| Throughout
history it has been the inaction of
those who could have acted, the
indifference of those who should have
known better, the silence of the voice
of justice when it mattered most, that
has made it possible for evil to
triumph.
The glorious pages of human history
have been written only in those
moments when men have been able to act
in concert to prevent impending
tragedies. By the actions you take you
can also illuminate the pages of
history.
When you make man rich in the
honours of this world and appoint him
above other creatures, that it be
known that It is not for his merit but
only through your benevolence and
generosity,
Since no creature created in Your
image and to Your pattern gives up
hope that everything he begs of You
will be done for him until the day You
sever his soul from his body, we
beseech You that Ethiopia should not
remain with her freedom extinct and
prostrate under an alien ruler, so
that the mouth of her people be
silenced for fear of a foreign
governor, but rather, that You will
save them by Your deeds of kindness
lest they remain with their hearts
oppressed through being deprived of
their own Ethiopian ruler who was
leading them towards civilization
under a light yoke and with gladness
O Lord, abode of exiles, light of
the blind, truth and justice are Your
thrones. Receive us who have been
exiled for our freedom's sake, who
have had to leave our country on
account of violent assault, In praying
to You thus, it is not for our
righteousness but for Your great
mercies.
Technical and scientific advances
have combined to raise mankind to a
level of material achievement never
before realized.
A house built on granite and strong
foundations, not even the onslaught of
pouring rain, gushing torrents and
strong winds will be able to pull
down. Some people have written the
story of my life representing as truth
what in fact derives from ignorance,
error or envy; but they cannot shake
the truth from its place, even if they
attempt to make others believe it.
Sports being the symbol of
fraternity and team work there can be
no doubt of its utility or of the
sound virtues which it develops.
Unemployment is harmful - it harms
and damages the unemployed himself,
his nation and his country. Employers
should strive to create more jobs.
Workers should attend to their work
with diligence and vigour. These twin
attributes are the cornerstones for
progress.
I know of the love which the
Jamaican people entertain for the
people of Ethiopia and the welcome
which you have given me this day is
evidence of it.
I know that the Jamaican people were
very sympathetic when Ethiopia was
occupied during the fascist regime.
During that time, Jamaicans as well as
others who had African blood supported
the Ethiopian Liberation Movement. And
now that we are free we must assume
the responsibility to work for the
greater unity of all peoples of
African origin.
It is quite true that a country can
achieve material progress alone.
However, we know from the experiences
of the past that internaltional
cooperation tends to quicken the pace
for progress of individual countries.
This is again another area for us
to think about and see in what way we
can further expand the relations of
the people of Jamaica and Ethiopia.
From another fundamental point of
view, this is precisely why the O.A.U.
has been established. It is because
the African continent, which comprises
more than 250 million people, if it
were to remain divided among more than
30 states, their individual voices
would not carry weight. It is
precisely why, since there is an
identity of interest, we have
attempted to include Jamaica.
Also, so that we can carry this
weight in the councils of nations, and
also through the process of
cooperation and expanded economic
relations we might be in a position to
quicken the pace of development of the
individual member countries of the O A
U. |
