The lack of solidarity across ethnic lines among users of social media who come from Ethiopia is shocking. Simply observing the issues, concerns and values of the different group of social media users (mainly facebook and twitter) reveals how ethnic boundaries are rarely crossed. For instance, almost a year ago when Oromo students were arrested in Addis Ababa, some of the progressive users on social media not only blamed the students for the arrest but also went as far as defending the governments action. Ironically, these were also staunch opposition members to the government. When Bekele Gerba and Olbana Lelisa were arrested about 3 years ago, there was great silence among Non-Oromo Ethiopians. Most recently, Oromo social media users have been involved in ongoing discussions to raise awareness about Addis Ababas grand plan to expand its territory by displacing millions of Oromo peasants. These are just some examples. This discussion, as usual, has been exclusively taken up by Oromos. Non-Oromo social media users, especially those who call themselves activists for justice, freedom and democracy, have largely been silent. It seems political views and social actions are restricted to ethnic lines among social media users from Ethiopia. Dominance of unquestioned loyalty to Statist perspectives leaves various groups without any common grounds upon which to have cross-ethnic solidarity. Even as individuals are vehemently opposing the current government, they dont see a problem with the overall system. Thus, the overall State is still unquestioned, the inequality inherent within it, and its violence are reduced simply to current regime actions. As if the current regime is anything but a product of preexisting violent history. We should not just be opposing the current regime because it jailed our friends, we should be opposing it because it is unjust, because its existence is predicated on continuation of violence---yes, sometimes this violence affects us personally and very close to home, and other times, the violence is taking place in places we might be unfamiliar with, but this does not mean that we should only oppose the violence of the nation state when it touches us--we should oppose it at all times, regardless of its direct effects on us.
Posted on: Sat, 26 Apr 2014 18:39:01 +0000
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