en-us http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3689-the-story-of-nelson-mandela-s-missing-pistol Comments from The Story of Nelson Mandela’s Missing Pistol | Horn of Africa | News http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3689-the-story-of-nelson-mandela-s-missing-pistol#IDComment764004827Observer, you came up with many reasons why Oromos can not rule the Country you call yours - fair enough. How about you keep what is yours and we take and keep what is ours - Oromia. Sun, 8 Dec 2013 04:08:35 +0000http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3689-the-story-of-nelson-mandela-s-missing-pistol#IDComment764004827 http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3689-the-story-of-nelson-mandela-s-missing-pistol#IDComment694021095@ Liyu - I profoundly disagree with your line of thinking! I think affiliation in political thinking should be based on your ideology/political thoughts. You may have the same ethnic group but it doesn't mean and shouldn't mean you have the same political outlook? Just because you are Oromo or Amhara, it doen't mean that all Oromos or Amharas just follow what you say like zombies! What kind of thinking is that? How is that possible? You can be a leading Oromo politician and I could be an Oromo who is opposed to your outlook or an Amhara who agrees with you and or a tigree who followsand supports your leadership. This is very fundamental. How can someone's political affiliation be his ethnic group? What is the role of political thinking then? Otherwise, there is no point to even think and decide. You already have your political group affiliation decided for you even before you were born and you just grow and follow. Sort of like religion for the conformist! Is this where we are at now? This is truly sad for Africa! Regardless, to your other point -majority is not necessarily right, or is it for you just because you seem to claim the majority? If you have a nazi-full parliament, what do you expect? So Majority rule might seem logical but not necessarily the right way to govern a multi-ethnic state. So even western-style democracy is not necessarily inclusive as such - we are seeing its limits even in US congress. We donot have to copy and paste - we have to customize it to accomodate our diversity and needs! It may work in Denmark or Finland , but certainly not in China when you have a billion people! Can you imgaine china under western-style democracy? It would be chaos! We need to understand that democracy is not an end as such - it is a means and it is not the prefect solution to our problems. It may even not work at all in the Ethiopian context - there are some very good aspects of it for sure - but it has a lot of limitations by itself. For the rational thinker, it should be obvious that majority rule is not necessarily right! It might even be totally wrong! Unless you have the opinion that the majority should oppress. What we have to strive for is equality! We should be looking for a more inclusive governance! Not majority rule, but inclusive rule! Mon, 5 Aug 2013 05:32:29 +0000http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3689-the-story-of-nelson-mandela-s-missing-pistol#IDComment694021095 http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3689-the-story-of-nelson-mandela-s-missing-pistol#IDComment690426626Obsaa, you asked .... "Do you agree that in Ethiopia majority should rule ? that's logical and supposed to ".. So As long as the majoiry is Oromo ,,, they should rule the country until the others catch up? I rest my case dear. Tue, 30 Jul 2013 14:57:51 +0000http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3689-the-story-of-nelson-mandela-s-missing-pistol#IDComment690426626 http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3689-the-story-of-nelson-mandela-s-missing-pistol#IDComment688387173Great Observer , I guess we can come to consensus. Personally I lived in four African countries including Ethiopia but Ethioipa case is not South African case , as a general the whole continent got issues to deal with. I do I agree with u the new generation of Ethiopia more open minded than the previous. Do you think that Oromos trust Amharas or Amaharas trust Oromos and work together to overcome the current mess we have in Ethiopia ? As human being we have to care to all human being with out considering any kind of ethnicity. So I do care for all human being. Do you agree that in Ethiopia majority should rule ? that's logical and supposed to ... That's what Oromos demand coz there is no fair share in government as we see what's going on in Ethiopia. Finally , if you educate your people the reality and what supposed to be done , hope we can move the whole continent forward. Thanx Obsaa Nebi Sat, 27 Jul 2013 16:19:40 +0000http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3689-the-story-of-nelson-mandela-s-missing-pistol#IDComment688387173 http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3689-the-story-of-nelson-mandela-s-missing-pistol#IDComment688375965observer, Not everyone in Ethiopia is oppressed, or oppressed equally. This is trite. You pretend not to know and demand academic papers. There are many books written on this for decades. There are even Amhara feudals who wrote about the slavery conditions under which the Oromo and other southern peasants lived. The Amhara peasants may be poor, but did not live under the neftenga-gebbar system. There is a difference if you are willing to see. Go and read what Amharas themselves wrote when they were self confident. You say that non-Oromos care for the Oromo. That is good, it is as it should be. But, I will add that one way of caring for the Oromo is to let the Oromo care for themselves. Taddasaa Birru was the leader of the Mecha-Tullama association. He was a patriot who fought the Italian invaders. And he was only a kid at the time. But, you have no respect. Sat, 27 Jul 2013 15:56:48 +0000http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3689-the-story-of-nelson-mandela-s-missing-pistol#IDComment688375965 http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3689-the-story-of-nelson-mandela-s-missing-pistol#IDComment688082492Obsaa: Nobody denied the mess in our history. The bottomline is every country has a mess in its history! You have valid points. My difference with you, perhaps, in your approach. My argument is Ethiopia is your own country. Teach your brothers why this is wrong and why this is right and why this has to be done like this or that. Try to fix it. The country is as much as yours as it is mine. Go for fixing it! This generation will listen and understand what is right. It is immoral and totally wrong to be militantly anti-your own motherland.If you think the Oromo people are any more disadvantaged than the rest of the population, convince us, academic materials, show us the evidence and the counter-evidence, and how is that any different from the way other tribes are treated? Was that how things were at that time or was that specifically against the Oromos? And why? But not to dwell on it and create other conflicts - but to move on you know, much like South Africa! Do not think that only Oromos care for Oromos - that is not the case at all! As long as we share a country, we have a common problem to fix. Even beyond our borders, we should care for Somalia and South Sudan also. That is how we should think in Africa. We are not as different as we think we are - we are all Africans! We should switch from the blame game to solving problems. You can say Haileselassie did this or Menelik did that but it is wrong to blame the entire Amhara people whose farmers got exploited by the fuedal aristocracy! As I said earlier, the more you know about the continent, the more you understand Ethiopia as well - and see things in a wider regional and continental context. Ours is no different from the rest of the world! There are other African countries who went through even worse atrocities and they have managed to move on. If they can do it, so can we! We need to solve our problems and catch up with the rest of the world! thanks also! Sat, 27 Jul 2013 06:09:11 +0000http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3689-the-story-of-nelson-mandela-s-missing-pistol#IDComment688082492 http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3689-the-story-of-nelson-mandela-s-missing-pistol#IDComment688028870Observer; it's obvious that all of us want great , prosperous. country but hailassilase led us to what we are today and he failed the whole nation by oppressing majority of that nation instead of focusing on development sectors he and his predecessors focused changing our towns and cities from Oromo names to AMharic names for example nazareth which was Adama , canco to debra selam e.t.c As this nation never been colonized by western colonization , ethiopia had good opportunity to develop , but instead Hailasillasse focused intimidating and killing his opponents , that's ridiculous. Observer we have to bring up all reality to the table and history teaches us past, present , and future , don't try to dodge what Minelik did to Arsi people "Harka mura and Harma mura Annolee". Oromo people never wanted and said we have to revenge, but instead said we know our right ; give us our right , respect our right, we need our land , we have to use our resources , we need to have recognition, imagine till today when Oromo people demand these basic rights , they will be considered narrow minded (tebab) and categorized as terrorist group , that's really sad. Finally as we all know observer let Amharas and other stake holders know that Oromo people deserve better. Thanx Obsaa Nebi Sat, 27 Jul 2013 04:13:13 +0000http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3689-the-story-of-nelson-mandela-s-missing-pistol#IDComment688028870 http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3689-the-story-of-nelson-mandela-s-missing-pistol#IDComment687932610obsaa: well, I donot really think on ethnic terms to be honest to think of fair shares. Every one in the country should get his or her fair share. But my argument is I donot have to be Oromo to stand if an Oromo individual doesn't get his or her fair share. The same with Amhara or Tigre. If you see an Amhara individual being disadvantaged, we should speak up also even if we are not Amharas. There are also millions who have roots and heritages to many tribes in the country. We need to develop the culture of standing up for what is right, regardless of our tribes in the country we share! It is also wise to see Ethiopia in a regional or continental context. Inter-ethnic tensions are not unique to Ethiopia - it is all over Africa. Go to Kenya, next door Sudan, even clan-full Somalia,Nigeria, Mali, South Africa, . . .and on and on. It is everywhere. Ethiopia is not unique. There used to be more than 6000 political units prior to colonialism in Africa, now we have some 54 countries in the continent. What used to be distinct political units are now together at times fighting each other, and at other times uniting against foreign invasion! What I urge my brothers is to understand the continent and its people and the conflicts that are bleeding it. And try to look for a solution to bring Africa on a much better standing in the world! Other wise, we are gona bleed the continent for another century and the rest of the world will certainly rob our resources! Sat, 27 Jul 2013 00:34:09 +0000http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3689-the-story-of-nelson-mandela-s-missing-pistol#IDComment687932610 http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3689-the-story-of-nelson-mandela-s-missing-pistol#IDComment687923961You can smell whatever you like - but I will tell you one thing. I really really do love Ethiopia and all its people. I yearn for her greatness and prosperity. You have no idea whether I am Amhara or Oromo or Tigre or Gurage or Afar or Ogadeni or Gamo or Sidamo. It makes me bleed in my heart when I see our own brothers go to arabs as if arabs can solve problems in Africa. We can solve our problems only from within. Ethiopia is as much my motherland as it is yours. If there is injustice on anyone, it is against everyone. You donot have to despise the mother for the mistake your brother did! Do not scare away your own brothers who could show solidarity to your cause by being anti-ethiopia. Ethiopia is not Amhara chauvinism - Ethiopia is for everyone. Every tribe in Ethiopia has contributed to the mosaic of Ethiopian society and to where it is to day, the good and the not so good! Sat, 27 Jul 2013 00:15:09 +0000http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3689-the-story-of-nelson-mandela-s-missing-pistol#IDComment687923961 http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3689-the-story-of-nelson-mandela-s-missing-pistol#IDComment687910836Why is this the question of the 'Oromo' people only? Isn't it equally the question of every region and ethnic group in the country? If the notion is that all of Ethiopia discriminates the Oromos, maybe concrete examples would help the dialogue. Otherwise, the whole of Ethiopia is under oppression. The Colonel you claimed as having been Oromo trained Mandela in the spirit of being Ethiopian. And the same regime that executed the Colonel executed so many others, Oromos, Amharas, Tigres, ... everybody that was a threat to the regime was executed. What was the ethnicity of Mengistu and Girmame Neway? It wasn't Oromo but they were executed. So were the 60 officers executed in public. It helps to have an educated dialogue on the questions Oromo people have and not ignore the questions. But there's no use in turning every point into a question of a single group and ethnicity. Otherwise, History is full of examples of people that weakened because they would not move with the times. And the times are that people of Ethiopia need to come together and resolve their differences rather than adding fuel to the fire of division. Haven't we had enough of that already? We love you our Oromo brothers and sisters...let's solve the questions as a people. Fri, 26 Jul 2013 23:43:42 +0000http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3689-the-story-of-nelson-mandela-s-missing-pistol#IDComment687910836 http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3689-the-story-of-nelson-mandela-s-missing-pistol#IDComment687841684Teddy and Observer, I think you did not get the morale of the story. You totally missed it because you don’t know the role of Tadesse Biru in Oromo political struggle. This is such an excellent article in creating a link between our hero Tadesse Biru and the South African and all oppressed and peace loving people of the world's hero Mandela. What is wrong making that connection? Why do you always want to dis everything Oromo? This article is about history, for that matter, only about an incident in history. The writer is not writing about how to resolve the Ethiopian ethnic conflict issues. Why do you want him to address that issue in this article? Why do you condemn him on issue that he did not intend to address in this short article? It just amazes me when you want to criticize just for the sake of it. However, behind this I smell the usual Amhara chauvinism. You don't like anything that does not make your Ethiopia (Amhara) the center of discussion. You just cannot stomach anything positive written about the Oromos. What a pathetic life. Fri, 26 Jul 2013 20:54:52 +0000http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3689-the-story-of-nelson-mandela-s-missing-pistol#IDComment687841684 http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3689-the-story-of-nelson-mandela-s-missing-pistol#IDComment687732586Observer; Great but do you think Oromos have fair share in ethiopia ????????? if u agree that they didn't; why ????????? and who did ???? so we have to find answers to those questions before we talk reconcilation because if oppressers do not admit that they treated Oromo people unfair, it's hard for Oromo people to swallow what you suggest. and to tell you Oromos never wanted to create problems rather tried to resolve unfairness by Hailsellase, Derge and TPLF regime with peacful manner and failed. Ethiopia's problem is Oromos problem, and Oromos' problem is Horn of Africa's problem. I hope every body understands that we are in 21st century no group of people will accept any kind of repression by other group , and it's time for Oromo people to reclaim the right , dignity , respect and it's Nation at large. Finally to Observer Oromo people have culture of forgivness and reconcilation, hope the regime in Ethiopia understands the whole issue and change it's dictatorial approach. thanx obsaa Nebi Fri, 26 Jul 2013 17:06:15 +0000http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3689-the-story-of-nelson-mandela-s-missing-pistol#IDComment687732586 http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3689-the-story-of-nelson-mandela-s-missing-pistol#IDComment687362125It is a compelling story. Colonel Tadesse Birru makes me proud as an African, as an Ethiopian. I know this story before but never examined what the tribe of the Colonel was - was he Oromo, Tigre, Amhara, Gurage or Ogadeni - never crossed my mind. The point of the matter was Ethiopia, as an independent African state at the time supported the struggle against apartheid. She did support the struggle in Zimbabwe also. Mengistu has trained thousands of zimbawean soldiers agains Rhodesia - whether the colonels giving the training were Amara, Oromo, Tigre, or Gurage we will find out when we read your artcile next time. But I guess it could be anyone living in the country. While making paralles though, it is also good to make a note of how South Africans have reconciled after apartheid that was there only 20 years ago. They are cohabiting and finding a way to live together. But you seem to look for bone of contentions over stories that happened centuries ago in Ethiopia. The current generation has nothing to do with it. Africa's political map one hundred years ago was entirely different. You will create havoc across the continent if you want things the way they were centuries ago. As elites, I guess our role should be to be part of a solution to the people than being part of the problem. That is the only way we can pull Africa out of poverty and endless conflicts. So please be part of a solution for the sake of Africa! Fri, 26 Jul 2013 04:27:36 +0000http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3689-the-story-of-nelson-mandela-s-missing-pistol#IDComment687362125 http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3689-the-story-of-nelson-mandela-s-missing-pistol#IDComment687196035am so impressed with the logic that u made man! Thu, 25 Jul 2013 21:51:22 +0000http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3689-the-story-of-nelson-mandela-s-missing-pistol#IDComment687196035 http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3689-the-story-of-nelson-mandela-s-missing-pistol#IDComment687188832Why in the first place, Ethiopia ruled by Haile Selassie lend support to South Africans and Mandela. Why not Somalia, Egypt etc supported South Africans? As Oromo nationalist claim, is it not the "Amhara rulers of empire Ethiopia" who facilitated Mandela's visit? Thu, 25 Jul 2013 21:35:18 +0000http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3689-the-story-of-nelson-mandela-s-missing-pistol#IDComment687188832 http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3689-the-story-of-nelson-mandela-s-missing-pistol#IDComment686985980I advise the Absinians to read the article for their own sake rather than Oromo if the want to move forward as the people. how ever because of their natural blindness and deaf ear I don't think they have guts to learn from history so we Oromos, we have to think how we teach them by hook or crock Thu, 25 Jul 2013 14:37:20 +0000http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3689-the-story-of-nelson-mandela-s-missing-pistol#IDComment686985980 http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3689-the-story-of-nelson-mandela-s-missing-pistol#IDComment686741325I am inviting all Ethiopians to read! Thu, 25 Jul 2013 06:45:16 +0000http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3689-the-story-of-nelson-mandela-s-missing-pistol#IDComment686741325 http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3689-the-story-of-nelson-mandela-s-missing-pistol#IDComment686738855God Bless you Awol. Million thanks. You did the Oromo people great service by writing this piece. Thu, 25 Jul 2013 06:40:09 +0000http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3689-the-story-of-nelson-mandela-s-missing-pistol#IDComment686738855