aqumada

1 - who should spearhead the struggle is not so clearly defined. I bet most of us would say those within the administration should probably start speaking against the repressive measures taken by the regime. Obviously not every single person within the government could be thinking what is going on in the country is the norm of conducting official buisness although it may be the status quo. Unfortuantely all these people have a lot to lose by speaking against Melesocracy and therefore they choose keep silent. Then u have the voices of the opposition party who are languishing in prison. Ok, then how about the college kids? Oh, you mean the ones in Dedesa or the remaining who are under constant supervision who have mastered not to sneez lest any audible sound that comes from them is considered threatening. You don't think they are doing enough? In any case, even historically, this is the group that spearheads change in our country before it gets hijacked by the military at the last minute but currently the military is too busy trying to find a color marker big enough to draw the demarcation line in a place far far away from the capital. So what u really have is a non violent struggle or disobedience by students who refuse to sit for an exam while their friends and classmates have been shipped to an unknow location which by the way is also the fate of these students sooner or later. Misguided it may be but since I am not sure which part is exactly misguided, I await clarification. (Comment this)

2 - For one, I like to see the middle-class (civil servants, merchants etc)to be spearheading the movement. A work stoppage would have the max effect on the government (of course at a cost to the middle class). Students who are young [remember these are 9th and 10th graders] and poor should not be burdened with this awesome responsibility of leading the mass [Let us be honest, you do not see private school students coming out to the streets] What have we learned from the times of EPRP when poor kids were led to death for the cause they fully did not understand? The revolution was not as rosy as you would like to think, Wegesha. Sure, high school students should join a popular movement but in my opinion they are not in the position to lead it …that just makes them sacrificial lambs. (Comment this)

3 - <p>Yekolotemari I understand your sentiments. I feel it man. But let me paint this scenario for you. EPRDF government is trying to rule by force. People are saying “NO!” you can not rule me. What does it mean to be ruled? You are being ruled when you get up in the morning, wash your face and go to work, to school,... follow the rules and laws of the government and the society you are in. If you accede to this rule then fine with me.</p>

<p>But I think, the people have the right and have “earned” the justification to say to this government, no you will not tell me to go to this or that exam, you will not pick my profession through these exams, no you will not impose these rules of education on me. Simply, I will not be governed by you.</p>

<p>And there is the practical side of things. The majority of population in Ethiopia is young wetat. They have the most to lose if life under this government continues like this. Enormous number of students who take the exams will probably fail due to the dismal school system. If you fail, you go to the technical high school for two years and be prepared for...what? Nothing. You are effectively locked out of college. Well, what about jobs... the present graduates are still looking for jobs. Sooooooo, why should I take this damn exam?</p>

<p>But you know that people have much respect for education (almost fanatical), believing it can lift them out of poverty. "Temar lije, temar lije...wegen zemed yelegn habt yelegn beije.". Can you imagine how difficult a decision is for someone to decide not to take that exam, knowing basically EPRDF's government is going to take away even the "tirfrafi" education you are going to get? I think it shows you how people, specially the young have totally lost hope on a future with EPRDF.</p>

<p>By the way, anyone who tells me Tegbar is responsible for the boycott is underestimating Ethiopians. I grant you they may have initiated it and promoted it. But I will bet you, everyone of the students and parents thought hard about what they are going to do before they did it. A conscious decision by a rational person(s). If people found the boycotts ridiculous they will not stick their neck out, Tegbar or no Tegbar.</p>

<p>Sorry for the long comment... I couldn't resist.</p> (Comment this)

4 - Despite the fact how ridiculous it sounds that teenagers are spearheading the struggle against the EPRDF regime I think this is the most practical approach. We all have witnessed what happened when the working class started uprising.

Eventually when the change comes, these kids will fill ownership for what they have accomplished. This whole struggle is not about bringing a bunch of other well to do politicians in to power, it about empowering the people especially the future generation.

Do not underestimate what these kids are doing. It might not topple EPRDF but it will bring it to a position where one heave will send it down thumbing.

“If you are the big tree, let me tell you that
we are the small axe, sharp and ready
Ready to cut you down”

The question is; when shoukd the rest of society join the decisive uprising? (Comment this)

5 - It seems that this group of the society is the only ones who are not risk averse at this point in time.
Legese was a college student when he went to the bush. EPRP in its early years was made up of mostly young idealists. The danger of course is that the idealist becomes detached from reality and careens of the track. The result is of course a failed generation. From Derg to EPRP to EPRDF to UEDF. CUD of course seems to be a different animal. With people like Birtukan and Lidetu, people like Birhanu Nega who are redeeming their generation, we will have hope. I am still reserving my judgement on Lidetu for the election victory would not have been possible without a huge contribution from this brilliant guy. Besides, we need the diversity of thoughts and perspectives that he brings. Otherwise there is a danger ahead. Was it Voltaire that said that something to the effect of "I will defend your right to hold your wrong opinion"? My doubt of course is whether he is a double agent. I digress.
These kids are probably more clear headed than most of quasi-pundits quasi-pundits like me. They are heroes that will build a better future for all of us. (Comment this)

6 - I respect everyones opinion. I just have one follow up question...so would any one of you let your kids/brothers/sisters [14/15/16 yr olds]join the protestors?
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What do you think of the following?
http://www.ethiomedia.com/courier/the_little_freedom_fighters.html (Comment this)

7 - Yekolotemari,
You have asked the mother of all questions. This is what the ferenjis call the 64,000 dollar question. Since no one has that kind of money in Ethiopia this question can not be answered. Although shiek Mohamed Al- Amoudi would beg to differ, we already know what his answer would be. Yekolotemari, here is a question for you. How did Meles manage to convince the shiek EPRDF stands for “Ethiopian Produced & Recycled Delightful females?” The only group, his behavior seems to indicate, he will support.

It is hard to imagine anyone in his right mind sending his/her kids to join the protests. Had the scenario been set differently, I am sure we would feel differently about it. Imagine 14, 15 or 16 year old kids in the U.S protesting against Bush’s policy of killing everyone named Fatima, Aziz, Mohamed, Abdul and Ahmad. I would have no problem sending my kid to participate in such a protest (I would, however, ask my wife why she ever got off those damn birth control pills). The difference being the assurance that my kid won’t get shot because he stood up for an ideology in which he believes. We know empirically, instinctively, scientifically and theoretically that Meles and his guards are too trigger- happy to let protests proceed without an incident. Hence, a kid at a protest is at an equal risk to receive a bullet as an adult. Unless you want to compare the level of pain felt by a kid versus an adult, up to this point the loss incurred is the same. One point of contention is the assessment of age at which a true ideology is formed. We are now delving into a grey zone. One could argue a teenager is not old enough to form an ideology of his own and is easily influenced to fight for the ideologies of others. But the one unique quality of poverty is its ability to make kids into thinking adult in no time. Compare an average 14 year old from Ethiopia to an average 14 year old here. Not necessarily is one smarter than the other but because of nurture (as in the nature vs. nurture argument), you would notice clear differences. Is there a 14 year old Ethiopian kid who doesn’t know how fragile life is in his neck of the woods? Did you not used sprint with all the might you have, in the time of Mengistu, when a military truck pulled next to you during those times when they used to draft military personnel from the streets (the so called afessa). In a country such as ours where political turmoil is common, kids need to be very knowledgeable about politics as it is the only way you know how to stay clear of what could get you in trouble or even get killed. This is why your question is not a fair question to justify why the kids should not be spearheading the struggle.

As far as the ethiomedia article is concerned, I am starting to see a pattern. The pattern is… I seem to love everything Fekade Shewakena writes and Mimi, I am pretty sure, is made from the same fiber as he. Too bad she is only 11.
 (Comment this)

8 - Wegesha,
I beleive the 14 and 15 year olds should not be "PUSHED" to spearhead the movement (when especially you have middle class adults who are afraid to take a risk). As a parent, I know I would not let my kids to join such protests when I know they would be massacered... Why take the most destructive road? There are always alternatives. Was it not B. Nega who said that he would not ask others to do what he does not want his kids to do? That is the sort of moderation we need to day. I am going to cut my argument short here and let others join the discussion.

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As for the article about the 11 year olds, I am not sure if u r being sarcastic or totally lost it...! Staying moderate and rational in the face of brutality is, I think important. (Comment this)

9 - http://www.ethioforum.org/images/birtukan_amharic.pdf

 (Comment this)