Commencement speeches given by political leaders often tend to be partisan, contentious and controversial. The politician will often seek to use the opportunity to defend or promote policy, respond to critics or announce an initiative. After President Barack Obama and I parted ways back in July 2015, there were few things we agreed on. But…
There is great wisdom in the old typing drill, “This is the time for all good men and women to come to the aid of their country.” I would argue more specifically this is the time for all good Ethiopian lawyers, doctors, engineers, professors, academics, writers, journalists, teachers, service workers and all others to come…
The evil that men do lives after them; The good is oft interred with their bones; So let it be with Caesar. — Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar It would be an understatement for me to say what happened on June 22 2019 in Bahr Dar, Amhara region of Ethiopia and in Addis Ababa has caused me…
How true the saying, “There is no fool like an old fool.” My readers know I don’t tolerate old fools. Of course, there are old fools; and there are offensive and villainous old fools. Herman Cohen is an offensive and villainous old fool. On June 24, 2019, Herman Cohen tweeted: Failed coup in #Ethiopia’s Amhara…
A Special Tribute to Victims of a Terrorist Attack in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on June 23, 2018 and Amhara Region on June 22, 2019 Today, high level iconic leaders of Amhara kilil (region) were shot by their own brothers (colleagues). Some were killed and others wounded. The man who was coordinating the (military) operation against…
The phrase “first responder” refers to a person, often with specialized training, who is the first to arrive and aid at the scene of an emergency or a disaster. On June 3, 2019, there was more than an emergency in the Sudan. There was a disaster. Paramilitary Rapid Support Forces under the command and control…
4 Billion Trees? But I asked for only for 110 million! It is so wonderful to see one’s dream come true! In February 2019, I shared a dream about the rise of a youth environmental movement in Ethiopia. As an environmentalist and proud tree hugger, I have always had deep concern for environmental conservation in…
Word on the street is that the Tigrean People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) is talking to “K” Street lobbyists to get the attention of the Trump administration. According to the little bird who told me, the TPLF has retained a lobbying firm in Washington, D.C. to provide them access to top Trump officials for the purpose…
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. …
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…
