Abraham Lincoln towers in American history because, among many other accomplishments, he appealed to “the better angels of our nature.” Although he came to prominence almost a century after the Founding Fathers, he was, indeed, the last one of them. He steered the nation amid the worst violence and brought … more
Oh, old Pharaoh Moses asked you, “let my people go.” But, you turned a deaf ear, Ten plagues fell on every house and borough. The people found out That you were neither god nor savior And your power was far from thorough. Oh, new Pharaoh … more
Rarely does one find a serious and intelligent book that is totally engaging, but the author of a new book, “Wounded Nation: How a Once Promising ERITREA was Betrayed and its Future Compromised,” did just that. “Wounded Nation” takes up on where the first volume, “The Crown and the Pen,” … more
“Where are the groups? You ask for it in your imagination. But you must tell me where these groups are.” The petty dictator of Eritrea rambling in an interview with a Swedish journalist. If one examines the last 50-60 years history of Third-World nations, one is bound to see a … more
Change always involves trade-offs; and one only hopes that short-term costs will be compensated by long-term benefits. A lot has been said about the National Conference for Democratic Change (NCDC), but I chose to remain silent, because, for the most part, I have nothing that adds value to the “discourse.” … more
The book, Of Kings And Bandits, tells the story of a young Eritrean boy, who was forced to choose between dying in dignity, free and brave, or dying in ignominy, humiliated and afraid. Jemal chose the former; and joined a band of “bandits”, otherwise known as freedom fighters, to defy … more
The book, Of Kings And Bandits, tells the story of a young Eritrean boy, who was forced to choose between dying in dignity, free and brave, or dying in ignominy, humiliated and afraid. Jemal chose the former; and joined a band of “bandits”, otherwise known as freedom fighters, to defy … more
A friend implores that those of us who write on Eritrean affairs, do so, from a middle-of-the-road perspective. I understand the appeal: the extreme is reprehensible and the middle-road is praiseworthy. To me the art of compromise, the art of navigating from the middle is the art of peace-making, and … more
Procrusle was a famous robber who lived in the surroundings of ancient Athens, Greece. He gained notoriety by forcing his captives, tall or short, to lie down on his special couch. If the prisoners’ legs were too long, their limbs were chopped off, and if they were too short, they … more
The argument that talking about societal disparities would divert us from more pressing matters at hand is a bit shallow and immature. As a matter of fact, these issues should and must be the focus of our debate and the centerpiece of our struggle. If we have learned anything from … more
The virtual worship of unity has proven to be a ruse of course; the real driving force has always been self-interest and the pursuit of power, which invariably comes at the expense of other groups. Many factions existed behind the façade of unity and with the first crack of freedom … more
The virtual worship of unity has proven to be a ruse of course; the real driving force has always been self-interest and the pursuit of power, which invariably comes at the expense of other groups. Many factions existed behind the façade of unity and with the first crack of freedom … more
In our ongoing public discourse, it’s important that we communicate in a clear, simple and- as much as possible- consistent manner. It helps us to avoid any misunderstanding and confusion. Our goal should always be to peel off the layers of confusion and unmask the hidden truth. A healthy public … more
He was only thirty five years of age at the time. But, his reputation for justice, impartiality and truthfulness was far and wide. He was widely known as Al Amin; the trustworthy. His real name was Mohammed, and five years later, after the incident I’ll tell in a second, he … more