Al Mariam’s Commentaries Archive
13 May 2019
Save the Children: Starve the Bad and Feed the Good Wolf in Ethiopia
I have a dream that Ethiopia’s young people will put their shoulders to the wheel and take full charge of their country’s destiny; leave behind the politics of hate and ethnicity; turn their backs on those wallowing in moral bankruptcy and create a New Politics for a New Ethiopia based on dialogue, negotiation and compromise.
05 May 2019
Behold Press Freedom Shining Bright in Ethiopia!
Abiy Ahmed is doing a great job for Ethiopia. Ethiopia is really having free press for the first time in its history. I have been in journalism since 1951. I have never experienced such freedom of expression in Ethiopia. Even government media are talking freely, which is a great thing for Ethiopia.” Yacob Wolde-Mariam, 90-year
28 Apr 2019
Saving Africa From “Global Tribalism” (My “Hall of Fame” Induction Speech)
Author’ Note: Below is the full version of the speech I delivered during my induction into the “Hall of Fame” at California State University, San Bernardino on April 26, 2019.** The video of my abbreviated speech is available in the embedded video below and also HERE. ===================================== ================= Thank you. [1] After nearly 5 decades
21 Apr 2019
Washington Post: “Ethiopia Brightest Light in the World”
Last week, two important announcements were made attesting the fact that Ethiopia is a rising bright star in the world. In the Washington Post-Reporters Without Borders open forum, Ethiopia was described as the “brightest light in the world for press freedom after Tunisia.” Reporters Without Borders is one of the foremost organizations defending press freedom globally.
14 Apr 2019
To the Chicken Little Prophets of Doom and Gloom: Ethiopia is a Rising State and Nation!
O, beware, my lord, of jealousy; it is the green-ey’d monster, which doth mock the meat it feeds on.” (Othello, Act III, Scene III [Iago]) Green-ey’d monsters in Ethiopia Until April 2, 2019, the first anniversary of H.E. Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed’s term in office, the narrative and refrain of Ethiopia’s Chicken Littles and
05 Apr 2019
Why I Support Ethiopian Satellite Television (ESAT) and You Should Too!
A teachable moment for ESAT and supporters of ESAT. ESAT has been embroiled in recent controversy over statements made by one of its commentators concerning alleged evidence of wrongdoing by H.E. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed when he served at the Ethiopian Information Network Security Agency well over a decade ago. The alleged evidence was discussed
02 Apr 2019
PM ABIY AHMED, CONGRATULATIONS ON AN OUTSTANDING JOB IN ETHIOPIA IN YOUR FIRST YEAR, BUT…
April 2, 2019 H.E. Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed Office of the Prime Minister Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Dear Prime Minister Abiy: I refer to my personal letter to you dated April 8, 2018. In that lengthy letter, I congratulated you on your appointment as prime minister and gave you my full support. At that time,
29 Mar 2019
The Chicken Littles Are Clucking, “The Sky is Falling on Ethiopia!”
Author’s Note: In this commentary, I try to explain to my readers why on the eve of PM Abiy Ahmed’s stellar first year anniversary there is so much political white noise in Ethiopia. There is a campaign of Infowars (psychological warfare) underway on the people of Ethiopia and the administration of PM Abiy Ahmed. It
21 Mar 2019
Remembering the Sharpeville (South Africa) and Meles Massacres (Ethiopia) in 2019
========================================================== Special Author’s Note: For the past few years, I have written commemorative commentaries on the Sharpeville Massacre of March 21, 1960 and the Meles Massacres of 2005. I have written these commentaries to remind those who believe in solving problems with large scale violence that violence begets violence and lasting peace can be achieved
14 Mar 2019
“No Heroes in Ethiopia Today”?! Only Crybabies and Villains?
“No heroes in Ethiopia today.” Last week, on International Women’s Day, H.E. Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed made a stunning assertion: “Ethiopia has no heroes today.” The fact that he made the bold statement before a gathering of women leaders was even more searing and ironically begged the question, “If Ethiopia does not have heroes,