Modeling Election Done; Govern’t Election…
Today’s Negarit could well be version 2 of the 5-year-old episode, which was a sort of social critique. Generally, writers, journalists, and artists are keen observer of life; they mirror the life of societies. They expose forces, mainly pseudo-patriots who spread ignorance, bigotry, and chaos, unwilling to change despite the frequent reminders pointing to their faults.A few days ago, Meron Teclesenbet critiqued the activists in a video entitled, “Is it a fashion show, a nation show, or an opposition show?”
That inspired me and I had to come up with today’s Negarit.
Efforts to improve our lots are not in vain. Younger Eritreans are carrying the torch and continuing the journey—it’s emotional.
For years I’ve written and spoke about racism and cheap patriotism—and against those who tirelessly peddle it. I dedicate today’s Negarit 296 to Meron Teclesenbet, who assured me that past efforts in that direction were not in vain. I hope his will bear better results.
There are several social and political ailments that have plagued our region for a long time. Today I will raise those issues like I have done for too long.
Xenophobia-racism
It’s the 21st century, yet some shamelessly practice racism, bigotry, and ignorance and display them with pride as if they were badges of honor. The sickness is spread all over the world. They have become tools that the governments cunningly use to claim they are doing the opposite.
For the PFDJ, the most offensive insult it perfected is “Weyane”, branding rivals as sympathizers of the major party of Tigray, the TPLF, which is the archenemy of the Eritrean ruling party. Weyane is a political term that has become a dog whisper to ostracize, exclude, and defame opposition actions. But there is another racist epithet they use: Agame is a name and a racial identity of Tigrayans who hail from the Tigray. And here is its source and how it evolved: Barba, the Italian Colonial Officer in Eritrea.
Mob Attack
Monkeys, foxes, hyenas, and other animals attack in mobs, Esle. I am a believer, and evolutionary science makes me uneasy; did we really evolve from apes? If we do, it means we are still evolving animals. And that would mean our genes dictate our behaviors. It entails accepting our ancestors (abowatna and emwatna) are apes. Of course, we consider racism and disregard for humanity an animal trait. Therefore, non-scientific assertion is that our ancestors are humans, not apes.
Why do a big chunk of Eritreans attack in mobs, defame in mobs, and even subscribe and unsubscribe to social media channels in mobs? Why do they pollute social media comment sections with vulgarity and racist remarks in mobs? The so-called political activists also join in that madness; is it likely we are victims of animals in the fight between two evolving violent parties?
Humanity has an intrinsic tendency to believe that some actions deserve rewards while others deserve punishment. But why is individuals and groups being continually punished by more powerful parties? Do you think mobs understand what I just said?
Patriotism Desecrated
Samuel Johnson (b 1709–d. 1784) was a British, Tory, and famous “poet, playwright, essayist, moralist, literary critic, speaker, an editor, and biographer …”. His essay, “The Patriot”, is among the most known (in addition to his novella, “Rosellas, The Prince of Abissinia.” But S. Johnson is remembered more for his famous quote: “Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel.” That quote aptly describes the crude, noisy, and sloganeering politics mobs, the pseudo-patriots.
Indeed, patriotism has become a hiding place of the scoundrel, the urchins, the social rejects and crude elements. They’re as empty and as boastful as the mule reacting to disrespect boasted, “but my mother is a horse!” Just like the mule, the pseudo patriots would display their ugly characters and claim immunity by saying, “but I am a patriot.”
Fashion show
Meron brought to my attention the mob confrontation that was going on between two sides of Eritreans—as usaul, pro, and against the ruling party. It’s about two women competing in a fashion modeling or a beauty contest. What is patriotic about it? Nothing. However, it is in such situations that the scoundrels find a refuge and try to make it a patriotic affair. The contest between two women has nothing to do with patriotism at all. But the duel between the two pseudo-patriot sides made it look like one.
During the Badme war, there was a hilarious incident: a Tigrayan and an Eritrean quarreled in a bar; the Tigrayan left the place, jumped into his car, and drove away. The Eritrean, determined to resolve the quarrel, physically ran to his car and chased the Tigrayan. A cop stopped them and asked what their problem was. The Eritrean told him, “This is not your problem; his country is fighting against my country.” The bewildered cop said, It’s my business when you violate speed limits and safe driving rules. He asked, what does a war in your ancestral home have to do with your traffic violation in the USA?
They didn’t have much to explain because they had a little too much liquor—you can guess how that ended.
Indeed, what does a contest between two models mean in the context of a national conflict? And that, in a conflict between pseudo-patriots, partisans, and identity agitators! It’s the mindset. If they need justification for behaviors and actions, they take refuge in patriotism. And what better symbol to affirm powerfully more than both are wrapped in flags!
True, there’s a serious difference between the PFDJ supporters and the opposition, and yes, there are grave consequences to it. Yes, in many instances, they cannot see eye-to-eye. But political rivalry must not warrant foolishness.
The acronym PFDJ (the People’s Front for Democracy and Justice) includes two letters: democracy and justice. It’s the name of the single, unelected Eritrean ruling party. But its followers are oblivious to that; they promote injustice and do not believe in democratic values.
On the other side, the opposition claims to be struggling to establish rule of law and justice that are absent in Eritrea. Yet most opposition elements think they can realize that through sloganeering and fragmenting society, they don’t believe they need to practice the slogans they repeat. So, what is the fight all about?
When both sides are fighting over who deserves the Eritrean vote in a fashion modeling contest, are they fighting for a national cause? Do they espouse the idea that differences must be resolved in a ballot box? What are they fighting for?
Here’s a saying in the Tigrayit language: Yareb qerimka semiE besit lideyu! Meba’estkhas zsemEn zzarebn ygberelka!
Not many enjoy fighting with a brute, but everyone enjoys debating an intelligent foe. Of course, everyone, except those who are used to wrestling in mud. The PFDJ top wigs like wrestling in mud; they win because they excel in coercion, in appropriating rights, badmouthing, and insulting and degrading the intelligence of the nation. And, of course, besmirching national ethics and social values, even the ancient traditional laws.
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