Tekie,
I hear celebratory ululations coming from the protagonist side-walk.
Could it be that the singular crack or smile on the spot where providence
secluded you for perhaps no purpose other than to bless you with a
sorely needed sun tan betrays a permanent, enviable joy ?
Your story touches on numerous, important issues and while I will limit
myself to asking, " Do Eritreans extend the same degree of hospitality
to, say, West Africans or African Americans as they do to, say, the
British or Italians" to address the charge of racism, I will focus
on manners.
In the story you are haunted by the question, " Why did I do what I
did ? " Perhaps if the guard approached you and said:
"I regret the circumstances under which we make acquaintance
but it is my duty to inform you that you are violating a
No Trespass Zone. Notwithstanding the opaqueness of the sign
and the archaic way in which this is implemented, I now most
humbly request that you exit the zone or face prosecution under
the law. Have a good day and lest I forget..(pause).. my
regards to your family. "
you would not have crusaded so much and perhaps viewed the side-walk
as no more than pavement to be walked on or as one of may conduits to
any destination. Instead, initially at least, choler prevailed.
It is my view that the reason you "stiffened" and "stood up to the
guard" is because you felt the guard "barked" at you. Many factors
contributed to the incident, however, I diagnose the event as
essentially an acute case of less than desirable manners, as reflected
by the poor communication, on the guard's part ("Hey, you...") and
yours ("the more we ignored him...."). As I convey my diagnosis with
the utmost respect to you Tekie, let me also confess that I have been
guilty of this from time to time as well.
Aya Tesfay has alluded to "nkstsna" and some may argue that it is
this dryness, if you will, that provided the impetus behind the
triumphant sowra, but I am not sure it has an entirely positive effect
on attracting the diaspora or on the effort to establish a strong,
service based economy.
But don't let all the aforementioned spoil the party, of course.
Aradom
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