#OromoProtests #Ethiopia
Thoughts on the current Ethiopian political climate:
For the past couple of days I’ve been examining the narrative that constructs my identity. A a human born from an “Oromo” father and an “Amhara” mother I understood my identity as one of a blend

of multiple cultures. And until I started paying attention to the current Ethiopian political climate( not due to lack of interest but because of the absence of reliable and honest media sources) I didn't know that identifying myself as an Ethiopian could be considered

controversial and also ties me to all sorts of identities that I didn't sign up for. You see for me identifying as an Ethiopian was a way to acknowledge the cultures I grew up in as well as the complex histories that ties these cultures together.

I considered my Oromoness to be my right hand and Amharaness my left.
Although I haven't experienced the same level of discrimination as some of the people that identify purely as an Oromo I have heard my share of ignorant comments towards

a culture I hold so dear coming from those that considered their tribe to be somewhat supreme. Frankly, I never felt nor was I impacted by such ignorant comments mostly because I had little to no respect for those making these comments and also because they were in no position to

impact me socially or economically. But I understand that not everyone is that fortunate. In a country of multiple ethnicities and religions a single identity has had it’s unfair share of defining and constructing the narratives of what it means to be Ethiopian.

Of course this is one of the unfortunate side effects of building Nation States, a process by which powerless and defeated identities are marginalized and their hunger for an equal role in defining the histories, stories and tales that make up the country in which they exist

will be sidelined.
The country has come a long way from it’s slave owning feudal days. Despite their own tragedies the revolution that toppled monarchy and the EPRDF after it have made significant pushes towards economical and cultural equality. Looking at the current political

climate I must ask myself why some “seriously” concerned groups are determined to tear my right hand from my left.

I find it amusing that the same individuals who assert the absence of democracy throughout the history of the country at the same time find it very easy

to conclude that some subjugated groups have more political power than other subjugated groups. The apparent
cultural dominance of one of the subjugated groups should be not be mistaken for political dominance.When attempts are made by serious people to equate

the historical injustices in this country to that of the black struggle in the US it demonstrates at least to me
the lack of curiosity and creativity when embarking upon a process of examining the complexities and nuances of the country.

It's almost as if they are trying to fit
a cube inside a pyramid and when the corners of the pyramid stick outside the edges of the cube they are ignored as inconvenient parts of the picture.

Instead of creating convenient narratives that promote the ego,persecution or privilege of the tribe one identifies with while disqualifying those of us who fail the ethnic purity test, it would serve us better to heal this country by collectively building a leveled playing field