BY AHMED MOHAMMED
It has been almost a decade since I regrettably left the army, which I joined by a stroke of luck, I can confidently say. Ringing up the curtain on career life in the Ethiopian army was a juncture when my perspective about life was turned upside down, and my entire thoughts of a successful and rational life which grew up with me were redefined.
All along the years within the military, in and out of Ethiopia, I read inspiring stories about fallen heroes which later redefined my thought of meaning of sacrifices and heroism, heard heartwarming yet untold tales of bravery, saw men in uniform fell for a noble cause.
My experience as a civilian journalist with the army has taught me how noble the military is, how every aspect of a soldier’s personality is refined. It is that experience that gave me an inbuilt passion and vivid conceptualization of how Ethiopia was made and sustained as a sovereign state with priceless sacrifice of its fallen troops and patriots. It has been the invaluable price by members of every successive generation beginning from distant past who gave up their lives for Ethiopia to sustain that Ethiopia, a nation which has successfully repulsed and crushed all attempts of colonial masters, could establish the existential foundation for statehood.
A great measure of gratitude and a triumphant salute to our forefathers and of course members of the army today, no disgrace has Ethiopia witnessed except the one which was chronicled three years ago from insiders.
Today, 4th of December makes me remember sacrifices which our troops paid, and also recall their equivalently swift military response they launched against groups which betrayed them. Almost, with hours of flex and build up, regrouped and made it. Accompanied by the entire nation, irrespective of sex, age, background of any sort –stood in unison, just the way our distant forefathers and mothers did and spared the nation from collapse.
Every time its national integrity and sovereignty is threatened, Ethiopia’s call to its sons and daughters is heard laud, and its plea has never been declined. All along in the course of history, Ethiopians have been proving their unity, leaving their political differences and no exception to the latest incident of December 4th.
Thanks to the men in uniform, some of which fallen back then, others still in service, have successfully thwarted the plot against the state. The carnage may not be forgotten easily though, as history has well chronicled it, Ethiopia as ever before has proven its ever-fresh bravery. Every time any potential threat to this sovereign nation of great people is sensed, both from within and external powers, Ethiopians make a swift use of their mysterious power of unison to react.
I know, we admittedly, sadly lost some men in uniform, but what they have left behind can comfort us all, we are alive and have a unified nation at the expense of their blood and lives.
Ethiopia is home of heroes. Heroes who have proven their bravery in all trying circumstances and heroes of packed military wisdoms. Several of their heroic tales have not been yet told to the generation today though. History holds that Ethiopia has well proven its national integrity and sovereignty.
In fact, even today, there are groups who are tempted to risk the existence of the state and its people. It’s out of ignorance to history and combat tales that those groups of hidden motives are trying to belittle our military forces, its well proven reputation.
After all, Ethiopians are all troops by their births. It is like ‘no one is left behind’ when national threats are sensed. The entire nation responds when Ethiopia calls for help. As incidents of history proved it one after the other, the entire nation all of a sudden act in unison, some in kind, others in uniforms.
I think it was out of ignorance that some have been tricked, namely the latest incident of the north resulted from lack of knowledge of the history of Ethiopia and its people. As it was down in history, some groups were faked by minor political differences amongst Ethiopians, which proved them wrong after they declared war against Ethiopia.
The lesson from recent past would then be the kind of political gain and pleasure some groups can attain risking their home—Ethiopia is unjust, irrational and immoral. It would also be the same to politically gain by unlawfully disgracing one's own troops. What kind of life do armed groups on the other side enjoy at the expense of brothers in uniform? And I wonder what cruel political motive derived defiance to the wisdom of Ethiopian and Ethiopians? Therefore, given the destructive and shameful nature of such conflicts between brothers and sisters, Ethiopians should always resort to peaceful resorts as divergent interests and views pose a threat to their unity.
So far, every motive of any armed cell or group cost the nation a lot. All their conspiracy has been crushed ahead of operations, nevertheless. Ethiopian troops, escorted by the entire nation, have been penalizing aggressors. The army has been turning plots of any sort into a nightmare.
A triumphant salute to men in uniform, fallen and alive!