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Parallels of Eritrea and Poland?

Written by Merhawie

Saturday, 29 December 2007

Recently, a reader of my blog suggested that he (and supposedly other Ethiopians) compare the ports of Eritrea (Massawa and Asseb) to the port of Danzig (now Gdansk). This is a very interesting comparison to draw, not because it alone is insightful, but because of the lessons that can be learned by taking the comparison to heart.

For nearly two hundred years the Prussian kings, Austrian emperors and Russian czars partitioned the Duchy of Poland until its remains were finally absorbed by Russia at the Congress of Vienna. It was here that Danzig became a part of the German Empire. At the close World War I however, the victorious powers reconstituted Poland and made Danzig a city under the League of Nations. With this brief history as a frame, the similarities between the conflict in the Horn of Africa and the opening of World War II in Europe draw eerie similarities.

On 30 September 1938 Nazi Germany marched troops over the border into the Sudentland with the blessing of the British. Similarly, beginning on 20 July 2006 Ethiopian troops invaded Somalia, allegedly with the blessing of the United States. Beginning in the mid 1930’s Nazi Germany began to demand that Danzig be returned to it. In the 1950’s the United States and United Nations federated Eritrea with Ethiopia leading to the longest insurgency in Africa for independence. During the border conflict with Eritrea, Ethiopia opened a new front to claim one of these ports for itself (Ethiopians retake Eritrean town, [BBC] 2000-06-14 ). In 1938 Nazi Germany expelled Jews to Poland, while similarly the Government of Ethiopia expelled Eritreans in 1998, “…because we don’t like the color of your eyes.” (Radio Ethiopia, 9 July 1998)

Until those who believe that “might makes right,” and those who abdicate responsibility, are made to change, the Holocausts of the past will revisit us in the future. This change must be made in the societies themselves as well; it begins with each individual deciding to not only listen, but to hear. It is important to not just think, but to think critically. It is time that all Ethiopians (all peoples in fact), make the choice to resist slavery to the past and critically investigate it.

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Ben - Parallels

| 24.15.137.xxx | 2007-12-29 13:24:18

I like the comparison especially the last column. Keep it up Merhawie and safe and happy new year

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