Fanaticism at its best

Many centuries ago, Aristotle said, “The two extremes are always vices." He might have been obsessed with the fanatics of his time. That's why he introduced the idea of Golden Mean; though, it is not faultless, it still is an enlightening thought to this very day.

But, are we saved from the vices or evils of radicals, fundamentalists, extremists and even worse fanatics? The answer is boldly NO. Unless we are unable to curve the wild beast in us, we will continue dwelling on the oppositely charged poles of baseless ideologies. Such foolish ideologies are the result of Machiavellian and Goebbelean brainwashing. They are meant to breakdown social bonds and replace them with antagonistic feelings.

As such hatred intensifies, societies start killing one another savagely. For the canning propagandists, such social catastrophes are as profitable as a vampire movie. In the meantime, the Iagos are busy amassing everything whatever their ego demands them. They take everything the society possess: social, economic and political power. They dedicate their life for social respect, economic freedom and political prestige... dead or alive.

On the other hand, they are busy preaching the society how poorly they live. Their self-prophesy for holding power is that they are pleaded to stay in power just to change the life of their society. They work day in and day out, directly and indirectly simply to prove that they are born to lead. Their media organizations indulge themselves in systematically producing and distributing fictitious miracles.

This is what has happened and is still going on in our country. Our governors, late and present, have the culture of attaching themselves with some ethnic groups and they viciously claim that the ethnic group is leading the others, whether the system of governance is autocratic, dictatorship or democratic it does not matter.

However, this is a fatal misconception as no society can ever lead another. Even in a dynastic rule, only a family  is beneficiary politically, socially and economically. From Emperor Tewodros to Haileslase and from Mengistu to Meles no clan or ethnic group enjoyed life but their immediate family and themselves. Thus, all of them, no matter how they ruled, lived and died to quench their egos...just for their belly. 

The rest of all lived and still live in political, social and economic destitute unless they are blind loyalists of the respective rulers. And above all, no matter the effect (positive or negative), the past generation can never represent this generation and this generation to the next and so on.  

As a result, Ethiopians are subdivided in three main groups at this time. Those pro and against the ruling class and those who are either fad up with dirty politics of contemporary Ethiopia or waiting for the mighty judge...time. Such glaring diversion prevailed after the death of the late Prime minster. You can look at the picture shared above. To translate it roughly, it means: If you don't love Meles, that means you are a traitor who never reciprocates his (Meles') good deeds. This is nothing but absurd fanaticism. It is logically fallacious.

For his staunch supporters, Meles was charismatic, visionary, wise, compassionate, passionate, great communicator, daring, disciplined, persistent, and honest leader Ethiopia ever has had in its entire history. Such superlative words have been everywhere describing his personality and glorifying him beyond the gods of ancient Athens. Well, in our culture, the dead is faultless. The eulogy is written only in favor of the deceased individual, all misdeeds have zero chance. Yet, history should be free of cultural emotions... it should entertain the weaknesses and strengths equally.

However, for his archenemies, Meles was a traitor, a dictator, and self-aggrandizing, public enemy...just list down the exact opposites of the superlative words that praise his personality like an angel or saint. Some wrote that he was "a devil incarnate" that turned the country hundred years backward. Others danced on his funeral day in ecstasy chanting and ululating frantically; though uncommon culture wise. 

Nevertheless, whatever the pros and antis may say, Meles lived like other humans. He was neither perfect nor hundred percent faulty. Meles was not a saint (and I hope he won't be) and he was not a devil either. Those who either aggrandize or demonise him are both equally fallacious... they are saying or doing like so because they are in the opposite ends of a charged pole.

Therefore, one has the right and a chance as well, settle in the middle of the pole; though, the measurably imperfect. It is up to the individual either to join the chaos groups or not. Both groups are good for nothing other than polluting the status quo.