You know what we gained from freedom? We gained responsibility. ይሄ complain ማድረግ የሚቀናው ሕዝብ doesn't have no one to blame, but itself. If we were poor under colonization, we would be victims. But we are poor (from a wealth perspective and an intellectual one) while free. No one is at fault, but us. አንድ ሰው የነገረኝን ታሪክ ላጫውታችሁ:-
New York Times once published an article in their magazine titled "What is Wrong in the World?" The article was hella depressing, but articulate. It was a pessimistic research paper that blames everyone, basically. After a few days of their publish, they received a letter. The content of the letter said:
"Dear Sir/ Madam,
I am.
Yours sincerely,
. . . "
"I am." An appropriate reply to "What is Wrong with the World?" When you are in control of your fate and surrounded by people who have that same freedom, you and your community have the power to make a change. And also the responsibility that comes from a lack of change.
From a historical perspective, our independence has gained us surplus amount of benefits. Starting from mutual diplomacy connections with western countries, to technological and modern innovations during ቀዳማዊ ኃይለ ሥላሴ and እምዬ ምኒልክ's reigns. Back then, there was this fiery passion within Ethiopia to make do with the freedom we so stubbornly achieved. Now is a different story.
No one is a superhero because of a super power. The hero part emanates from oneself. And after a few years of freedom (our superpower), we lost our heroism (responsibility and sovereignty). Obviously, the scale of the countless reasons and actions that made us poor despite our independence is broader than "losing responsibility". But I tend to focus on the solution I can contribute to a problem. I argue we all do the same.
Questioning is great. It takes us a step towards a platform that rises above most people's awareness. But instead of blaming governments that are corrupt, cultures that are ancient, morals that are sentimental, let us blame ourselves.
“እናቴን ቢወጓት እኔ ልጠግናት” ይሁን ነገሩ::
Maybe then, just maybe, this country would be a better place. Maybe then, independence would have value. Maybe then responsibility would be worth of our freedom.
Jan 15, 2022