"GebreMedhen to Hagos" is one kind of discussion you can nowdays also find in Eritrean or Ethiopian websites. Words of the future, words of wisdom, words of bridging the abysse.

The healing process is slowly trying to get a start.

Following is an excerpt of a discussion bw Eritreans and Ethiopians taken from an Eritrean YahooEgroup called - Gezana -



GebreMedhen to Hagos

Gebremedhin,

You speak directly to my heart, because you speak from a place of compassion,
understanding and love which are all necessary for us to start building bridges.
I hope that others are inspired by your words and that they find ways to stop
the nonesense of hate, revenge or ill will towards others. I really hope that
both countries and the people find a way to move into a new era of cooperation
while maintaining their independence. There are so many things to combat rather
than each other, such as AIDS, poverty, access to education, healthcare, wars
etc. Why not find a way to work together to combat these things in both of our
countries. How many of our resources must be used to kill and destroy each
other...Is it worth it? Do you feel great about yourself when you wish bad on
others...Does one's misfortune somehow bring you fortune....Man, we are all the
same....Get past the hate and find a way to love....That is why we were created
in the first place...Not to spread hate and
bitterness. Gebremedhin, I truly applaud you for your kind words....Peace

Gebremedhin Samuel wrote:


Greetings my dear brother Hagos Afeworki,

You seem so fuelled up with anger. Migth I ask where do you live currently? It
is wonderful that Eritreans come together annually to celebrate their unity and
independance no once can truly hold that against you can they my brother?
May I also ask how is the political situation in Eritrea currently? Is it
conducive for all Eritreans living in the West and in the Arab countires etc to
return and build their beloved Eritrea? I believe that your situation is pretty
much the same for many Africans in thew diaspora - I take it Eritreans are
Africans. MY dear brother as long as you continue to speak wiht hate and anger
it will be like a cancer that is terminal and it will pass on from generation to
generation in your family and friends round about you. Wheter you are Muslim or
Crhistain you must learn to forgive otherwise you will never be healed. Be
happy that Eritrea has its independance and seek ways and means of building
bridges amongsat your fellow Ethiopians who have more
in common with you than some countries and peoples that have been able to
co-operate despite painful pasts. Would you tell all Afro-americans that they
should always rise up and revolt because of the tragedy of slavery the pains and
sufferings of whihc has made it possible that you, if you are in the West, can
be in America today? Would you tell all the peoples of the African continent to
break down the falsae barries that was put there by the ferenj during the
"Scramble for Africa" when the Italians took Masawa and Assab and colonised
Eritrea for 60 years. Should we, my brother live in the past or in the future?
Do you tell your children befriend only whites and not Ethiopians and especially
blacks? When will senior people like you begin to teach the youth about pece
and reconcilliation instead of constantly putting salt in a healing wound?
Youowe it to your children to teach them to love their fellowman and not be
racist in any way be it because of history or race, class or
creed.
Would you not prefer that Ethiopia and Eritrea were at peace with each
other sharing what you have in common promoting joint tourism programmes so that
the entire world can see the true splendoru of both regions which was once one?
May the love that abounds in all true human beings dwell in you and may it
overcome the growing cancer of racism and pain that seems to be in you. I pry
to God that I am wrong and if I am I say "pole" as is said in Kenya. I hope
that you will not begin to insult me too.

I am from the Caribbean but have spent time in both Eritrea and Ethiopia and have friends from both countires and
love both equally because we are really one people my brother it is charismatic
individuals that causes wars and rumours of war.

Peace be with you Hagos son of Afeworki - I suspect you are Christain (
Catholic, Protestant or Orthodox? )

One Love