Tag: haile selassie
Senate of U.S., Washington, 2nd of October 1963
“It is a great honour and privilege to welcome to the Senate an outstanding Head of State from the great continent of Africa. He governs a nation which is among the oldest, in a historic sense, in the world. It is also among the newest in its dynamic search for a more satisfying participation for all its people in the main-stream of progress in the second half of the 20th century.
The man whom I am to present to the Senate is the Emperor of an ancient land. He is also an exceptional international statesman whose constructive outlook has made a profound impression upon the contemporary councils of the world.
This man has been a living part of the great events of our times. He has experienced these events personally, and He has experienced them as the personification of a peaceful nation, determined to live its own life and to work out its own way of life. He and His nation were both caught up in the feaful tragedies, the high hopes, the illusions, and disillusions – in short, in the cataclysmic upheavals – of a globe in massive transition since the end of World War I. He has suffered much. He has risen above suffering with the wisdom which suffering alone brings; and he has triumphed, not in arrogance, not in vengeance, not in pride. His has been the enduring triumph of humility and a deep human understanding.
The Senate will remember his lonely appearance at the League of Nations in 1936. He spoke, then, from his heart, not only to save his people from invasion, but also to arrest the course of self-destruction upon which a smug, a glib, and an indifferent world was embarked. He was listened to, but He was not heeded. He was persuasive, but the nations of the world were not persuaded. And a few years later the smug, glib and indifferent world began to crumble about those who did not heed, who were not persuaded.
Once again, on Friday, our distinguished visitor will go to address the nations of the world, assembled in the 18th General Assembly of the United Nations. The times are different now; the faces are different; even the nations are different than they were when He appeared in Geneva almost 28 years ago. One would hope – and I am sure that it is a well-founded hope – that His words, enriched by these decades of tragedy and triumph and by profound personal experience, will find in that great assemblage of the world a deep response of heart and mind.”
“The Bible says that Christ must return after 2000 years”. This teaching was repeatedly expressed by Bob Marley in several interviews, and it is often criticized by the enemies of Rastafari faith as a false statement, as they cannot find it written anywhere in the Holy Scripture. As always happens, the mind of this people is without the guidance of the Holy Spirit, without knowledge of the Ethiopian tradition and without Apostolic intelligence of interpretation, and they cannot see and respect the wisdom of a true Prophet, that indeed, with high consciousness, spoke the biblical truth that is hidden in the pages of the Scripture, and that only Rasta must reveal to the people in this time.
As we learn from the Ethiopian traditional Book of “Gedle Adam” (The Combat of Adam), Christ had to born 5500 years after the creation of Adam:
” ‘The Word will again save thee when the five years and a half are fulfilled’. (…) Then God in His Mercy for Adam, made in His own image and likeness, explained to him that these were 5000 and 500 years, and how One would then come and save him and his seed”.
(Gedle Adam Book I, Chapter III)
1000 years were thus interpreted as one day in the language of God, as it was written by the Apostle Peter:
“But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” (2 Peter 3,8)
Therefore the history of creation is compared to the week of creation, and 7 days corresponds to 7 millenniums. The 1st millennium is the Sunday, as 1st day of Creation. The 6th millennium (5000-6000 considering the Creation of Adam, 500 B.C. – 500 A.D. considering the Birth of Christ), in which Christ was born, was the 6th day of Creation, i.e. Friday, the day in which Adam was created, and also the day in which he ate the forbidden fruit and died: therefore in that day Christ had to suffer and die for the sake of Adam to expiate his sin, and in that 6th millennium Incarnation had to happen, when God dressed the flesh of Adam.
Now we know that Christ died on Friday, slept the sleep of death on the day of Sabbath within the Sepulchre, and rose again on Sunday. The Sabbath of His death corresponds to the 7th millennium (500 A.D. – 1500 A.D.) a period of time that is historically named “Middle Age”, characterized by ascetic attitude and social closure, that had to be a time of transition. The Sunday of Resurrection corresponds to the 8th millennium (1500 A.D. – 2500 A.D) that is what is historically named “Modern Era”, and that starts, for the academics, with the colonial journey of Colombo in 1492 A.D..
This 8th Millennium, New Sunday of the Resurrection, must be the ultimate millennium of history, as it was in the beginning (Sunday) so shall it be in the end (Sunday). In this final millennium Christ must return in His Second Coming, in Risen State, as He returned from death in that same day, after the Friday of His sacrifice, then 2 days after, that also means 2000 years after His First Coming.
That’s why the Holy Liturgy of the Ethiopian Church (Qeddasie) says in the Anaphora of St. Athanasius, 61, about the Sunday:
“Oh, this day is the ultimate that lasts for ever”
And in the footnote of this verse, in the official english translation published by the Ethiopian Church in 1959, written by Rev. Marcos Daoud, we read:
“The tradition is that Christ’s second advent will be on Sunday”.
Also David, in the Psalm 11, whose title is “Concerning the 8th Epoch”, states in reference to the 8th day:
‘I will rise now’ said Egziabhier ::
That’s why His Majesty was crowned on Sunday, and manifested His royal ministry in the 8th millennium of Sunday, exactly 400 hundred years after the colonial journey of Colombo, because in this time both Christ and the Anti-Christ must operate upon the earth.
At the University of California Los Angeles – April 24 1967
“Mr Chancellor, members of the UCLA Community, honored guests,
It is with great pleasure that we accepted the invitation to participate in the cerimonies of this anniversary of the University of California which next year will be at its 100th.
One of the first words of the Creator was ‘let there be light‘, words on which this very institution is established. It is following this worthy aim that the university has contributed so significantly to the advancement of physical, nuclear and biological science, winning for itself a considerable degree of esteem among the institutions of higher learning.
The foresightedness of this university in concentrating its energies in the study of the developing societies of Africa is among the virtues which have won respect for it as an academic institution. As for Us, it is precisely with this hope that We initiated the Prize Trust named after Us, among the early recipients of which is your own professor Wolf Leslau.
By far the major problem confronting the human race at present is the question of peace and survival: if that problem is dealt with successfully by the present generation, it may be that the future shall have to deal with spreading the benefits of human civilization to the masses.
Long before the term ‘university’ came into usage, it had been the tradition among scholars not only to travel from place to place and acquire knowledge, but also to share that acquisition with their fellow scholars. Here, although it has not been free from moment of controversy, the efforts of the State of California to make higher education universal deserve commendation.
For our own country we recognized as many as 40 years ago, when We assumed the Regency, that the strength of a Nation must lie in the education of its citizens. We saw that a country would be as powerful as its least educated member. Thus, while many were scorning the benefits of modern education, we caused as many schools be opened as our resources would allow, and as many children to attend as their parents would permit. Those who desplayed the desire to learn and whose parents were farsighted enough to let them study, are some in places of authority.
However, no sooner had this gigantic task started that the Second World War brought an apparent end to our endeavors: the schools were closed, the youth either left the country or remained within for patriotic activities, and thus brought upon themselves the wrath of the enemy. The completion of that destructive war brought forth renewed efforts on Our part, and to show to our nation the importance which We attach to education, We assumed the portfolio of Education and acted as the Minister for a number of years. Behold, today the number of schools is beyond count. Many professional schools are established in the nation, and our labour for education has reached a relative apex by the establishment of Our own university.
In Our lifetime we have seen many changes. In 1931, when We first promulgated a written constitution for Ethiopia, many of the nations of Africa were under foreign rule. Today, Africa is free and demanding its rightful place in the community of nations. This and many other changes impress Us, and they cause Us to be thankful, but We do not accept them as the ultimate destiny for Our continent or Our nation. Our defiance of the present as the ultimate destiny for Our content may appear visionary, but no more so than the visions We have lived to see fulfilled. Obviously there are many problems which confront Us in Our task ahead: the forest, water, mineral and other natural resources of Our country need to be extensively exploited, but the present University products are but drop in an ocean. We need many universities in the future.
The place of these universities in young and developing societies is rather unique. A university is not only the instrument by which modern technocrats capable of exploiting the natural resources of a nation are produced. It is also the medium by which the society as a whole is exposed to modern technology and international culture. Universities gave meaning to the past, a purpose for the present, and a goal to the future.
They must not seek acceptability by cloaking themselves in a foreign road: they must rather interpret africanis and build a future society on a present firm foundation. Universities which the above mentioned duties are required, must not only perform the conventional tasks of institutions of higher learning: they must also be able to attract staff, mature and dedicated, capable of solving Africa’s problems in Africa’s own way. Universities must be more than expensive equipment, they must be more than voluminous libraries, they must be more than impressive buildings. They must center around a core of men dedicated to a common cause, the accumulation, dispersion and expansion of human knowledge.
It is precisely in this invaluable treasure that we should like to challenge the University of California. The traditionally generous assistance of the government of the United States to education is known the world over, and we hope it shall continue with larger shares for the developing countries. But universities by themselves can do far more than what they have done in the past. Sabaticals, research leads, research projects, interchange of quality staff, rigorous training of future staff: these and many others are areas in which you could be of assistance to Us.
Some of you students close the first chapter of your life and begin another one. You are now leaving the world of the possible and moving into the world of the probable. To you, let Us leave few words of exhortation. A man comes into the world naked, and he is designed to take away nothing. What makes one famous, or the other notorious, or what makes many mediocre, is what he has done or failed to do during his sojourn. Many of you students have most of your life before you. Will this world have been better because you passed through it ? Will the causes of world peace, of social justice, of human understanding have been served or will they have gone wanting ? It is evident that the world in which you find yourself today is the product of conscientious hard work of your forefathers: they died that you might have life, and pass that life on to your children. Let us hope that you, the students of 1967, shall accept that challenge.
Finally, We wish to thank the people of California, and especially of Los Angeles, for this tumultuous reception during Our private visit. We trust that you also shall someday visit Ethiopia. Long live Ethio-American friendship.” #QHS
Los Angeles, UCLA, April 24 1967
“Your Imperial Majesty,
it is a great honor for me to welcome You in the name of our Faculty.
We salute in You a living symbol: You are the representative of a country with an old civilization which, although cut off from the Western world for many centuries, has become one of the leading nations of Africa under Your wise leadership.
We salute in You a symbol of education: from the very beginning You have understood that only an educated citizen can be a free and useful citizen. With the limited means at Your disposal, You have promoted the educational system of Your country and symbolized it by assuming personally the post of Minister of Education for many years. (…)
The scientific work of scholars has been made possible thanks to the wholehearted cooperation of your government and your people. I take this opportunity to express to You our gratitude for your cooperation and to wish You a long life for the successful accomplishment of Your goal.”
Intelligencer Journal (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA), June 11 1964
Drew Pearson:
“HAILE SELASSIE LOOKS TO EDUCATION FOR SALVATION
After seeing various parts of Ethiopia as suggested by Emperor Haile Selassie, I came back to see him a second time.
His Imperial Majesty received Mrs. Pearson and me in the throne room of the Jubilee Palace, actually a circular office set off from the residential part of the palace. His Majesty wore a dark business suit with stiff collar and black polka-dot tie, rather than his usual military uniform. He sat behind a desk heaped with papers, and the long list of cabinet officers and ambassadors scheduled to see him indicated that he is very much a working, not a titular, monarch.
His Majesty expressed his pleasure at the fact that we had seen so much of Ethiopia. ‘I hope’, he said, ‘that the time will come when Ethiopia will be not merely a historic country but a well-developed country. Education,’ he said, ‘will be the salvation of Ethiopia. It must be expanded.’ #QHS
The conversation quickly got around to the strained relations between Ethiopia and its desert neighbor, Somalia, which has spearheaded an Arab-Communist drive to subvert its Christian neighbor.
‘Somalia is a football field for the players of the East and the West.’ said the Emperor. ‘The reason for the influx of foreign aid to Somalia is to try to carry out the ideologies of the United States on one hand, Russia on the other. The only sufferer, however, will be Ethiopia.’ #QHS
TO GIVE OR NOT TO GIVE
I told his Majesty that the United States had been giving Egypt $140,000,000 of wheat and grain annually despite the fact that Nasser had been undercutting American policy in Somalia, in Yemen, and in pressuring Libya to oust our Wheelus Air Force Base. I asked His Majesty whether he thought this food subsidy for Nasser was wise.
‘I am afraid I cannot advise the United States or the American Congress on their policy,’ the Emperor replied. ‘The policy of the United States is to keep a nation out of the hands of the Reds. At least that is the excuse that is always given. Maybe this will bring Egypt over to your side, maybe not.’ #QHS
‘Egypt’, he continued, ‘gave great publicity recently to the help it had received from Russia in building the Aswan dam, but gave the United States no credit for the food it received. When the dam is finished Egypt will be independent and able to grow enough wheat for the needs of its people.’ #QHS
‘Egypt pretends to be a friend of Ethiopia,’ said the Emperor, ‘but we know that all the time it has been helping Somalia; and also getting aid from the Communist countries.’ #QHS
I asked the Emperor what was behind Somalia’s campaign against Ethiopia: religion or territorial ambition ?
‘Both,’ he replied. ‘Religion can be a name for a political instrumental rather than for divine guidance. Somalia has a conception of creating a greater Somalia. Bevan, the former British Foreign Minister, conceived the idea of a greater Somaliland but never fixed the boundaries. Now Somalia is trying to expand its ideas.’ #QHS
‘However’, said the Emperor with quiet conviction in his voice, ‘I do not propose to budge an inch. If I did, what would have been the use of defending our territory in the war with Italy ?’ #QHS
‘Is Ethiopia getting its fair share of American aid?’ I asked, having in mind the huge outlay of Russian-Chinese-European aid poured into Somalia.
‘I do not like to belittle the aid given to Ethiopia by the United States,’ replied His Majesty. ‘It has been helping to a certain extent. But if, for instance, the United States had build the long-discussed dam at Lake Tana, it would have done for us what the Russians have done for Egypt at Aswan.’ ” #QHS
“Suddenly everyone stiffened. One of the two doors in the pavilion opened. Palace servants, bare-footed and their shammas drawn over the sword-arm, ran out to clear the porch. The Emperor followed.
He was dressed in khaki as a general. His aspect froze my blood. Vigour had left the face, and as he walked forward he did not seem to know where he was putting his feet. His body was crumpled up, his shoulders drooped: the orders on his tunic concealed a hollow, not a chest.
I did not know it then, but later I learned that the chiefs whom he had ordered out, some of whose troops had cheered the very order, refused to go.
They pleaded inability to assemble their soldiers.
They appeared behind the Emperor now, completely satisfied wih their excuses. Gatatchu had even donned a new pair of grey trousers, with a military stripe down the side, immaculately creased. He smelt of fresh scent.
They did not realise, as the Emperor realised, that their reluctance had destroyed the last chance of organised military resistance in Ethiopia. They still believed themselves to be great leaders of men (…)
Gates of the courtyard opened… Nine hundred men followed, armed with new Mausers, marching well, carrying gas masks. As they passed the saluting base they eyes-righted the Emperor.
He did not respond, scarcely raised his hand. He recognised no one. His eyes focussed neither on objects nor on space. After the shock of the final disobedience, the parade which he was now forced to attend meant nothing, and he bitterly paid it no attention.
He went back into the pavilion. Buxton drew near with his box of Bibles, but he could not speak to he Emperor: none of us could speak to him, not even the young adviser Spencer. (…)
I stood between the doors and looked in. The Emperor lay back in the corder of a deep sofa, utterly exhausted, his high black hair showing like a halo over a face without feeling. The Empress sat erect at the other end, with her finger raised. Occasionally the white net on her head shook as she emphasised a point. When he said wearily that he would fight on, she insisted that he should fly. The sixteen-year-old boy stood by for orders, but they never came: he marched his soldiers of a day back to their homes, to the latest bugles of Ethiopia.
For hours the Empress lectured the Emperor. (…)
It must have been then that the Emperor at last decided to go. Reason, the appeal to the League, allied itself to the instinct of flight…”
(Taken from “Ceasar in Abyssinia”, G.L. Steer, 1936)
I-Tal Education for I&I
“Man, after all, is also composed of intellect and soul. Therefore, education in general, and higher education in particular, must aim to provide, beyond the physical, food for the intellect and soul.” #QHS
“What we have seen wherever we went has convinced us that education is as vital as life itself.” #QHS
Education is I-tal like Food, Jah seh.
Similarly, teachers are like farmers or cooks or restaurateurs, producing and elaborating and distributing food.
This food could be pure and healthy, when it is wisely grown without pollution of human ignorance or stupidity, free from pesticides of carnal and personal passions, full of natural truth and without additives of lies;
it could be delicious and tasty, when it is creatively processed and combined with art and skill, spiced with grace and and presented with inspiring and encouraging sense of beauty;
it could be nutritious and energetic, when its mind-soil is fertile and rich of information, watered by living rock-streams of high meditation, warmed by the powerful sun of the African Christ.
Some of them teachers claim to be elder of age and experience and noble in deeds, but their teaching is toxic like fried garbage;
another is monotonous heavy and illegible like a dull inexpressive schlop;
another one is just repeating the same banal rigmarole and rethoric without any actual contribution of usefulness.
Surely, self-help in physical and well spiritual nutrition is the goal, but to reach that stage we generally need the help of our fathers and brethren.
Remember the example of the King: choose the best teachers as the best food for yourself.
(Artworks by Jah Zion)