, more than not you will be happy you did.

Cheers,

Dani

Mandela, a Symbol of Human Strength

As NelsonMandela one of the world’s iconic human beings is laid to rest.  “So what was it that allowed Mandela to miraculously unite a nation?” There are so much lessons that we have learned from him over the years and hope that we continue to learn from him. Ever since his death, forgiveness, Freedom, and Peace have been some of the few words repeated over and over again by world leaders and ordinary citizens across the glob when describing him. Although some of us might never have the strength, we should always aspire to do better than yesterday and practice the lessons that we are fortunate enough to have learned from such human beings alike. On this beautiful Sunday, I personally want to focus on one theme. FORGIVENESS. I feel I owe him so much gratitude for showing us the strength of human determination for one’s true values and for showing us what is possible.

In forgiving, you free the inner self from harboring unpleasant feelings, increasing the space for a lighter colors; more reasons for positive energy and for laughter and joy to over take. You focus on deeds that are worthwhile, invest your energy on things that you can be proud of, and claim the result, as results of my effort loudly and publicly. There is no shame in forgiving, but of strength and the opportunity for joy to spread like new cells and for love to bloom.

I recommend you to read this article by: Johann Lochner, an Apartheid-era Cop during the height of the struggle who looks back on Mandela's Forgiveness. Mr. Lochner now lives and works in Dallas, Texas. Here are some wonderful excerpts from the article but the full article can be accessed via the links below.

“So what was it that allowed Mandela to miraculously unite a nation?

Mandela forgave the Afrikaners.

Forgiveness. Yes that same forgiveness Jesus expressed when he cried out to his Father while hanging on a cross: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." Forgiveness removed the shackles of hate, and Mandela knew that mutual forgiveness was the key to national reconciliation.

Forgiveness freed Madiba, and forgiveness freed his country. Mandela chose a symbol of hate and turned it into a symbol of hope. As seen in the movie "Invictus," Mandela insisted on forgiveness as the key to uniting his beloved country"

http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/11/opinion/nelson-mandela-apartheid-cop-essay/

http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1066571

Rest In Peace Madiba! 

Blessed Sunday All.

Just another inspired youngster - Daniel 

Tigrinya Eritreans & Tegaru Ethiopians are off the same people

The Tigrigna speaking Eritreans and Ethiopians are the same people. Period. I saw a comment on a

facebook group that stated ‘Agame, Adwa and Tembien* used to work in Eritrea like slaves and they speak Eritrean Tigrigna so they think they speak the right Tigrigna’. This was as accurately as I could remember it. It is not verbatim as the comment was deleted soon after it was posted. It was obvious that some people were offended by it. The person making the comment seems to be expressing that people from the names mentioned above have the attitude/belief that their dialect is the right dialect of Tigrigna. However he seems to disagree and states that, these mentioned above are in fact using an Eritrean dialect. So I thought this is a great opportunity to say something I always felt. When it comes to the relationship between Eritrea and Tigray, sometimes I feel like some members of our community (whether if that be our family or friends) have lack of understanding on some of the basic simple facts…

Fact #1. The Tigrigna speaking Eritreans aka Tigrinya (as they are referred in Eritrea) and the Tigrigna speaking Ethiopians aka Tegaru come from the same Semitic family tree, along the likes of Amharic and Tigre speaking ethnics. Of course over time it is inevitable that groups could grow apart and even develop distinct difference in their culture and language as well as other beliefs. This is true anywhere in the world. That is why we have so many different ethnic groups, languages and religions (belief) all around the world. Otherwise no matter if you believe in creation or evolution there weren’t that many different groups at the beginning right? Distance and lack of connectivity creates people to adopt and foster their own ways of life. Which are both a blessing and a curse at the same time. It is a blessing, because it allows people to have new perspective on things and choices. It is a curse because this simple fact could be source of problems between the different groups due to the lack of understanding and the gap of information between them.

So one is neither superior nor inferior to the other, the Eritreans and Tegaru along with their similarities and difference are just the same family tree that could and might have grown to show a very very small signs of difference between them here and there, this can be attributed to distance and time in isolation from one another.

Fact #2. Geography and connectivity has a huge influence on the spread of culture, language and religion or anything of that sort. Hence, if the Tegaru residents of the Tigray region closer to the borders speak much more similar Tigrigna dialect with their Tigrigna speaking Eritreans residing across the boarder, this should be expected than the dialects of Tigrigna speaking Ethiopians who live farther away. Why? Because humans interact with other humans that reside in their close approximately, and their interactions are not limited to buying and selling goods and services, but also borrowing and lending culture, language, faith and other intangible fundamental things. Therefore, it means the bond will remain fairly in tact. If one wants to argue that, the relationship/bond was a a by product of Tegaru crossing to Eritrea for economic reasons or the Eritreans crossing to Tigray, Ethiopia for economic or other reasons, that is the natural flow of people across the glob. If our people crossed the boarder for employment or trade reasons, that should not be a thing to be ashamed of. It means people went seeking after their interests what ever that is. Aren’t Ethiopians coming to America or Europe for one reason or another? If there is one thing that we should learn from the Western countries is the respect for work in a pursuit to better one’s life.  That brings me to my last fact.

Fact #3. When Ethiopian and Eritreans used to cross the boarders seeking for employment purpose, they were travelling with in their own country, remember we were just one country Ethiopia, Eritrea as a state with in Ethiopia, therefore people moving around with in their own boarder for different opportunities is just a normal thing to do. To those who consider that as a sign of superiority, pride, disdain or shame, please trust me when I say that is just a sign of your ignorance reconsider your belief.   

What should concern us is, for our people Ethiopians and Eritreans not being able to cross each other’s boarder. In time when the world is becoming a small village by the day with new treaties, it is being separated that should alarm us from our neighbors not having a history of connectivity and close relationship. Often times, I notice, Tegaru Ethiopians being offended to hear an Eritrean/s stating or implying that people from “Agame” or “Tigray” used to go to Eritrea for employment opportunities. So what?

Obama during his speech at Nelson Mandela memorial services today said, something so beautiful, there are too many of us Obama echoed, “…there are too many of us, too many of us on the sidelines, comfortable in complacency or cynicism when our voices must be heard.” When we see our fellow family and friends either being offended or attempting to offend with such things, things that are not even offensive things to begin with, we should discuss our differences and explain what we think. We all have our moments when our ignorance gets the best of us, we should jump on the opportunity to discuss and by that educate one another not dismiss it and leave it covered. Because covering it is not a solution, addressing it is. You can’t solve ignorance and the lack of knowledge by burying it, its cure is exposing it to light by that I mean to the process of learning.

*Agame, Adwa and Tembien (local names in Tigray Region of Ethiopia who speak Tigrigna)

Cheers,

Daniel

Nelson Mandela’s Legacy

What makes President Nelson Mandela’s a legend? So so so many things; but I think President Mandela’s achievement is his decision to retire after one presidential term. He returned the power to the masses when he could have easily continued being in power. This I think was the real turning point for South Africa’s democratic culture and the legacy he lives behind as a selfless public servant who cared so much. Perhaps a lesson takes from what made USA the country that it is today. I believe that, General George Washington’s decision to return his commission to the Continental Congress after the battle in 1783 was a monumental point in the history of the USA. I wonder if America could have been the America we know it today had George Washington decided to try to remain as commander-in-chief rather than resigning his power.

Some are just born to leave a legacy for centuries to inspire children and adults alike. Some belong for
history books, their deeds live on…

Here is a short video about the life of Nelson Mandela from Al Jazeera and a good read by Matthew Fisher titled 'One of Nelson Mandela’s greatest achievements was winning battle against odious pass laws'

"I dream of an Africa which is in peace with itself". Amen Madiba and may your soul rest in peace. -Daniel