National Flag Day strengthens solidarity, unison!

By Tesfaye Lema

Historical documents indicated that Ethiopians have a strong love and respect to their flags since time immemorial.  But mass celebration of a National Flag Day is a new phenomenon held only in the past eight years. The first colorful historic celebration took place on the 5th of July 2008, which was attended by millions of Ethiopians, government officials, diplomats and invited foreign guests. It is believed that it brought some sort of harmony.

The 9^th National Flag Day is differently celebrated due to the State of Emergency in the country. Ethiopians throughout the country have celebrated on the 17th of October 2016, in schools, colleges, universities, military-academies, private and governmental institutions. President Mulatu Teshome(PhD) urged the youth to emulate patriotism of their hero forefathers via unreserved participation in the development of the country and concerted  struggle against poverty at the eve of the Day.

According to the President the flag has immeasurable value for the people of Ethiopia that it is a symbol of freedom from external occupation and strengthens diversity in unity the country.The 9th Flag Day is celebrated while the country is persevering to accomplish the goals set under the Second Growth and Transformation Plan and is undertaking many mega projects and the public at large should commit for the realization of these and other targets the country has set forward.

Political analysts argue that the National Flag Day celebrated for the past eight years enabled Nations, Nationalities and Peoples of Ethiopia to forge unity on the bases of mutual respect, commonality, and equality.

It hasn’t only strengthened the solidarity and unity of the people but also expedited peace, democracy and sustainable economic development of the nation.Of course, it isn’t too far to forget the tribulation nations, nationalities and peoples of Ethiopia were deprived of their human and democratic rights.  Their culture, languages and dignity were annihilated.  They were starved of their rights to decide on their fate. Despite their indisposition, they were constrained to smooth the progress of the fake attempts of unifying the country under a despot unitary rule. 

Poverty, on one hand, violation of human and democratic rights on the other hand aggravated the sufferings of the people. Now there is economic change in the country. The entire situation of famine is underway changing. A considerable amount of wealth has created and millions of people have become beneficiary of this wealth creation since the inception of federalism. 

Post 1991, the people designed and endorsed a constitution that ensured human and democratic rights of nations, nationalities and peoples of Ethiopia. The preamble of the constitution stated, "We nations, nationalities, and peoples of Ethiopia strongly committed, in full and free exercise of our right to self-determination, to building a political community founded on the rule of law and capable of ensuring a lasting peace guarantying a democratic order, and advancing our economic and social development, firmly convinced that the fulfillment of this objective requires full respect of individual and people’s fundamental freedoms and rights, to live together on the basis of equality and without any sexual, religions or cultural discriminations."

In fact, there are problems basically connected with good governance in the country which need to be addressed as soon as possible. Despite this failure, the country’s economy has ever been raising from time to time. Ethiopia is incredibly changing, we can’t deny this fact no matter whether we support EPRDF or not. Ethiopia, with more than eighty nations, nationalities and diversified culture and languages, could be a unified strong country if and only if the will and active participation of all nations, nationalities and peoples of Ethiopia is respected and guaranteed. 

In this regard, federalism could be the best option in Ethiopia to ensure the rights of all nations, nationalities and peoples; to create a voluntary unison among them and play fundamental roles in realizing peace, democracy and sustainable rapid economic growth.

Despite some criticisms, many scholars argue that the Ethiopian Federalism has contributed a significant role in ensuring peace, promote economic prosperity and strengthen democracy. According to my view, Federalism has been playing a decisive role in ensuring the rights of all nations, nationalities and peoples in the Ethiopian case that tangible changes have registered. And the celebration of the National Flag Day in the past eight years added a significant value in enhancing understanding one another. It also helped to bring the people together to realize the ongoing efforts of mitigating poverty.

Flag Day Celebration is also a good opportunity for the youth to renew their commitment to ensure the nation’s renaissance and it would be an event where every citizen would vow to realize the country’s vision.  Ethiopians have common understanding that poverty is our arch-foe. Unless we work together to get rid of it, the opportunity to exist as a strong nation could be minimal. Poverty instigates unceasing conflict, intimidates to accomplish others’ interests and jeopardizes efforts to uphold democracy and good governance.

However, poverty could be eradicated if the people in general and the youth in particular renewed their promises to work hard for the realization of peace, democracy and sustainable development of their country. Hence, National Flag Day opened a good opportunity for the public to strengthen these values.  No one denies the love Ethiopians have to their flag since time immemorial. They know that it symbolizes their identity, dignity, pride and unity. Celebrating National Flag Day, therefore, could further help to strengthen the love that they have to their flag, country and to one another.

Besides, it helps to effectively carry out the shared vision of the nations, nationalities and peoples of Ethiopia. The vision to pull their country out of the quagmire of poverty, the vision to enhance democracy, good governance and justice,  and the vision to make the country one of the middle income generating countries in the world. Moreover, it contributes to strengthen and consolidate cultural tolerance among the people and instigate them to work together so as to ensure Ethiopia’s renaissance and realize the efforts to mitigate poverty; thereby, to further strengthen their unison and solidarity.