Essence of DOPE
The Ethiopian Flag: Stop putting political symbols on it
In order to have an inclusive flag instead of one that is excludes people who are not part of the power structure, the flag should be have no symbol other than the colors.
by Teddy Fikre. Posted: Sunday, August 22, 2010
I know I am about to wade into potentially explosive debate, one that is strife with tensions on multiple side and could well drag out the worse side of Ethiopian political divides. With that said, as an Ethiopian who has an affinity for anything that is related to Ethiopia, it goes without saying that I am especially drawn to the Ethiopian flag. However, whenever I see the current Ethiopian flag, I feel like I am looking at something alien. Of course, I am drawn to the green, yellow, and red, but then there is a symbol in the middle that always manages to make my eyes avert from my homeland’s flag.
I will admit readily that the flag that I prefer the most, the one that binds me the most to the Ethiopia that I know in my mind is the one that has the lion of Judah on it. This flag carries with it a history that binds us to multiple cultures throughout the world, a flag that symbolizes the magnificent history of Ethiopia from the first emperor right down to our last and a flag that is adored by countless millions throughout the world. However, I realize that there are others who see in that symbol something different than I do, a feeling which cannot be smoothed over with a lecture about its history and its symbolism. As much passion and love that I have for this version of the flag, I am sure others are equally passionate about it in the opposite extreme.
Since the time I was born in 1974, I have seen the flag that I most equate with Ethiopia changed on two different occasions. When the Derg took over, they replaced the Lion of Judah with the hammer and sickle that would symbolize the embedding of communism in Ethiopia. After the TPLF defeated the Derg in 1993, they eradicated the installed the Axum obelisk surmounted by a five point star on a blue field,with a cog wheel at the base, flanked by olive branches. In each case, the power structure used the Ethiopian flag as an imprimatur of their dominion, to erase the past and to move forward with the way that they saw fit. In each case, the symbol in the middle of the flag became a divisive issue, one that had supporters and detractors engaged in heated rhetoric about which flag truly represented Ethiopia.
Flags are powerful symbols, they can either divide a country or they can be divisive icons that separate people based on heritage and ethnic affiliation. You will not find too many Americans that would disparage the flag of the United States. However, there are certain states that embed within their state flags the some symbols which are divisive to the core. The flag of Mississippi has the confederate flag interwoven within the colors of the United States flag. This issue has divided the South for generations, serving as an affront to millions of people who rightly see the confederate flag as a symbol of hatred and exclusion.
Symbols are powerful because they invoke passions and ultimately exclude people as much as they include people. Within each community, within each region of Ethiopia, I am sure you will find different people who would rather replace the yellow flag with another symbol. I am sure some—like myself—would rather go back to the lion of Judah, while others who want to replace it with a different symbol all together, while there are others still who would rather maintain the flag as it is. Just as Southern states can do a lot to take down a divisive symbolism from their state flags, so too should powers that be in Ethiopia in order to have an inclusive flag instead of one that is excludes people who are not part of the power structure.
While each group can argue passionately about the symbol, one thing that most will not argue is that the basic premise of the flag, the green, yellow, and red, is the one uniting force. So why argue about the various symbols, why not instead take the symbol off the flag and leave the green, yellow, and red speak for itself, the true colors of Ethiopia. It is time for successive regimes to stop using the flag as their personal tool of propaganda and return the flag to the colors that are familiar to all without a symbol embedded in the middle. Governments should have their legacies determined by the good work that they accomplish not based on the propaganda they propagate through symbols they keep erasing and adding to our flag.
Ethiopia will never accept that long gone flag!!!!!!!!!!!!!
[...] By the same author: The Ethiopian Flag: Stop putting political symbols on it [...]
lion of judah symbol flag the orginal and all Ethiopian proud of it. but, our crook wayane leaders never like any thing make Ethiopian unique above the rest of the world. History will judge this generation wheather we rely proud of our flag or not. Because, none of us done a single demonstration about this flag apart from fully accepted included our athletics carrying this ugly symbol flag through olympic victory.Shame off you….
DANNY
Teddy, it is a good concern, but I don’t think you have done your home work well, before you start to write. The first Emperor, never referred to Him self as the lion of Judah nor did he use the flag with a lion as an official flag. Ethiopia (or to be exact, the Axumites) did not have this current flag as their flag, go and make some research. I know the lion means a lot to some of us, but we have to again ask ourselves questions like ‘What is the lion of Judah for A Gambella or a Somali??’. To be honest it is a sing of shame and hatred than pride and heritage. Your Ethiopia is not the real Ethiopia. So let Ethiopians choose what they want to be identified with, and they did!!!! Unity in Diversity, and that blue circle with golden lines is the symbol of our Unity in Diversity. We are no more only Ethiopians, we are Amhara Ethiopians, Somali Ethiopians, Afar Ethiopians. Muslim, Christian, Pagan and Atheist Ethiopians. Like it or not, it is the truth, and it is too late to try to change this truth!
I agree with what Kibrenegest said and would like to add that the “Ethiopian” flag without anything in the middle of it is actually the symbol of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and if you check you will find out that it was in a major force in Ethiopian politics. The current government wanted to leave the flag bare but muslim leaders within the party objected to the idea citing that it would not represent all Ethiopians hence the symbol of diversity.
Totally agree with Kibrenegest and Nawedy.
The Moa Anbessa flag is beautiful, and it will forever symbolize the proud Ethiopian heritage.
But it doesn’t not represent with so much passion the TENS OF MILLIONS of Ethiopians who are not Christian and not from the Highlands. Kibrenegest mentions the Afar Ethiopians, Gumuz Ethiopians, etc. Teddy will think its woyane propaganda, to divide the nation… Okay, then let’s unite it the nation like these old school Ethiopians want (=one language, one culture, one religion) but… instead of being Amhara the way of unifying, we will do it following Kembata or Somali or Afar ways… how would you feel being represented with a Ethiopian flag with an Islamic symbol on top? How would you feel with an Ethiopian flag with a Sidama cultural simbol on top?
The Lion of Judah-ists simply don’t know about the great diversity of Ethiopia. A few weeks in Kaffa, Asosa and Somali region will teach them a good lesson.