Events in Retrospect

The year 2013 is only three days away. It is educative and even interesting to go back in time and reconsider some of the key events that took place in Ethiopia. Since its launch on the 28^th of June 2012, this blog, Abyss, entertained several socio-economic, religious, and political issues, some of which are highlighted below, beginning from the oldest one. The following texts are direct quotations taken from previous posts followed by the links that lead to entire posts.

In the new year and beyond, Abyss aims to 1) support solicited and unsolicited reflections (from other people), 2) consider global-level issues as related to Ethiopia, 3) stay non-partisan and objective, and 4) significantly contribute to Ethiopian politics. Special currency will be given to your comments and criticisms! Now, enjoy reading the summaries of some key past posts below.

A more logical and compelling strategy is boycotting EPRDF-owned companies such as EFFORT and the likes. These are 'bulling' and 'killing' the Ethiopian economy. If the mass boycott these in a sustained way, the effect would be titanic enough. But for now, despite it being a major cash cow for the regime, let Ethiopian Airline carry the national flag, as  there will for sure come a time when the brand created years ago and with great sacrifice would be much needed by and profitable to Ethiopia, http://tekluabate.blogspot.no/2012/06/boycotting-ethiopian-sustaining-debate.html#more.

Interestingly, Ethiopian Muslims and Christians need neither a national TV nor radio to sustain their age-old tolerance and collaborations. They just watched each other, and not any media, compassionately and will do so for ever, http://tekluabate.blogspot.no/2012/07/one-ethiopia-many-religions_17.html#more.  

I have not yet seen a better personality who can gracefully assume the PM’s position. But am not saying that the PM’s office has been assumed by the most popular and nationalistic person.  It seems though that the ruling party is creating a new 'equation', taking the hysterical sorrow and grief ceremonies organized for the late PM as a curtain, http://tekluabate.blogspot.no/2012/08/hailemariam-desalegn-next-ethiopian.html#more.  

To me, the saga about his legacy will lead us nowhere. We better focus on the mechanisms by which we can 'exploit' this opportunity. I do not however mean that we do not have to worry about meticulously recording what Meles did to and against us; we have to do it but at a later stage. Perhaps a more fruitful question to raise now is: What will happen ahead?  http://tekluabate.blogspot.no/2012/08/post-meles-stress-disorder.html.  

Obviously, EOTC must deal with this very responsibly and it will do. One must-to-do thing is for sure bringing the two synods together and elect a great father who is selfless, accommodating, and God-fearing. We do not need a bishop who is busy with secular issues, for which we happen to have exceptional experts. Nor one who is dear and near to ruling party at the cost of the church's traditions and values, http://tekluabate.blogspot.no/2012/08/eotc-patriarch-passed-away.html.  

Based on the speech alone, it is possible and even interesting to write a long essay, which might help us to better ‘guage’ Hailemariam’s inner world and his intended political trail. But for now, I wanted to focus on a single but important dimension, whether he demonstrates qualities expected from a leader/PM or a manager. Based on my ‘reading’ of his speech, I can safely conclude that Hailemariam possesses qualities that best qualify him as a manager than as a premier, http://tekluabate.blogspot.no/2012/09/hailemariam-dessalegn-leader-or-manager.html#more.  

D-parties, created by the opposition itself and the ruling party, are not good additions to Ethiopian politics. They are among the main factors that pull back the already messy political culture. It is better to fight for justice while being within the original parties. That fight must be genuine and be free from creating networks that base on ethnicity or any other socio-economic variable. The fight must base on principles of democracy, rule of law, and freedom. If that is impossible and if one really feels the formation of new party could push the struggle a step forward, considering cessation may be the final resolution. If that is chosen, utmost care must be taken not to blackmail and push down original parties. But for now, D-parties could best be considered as an 'appendix' to Ethiopian politics.  http://tekluabate.blogspot.no/2012/10/d-day-ethiopian-type.html.  

The real actors behind the messy political scene in Ethiopia are, in their order of significance, the people, the opposition, the government, and the Diaspora,  http://tekluabate.blogspot.no/2012/11/who-retards-political-change-in-ethiopia.html#more.

Considering the current state of affairs, this seems the most likely outcome of the peace negotiations: no agreement would be reached between the two synods. This seems a pessimistic take of the issue but it is likely if one takes into account developments taking place on both sides,   http://tekluabate.blogspot.no/2012/11/eotcthe-two-synods.html.

Particularly mind blowing is the unimaginable horrors Ethiopians are forced to face in Africa and the Middle East. How many innocent Ethiopians died in the Sahara and Sinai Deserts? How many of them found themselves in the underworlds of the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea? How many are killed by their employers in the Middle East? How many turned physically, mentally, psychologically, and morally disabled due to the unspeakable Arab abuses? http://tekluabate.blogspot.no/2012/12/most-troubling-facts-about-ethiopia.html#more.  

To me, the president talked his mind through his letters. Deep inside his head subsists the truth- to allow Abune Merkorios to take the position once and for all. But for political reasons, he finally retreated from the truth and decided to talk emotional and immature. That effectively kills his already troubled image as head of state. Had this happened elsewhere, it would have instantly called for public apology and then resignation, http://tekluabate.blogspot.no/2012/12/president-girmas-letter-slip-of-mind-or.html.  

But we are talking about bishops who reached or are supposed to reach the highest level of spirituality and wisdom. In principle, they should not have allowed the division of the synod in the first place. Or at least, they should have solved the problem in just one negotiation. Unfortunately, it seems that they want to make “reconciliation” their annual agenda, http://tekluabate.blogspot.no/2012/12/the-eotc-patriarchate-cause-for-disunity.html.