It Is Your
“Sweet 16th Birthday”; Happy Birthday, Eritrea!
By: Dr. Michael
Fessehaye
On May 24th,
you are to celebrate your “Sweet 16th Birthday”. Happy “Sweet 16th
Birthday”, Eritrea! You are still a
“teenager’, a baby by comparison, but you have matured and you have
accomplished so much at such tender young age.
To celebrate you as a nation and people, let me raise my right hand and
testify your achievements so far for friends and foe to know and to accept,
Eritrea!
Eritrea,
it is a documented truth that, while Africa was still a colony waiting for her
freedom to be handed out like “TITIQO HARASAT” by the benevolent “colonial
masters”, you decided to travel through an “uncharted territory” (armed
struggle) to reclaim your right to exist as a nation and people among the
family of nations. Way back then, in Africa at that, who would have believed
your decision to navigate the “uncharted territory” could succeed? There and
then, they have written you off and your “armed struggle” was shrugged as
“suicidal mission” at best. But came
May 24, 1991, after 30-years of tears, sweat, and blood, your decision to “pay
what it takes”, up to and including the “ultimate price”, to exist as a country
and people was crowned by the “free and sovereign Eritrean nation”. Thus, your
existence, as a nation among the family of nations, is legally signed, sealed,
and delivered forever and there is no force to undo it!
Eritrea; I do not think they knew
the long, lonely, and arduous journey through the “uncharted territory” was not
only directed against the expansionist adventure of Ethiopia but it was also a
direct assault at “colonialism” and its ugly manifestations as we know it. And on the road to “freedom and
sovereignty”, with guts, brain, and wisdom; the men and women of Sahel
proclaimed “QALSINA NEWIH EYU AWETANA NAI’GIDEN EYU’
and in the process they rewrote the textbooks of Military Science as we know
it. Yes, from that God-given-Eritrean-fortress (Sahel), the common Eritrean
children, with uncommon valor and wisdom, have done something that defied
logic. But today, I am not to talk
about that lonely and arduous journey, which is another story for another day;
but I am to talk about what you have been doing since May 24, 1991 to change
the Eritrean and the African landscape for better.
Eritrea, you just turned “Sweet
16” and you are only a “baby” by comparison but you have achieved so much at
tender age. We know you are a modest
country of small words; but this time it is OK to brag about your achievements
for you have earned the bragging rights.
Show them who you are and what you have done so far; and at “16” at
that. Show both friends and foe, especially “Africa”, how you are building a
united nation one brick at time. To the few “rabid dogs” who are wasting their
irrecoverable time and resources singing “ATSEBA-TSEBEBA” (doom and gloom)
about you from the streets of the West and to those who are “slaving” for
Weyane and outside hostile forces to make a living; just show them what
“Eritreanism” (unabridged patriotism, sacrificing for the common good, and
building a nation one brick at time, unity, and harmony) means. From Ras Kassar to
Ras Dumera and from Dahlak Islands to Ar’BaEte Asher; you have lot to show and
you got to make them read what is written on the ground. The Eritrean landscape
is a parchment ready to be read; if they know how to read and if they wanted to
read the truth about you. Thanks to your
“steadfast” and “eternally optimistic” people you have a lot to show and tell!
Eritrea; can you show them the
“beehive” and the “bee” at work? Show
them the Eritrean children, the “Beaver of Africa”, building their home by
muscle and sweat. Show them how the “cream of the crop” and the “brightest of
the bright” are building their country from the ashes. Show them how the
“second revolution”, the revolution to
liberate Eritrea from within, is being waged. Show them the political
“freedom”, economic “sovereignty”, and the “emancipation” of Eritrea from
backward mentalities and tendencies are moving at full speed. Unlike the
“we-know-it-all” but “empty-sounding-space” from the streets of the West and
unlike the “we were” or the “we could have been” whom we see “bartering” their
country in the streets of the Mekele for a daily ration that comes in the form
of “donated wheat”; the men and women of Sahel, the men and women of small
words, are still at it to complete the second revolution-the revolution to
liberate Eritrea from within. By the way Eritrea; never and ever forget backward
mentalities and tendencies such as “regionalism” and “tribalism” are the very
dilapidating and paralyzing “cancer” that has left Africa paralyzed from neck
down for over 50 years. Eritrea, since
you are a “good student”, you got to learn from African mistakes.
Eritrea; this time you got to show
them all. Show them the creativity and
ingenuity of the Eritreans. You got to show them the “dirty and oily” Eritrean
hands at work. Show them the Eritrean engineer, architect, scientist, mechanic,
electrician, technician, the heavy equipment operator, metalworker, carpenter,
and the mason at work. To prove it, show them the Massawa-Assab Road, the
Mendefera-Barentu Road, the Massawa-Asmara-Keren Road and Railway. Please add
Asmara Airport, Sawa Airport, Massawa Airport, and Gel’Alo-the “paradise in the
middle of the desert” to the list. How about showing them the Majestic Asmara
and Massawa, the “Pearl of the Red Sea”, as a whole? To leave them stunned, you got to show them the “engineering
masterpiece” of Semienawi Bahri Road. They tells us the Romans could build road
and aqueducts; only if the could come and see what the Eritrean have done
in“Semienawi Bahri Road”! By the way, what is this I hear about you? I hear you
are sweating to building the “Adi Keyih-Foro” road-to complete the 400
kilometers long “asphalted-road-loop” of the “ever-green forest of Semienawi
Bahri”? I should have know for you are the “Beaver of Africa”! But do not
expect the “doom and gloom” elements to appreciate you for they do not have
what it takes to understand what you are up to and what you can
accomplish! Come
to think about it, weren’t you the one that transformed Ethiopia from the
“Stone Age” to 20th Century? I should have know; you are up to
something, Eritrea!
Eritrea,
to make them come down from their high horses and to deflated their inflated
ego; show all those who are barking like a “rabid dog” the new hospitals in
Asmara, Barentu, Dekamare, Mendefera, Ghinda, and Assab. Do not forget to tell
them the Eritrean medical doctors, nurses, and health experts are now at a
stage of “not to control but to eradicate malaria” as we know it. Do not forget
to tell them the Eritrean agricultural scientist and farmer is not into “food
security” but into exporting surplus agricultural commodities. While you are at
it, show them the dams, wells, and water supply system that are changing the
life of every Eritrean for better. How about the water diversion projects you
are building so that every rain drop is not to flow into the sea without
recharging or replenishing the Eritrean groundwater or changing Eritrea into
green. By the way, do they know you are the inventor of the science that will
change the Sahara Desert? Yes you are, Eritrea. To wit: let the mangrove forest
at Red Sea coast tell your story. Show them but do not try to explain either
the engineering and the hydrologic aspects of dams and wells or the sciences of
agriculture and the greening the Sahara Desert. And while you are at it, do not forget to show them the Eritrean
farmer at work, with more than 850 tractors roaring. Take them to Gash-Barka,
Hazemo, Sawa, Hagaz, and the Eastern Escarpment and show them the Eritrean
farmer rolling his/her sleeve determined to feed Eritrea year in and year out.
By the way, do they know last year you harvested over 425,000 Metric tons of
crop and this is without including vegetables and fruits? I do not think they know your noble and honorable goal is to
stop the shipment of “donated wheat” to feed your people, which is some thing
many African countries have accepted as a way of life.
Eritrea; did you say you have
embarked in “rural electrification” and so there will be an electric light at
that humble and down-to-earth HUDMO, or AGNET, or AGUDO that raised me? Are you saying that my mom is not to spend ¼
of her day, every other day, fetching water? Did you say you invented a
“smokeless” energy efficient “Mogogo” to help reduce environmental pollution
and global warming? I sure like the things you do and mot importantly I sure
like all the small things you do to change the life of my mom and I thank you
for that. Last but not least, do not
forget to show them the daycare centers, schools, and colleges that are being
built to nurture the next Eritrean engineer, scientist, medical doctor,
economist, politician, and leader. By the way, I would
have asked you to say a word or two about the other “Eritrean Engineering and
Technical” schools such as Gedem, Segen, Bidho, and Radabb. But no need to
waste your energy explaining to the “doom and gloom” elements about the other
“Engineering and Technical” schools for these elements do not posses the brains
to grasp science and technology.
It OK to show them all these and
much more but do not expect them to appreciate it; for these elements had never
seen “dirty and oily hands at work”.
Since these elements had never seen men moving mountains, spanning
valleys, taming the river, and harnessing the
sun and wind energy; do not expect them to appreciate your feats. By the way, do not expect them to appreciate and admire the
petite and beautiful Eritrean girl I met some where in the Eritrean country
side commandeering an earth-moving machine at the push of a button to level
mountains and to span the valleys. That Eritrean girl is still at it, defying
the “norm” and such kind of Eritrean endevour is something the “doom and gloom”
elements could never believe or accept.
Eritrea, do you know the few “doom
and gloom” elements from the streets of the West are damn good in “belittling”
your achievements? Oh Boy; can they
talk and do they talk! Luckily most of them are a 1960s high school dropouts at
best. But with a necktie around their neck and with that “English from the
Ghetto”; they talk as if they have the solution to all problems of the human
race. Hear them talk as if they are the engineers, the scientists, the
economists, the politicians, and the experts who have the solution to all
Eritrean problems at their fingertips! Of course, individually we know them
better. Let alone to liberate, defend, build, and rebuild a nation with guts,
brain, and wisdom; many of them could not even carry their own weight on
personal level. Honestly, by nature I
am a person who gives a man his due respect. If such elements can show me to
have earned their claim; I would have given them their due respect, even if I
might not philosophically agree with them. But what you see is what you get.
Many of them are what you call “TANIKA BAHRI”-dry and empty sounding space. Ever since we remember, many of these
elements have been either bloodsucking the hard-earned money of some
unassumingly gullible Eritreans, or they have been selling their soul and their
country in the open market to make a living, and/or they are “Wegenawian”,
which are “mummies” frozen in the 60s era. Teaching them about “Self-Reliance”
on national level? Teach them about “unity and harmony”? Don’t even think about it.
By the way, did I say
your “democracy” is yet to be your best contribution to Africa. Your “democracy” is the medicine what Africa
needs, if Africa is to be cured from her 50-years old incurable “cancer”! Please show them your “democracy” is not the listing of “53
ETHNIC-BASED-PARTIES”, ala Weyane style. Show
them the Eritrean “democracy” is “grassroots democracy”, which is the
“government for the people, by the people, to the people”. While you are at it, teach them the true
meaning of “fraternity, equality, and liberty”, which is the foundation or the
cornerstone of “democracy” at its best and finest. Show them the Eritrean “democracy” is not multiple “ethnic based”
party formation but having Eritreans living in harmony, shaping their destiny
as one, sharing what Eritrea has to offer equally and equitably, and lifting
every Eritrean up and leaving no one behind; especially the “disadvantaged”
sects of your society. In short, Show them Eritrean “democracy” is founded on “social
justice”; period!. That is the Eritrean
“democracy” and that is what makes Shaebia stand out above the crowd,
especially the African crowd. That is your “democracy” and the beauty
about you is you are yet to teach the Africans what “democracy” is meant to
be. Sure, your “democracy” does scare
the daylight of the “leaches” that have been bloodsucking Africa for half a
century!
What I could not
accept is how in the Hell do the Western countries prescribe multiple “ethnic
based political parties” to Africa; but when it comes in the Western nations it
is a “taboo”? Just take a look, in all
the Western countries having more than two parties is a “no, no”. But when it
comes to Africa, what you see is what you get. Then again, if they are to
continue bloodsuck the rich African natural resources, it is a must that they
have to prescribe and promote ethnically and religiously driven death and
mayhem and the best way to do it is to insist African countries got have “53
ethnic-based parties”, ala Weyane and that is evil defined!
Eritrea; it is OK to
show them what you have achieved so far. What is fascinating about you is, your
achievement is coming at a time when your enemies thought they can incapacitate
you with “no war no peace” evil scheme. To be honest, this “no
peace no war” evil scheme of theirs most definitely would have and
could have achieved the intended objectives in a heartbeat; if it was to be
applied in other countries. The Eritrean singer hammered the nail on the head
when he said, “NIHANA KONA EMBER MEN M’KE’ALO, MEN MISEGERO!” (Had it was not
“we” (Eritreans), who would have or could have outstood, outlasted, and
outsmarted their evil schemes)! But here is you rendering their evil schemed
null, nil, and “ALBO” and from what we hear the “no peace no war”
has boomeranged on them and has broken their backbone for good. Yes, they tried to strangulate you economically, to
blackmail you diplomatically, to deny you justice, and they even boasted to
bury you physically in “72 hours”.
Again and again they failed and instead of you being buried to 6-ft
under; here are they being read their last rite at the 11:59th hour
of their evil journey and the only thing left is for the “High Priest of Debra
Damo” to say “ashes to ashes”.
Do not blame them; because when these elements were planning to give it
all they got, which they did and more ways than one, to destroy you as a
country and people; they thought they could use “Africa” as a “Bench Mark” or
“Point of Reference” to judge and gage you. Their mistake: They never knew the
Eritrean persona and psyche and they never knew the gallant sons and daughters
are the defenders of their people and the builders of their home from ground up
one brick at time; all at the same time? It is OK
Eritrea to show you secret weapons. Show them the weapons of Warsai-YekeAlo are
the “hammer” and the “AK-47”. Tell them “no Warsai-YekeAlo leaves home with out
these two weapons at hand!”. In short, tell them Warsai-YekeAlo is the soldier,
the engineer, the scientist, the inventor, the leader, the farmer, the teacher,
and the student; all bundled in one.
Eritrea; you
bet, your strength is in your steadfast, determined, persist, and eternally
optimistic people. To wit: take a look at the Eritrean Marshal Plan
(Wefri Warsai-YekeAlo), hand in hand with the people, building Eritrea from the
ashes to stun both friends and enemies. Let me confess. It is not only these projects that makes me
be proud of you Eritrea; but these projects are also done by Eritrean
ingenuity, talent, know-how, and resources. While African countries have to
bring some one from across the oceans to complete such projects for them, only
to end up receiving a finished products they do not know how to use and
maintain; here is you doing it your self and you are doing it faster, better,
and cheaper. The lasting positive impact of these projects is not what these
projects can do to change the life of Eritreans for better; but the Eritreans
are acquiring knowledge and know-how for life. You bet they are. Acquiring
knowledge and experience is some thing you cannot assign a monetary value to
it. Trust me, there no Ivy League
University or College that can teach you or provide you with that kind of
knowledge and experience. Take a look at you Eritrea; you are not only a good
“student” but you are also the best “teacher” and the best “school”. That I like
about you, Eritrea. And now you know
why they take you as “a bad of good example”.
Eritrea; it is OK to brag about
your achievements so far for you have earned the right to brag. All these and much more is all done by
Eritrean brain, creativity, and ingenuity coupled by muscle and sweat. And
these are the qualities that make you stand above the crowd, especially about
the African crowd? In such a short time and at such tender age you have
achieved so much against all odds. I just wonder where would you be had the
sworn enemy of the Mother Land, the Weyane, had not come to stifle your dreams
and aspiration? Be it as it may, to
your hardworking, steadfast, dedicated, and optimistic to the fault people, if
add the farsighted, wise, and dynamic Eritrean leadership in your
nation-building-equation; there is no question you are bound to reach the
Promised Land. Eritrea, you are humble and yet proud;
you are modest and yet persistent; you are kind and decent and yet defiant; you
are generous and yet possessive; you are forgiving and yet not forgetful, and
you are small in size and yet a giant in spirit. Eritrea, thanks for making your children walk with their
shoulders straight and their heads up. We only hope we, your children, possess
the strength and the wisdom to measure up to your expectations and values!
It is your “Sweet 16th Birthday”, Eritrea. A
toast for all what you have accomplished “against all odds” at such tender and
young age! To your health and for the
good times that are to role! HAPPY “SWEAT 16th BIRTHDAY”,
ERITREA!
Wetru Awet
N’Hafash!
Hiji Win Hade Hizbi Hade Libi!
Eternal Glory to the Dead and the Living Heroes/Heroines
It is a
Must “Wefri Warsai-YekeAlo” Should Succeed!
Dr.
Michael Fessehaye