In defense of the Oromo Center in washington DC

June 9, 2015 Oromia

By Rundassa Eshete

As a symbol of the Oromo unity, the Oromo Center, has for many years now, served as the primal place dedicated to all Oromos of diaspora. The vision of the founders of the Oromo Center was to have a center that welcomes all Oromians on equal footing at all times. Based on this conviction, the center has served as universal place for all Oromians who came together and enjoyed each other while expressing their views freely. Back in the days, I even dreamed that the center become a place where the Oromo literature, film, and music will be available and debates flourish but because of funding shortage it’s function remained limited to providing the services mentioned above. 

This being the case however, some individuals now days feel that the center has fallen short in providing the services it intended to provide. Nevertheless, it is my well versed opinion that such feelings spring from profound sense of frustration that some Oromo nationalist felt when they saw the presence of Amharic speaking individual Oromos whose political stand on the Oromo freedom is questionable. Though I don’t share the existential despair and hopelessness that theses fellow Oromo nationalist have felt, I too hate to see those who promote Ethiopianism frequenting at the Oromo Center. Granted, the Oromo Center being “the center open to all people”, it is wrong to conclude that the Oromo Center has been over taken by the enemy. Here, it is very important to understand that the Oromo Center of Washington DC service includes all individuals who go there and express their Amhara like feelings untouched by feelings expressed by frustrated Oromo nationalists. 

The way I see it, the most poignant problem we are facing as a nation comes from the confusion that certain segment of our society produce from time to time. This is to say that the few TPLF trained so called Oromos feel that life loses its significance if Amharic and Ethiopia are gone. What must be clear to all of us however is that such view is limited to the confused Ethiopianist few. 

Whether they like it or not, the Oromo liberation ideology is spreading to all social and economic groups of Oromia and the death of Amharic and Ethiopia will not affect the majority Oromo population. 

Regarding the confused few taking over the Oromo Center, one need to question the reluctance and the sincerity with which the few despairing individuals have come to conclusion that the Oromo people are part of Ethiopia and Amharic. However, it will be adding to the confusion to hold a belief that few confused individuals are taking over the Oromo center of Washington DC.

Personally, I call the few confused Ethiopianists, “purposeless” because they do not understand the Oromo liberation movement. Further, I feel that they are erroneous and unchallenged by tough situations that the liberation struggle often demands from those who want to bring real change. Because they do not understand what it took those who suffered the most in liberation fields and in Ethiopian prison cells, they wish to assume undeserved position in Ethiopia’s social and political structure as if they hold aura of the truth. I feel like these few men’s confidence seem to bolster by TPLF’s ability to stay in power. 

Let us, therefore, place lamentations beside the true reputation of the Oromo Center of Washington DC. Yes, many may feel that the Oromo liberation cause has no sponsors and work hard to give the dying empire a chance to live a little longer but they are wrong. In fact, those young kids who fell victim to the trampling march of the Ethiopian empire force that killed hundreds in recent days are the logical owners of the liberation struggle. 

Hence, instead of fighting the Oromo Center, let’s help cure our own confused ones upon whom the Habasha behavioral permissiveness is flourishing amid a sense of hopelessness they are suffering from. Few individuals have always mistakenly viewed “CURRENT” as the only authentic reality that should matter in life. Regardless of how the few confused feel, the majority will march on until they are free from the colonial yoke of the Tigre minority tribe.