Selam to all:
It is a morbid state when we have to misconstrue facts to make
unintelligible points. I have never seen so many factual blunders in
such few notes as I have seen in this weeks? notes. But, dealing with
them right now would be derailing the momentous discussion. For many
money seems to be the issue. If money seems to be the main issue, I
have a better idea. How about an auction for the positions, whoever
pays more gets them.
Out of the many responses in favor of the impediments, I couldn?t come
up with any ratiocinative point. To give credit where credit is due,
Ghideon was the only consistent person on his belief - consistently
wrong I might add.
1. The only argument thus far is: People who did not meet their 2%
obligations (duties) should not have the privilege to be elected. I
will grant Ghideon?s wish and will not discuss the legality or
illegality of the 2% mandate on this note. I will even go further and
make an assumption that it is a legal requirement for the purposes of
our discussion. However, it should be clear, for few of us it may be
"Smet" (Position, Prestige & Power) but for others who are not used to
the titles of "Saleka" and "Sambel" of Ethiopia, it is just a matter
of serving Eritreans. It is an extension of the armed struggle of
which most of the Ethiopian "Smet" holders were not part of. So, let
us see it as it is supposed to be - serving the nation and not some
kind of Smet. The following note will not make sense to you unless
you do so.
Breaking the law is unlawful. Period. People who break laws should
face the consequences of their actions. Full Stop. However, in this
case the consequences are absurd. The question and the existing
argument is what is the price for breaking this law? It seems to me
that the people who view the 2% as their ticket to the election do not
have the slightest clue on the magnitude of the Constitution - and
should not be elected for that simple reason. How would you feel if
they disqualified (from the elections) Eritreans who forgot to put the
blinkers (signals) when making a turn. How about people who have
minor violations such as dumping water on the streets (misdemeanors)?
The people broke the laws - well? Yes, it is more ridiculous than that.
2. Not all laws should be blindly followed. (Read Paulos? note). The
"Just follow it" groupies may one day be led to dig their own graves.
It is this "Just follow it" junkies and their likes who made the
Eritrean Struggle longer and harder by "Just following" the Haile
Selassie and Menghistu?s rules. Are the EPLF leaders less Eritreans
for not "Just following" Kiyada?l Ama laws. As we are reading many
labels in dehai, they have been called all kinds of names including
traitors - it seems we know better now. Some Eritreans may genuinely
agree with the 2% requirements, yet many others are continuing their
saga of 'znegese ngusna, zbereKe ZeHayna" (We will support any one in
power). These group of people can use thousands of words to decorate
their discussion, but most Eritreans have full experience in the
struggle and can easily identify their guilt ridden souls - if they have any.
3. It is also amazing to read from the same people who were giving us
lectures on the evils of Western Democracy and ridiculing people who
mentioned US or Washington, now using the U.S., the Congress and the
States as a benchmark for "Unique" Eritrea that should have laws "that
conform to the uniqueness of the society". How ironic! A classical
"kzHleka bIdka, kwuAyeka bmanka".
The amHaras say, "ganoC aleKuna mnCetoC gan honu". I will not
translate it, but will tell you what it means to us here. The people
who sacrificed their lives, properties and spirits are on the
sidelines being given a lecture on sacrifice and Eritrean struggle by
rookies who may not have heard of Eritrea or Eritreans prior to
independence - it is a sad state. I wish we could hear and sense what
they are all saying instead of abusing their names to make nonsensical points.
Kebire
PS. The 2 opposing views are: The 2% is such a big deal, big enough
to stop participation of Eritreans VS it is insignificant in
comparison to the Eritrean Constitution and should not be associated
with this election. The discussion will be more fruitful if we stick
to the above items without inflicting unnecessary obstructions right
and left. I probably have done that above, well, leave that part to me:-)
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