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18 December 2006
ADDIS ABABA - A renowned scholar urged Ethiopians all over the world to make use of the new Ethiopian millennium to change the negative image of their country to the whole world.
“Celebrating the new Ethiopian millennium would have great significance in promoting the positive image of Ethiopia to the whole world that always identifies the country by her ugly images — poverty and disease,” said Prof. Ephraim Isaac.
Prof. Ephraim, who is Director of the Institute of Semitic Studies in the United States, said this week that Ethiopia is about to enter an era of rebirth by celebrating its new millennium, an occasion that comes once in a thousand years.
“Ethiopians must seize this chance to change the negative image of the country,” he said.
Prof. Ephraim, who is also Chairperson of International Board of the Horn of Africa Peace & Development Organization, said much of the world today identifies Ethiopia with poverty and diseases.
“However,” he added, “this is not the true image of Ethiopia which has beautiful people, long history, diverse culture and very lovely climate and weather conditions. I always say Ethiopia is a combination of Egypt and Kenya.”
“Egypt makes billions of dollars in tourism from its historical sites, while Kenya secures billions of dollars in tourism from its wildlife,” Prof. Ephraim said, adding, “Ethiopia has both.”
In the south it has rich scenery and wild life, and in the north many historical sites, he said. “Let us make all these known to the whole world,” Prof. Ephraim said.
“If once the whole world comes to know Ethiopia, it would find one of the most beautiful and interesting part of the world,” Professor said, and called on the public to join hands in the celebration of this unique festival.
“What we need now is a renewal. I call it ‘Hiddasie ze ethiopia’, the renewal of Ethiopia. And the millennium should be in the minds of every Ethiopian. It is a season, a time, an epoch when we are going to start everything anew, with cooperation, love of every people whatever language we speak, whatever religion we belong to,” he said.
He said despite the theory that assumes the Ethiopian calendar is based on the birth of Jesus Christ, Ethiopian Muslims and non-Muslim have historically used it.
“This calendar is a civil calendar not just a religious calendar,” he said.
(ENA)