MAY 19, 2015
Our detractors tried everything under the sun to rewrite our history, including the history of our independence struggle with their skewed narratives. That can and will never be the narrative because Eritrean narrative is pure, unsaleable, and independent. Besides, today, the Eritrean population is much more conscious, politically astute and media savvy with the ability to write and rewrite its narrative and destiny.
By Amanuel Biedemariam,
Eritrea possesses unique narratives it cultivated after decades of struggle and with the sacrifices of thousands of Eritreans. In a way, Eritrea is lucky it went through an arduous struggle that paved the way for the narratives that define and distinguish her apart from the rest.
These narratives express the principles, values, and hard-earned experiences of Eritrea. It is the direction established in tumultuous times that many nations once considered invincible fail upon meeting the minor challenges.
Eritrea is a self-reliant, social justice-oriented, hardworking conscious nation willing to pay the price to ensure independence. Eritrean is a nation that is principled and believes or citizens are equal. Eritrea is selfless and incorruptible.
The attitude and personality of the people of Eritrea are engrained in humble nature. Modesty is pervasive from the president on to the average person. It is a society of orders, and it accords respect to the elders that are given a priority. The elders are revered, treated with utmost dignity and respect.
These characters are engrained deep into the culture and have been part of Eritrean ways for generations. Eritrea is a country that values education, and the importance of education is pushed hard by the families to ensure financial success and quality of life-based on the highest human standards. Eritrea is a brilliant, agile, and adaptable nation. Eritrea is dedicated to providing success based on hard work using indigenous muscle and brain. Eritrea is a patient and long-view-oriented country that is unperturbed by the prevailing wind and able to weather storms and come out victorious against all odds.
If these qualities appear to be too good to be true, they are not. In fact, they are bolstered by a robust organizational structure that is the backbone of Eritrea and navigating her through the toughest of waters. Eritrea faces many challenges every second by governments with deadly intentions that are determined to eradicate it from existence.
Yet, Eritrea can shrug it like an experience and a trial that it must pass-through to ascertain to naysayers that Eritrea is going nowhere in this lifetime.
Yes, HIZBAWI GINBAR in Tigrignya, SHAEBIA in Arabic, and the Eritrean Peoples Liberation Front in English. The Eritrean People Liberation Front (EPLF) led the liberation struggle and is today’s People’s Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ).
From the beginning, the EPLF shaped the mentality of Eritrea, its languages, work ethic, dedication, and the willingness to sacrifice for the greater good by example with patience. The EPLF has taught Eritrea strength by principled stances and unwavering stamina. They endured countless hardships yet, remained still with the long-term price in mind. They sacrificed niceties, gave up on opportunism for short-term gains, and withstood temptations so they could achieve independence. They stayed genuine and principled to their fallen comrades.
These are steel-willed women and men blessed by hearts of gold guiding Eritrea on a pace that fits the region and Eritrea like a glove. They have given up their life for Eritrea, and they keep giving up everything to ensure continuity.
They have patience, foresight, and humbleness, traits that the enemies underestimate to their detriment. These women and men gave birth to Eritrea against all odds and took the difficult job of building a nation. YES, they are the men and women of EPLF.
CONCLUSION
A great deal of effort and resources are invested in destabilizing Eritrea. The initial hit was a military assault that culminated in the war that ended in May of 2000. Afterward, asymmetric warfare was waged against Eritrea using various tactics and sabotage activities. When that failed, they tried to include Eritrea on the list of nations that sponsor terror. That failed, and they levied sanction measures to deny Eritrea the ability to defend itself, kill the economy so that they could suffocate it to submission.
They coupled that with a highly aggressive strategy that attempted to deny Eritrea of her youth by incentivizing them to flee. They also tried to sally the independence struggle and thus minimize Eritrean heroic history by assaulting her past.
They created narratives to help them accomplish their evil intentions. Those are the narratives they wanted the world to express. These are narratives that describe a desperate nation.
That can never be the narrative that defines Eritrea because Eritrea is pure and independent. No matter how hard they try, the people of Eritrea can write, rewrite their narrative, and chart their destiny. The Eritrean narratives are and will always remain Eritrean and pure because it is seeded with the pure blood of thousands that Eritrea paid for independence.
Wetru-Awet-Nhafash
Zikrin KIbrin N-Suwu-Atna
