Date: Thu, 20 Mar 1997 12:49:29 -0500
paulos wrote:-
selam Tekie:
Let me say a couple of things about the story you're telling us:
First, I think the guard was an ex-tegadalai. Why? Because tegadelti are
trained never to point their weapons at civilians. That is why this guy had
his AK-47 on his side and the butt of the weapon inches from the ground,
probably holding it by the magazine. Second, something you wrote, I had no
answer for until today, struck me as true and perfectly normal in Eritrea:
"Our countrymen are far less preoccupied, far less obssessed with race and
color. They are secure in their identity, and are unlikely to react
hysterically to every real or imagined slight, unlike many of their kinsfolk
from the diaspora, on ocassional short visits to the country." This is very
true. We had no concept of discrimination back home. We couldn't possibly
imagine the color dichotomy and racism in the west. So, the behaviour of
the waiter or the immigration officer etc. is, although unacceptable,
nonetheless understandable.
I am looking forward to the continuation of your story.
Paulos.
Hawey paulos
i'm not quite sure if colour doesn't play a role in ertra. would the
waiter or the immigration officer do the same thing if the visitor
was a kenyan or nigerian (non white)?
you are right when you said that our people back home don't react to
these situations as we would. what do you think would happen if i
removed the picture of a white jesus from my grandmother's living
room and in its place put the picture of a black jesus?
this may not apply to the people in the diaspora or it may, but let's
imagine that an eritrean's car broke down and two good samaritans
happen to stop by to help. one of them is eritrean and the other one
is white. who will the owner of the car pay more
attention to? who will he think knows best?
why do you think people say: 'uway ktSbK: Umbaba tmesl' to a light
skinned woman. an average looking light skinned woman is considered
more beautiful than a beautiful dark skinned woman. words like barya
to a dark skinned person, Haroro. i might have gone on a tangent here
so excuse me but i just had to give you a few examples to illustrate
my point. i'm quite sure you know them, but i just had to remind
you.
subconsciously our people back home are also affected by this colour
thing. if it was just the respect they have for visitors, then the same
treatment would apply to all visitors irrespective of their colour.
respect.
efrem.
Ephrem Abraha
E_Abraha@squid.stmarys.ca
** To (SUB/UNSUB)SCRIBE from dehai, send mail to: majordomo@primenet.com **
** with the following text in the body of your mail: **
** subscribe dehai your-email-address **
** unsubscribe dehai your-email-address **