Dr. Tesfa G. Gebremedhin

History has taught us that unity is strength. When we are united, we are strong and we can win in any struggle, but when we are divided, we are weak and we can lose in a simple battle. Even the weak ones become strong when they are united. As we know each finger of our hand separately is weak; together the fingers become one strong fist as the image shown below. The unity of faith and integrity in ourselves and the unity of love and sincerity for our people can create miracles to our country. As long as we do not have enemies amongst ourselves, the enemies from outside cannot hurt us much. The worst thing to do in life is to become the adversary enemy of our own people. We should not worry about our enemies because we know them very well, but we must be very careful about our so-called friends because they know us from inside out.

The current spontaneous deliberation manifested in the name of peace between Ethiopia and Eritrea is a serious situation that has become of great concern to many Eritreans. We need to pay special attention to observe and evaluate if there is any hidden agenda disguised by the smart and smooth talks targeted for political gains and economic benefits and the sermon of peace focused for territorial integration and occupation. The sporadic unexpected kind of physical gestures and emotional mind-grabbing words, nerve-touching phrases and heart-breaking statements boldly expressed by the two leaders of Ethiopia and Eritrea and the people’s outburst for celebration that erupted like volcanoes throughout Addis Ababa, Awassa, Asmara, Zalambesa, Burrie, and other places, seem to be orchestrated and designed to neutralize, diffuse, or ignore the border issue altogether. It is not quite clear under what condition and to what direction is the situation heading because an official explanation or clarification of the nature of the relationship between the two countries has not yet been disclosed by the government of Eritrea.

It is evident that peace is a blessing, if it comes in good faith and noble intention. However, the declaration of peace between Ethiopia and Eritrea can be genuine and sincere only if the sovereignty of each country is appropriately respected and protected by the two governments. The most crucial and heroic thing we can do at this volatile and uncertain moment is to get united in order to safeguard our sovereignty by demanding for an immediate border demarcation before any already signed agreements and negotiations are effectively implemented by the two governments.  If we are not united we are always vulnerable to unexpected danger. We can have strong unity by respecting our diversity and putting our differences aside to do the right thing.

We, Eritreans in Diasporas need to secure unity, dignity and respect among ourselves to attain strength like the united fingers. We need to understand that the things that bring us together are far more than the things that keep us apart. Right now is the right time to come together and keep ourselves united with dignity and integrity so that we remain strong and respected by friends and foes alike.  Nobody respects us if we don’t respect ourselves with honor and pride. We must wake up and get up from our comfort zone and get involved to make a difference in our country’s affairs before it gets too late.

According to Michael Crichton (text modified), “If we do not know our identity (that we are Eritreans), then we do not know anything. We are just like a leaf that doesn’t know it is part of a tree’‘. If we lose our Eritrean identity, we lose everything. We came to this world as Eritreans; we have lived in this world as Eritreans; and when the time comes we must leave this world as Eritreans. Thus, every one of us should wake up, get up and stand up tall and united for all and one Eritrea, nothing more and nothing less_.