Do Eritreans Envy Tigray?
Envy is a human trait; however, most people are often envious of people they know. They are rarely envious of people they don’t know or are geographically far removed from them. What’s the difference between envy and jealousy? Are they basically rooted on superstitions?
I am not sure if the evil eye is envy or jealousy, but it was widely believed in ancient civilization, including Egyptian that had a famous symbol that is peddled to tourists, and put on doors to break the spell of the evil eye. Eritrean had similar beliefs and that is why the supporters of the ruling party call anyone who criticizes their party of having an evil eye—Hassad. I have been called that more time than I can count.
The Evil Eye
The Arabs believe, “the evil eye can break a stone”. I don’t think many know it’s the psychokinetic energy!
My mother’s niece, one of my many favorite relatives, lived next door to where I grew up. As everyone around, she was very a traditional woman who believed in superstitions.
My brother died in infancy, martyred rather, and my mother treated me delicately like an egg—grooming me to the extent I looked like a doll. Her niece used to scold her for letting me out to be exposed to the evil eye. She run her fingers over my hair and spoiled my nicely combed hair. Then she went to my mother and scolded her again for allowing me to go out and provoke the evil eye!
Is there anything that would make anyone envy the Eritrean ruling party?
Last time I said I was envious of the atmosphere of dialogs and debating going on in Tigray. It was before many Eritreans converted to the Tigray camp; they were cheering the PFDJ, “He is us and we are him” camp and switched to cheer Tigray. A barrage of insults rained on me for making a positive remark about Tigray! Had I said I envy the the Japanese, they wouldn’t mind, and wouldn’t call shout “You are Japanese, not an Eritrean.” That is what happens in Eritrean politics if you don’t blindly jump onto the moving band wagon.
I am not a psychologist, but I surmise there is lack of self-confidence, that manifests itself in an arrogant posture. I will elaborate that with the story of the Egyptian assembled FIAT car, Nasr. But before I go into that, I will share a sad news though I doubt there is any Eritrean who haven’t heard it.
Last Saturday we lost the great Osman Abdulrahim who has entertained, inspired, and emboldened generations of Eritrea since the 1960s. Osman died among his exiled family in Sweden. However, though has physically departed to his final destination, his spirit will always remain with us, his songs and memories are etched in our hearts forever. May Allah receive him in heaven with best companions. I wish his family, relatives, friends and admirers will have the patience to bear the loss. I also appeal to them all to keep his memories alive by writing about his long history, remix, render and repeat his unforgettable songs. He is a national artist that the youth should emulate. May he rest in peace.
NASR, the Egyptian car racing champion
“Eritreanness” needs more polishing and careful maintenance. If one doesn’t feel comfortable in his Eritrean identity, if it makes them feel inferior to others, I wish they find an alternative and comfortable citizenship. If you they do not like how Eritrea is spelled, they can change it to anything, even to rock and boulder. To those who will always feel Eritrea, just avoid arrogance and be reasonably confident like the Egyptian assembled car, Nasr, and you will be surprised at the amazing things you can do.
I am Eritrean, with so many synonyms; just don’t confuse it with pronouns. I will never allow myself to be in a situation where I must choose between them because they are complimentary to each other; they do not conflict.
I said I envy Tigrayans. To be more specific, I envy the much-abused Agame who are holding free debates, and expressing themselves as any free person should. The deformed image based on racist and arrogant perceptions is a political feud instigated and sustained by people still living in the medieval ages—and this is not something I started to say now; here is a brief of what I explained in 2010 book:
Of Kings and bandits (published in 2010)
I grew up by the main highway where all traffic from Asmara passed. I watched as busloads of Tigrayans were transported to Humera for seasonal farming work. They were mostly from the Agame region of Ethiopia, and they must make the long tour to reach to Humera because back then, there were no reliable roads. Any well to do person would not leave his village and travel to Humera. I saw many of my compatriots looking down at them and feeling superior, even the dirt-poor ones who survived on one small meal per day and walked around with tattered clothes. That old habit has a lot to do with the arrogance of today.
Today Tigray matches Eritrea, or surpasses it, in many aspects (except rivaling my hometown Keren, don’t ever think of that unless you want to start 3rd world war.)
Last time I talked about a public meeting in Tigray (Negarit 261) my envy was not that acute; there was a few things I saw that invoked despise not trigger envy. Mainly I was captivated by the Raya accent. This time I saw another impressive, eloquent lady who is fit to be on the panel, only if she defied the veto of the Tigrayan General Tekhleberhan of the TbaH-TbaH fame—I am guessing he has a veto power.
In my long years of public engagement, I never ask for apologies, but I will not get off the General’s back unless he apologizes for the bigoted venom, he spewed incriminating Muslims during the recent war. He didn’t have the integrity to come to terms with the usual regional and seasonal blood shedding sports but throw it on a select race—How many wars were waged in the region in the last five centuries? I Guess at least once a year, that’s 500 times! Dear General, bigotry is a mental crippling addiction.
In the recent Tigrayan dialogue, I saw the lady and searched her cheeks to see if she has TbaH TbaH, the tribal scars on cheeks. She didn’t. Not even the small scars common in the general’s region. Sadly, the general is one of the instigators of the ultra-racist and bigoted nativist nationalists’ group. That instigation left the door wide open for a more lethal and destructive Agazian incubated by him and his likes.
Today, Tigray has two leaderships. But to the disappointment of the social media instigators, they are not shooting at each—wars are good for business—it will never have quick rewards for the humanist patriots who preach peace and civility. I urge the Tigray forces to go to war already! Social media retailers are salivating– they would certainly cheer for both of you until the last soldier is left standing with the last bullet—that motivational slogan is from the struggle era: aakhir Telga w’aakhir jundi!
If they are cajoling the leaders, mainly General Tsadqan. I hope he remembers the people told him they want peace, stop shooting. The thing is, I do not demand an apology from Tsadqan, he is a soldier, a victim stung by the Qey Bahrachin (Our Red Sea) bug, just like his boss Abiy Ahmed. I am sure he would be a good example if he pursued a peaceful solution with Eritrea, instead of the “Era of Princes”, the despicable Zemene Mesafint style bravado. But he is a soldier, and a general; even if a three-star general, why would he instigate war for one or two more stars? We can send me any number of stars; they are found on amazon. I do not like General Tasdqan’s posture!
Several time I said, it’s not viable for Eritrea to lock its ports and sacrifice economic benefits that it could earn from serving 120 million Ethiopians. But unless the Ethiopian cowboys shun the war rhetoric filled provocations and the threatening, “we will [retake the Red Sea ports] by force”, they would be inviting endless bloodshed. Leave that to the FinFine prince, the Fashion show model. What he is pursuing is a cheap (yet very expensive) politics.
Many established military commanders have successfully turned into marvelous diplomats. I wish Tasdqan seeks peace by following the demand of his people, particularly the people of Agame. I wish aggression, in the form of the Sea craze, or the Agazian conspiracy, would not be trademark of our neighbors in Tigray. I pray they come to their senses and stop medieval politics.
As for Eritreans, we are always peaceful, ruled by the most peaceful party that God ever created (I am sure every creature in the world testifies to that). Out leaders are not our leaders (Halefti) as some imagine; they are our foremen. And they are part of us, not leaders as an unknown PFDJ propagandist says. Listen, and you better believe him, unless you are too uneducated for his sophistry.
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