In the late sixties and early seventies, one felt that to be a revolutionary
one had to be a Marxist or with socialist tendencies. The communist camps
aided you in achieving your goals if you adhered to their camp. The Eritrean
revolution was no exception. EPLF did not tell us here to read Marxist books,
but it was the thing to do. Since the Ethiopian regime initially was a client
of a capitalist country, it was the feeling of a lot of us that the Eritrean
movements had to belong to the other camp -- the socialist one. The EPLF did
not design this, it was the dictates of the period.
When historical conditions changed, EPLF also changed its position. I see no
arrogance here. Actually, I see only maturity. Besides, I think you, Ismail,
are overestimating the intellectual depth of the framers of EPLF had at the
time. These "leaders of EPLF" were just young and average Eritreans, with
steeped nationalism, but products of the schools of Asmara -- with all their
shortcomings and strengths.
They were just doing the best they can with what they had.
As for the impact of the socialist orientation of the EPLF on the religious
traditions of the people in Eritrea, it is very difficult to say because the
Mengistu regime also had its own share of socialist inclinations. Whether the
impact is good or bad for the society is not the subject of this discussion,
of course.
But the following quote from your post is instructing:
> .........Some have linked its [Jihad's] actual origin
> with the abduction of young daughters from Muslim families even
> though it may have originated earlier. Unfortunately the EPLF/PFDJ
> still persists with this non chalant attitude and seems to totally
> misunderstand the psychology of Muslims.
Is the "EPLF/PFDJ" also " abducting..young daughters from Muslim families" ?
For what purpose ? For Sawa ?
habte, (Calif.)
******************************************************************************
******
In a message dated 97-09-22 02:01:00 EDT, you write:
> Subj: Re: [DEHAI] "Sudan...war against Eritrea".. / Ismail's
> Date: 97-09-22 02:01:00 EDT
> From: ismail1@JUNO.COM (Ismail Omar-Al)
> Sender: owner-dehai@ftp1.primenet.com
> Reply-to: ismail1@JUNO.COM (Ismail Omar-Al)
> To: HabteSE@AOL.COM
> CC: Dehai@primenet.com
>
> Selamat Habte, Yekaalo and seb dehai
>
> you wrote:
> {{{{{{{
> What exactly are these "deep-seated cultural/religious sentiments",
> Ismail ? It would be very beneficial to me, and may be to others as well,
> if we
> truly >understand and discuss the "cultural/religious sentiments" of some
>
> segments>of the Eritrean people and how these "sentiments" were "
> arrogantly dismissed" by the "EPLF/PFDJ". It serves no purpose to talk
> about the Turabis of foreign lands, when we could be talking critically
> about our own Turabis, who "arrogantly dismiss" "deep-seated ...religious
>
> sentiments" of their own people.
> }}}}}
>
> Habte:
>
> Eritreans are a deeply religious people. They have believed for
> centuries
> in certain mores and values derived from their religion and were able to
> evolve a culture that was a mixture of high moral principles and
> superstitions. The life of the average Eritrean revolved around some
> form of religious symbolism. There was hardly any event to
> which Eritreans did not attach a religious significance. The birth, the
> marriage and the death of each individual was solemnly observed with
> prayers, supplications and thanks giving. Even routine activities like
> Eating
> and sleeping were followed by thanks to the source of these amenities.
>
> This was until the cruel circumstances of history brought leaders
> who would succumb easily to alien philosophies without any serious
> independent thinking and without due consideration to the tradition
> and culture of their own people. They readily imbibed the doomed
> philosophy of Marxism and attempted to overhaul centuries old
> traditions and religious sentiments overnight. Since they failed
> to make any significant headway in this attempt, they targeted
> innocent youths and took them away early from their families
> and indoctrinated them with their adapted ideology This proved very
> effective and the young generation now seems indifferent to religion
> and with the demise of communism - very disoriented.
>
> It was as if our people were told 'hey you fools, stop your foolish
> ceremonies and follow us because we have found a formula for
> successful living.' Many people innocently followed them and this
> was to result in a moral confusion that still persists to this
> day. Those very leaders were to come back later and tell us
> oops! we goofed! We were on the wrong track all along but
> that didn't happen until their mentors ignominiously fell over the
> cliff!
>
> It was of course in the name of liberation and false enlightenment
> that they snatched young people away from their parents. Many
> parents who sent their youth to fight for liberation were not happy
> at this indoctrination. Some protested but the mighty EPLF totally
> disregarded their concerns. EPLF's arrogance did not make it pause
> to question the appropriateness of its methodology as applied to
> different segments of our society. Muslims were particularly vulnerable
> in this regard.
>
> Many Muslims remember vividly how Haile Selassie targeted
> them for their religion and how he totally ignored their specific
> concerns. Many Muslims naturally expected EPLF to be more
> understanding about their religious sentiments. Imagine how
> they felt when it too totally disregarded their traditions. Some
> were infuriated and thus were the seeds of future Jihad
> became planted, in my opinion. Some have linked its actual origin
> with the abduction of young daughters from Muslim families even
> though it may have originated earlier. Unfortunately the EPLF/PFDJ
> still persists with this non chalant attitude and seems to totally
> misunderstand the psychology of Muslims.
>
>
> Yekaalo:
>
> you wrote:
> {{{{{
> Question: Where did the Eritrean Jihad get 'invented' ?
> Hard facts in support of your opinion will definitely
> change my opinion and maybe Million's, too.
> }}}}}}
>
> First, I sincerely thank you for your compliments and for
> your very valid comments. Here is what I said:
>
> <<Finally, the idea that Jihad was invented abroad is self-delusion on
> the part of the Government, in my opinion.>>
>
> Yekaalo - If you read my statements above, you will notice that
> this is my personal opiinion. If there were 'hard facts' that can
> clearly establish the origin of this movement, then there would
> be no opinions - but facts. We can reasonably deduce, however,
> that all its leaders and fighters are Eritreans some of whom were
> members of ELF and there might even be some former EPLF's.
> Believe me, Yekaalo, if there was a shred of evidence to prove that
> Jihad was invented abroad, the PFDJ would have presented it
> long time ago. .
>
> your brother
>
> Ismail