Pop Goes the Balloon
A Report on Dr. Mesghina G.
Medhin's Seminar in New York
By Amanuel Zerzghi
August 2005
In the
middle of his presentation, Dr. Mesghina asked me to blow a balloon.
Half
way, I stopped short of breath, feeling like my lungs were to burst.
He urged
me to blow some more air. "One more puff," insisted the Dr.; and
in a
very dramatic way, pop goes the balloon. Dr. Mesghina asserts, "This
is
the current state of our communities."
Dr. Mesghina G. Medhin, upon
invitation from Eritrean Parents for Youth
Guidance, delivered a successful
seminar in New York, by all measures.
Like all professional Eritreans
involved in this subject, his battlefields
are dysfunctional Eritrean
communities in Diaspora. This report, definitely
doesn't cover all of
what was said during the seminar. But I hope, it will
give you the
highlight.
Dr. Mesghina started his lecture by touching upon the
challenges that
immigrants face in America. And continued discussing
forced migration of
Eritreans, starting early seventies. "For majority
of Eritreans," he says,
"The village was their whole world." The core
of his talks emphasized on
Eritrea's Rich Culture. Throughout his
presentation, he would repeatedly
refer his audience to other conservative
cultures similar to ours based on
studies he conducted over the years.
Dr. Mesghina stresses on some of our
rich cultures and traditions that need
be nurtured. He gives timely
examples to show that we have a cultural
heritage that we should be proud
of. Eritreans are tolerant; Eritreans
know when and how to keep a secret;
Eritreans are known for sharing, are
forgiving, etc. He also mentions that
our culture has ways and means of
dealing with differences. Based on his
professional experience, he
outlined disturbing pattern in our society here
in Diaspora - a pattern that
seems to lack key ingredients of our rich
Eritrean culture.
Dr.
Mesghina explains the concept of cultural shock using a letter written
by an
Eritrean Refugee who migrated to the USA in early 80's. The
writer
complains to his uncle, how lonely he feels. The letter is full
of familiar
expression, such as, "see my neighbors but don't know who they
are, I
thought I have Eritrean kids but I am raising ferenjis, I am not
allowed to
discipline my kids, I feel alienated, I feel lonely, etc."
He postulates
that some, if not all, of the problems that affecting Eritreans
abroad is a
result of cultural clash compounded by our inability to accept or
total
rejection of American culture.
Skillfully explains the negative
impact of being a closed community - a
community alienated from others group
(non-Eritreans) - the fear of joining
the melting pot. "Once you start
labeling groups, that is by saying 'this
group has these trait, the
other group lack certain skills, and so on,
eventually, you start to
internalize such division amongst your own group.
This in turn would result
in a total isolation. Which may also be the prime
cause for depression
when it comes to the individual. Depression, he said,
is one of the
fast growing diseases affecting Eritreans in Diaspora.
Encapsulated in
Dr. Mesghina's message, I noted one of Kwanzaa's seven
principles,
"Imani." Imani means faith in your parents, your people, your
teachers,
and your leaders. Dr. Mesghina emphasizes on the need of
respecting our
leaders. He reminded the audience, " You are not electing
Saints. Hence
they are bound to past or future errors." Respect your leaders
anyway.
When you see them err, forgive them and focus on how to make it
right instead
of dwelling on the problem."
During Q&A, the audience challenged
Dr. Mesghina on what the next step
should be? How could his vision and that
of other concerned intellectual
Eritreans, who are committed in one way or
another to the well-being of our
collective growth as Eritreans living
outside Eritrea, be implemented.
There was also concern from some parents who
wanted to find the balance
between both cultures. The audience in
general was thankful to Dr. Mesghina
Finally, I say this about Dr.
Mesghina. He is one of the very few Eritreans
who managed to couple his
professional experience with his cultural
background. His knowledge of the
scripture is also a plus. I have nothing
but to admire his ability to
present complex social topics in simple
cultural terms. Dr. Mesghina,
please, continue to challenge our communities
to rise up and leave a legacy
that we can all be proud of. Certainly you
brought hope to our
struggling Community of Eritreans in New York. Thank
you.