The biggest crisis of our time is the crisis of contempt – created by ethnic-based politics, which is detracting Ethiopia, says human rights defender and peace activist Obang Metho on his speech during the celebration of the International Youth Day. His full speech is excerpted as follows.
I am delighted and honored to be invited to speak to our youth and our future. It was my pleasure to participate in International Youth Day event as a keynote speaker.
As you all know International Youth Day is an awareness day designated by the United Nations and it offers a chance to raise awareness of the need to ensure the engagement and participation of youth.
It is also a day to celebrate young people and their efforts in conflict prevention, inclusion, social justice, and peace across the globe.
I spoke to our Ethiopian youth about how we can create a common vision for a genuine unity, peaceful, better, fairer and stronger Ethiopia.
Below is the summary of what I said in my speech to our beloved Ethiopian youth on International Youth Day in Addis Ababa.
First of all, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you Ethiopia Ministry of Women and Children Affairs and Ethiopia youth federation for inviting me to this important conference and for giving me the opportunity to talk about our social issues.
I am deeply honored and grateful to address you, our youth and our future. As you have heard, I am not a politician or government official. I am a human rights defender, social justice seeker, peace and reconciliation advocate. But most importantly, I am a human being and follower of Jesus, who taught each of us to love each other.
I am here today to talk about what I believe is the biggest crisis of our time facing our beloved and beautiful country of Ethiopia. This is the crisis of contempt — created by ethnic federalism and ethnic based politics that is tearing our family and society apart.
I will show you why I believe that within this men-made crisis resides the best opportunity we have ever had, as people of one country, to lift our people up and bring them together as one family and that is the family of Ethiopia.
As you all know that when there is an old problem, the solution never comes from thinking harder in the old ways but NEW thinking; we the people of Ethiopia have to think differently and in new ways. This is true with societal problems and private problems. We need to see the political crisis of our country in a whole new way.
This is where you come in our youth. This is your time to play a crucial role. Historically, it is usually the youth and students of a country who ignite the fire for liberty and then become the light that reveals the dark secrets of the injustice and suffering of the people.
They provide the corridor to change the future. Rather than accept the status quo, the youth often overcome obstacles not only in their own way, but obstacles that hinder society as a whole; changing the future for many.
My fellow Ethiopian youth; you may be someone else’s daughter or son, belonging to a different family, tribe, region, language or religion, but in the end, you are part of the greater family of Ethiopia.
You are the future of all of us; the leaders of tomorrow! Without the youth, our future ends and Ethiopia ends.
Each of you is like one finger of one hand that attaches together before attaching to the wrist, the arm and the body; just like our beautiful country of Ethiopia where our many parts are linked together by our land.
The foundation of the movement I lead (the SMNE) is based on ideas—of valuing each other, seeing the humanity of others outside our own ethnic groups and respecting the rights of all our people.
It is sad that some ethnocentric individuals have contaminated our society, dividing the people based on ethnicity, for nearly decades; as long as many of our youth have been alive.
Ethiopia, with all of our ethnicities and diversity, has great beauty like the beauty of a garden with many colors, sizes and shapes of flowers. It is now your (Ethiopian youth) duty to protect and nurture this garden, which is for all of us.
In Ethiopia, there should be no “us” or “them,” like antagonists in constant battle. Instead, we should care about nurturing a society more conducive to life for all! I have hope that you will seek to build a inclusive society based on these principles.
Ethiopians are religious people. As youths, become lovers of truth, justice and right. Be God-inspired models in your daily life; showing love towards other people and confronting “ethnic-based thinkers” who have built and perpetuated injustice, division and conflict by excluding, exploiting or devaluing other Ethiopian brothers or sisters just because they might be of different ethnicity, viewpoint or religion.
Also, be models of peace-building and if you stand up against all kind of extremism, do not use violence. Only humanity and civility can make us all proud Ethiopians.
It is a time to put aside old disagreements and to agree to disagree while supporting the people and focusing on the bigger picture; leading by example in putting humanity before ethnicity.
Long live Ethiopia!
Source: Solidarity Movement for a New Ethiopia (SMNE)
The International Youth Day was celebrated worldwide, for the 20th time, on 12th August 2020 with a theme ‘Youth Engagement for Global Action.’ The Day was celebrated for the 17th time in Ethiopia with a theme ‘Youth Engagement for Ethiopia’s Prosperity’ with an event organized by the Ministry of Women Children and Youth on 22nd August 2020 at Sheraton Addis Hotel.