Comments on Enset: Not a Transformational Figure

obama may not a transcendtal figure( not yet at le...

2008-12-04T05:08:00.000-05:00

obama may not a transcendtal figure( not yet at least); but without a doubt he is a tranformational figure in ways we know(a person of JFKesque appeal with a negroid pedigree-how likely is that!?) and in ways we are yet to find out about in the future.

Recycler,Your fear about the presidency of Obama b...

2008-10-25T10:56:00.000-04:00

Recycler,

Your fear about the presidency of Obama being a disappointment to Ethiopians is a well founded one and has precedents. When Clinton took office, many in COEDF, the main opposition of the time, hoped that his people would enforce the Cohen doctrine of "No democracy, no cooperation."

Oh, how disappointed they were! It turned out that the Clinton Administration became the biggest cheerleader of the regimes in Addis Ababa and Asmara to the extent of labeling them a new breed of African leaders. There was also hope that the current Bush Administration would get tough on the Ethiopian regime and was about to make a policy shify. But 9-11 happened and the Bush people went back to the drawing board and decided to bed with the Woyane regime.

We are now finding ourselves in the same predicament: expecting a meaningful policy change from an incoming American administration that will stand up for democracy and justice in Ethiopia. My thinking is that there is a decent chance for a change of policy with an Obama Administration. But, if Obama is elected, he is going to have his hands full dealing with the recent financial crisis and perhaps a deeper than anticipated economic recession that he may not give Africa the attention it deserves. We shall wait and see.

Fikru

http://etrecycler.blogspot.com/2008/10/barack-obam...

2008-10-24T18:36:00.000-04:00

http://etrecycler.blogspot.com/2008/10/barack-obama-is-ethiopian.html

Barack Obama is Ethiopian

Barack Obama is certainly generating great enthusiasm among Ethiopians everywhere. We fear this tells us more about the disenfrachisement of Ethiopians by their leaders than about US elections per se. Obama is, therefore, a stop-gap in the current predicament.
We also fear the presidency of Obama may in fact disappoint Ethiopians. For some reason US foreign policy since the reign of Emperor Haileselassie has consistently failed to uphold democratic aspirations of Ethiopians [mid-70s, late-80s, elections'05]. Also, a president Obama will be hamstrung, at least in the short term, by promises made to middle-class America, by global economic meltdown, and by a plan to remain in office for two terms. His vice-presidential nominee, Joe Biden, has already indicated the necessity of slashing down foreign aid to fulfill promises to domestic constituency.
In the long term, Obama administration may be amenable to grassroots movements in Africa. That in turn takes hard work and a competent leadership on the part of Ethiopian opposition groups. The way things are, we see little hope for such a leadership to emerge. Intellectuals loyal to the ruling minority regime are working feverishly to disorient and misrepresent popular sentiments. Berhanu & Co. are fighting to remain relevant; Hailu Shawul & Co. are incoherent and undisciplined; Bertukan & Co. are 'waiting for Godot' to lend them some muscle against the ruling militia.
We don't believe a McCain presidency will be any different either. Would Ethiopian leaders be driven into the arms of the Chinese in a post-Bush administration?

Hi, sorry to spam you, but here's something really...

2008-10-20T12:30:00.000-04:00

Hi, sorry to spam you, but here's something really good and worth mentioning: A small book project trying to tap into Ethiopia's rich oral tradition and preserving it to be passed in a more permanent form for future generations to supplement the Disney/ Hollywood diet... Your hints about something form non-highland, cultural mainstream areas would be very welcome
http://africanchildrensbookproject.blogspot.com/2008/10/african-childrens-book-project.html