Thread by @ObangMetho

Today, January 7, an estimated of 260 million Orthodox Christians around the world will celebrate Christmas Day in the Julian calendar.

On this day millions of #Ethiopians at home and away from home and those of us from #Ethiopia will celebrate ገና በዓል (Gena) or Christmas.

I wish you all Melkam Gena መልካም የገና በዓል እመኝላችኋለሁ!

I am wishing each of you who are followers of Jesus, a very Merry Christmas as we celebrate this most joyous time of the year when Jesus Christ was born, not in a palace or mansion, but in a humble stall.

For those of you who are my very dear Muslim brothers and sisters, I greet you, “Assalaamu Alaykum,” and hope that you may find encouragement, peace in your hearts, protection and blessings in this coming year.

For those who are Jewish Ethiopians, some of you even living in Israel, I say, “Shalom or Peace be with you,” as Hanukah is being celebrated. May God, our creator, bless you, bring you joy.

For all those Ethiopians of other beliefs or who may have no belief, I am hoping that this holiday will be a wonderful time for each of you, where we can all be reminded of the joy, uniqueness and importance of those around us as they are reminded of the same towards each of us.

Ethiopia is a country of great beauty in its people and in its landscape. As you celebrate this Christmas or holiday with your family, do not forget to think about your greater family, the family of Ethiopians and humanity.

Let us remember those less fortunate, those struggling around us due to poverty, hunger or homelessness and those facing extreme hardship in far away places.

As you celebrate Christmas with your family circle, please don’t forget about our other Ethiopian family who lost their family because of ethnic based politics and those who are suffering throughout Ethiopia, those who have been displaced from their home by ethnic extremists and

the less fortunate, those who have nothing to eat, no place to sleep, no cloth, no mother, no father, no sister, no brother, no place-to sleep except in cold and hungry!

There are millions less fortunate in our society who, for various reasons, wander aimlessly through the cities, streets, towns, villages, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year with no place to go, no families and community members.

It is the responsibility of every one of us Ethiopian to help others that cannot help themselves. Each of us has a moral responsibility to try to help others that cannot help themselves.

As you celebrate Gena with your family please think about our less fortunate family too and put yourselves in the shoes of those who have nothing in terms of worldly possessions—who have been viewed as discardable people by the ethnic extremists and by many within our society.

Think of the Ethiopia in foreign countries like Saudi Arabia, Yemen and even those in the western world who are having a difficult time surviving away from family and home simply because they are trying to seek safety or a better opportunity in a foreign country.

Please refuse to promote ethnic hatred, ethnic division and most of all the devaluation of other human beings. We are all one family, the beautiful family of Ethiopia and humanity.

Our people in this ancient land have shared the same soil with each other for hundreds and thousands of years. Our beautiful land of Ethiopia joins us all together as one people. Until we see ourselves in this way, we will never be free.

Our problem of ethnic federalism, ethnic favoritism, and ethnic division will never go away. Ethnic domination, oppression, anger, despair and misery will become our national identity.

We need to rediscover who we are as Ethiopians NOT as a ethnic groups! We have a long road ahead of us to justice and freedom!

The problem we are facing is not a new one. Neither is it new to others in this human race of ours. Speak out for the right of all ethnic groups and religious groups in Ethiopia.

Rally behind moral leaders who value life, liberty and the rule of law equally applied to everyone. Let your extra help your neighbor not only your own family or ethnic group.

May God restore our compassion and our humanity. Long live Ethiopia.