The Spirit of The Federation

The Spirit of The Federation

MosaicArticle from the original ‘Voice of Ethiopia’ Volume 3, Number 17 Saturday May 20, 1939 If men cannot retain and promote peace and good will in their own families how can they hope to fight successfully against an outside adversary? He who would regain the rights taken away from him by an enemy must first see to it that his own house is set in order that a deep spirit of peace and good will reigns in his own boundaries. If he secures this them he can hope to struggle successfully against the common adversary, for then his forces will be united. The principle of love will reign in his own home.

“If in the act of making sacrifice ye find that ye have aught against the Brother, cease there the gift at the altar. First be reconciled to thy brother then come and offer thy gift.”
The Ethiopian World Federation sets as one of its objectives “the promotion of love and goodwill among Ethiopians at home and abroad.” The Federation is bound and determined to promote and insist on the growth of this spirit of love among its members and among all Black peoples. The possession of this spirit is fundamental. It is an absolutely necessary antecedent to the realization of other objectives, including a place in the Sun for the Sons of Ham. (more…)

Interview with Haile Selassie I

Interview with Haile Selassie I

him-salute From the original Voice of Ethiopia April 5, 1948 Question: Perceiving the great benefit the Ethiopian people have been able to derive from the Constitution which Your Majesty has been pleased to grant to them 27 years ago, and observing the great change and improvement in the way of life of the people since then, Your Majesty has been once again pleased to grant the new Revised Constitution on the Twenty-fifth Coronation Anniversary to suit the politically and intellectually advanced state of the present generation. This Revised Constitution has enabled the entire Ethiopian people to have the right to elect and be elected to Parliament. Consequently, we find today the representatives of the people performing their duties in Parliament after being elected by secret ballot in the spirit of the Constitution. Would it please Your Majesty to make known your views on the significant changes that have come about in the country within these 27 years? (more…)

The Cause And The Man

The Cause And The Man

clay-1Whoso would be happy must pin his hope and his affection to things that are immortal, things that are eternal. Whoso would court unhappiness and disappointment let him have inordinately things that are temporary, things that are fleeting. Among those things that are fleeting are individuals. Individuals die and if you have pinned all your trust in an individual your hopes may be blasted. Individuals change their philosophy, their character (to some extent) and their outlook. In such a case whoever has loved that individual too well is doomed to sorrow. (more…)

Honouring Fallen Officers

Honouring Fallen Officers

H.I.M Homage Haile Selassie I

Since the beginning of the world, God has always granted a people, divided though they may be into provinces, districts, villages and families, the privilege of living together as one nation, in freedom.

However, because of human jealousy, and man’s domineering spirit and because of the greed that impels one to rob another of a part or the whole of his homeland, it has become an essential duty of man to keep ready the means of defending his freedom. Ethiopia, jealous of her freedom, has always had to struggle, both for the sake of her territorial integrity and for the preservation of her religious liberty. The heroism, developed in the blood of our people and passed from generation to generation, has served to this day as a bulwark for our freedom, so that Ethiopia has never had to bear the yoke of slavery. To this, history and the world ear witness. (more…)

Steadfastness of the Black Race

Steadfastness of the Black Race

ResistanceArticle from the original Voice of Ethiopia Volume 1, Number 25 Saturday July 17, 1937 Some time ago I wrote in this column that the white race would be looking on to see the failure of the efforts being made by black people here, to assist Ethiopia. I said also that many members of our race had become distrustful of any organization formed by Black people because they had the habit of falling for one reason or another. There are reasons why our efforts to advance often meet with failure – internal quarrels and external opposition. It is necessary therefore that in our attempt to take our proper place in the world, our organizations be intelligently set up and honestly and efficiently administered. Endurance The Black race is capable of keeping alive under the most adverse circumstances. The history of the slave period and after proves this. Here we go on living patiently enduring the shortage of the necessities of life, and continuous toil with no other prospect in view. (more…)

Address to The United Nations: UN Must Be Strengthened

Address to The United Nations: UN Must Be Strengthened

H.I.M-in-armsIf we are to survive, this Organization must survive. To survive, it must be strengthened. Its executive must be vested with greater authority.

The means for the enforcement of its decisions must be fortified and, if they do not exist, they must be devised. Procedures must be established to protect the small and the weak when threatened by the strong and the mighty. All nations which fulfil the conditions of membership must be admitted and allowed to sit in this assemblage. Equality of representation must be assured in each of its organs. The possibilities which exist in the United Nations to provide the means whereby the hungry may be fed, the naked clothed, the ignorant instructed, must be seized on and exploited, for the flower of peace is not sustained by poverty and want. To achieve that requires courage and confidence. The courage, I believe, we possess. The confidence must be created, and to create confidence we must act courageously. (more…)