(A Vision for the Future(

Nahom Minassie Beyene

January 3, 2000

Introduction

The following is a description of a vision that I have for Ethiopian communities in America. In this introduction I am going to explain the origin and the personal reasons which have caused me to compose this written presentation of my vision.

Prior to proclaiming the vision, I will tell you about myself. What is said about me in the following sentences will serve as the personal reasons that have brought me to the vision. My name is Nahom Minassie Beyene. I am the first born of two Ethiopian parents, Rebecca Tesfaye and Minassie Beyene. During my childhood, I was well brought up and educated in excellent schools. Along with my academic education, I was taught about my roots and heritage as an Ethiopian. I was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. Still, I learned lots about Ethiopian tradition and culture over the years. I felt different from all of my friends because I didn't know of any other kids like me. I believed I was an exception in the crowd of all these kids in my school and neighborhood. Throughout my life, I found no one that I could truly relate to in school or extracurricular activities. Luckily, I found what I desired in going to church. When the Ethiopian Orthodox Church opened up, I started to attend almost weekly. Soon thereafter, I was asked to become a deacon. To this very day, I believe that it was the best decision that I have ever made. After I accepted the offer, I learned a lot about the orthodox religion and the prayers. At the same time, a great treat for going to church was a community of people like me! It is now the eve of my twentieth birthday as I write this introduction. I have kept up my service as a deacon at the church as much as possible while going to school at the University of Texas. I am proud that I have learned to speak Amharic very well for conversational purposes and can read and write in the language with some guidance. It is certain to me that I am a happier person today because of the introduction of an Ethiopian community in my life. The Ethiopian customs and traditions that have been taught to me by my parents, relatives, and the church community constitute a great amount of who I am today. I have accepted it as my identity and what I want to be. I am proud of my culture, and I hold it strongly to my heart as I grow and learn in an American society.

I find it necessary to express how much my parent's efforts supported me in life. My mother and father arranged their work schedule so that I always had someone at home to take care of me. They started teaching me before I went to school, which prepared me for learning in life. I believe that the most consuming job in the world is parenting. Parents are the most influential part of a child's life and mold the future of their child in how they raise them. My brother Henock shows me his pride in being Ethiopian all the time. I know that it is because our parents have always encouraged us to be proud of who we are. I can trust my brother to support my vision because I know that he holds the vision in his heart too!

The vision originated when I participated in a program that required all participants to make a goal. The program was a week-long seminar dedicated to teaching leadership, teamwork, and goal making skills and techniques. The goal was the major project for the week and required all participants to select an important goal that they would commit to. After reviewing many things in my life that were important to me, I had decided that it was all too clear where I would place my commitment. With the certainty of my whole heart, I committed myself to the vision!

My Vision...

My vision includes promoting unity and networking in the Ethiopian communities in America. Also, my vision is to create a sense of pride within the youth of the community, so as to increase cultural and traditional awareness. Then, the community of Ethiopians will be able to change the image of Ethiopia as seen by people of the world by explaining and teaching the Ethiopian culture and traditions.

The vision that you see above is what I wrote down as the official statement of my goal during the one-week seminar I attended during the summer of 1999. It is a big goal that can be broken into three major components of emphasis.

* Uniting and networking Ethiopian communities of America

* Increasing pride within the youth of the communities so that culture & tradition are preserved

* Changing the misguided image of Ethiopia that is portrayed by the media and held by many Americans as well as Ethiopian-American children

These three points cover the issues that I find as most crucial to the Ethiopian public. I use the word vision because what I am drawing attention to is not something that can be classified as short or long-term. What I focus on is not something that has already sought out solutions to. The important thing to realize is that I speak of a task that has no end date, no deadline, and no stage of completion. The strengthening and preservation of Ethiopian heritage is an ongoing effort that will require the dedication of the Ethiopian people until the end of time. Most importantly, it has never been done before. In other words, there is no guaranteed step by step method to ensure the transfer of Ethiopian culture from generation to generation, and there is no scientifically proven solution for how to protect the ways of a culture when mixed into the life and ways of America. I call this my vision because it will require devotion and perseverance to achieve successes towards protecting the traditions and heritage of Ethiopia.

Focusing on Solutions

Much can be done to unite and network Ethiopian communities. I believe that it is necessary for Ethiopians to support each other. I have seen many Ethiopians unite and get together for friendship and to have a good time. A prime example is the annual soccer tournament that Ethiopians attend during summer time. Ethiopians are living all over the U.S., and it is frequent that friends are unaware of each other's whereabouts. There is a great need for networking within the population. A listing of Ethiopian families arranged by city would help greatly in the uniting of friends in every state. A compilation of the lists by city can produce a list for each state, which can combine to result in a list of all the families living in America. This solution can be used in a more localized sense by compiling a directory holding the names, addresses, and phone numbers of kids at a church or other religious organization. There is one already in existence for members of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church in Dallas, so it is a feasible project. Another possible project involves a big brother/big sister type program. The older kids can pair up with one or more younger kids for occasional activities. Guidance is essential for the young kids. Great role models can be found in mentors and older kids in the area. This is only a representation of what I have come up with in my own periods of reflection. If people are asked to take some time out to think about ways to get together and unite, there is no telling what will happen in our future. A great bridge of support can be built by uniting the people, but only if people are willing to assist in the dream of making it a reality!

Among some of the things I have heard people mention about Ethiopia, the one that I seem to hear about the most is that they are all very, very skinny! This is sadly what most people think of Ethiopia, but it is not what everyone believes. I have heard some speak of Haile Selasie, Ethiopian coffee, delicious Ethiopian food, and the great history of Christianity in Ethiopia. It is when I hear these rare comments that I feel the greatest pride in my Ethiopian heritage. I believe that the majority of images that people in general have of Ethiopia consist of poor, hungry, malnourished, sickly people living in near desert-like conditions. This image is not a result of how we represent Ethiopia, but the result of how we have not represented the country. Most of the publicity that Ethiopia has gained in the face of the majority of Americans is non-representative of the whole country. I have seen how some other cultures present their culture. If you look around your community, you will easily find the influence of other cultures. You can find Chinese, Japanese, Taiwanese, Vietnamese, and Indian restaurants and stores just about anywhere. It is very obvious how well Mexican and Spanish culture has integrated into America. I haven't even mentioned the presence of Italian, French, German, and Greek culture. There is no reason why Ethiopian culture should fade away. The language and food of these countries is well integrated in America. The languages are being taught in just about any major university in all states. I saw an Indian cultural show put on by the Indian students and community at the University of Texas at Austin. The public that viewed the show included people of all races. It is essential that Ethiopians present their culture to the people of America. It is not uncommon to see American musicians using Asian, Spanish, or Indian culture in music videos and everyday clothes. There are a few who know of the riches and importance of Ethiopia. One rapper who goes by the name of Ras Kass selected the name in honor of Ras Kassa, an Ethiopian prince. If America is considered to be the big melting pot of cultures, we should not let the spice of Ethiopian food, the spirit of Ethiopian music and art, or the strength of Ethiopia's religious history lose it's presence in the seasonings that contribute to the melting pot of American society. I request that more exhibitions be set up in the future as was done during the week that the annual Ethiopian soccer tournament was held in Dallas. The church had a very impressive display of images of Ethiopia, and the exhibition is a great way for people to quickly see how much there is to appreciate about a country with riches greater than they think!

When all is said and done, the only thing that will give life to this vision is the insurance that the youth of the Ethiopian community is proud of their culture & tradition. I have heard some adults tell me that the future of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church is in the children's hands! I have thought about this many times and can't help but picture the image of a church being held up by the hands of little children. I wonder how many of those hands will still be there as those little children grow into big kids. I think again about how many hands will there be when those big kids become young adults. I can only pray that those hands are all there when the young adults become parents, working adults, and people of society. I understand that integration of American society and Ethiopian culture is going to happen. I am living proof of that. Nevertheless, the inevitability of change should not seal the fate of the future of Ethiopian culture in America. I don't want to identify with an identity that is on the fast track to extinction. The children must acknowledge their connection to the land of the lion of Judah. They must assemble like a pride of Ethiopian lions to increase their acceptance of a culture and tradition that makes them so unique and special. When some people spend all their life searching for an identity, we are blessed with the knowledge of our ancestry. We are Ethiopians! There is no question to be answered. There is no mystery to solve. There is nothing that we lack. There is great history that we have, and all the children must learn of their inheritance. We are born strong, so there is no need for us to grow weak. For example, a great presence in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church in Dallas is the summer school classes that are provided every year. It has been in existence for a long time and is well known by the people of the church. This is a great avenue to use to instill pride in the children. The curriculum of the school should be well designed to include instruction of the Ethiopian Alphabets (fidel), history/geography, traditions & customs, holidays & religion, and vocabulary & language. I believe that the people of the church are more than capable of assisting in the development of such a curriculum. Once again, I must say that I only have my own ideas based on the influences of my upbringing as an Orthodox Christian included within this composition. There are most likely many others of different faiths and backgrounds that have great ideas on what should be done. I value the opinions and perspectives that are contributed from Ethiopians who believe in other religions, speak the different languages, and have been influenced by the customs of various parts of Ethiopia. All these differences contribute to the grand scheme of what makes Ethiopia such a beautiful country. Those ideas can only surface if the people of the Ethiopian communities realize the importance of this issue and the existence of this vision.

Today's Reality

* Many kids can not speak Amharic and/or the other languages spoken in Ethiopia

* There are very few occasions that Ethiopians gather aside from church or weddings

* The children think of the summer school at the Ethiopian Orthodox Church in Dallas as a daycare or a place to come to play with friends

* Americans have a predominantly twisted and misguided view of Ethiopia

* Most kids can't tell about Ethiopia because they don't know about the history themselves

* Some children have no Ethiopian identity or know very little about their heritage

Ideal Future

* Children will attend the church's summer school or other equivalent religious programs & learn about Ethiopian history, traditions, and inherited languages

* People will go to Ethiopian restaurants because they love the food

* Stronger Ethiopian communities that offer support to the youth will emerge

* A youth group for kids of the church and other religious groups will be established

* A directory of all the Ethiopian families living in America will be available

* A committee dedicated to the preservation of my vision that will set the path for the future of Ethiopian-Americans will take shape

Closing

Realize that the great thing about this vision is that it is one held by all the people who serve their religious institutions, work with the kids in the community, and attend the annual soccer tournament. I am not alone in possessing this vision, so I have only written this composition to stir emotions and create motivation to get things going and make people commit to a worthwhile cause. The vision is grand and is anything but easy to reach. With so many people wanting to reach this same dream, there should be nothing that we as a people can not do to make it happen.

I look at my parents as pioneers or the 'first settlers' of Ethiopians in America. They are as important to me as the early colonists that established the thirteen colonies are to Americans. I represent the first generation of Ethiopian-American children. What Ethiopians have done is planted trees in America. These trees can grow big and strong and spread, or they can wither away and give way to other stronger and healthier trees. The fact is the children are these trees, and if they are not given the proper preparation to continue to spread the knowledge of where they came from, then children of other cultures will assert their culture where our children will passively step aside! For instance, at my church, you can find all the kids playing in the gym while service is held. The parents are inside listening to and praying the same prayers that they heard as children. If this is the way that the children will be introduced to church, then they will not find reason in continuing to come to the church when they are grown up and raising children of their own. These children must be planted next to their parents. The saying goes that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. If the children are planted in a gym, then the next generation of children will naturally blossom and spread to other environments that have a basketball hoop and room to play. We must think about how the children are being prepared for the future and if they will be strong enough to uphold what is set up for them.

Are the children attending services at your religious institution, or practicing on their social skills instead of their spirituality? When people ask the kids what is so important about Ethiopia, what would they give as an answer? Are the children going to see the land which their parents were born and raised upon in a family trip to Ethiopia? If not now, then will any of these children go to Ethiopia on their own in the future when they start up their own life away from their parents? Will Ethiopian restaurants reach their potential influence in society by just catering to the Ethiopian community? What do my parents see as the future Ethiopian community? What do all the parents envision as the way Ethiopian culture will join with American society? Do the children think of the future consisting of Ethiopian cultural or traditional events?

If you can picture a glass of water in the sun, liken the glass of water as all things that exemplify Ethiopian history, culture, and tradition. Think of the sun as the pressure of society and time on the existence of the glass of water. My vision is to decrease the intensity of that sun. Think about the concepts of half-life or exponential decay. Now imagine our Ethiopian heritage as the subject of decay. My vision is to decrease the rate of decay that is experienced by our heritage. When organ transplants are performed, a great fear is that the body will reject foreign organs and tissue. The problem is that the body can not identify with the transplanted organ. If you think of the body as one Ethiopian-American child and the transplanted organ or tissue as their connection to Ethiopia, then you can see the fear that I have for the children as well as myself. The fear that I have is that some children can not identify with being Ethiopian and will thus reject their connection to Ethiopia! My vision is to decrease the occurrence of rejection among the youth. There are many ways that I can describe the potential problems that face the continuance of Ethiopian culture in an American society, but not enough ways for me to emphasize the importance of taking early action against this threat!

I have neglected to include reasons to support the significance of my vision for others throughout this composition. I have thus far written under the pretense that this is a subject very near and dear to me, and the vision is one that is held by all Ethiopians living in America. If these are false pretenses, then I am required to defend the necessity of placing effort into this vision I have presented. I must start by saying that if this vision is not realized by at least a majority of Ethiopians, then Ethiopian culture is well on its way to extinction. Let me add that more people will be interested in bringing back dinosaurs from extinction than the Ethiopian culture if it reaches this state. I dare to say that to let the influence of Ethiopian culture fade away is to deprive America and the world of a very integral and important component of history and culture. Many people talk of the future of technology and evolution. The growth of America into a multicultural nation is not mentioned enough. Ethiopia contains important links within the history of religion. Ethiopia has a history of importance that includes relations with powerful nations and countries. Ethiopia was one of the wealthiest countries for some time in the past. This is undeniable and deserves a great deal of attention. The value of my vision is that it serves to strengthen the people who carry the responsibility of representing such a country. I uphold that the vision will include representation by Ethiopians speaking the different languages, practicing various customs, and believing in the sacred religions of Ethiopia. This vision will greatly help my people to build a sense of pride to help preserve heritage in the future, help create a network to allow Ethiopians to gain a base of support, and recreate the image of Ethiopia as a country with so much to be proud of.

I have written this to convince the Ethiopian population of the urgency of this situation. My hopes for this composition are to spread it to the people of the community in order to grow support for the vision. Then, I will ask for volunteers to step forward and take charge on projects that I, as well as others, will present as pertinent to the vision. Finally, I will find the way that I may lead by example and actively participate in fulfilling a dream. If any Ethiopian reads through this paper without any moments of stirred emotion or excitement towards action, I ask if they have disowned their country. I ask that all who read this spend 10 minutes to think about the implications of my vision. I trust that those who are truly motivated to contribute to this vision will make great things happen within the year. This is the beginning of the year 2000. I anticipate great things to come forth from the 10 minutes you take to think about this vision, and can't wait to see what the Ethiopian population will be doing in 10 years time.

Thank You

If you would like to contact me:

Mail: Nahom Beyene

6822 Hyacinth Lane

Dallas, TX 75252

Phone #: (972) 250-6138

E-mail: ambessa@juno.com or abesha@mail.utexas.edu

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