About almariam
Professor Alemayehu G. Mariam teaches political science at California State University, San Bernardino. His teaching areas include American constitutional law, civil rights law, judicial process, American and California state governments, and African politics. He has published two volumes on American constitutional law, including American Constitutional Law: Structures and Process (1994) and American Constitutional Law: Civil Liberties and Civil Rights (1998). He is the Senior Editor of the International Journal of Ethiopian Studies, a leading scholarly journal on Ethiopia. For the last several years, Prof. Mariam has written weekly web commentaries on Ethiopian human rights and African issues that are widely read online. He played a central advocacy role in the passage of H.R. 2003 (Ethiopia Democracy and Accountability Act of 2007) in the House of Representatives in 2007. Prof. Mariam practices in the areas of criminal defense and civil litigation. In 1998, he argued a major case in the California Supreme Court involving the right against self-incrimination in People v. Peevy, 17 Cal. 4th 1184, which helped clarify longstanding Miranda rights issues in criminal procedure in California. For several years, Prof. Mariam had a weekly public channel public affairs television show in Southern California called “In the Public Interest”. Prof. Mariam received his Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota in 1984, and his J.D. from the University of Maryland in 1988.
I join you joyfully in ringing in 2007 and ringing out 2008.
For my Ethiopian readers in the United States, September 11 (Ethiopian New Year’s Day, Meskerem 1) is a festive day of celebration as well as a day that shall live in infamy.
On September 11, 2011, the terrorist group al-Qaeda coordinated four attacks in the United States causing the deaths of thousands of innocent civilians.
In the new Ethiopian year, 2008, I pray and hope for understanding, harmony and peace in Ethiopia, the United States of America and the world.
“When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace,” said Jimi Hendrix.
It is my fervent wish that in 2007 Ethiopians, particularly young Ethiopians, will use their power of love to overcome those who love power, abuse, misuse and are corrupted by power.
I invite all my weekly readers to join me in 2008 in standing up against tyranny, hate and injustice and for human rights and dignity.
History will not judge us on the fact that we failed to achieve our aims but by the level of commitment and effort we put out to achieve them.
We just need to be fleas against injustice and act collectively and strategically to make the biggest, richest and meanest dogs uncomfortable and transform Ethiopia.
The mighty United States Marines are always “looking for a few good men” to fight wars.
Me, I am just looking for a few good fleas to join me in the fight against injustice and for human rights in Ethiopia in 2008!
Melkam Inqutatash!!!
La luta continua!
“If you ever think you’re too small to be effective, you’ve never been in bed with a mosquito!” (or fleas?) – Wendy Lesko
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