Al Mariam’s Commentaries Archive
02 Aug 2006
Could the Current Somali Crisis Affect Passage of H.R.5680?:Possible Strategies for the Home Stretch
Prowling and SkulkingSeveral weeks ago, an alliance of Somali Islamist militia leaders calling itself the Supreme Islamic Courts Council (SICC), (Majilis al-shura Council) captured the Somali capital Mogadishu, and the nearby towns of Jowhar and Balad. The SICC is suspected of having ties to al-Qaeda and other terrorist organizations. The “word on the street” is
04 Jul 2006
AWAKENING GIANT!
CAN ETHIOPIANS AND ETHIOPIAN AMERICANS LIVING IN AMERICA MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR HOMELAND? (Full text of address given on July 2, 2006, at the Ethiopian American Council of the United States Forum, the LAX Hilton, Los Angeles, CA.) Amesegnalehu. Enquan dehna metachehu. Thank you. Thank you very much. First, I would like to thank all of you for taking the time to
16 Jun 2006
A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF TWO SUBSTITUTE AMENDMENTS ON H.R. 4423
Posted June 13th, 2006 by almariamforthedefense. INTRODUCTION Over the past several months, there has been much discussion and debate over House Resolution (H.R.) 4423 and the two substitute amendments[1] offered by New Jersey representatives Christopher Smith (R) Chairman, House Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations and Donald Payne (D), ranking minority member
18 May 2006
My Country, ‘Tis of Thee…
MARTIN LUTHER KING Part III “Nonviolence is the answer to the crucial political and moral question of our time — the need for man to overcome oppression and violence without resorting to violence and oppression,” declared Martin Luther King (MLK) in his Nobel acceptance speech in 1964. A trained theologian and Baptist minister, MLK was
10 May 2006
Of Civil Disobedience and Nonviolence – Part II
GANDHI Part II “Nonviolence is a weapon of the strong. With the weak, it might easily be hypocrisy…,” declared Ghandi in 1891. Over the succeeding decades, Ghandi proved time and again the irrefutable truth about the efficacy and morality of nonviolent civil disobedience in resisting unjust laws and colonialism, culminating in Indian independence in 1947
23 Apr 2006
Of Civil Disobedience and Nonviolence – Part I
There is rumor of mass civil disobedience in Ethiopia. Over the past month, the U.S. Embassy has been reminding and urging Americans in Ethiopia to “avoid demonstrations intended to be peaceful [which] can turn confrontational.” On April 22, Sudan Tribune online published a press release purportedly issued by Tegbar League Addis Ababa announcing the initiation
22 Apr 2006
…. A Friend in Deed
There is much confusion and consternation in the Ethiopian community in North America over the fact that the democrats on the House Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights, and International Operations of the House International Relations Committee voted against a bill in subcommittee titled the “Ethiopian Freedom, Human Rights and Democracy Act (HR 4423), introduced
10 Dec 1992
Ethiopians in the American Melting Pot
Originally appeared in Ethiopian Review, December 1992 http://www.ethiopianreview.com/1992/Article_AbiyeSolomon_December1992.html Under the pen name: “Abiye Solomon” One of the truisms of American life is that anyone from any country can come to America and assimilate into the society. The idea is that America is a land of immigrants naturally hospitable to new immigrants. In many ways,
23 Nov 1992
The New Press Law
Originally appeared in Ethiopian Review Magazine November 1992 http://www.ethiopianreview.com/1992/Article_AlemayehuGMNov92.html The Council of Representatives of the Transitional Government of Ethiopia last month approved a “Press Law” authorizing government officials to exercise sweeping censorship powers over the press and persons associated with the press. This law is unnecessary and unduly burdensome on the traditional and universal
23 Jul 1992
Playing Left Field
Originally appeared in Ethiopian Review, July 1992 http://www.ethiopianreview.com/1992/Article_AbiyeSolomonJul92.html Under the pen name Abiye Solomon I am one of those guys who has never really been into sports. I used to Like soccer and I played and watched a lot of it in my younger days in Ethiopia. There really was not much to