When Hanah Beech takes the snuff, Ethiopia doesn't sneeze

By: Mulugeta Aserate Kassa*

'Millennium-flavored' Addis Ababa

In the world we live in there are people, are there not, who are so addicted to exaggeration that they can't tell the truth without lying.   In what is to all intents and purposes a potpourri of mendacities and banalities, Hannah Beech's "Why Ethiopia Parties Like It's 1999?"(www.time.com/time/world) proves that she, indeed, is addicted to exaggeration bordering sheer fallacy.   Showing mercy to irresponsible journalism then, would, therefore, be cruelty to society. 

The very fact that our ancient, yet vibrant, Ethiopia is gearing up to celebrate a millennium all of her own – and not 'a Julian-inspired' calendar as our self-acclaimed know-it-all has put it, but a variant of the Coptic calendar – has raised eye brows and envy in the minds of neo colonialists and on those who wish gloom and doom to our Ethiopia.   How else would one, then, explain Hannah's uncalled-for, not to say veracity challenged, comments on The Ethiopian Millennium? 

Like Ethiopian quislings in the payroll of that "problem child of The Horn," Hana's attempt to belittle, not to say condemn, the nation's attempt to honor the ushering in of a new millennium with measured Festivities and a robust National Program that offers every Ethiopian the opportunity to take part in projects that would leave lasting legacy to society, is doomed to failure.   Today, the reality on the ground in Ethiopia smacks at the face of the damn blonde with a vengeance. 

At the moment, the very word Millennium has become not only 'the flavor of the year' but of even more importance is the fact that its feel good factor has spurred Ethiopians to make a difference in their fight against grinding poverty, in their attempt to slough off Ethiopia's bad image, in their perfervid desire to speed up economic development and in their stark iron resolve to broaden the frontiers of democracy and good governance. 

It is against this backdrop, and without Hanah even having a cursory look at either The Ethiopian Council of Ministers Resolution Number 117/2005 or The Ethiopian Millennium Festival Council's Factsheets that she delved into un chartered waters by stating that the EPDRF Government has, thus far allocated "$33 million for festivities and prestige projects."    If Hanna, The Doomsayer, had cared to study both documents she would have come to realize that she is a long chalk away from the naked truth. Just to highlight the obvious, as far as The Millennium budget is concerned, "no money from tax revenues or from grants by donors/development aid will be used for funding any part of either he festivities or the projects."   Our transparency on the matter goes even to a new height and declares that "The budget is being met through a combination of sponsorship, income that The Secretariat of The Millennium Festival National Council will generate itself from ticket sales, licensed merchandise, media rights, on site catering, retailing and other commercial activities. 

Only the wild imaginations of Hanah Beech and the whimsicalities of comical Eri TV can churn out mendacities of such infantile caliber.   As if her penchant for exaggerations cum lies were not sufficient enough to make such a fool of her, Hanah's paradoxical views were highlighted when she dared to admonish prospective visitors to awe-inspiring Ethiopia: "Who wants to holiday in other people's misery?"   What a flotsam and jetsam! Are we, then, to infer that tourists holidaying in India are in the doldrums? 

Ethiopians everywhere are sick and tired of being stereotyped and are adamant in their belief that though we do not deny that we are poor, Poverty and famine are not Ethiopian.   During the millennial event, Ethiopians hope the world will finally come to know us for who we really are and what we stand for. Yes, a nation of proud people, but also a nation whose people refuse to rest on past laurels alone.   Time to awaken the giant in us has finally come.

* Mulugeta Aserate Kassa is Head of The Millennium.    Your wish is my command should you care to contact me at info@ethiopia2000.com