By Ibsaa Guutama*
Oromo are one nation. They had democratic past from time immemorial.
Historically, Oromiyaa had one religion. That religion did not interfere
in the affairs of the state. In the same manner, the state did not
interfere in exclusively religious matters. That did not mean that there
was no support for each other. Both political (Luba) and religious (Qaalluu)
institutions had areas of cooperation in cultural and ritual matters.
But, secularism had given the nation an overall guidance in times of
peace and war. True, Oromo did not only respect religion, but was also
known for its tolerance of difference in thoughts. Discussing our
heritage helps us understand our present. So, we should not lend our
ears to evil wishers who intend to divide us.
With time, we will certainly find the way that suits all of us. The
more we inquire and look at our surrounding critically, the more we
develop consciousness about ourselves and the world we live in, then we
realize the value and love we owe to our fellow Oromo with whom we have
common country and common kaayyoo of liberation. Then, we also come to understand in depth the essence of Oromummaa.
Oromiyaa is a land of many religions. Therefore, it has no better
alternative than adopting secularism, if the nation has to survive in
unity. Following, we shall try to see what we mean by it, and the
advantage it can have for Oromo society.
By secularism, we mean noninterference of religion in the affairs of
the state – be it administration, public education or other political
affairs. In the same token, the state has no business to interfere in
individual activities of religious concern. In short, it means faith is
one’s own while the state belongs to all in common. That is based on the
principle that the country belongs to all people under the state
irrespective of what religion they prophesy. And, each individual has
freedom of thought and is subject to his or her conscience alone. If one
religion is entertained as a state religion, the state can have bias
against all others. That, in turn, affects all rights of individual
citizens.
During the days of emperors of Ethiopia, the Tawaahidoo
religion and the state were inseparable. The state provides the arms,
and the church the guiding ideology. For its service, the church was
given a third of the land. That means, it was a shareholder in the stake
of the country. After the emperor, the church and the state were
separated, and more or less, the privileges of the church were stopped.
But, the interference of the state in church affairs continued to this
day. The influence the state had in firing and appointing heads of the
church can be cited as an evidence. Though the state declared itself a
secular state yet, it has extended its intrusion to other religions as
well. First, it banned the association of Waaqeffataa. Now, interfering in the Muslim religion, it has provoked unforeseen protest ever.
Many Ethiopianist activists seem to bring to memory the old maxim,
“Christian island in a heathen and Muslim sea.” Their problem is
inability to integrate history and democracy. Some still take the
Orthodox Church, the tricolor banner, and the Habashaa state as
their sacred institutions. For this reason, they failed to develop a
different outlook from that of their fathers. For non-Habashaa, the Habashaa
“sacred” are symbols of their downfall, carried by the colonizer when
marching to subdue them. To push them forward at this time helps only to
widen the gap between peoples rather than breaching it. The church and
the state together oppressed and exploited farmers who were their kin.
They later together colonized free people to their south and mercilessly
robbed them. A formation of secular state after the revolution of 1974
was thought to give some hope. The church is now a private spiritual
institution run by believers supposedly, not a partner of the state.
The church, instead of remaining a partner to the state, started to
depend on contributions of those who followed it on their own free will.
Previously, it lived on forced contributions of other believers. That
has to be remembered.
The concept of modern secularism was probably introduced in western
Christian countries. It seems that it originated from shortcomings of
divine laws in responding to demands of developments in knowledge and
technology. When discussing secularism, one has to bear in mind that it
does not mean atheism. All citizens, including rulers, have freedom of
thought and the right to worship in any manner they like. State law
protects that right without discrimination.
That will be possible only if the state does not entertain any
religion in particular. The state sanctions no religion; that means,
there is no state religion or the state does not become religious.
Religion has to be kept out of governance in a multi-religious state,
but should be protected for individuals. Freedom of association is the
right of all groups, including religious groups.
Inhabitants of a country face several problems in their worldly life.
They need to solve such problems together. Advancement in technology,
environmental developments, protection against disease, hunger and the
elements require worldly methods like scientific researches. Religious
tools are different for different religions, and are for advancement of
individual spiritual well-being. They are not common to all inhabitants
of the land. Therefore, for people’s material life difficulties, a
common – all encompassing – method is required. Secularism advocates
good for the advantage it gives to all members of society on this earth
without any exclusion. In religion, good is advocated more for the
benefit it has for the life after death. Therefore, to claim our country
together, to develop common economic life, language and culture, we
have to have laws common to all of us.
We can learn from history on how theocratic states persecuted the
minority for heresy or apostasy. And, also how many scientists and
philosophers ended on the stake or beheaded? We do not want that to be
repeated. Under a secular democratic state, individual and minority
rights are protected. Advancements in science and other fields of
knowledge are encouraged. There will not be discrimination for creed,
gender, race or color. Everyone has the right to be treated equally
without discrimination and pursue any trade, religion or discipline of
one’s choice.
Coming to Oromiyaa, it is hoped that all nationalists will be on the
same page in their struggle for independence and against tyrannical
rule. Together, they will make sure that all individual and group
rights, including those of religion of fellow nationals, are not
interfered with by any external or internal force. The abuse of
individual rights should be taken as an abuse against the written and
unwritten constitution of the nation.
Except Waaqeffannaa, all Oromo religions have people of the
same faith outside Oromiyaa. Groups may try to enroll the external help
for internal discordance. If that happens, it could lead to unending
international tag of war that can be catastrophic for the survival of
the nation. Therefore, it is incumbent with each national to act
responsibly in matters of national integrity and sovereignty. Their
innocent utterances could be misinterpreted and open a loophole, through
which saboteurs could sneak in. They may even require to study in depth
what their faith teaches. To borrow from the words of the Bible (Mathew
22:15-22) “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is
God’s.” A similar version is cited from Hadith (en Wikipedia.org,
Islam and secularism) “If a question relates to your worldly matters,
you would know better about it, but if it relates to religion, then to
me it belongs.” Those are said to be words of the Holy Prophet. Some
analysts smell sanctioning of secularism in both quotes.
Theoretically, all those that prophesy religions that originated in
the Middle East are said to be brothers, and no boundary line should
separate them. In reality, no country has spared another because they
had similar religions. Evidences are the history of European and Arab
countries. The Arabs would not have attacked another Arab country in
coalition with Christians. The same with Europeans. For all, national
interests came first. Nationalism has so far overcome even the most
aggressive internationalism of the communists that promised good life
for all working peoples of the world. Our national interests to live in a
stable peaceful environment, and maintain control over our resources
and defending our sovereignty should be our common primary objective.
Only Oromummaa will be our guide to achieve that.
Present Oromiyaa, we said, is the land where there are different
faiths. No faith is superior to the other. The Oromo have struggled for
their birth rights since they were colonized. They were denied their
human rights, which include individual, civil and political rights.
Their religions were relegated to second-class or to nonexistent. Their
relentless struggle has forced the Ethiopian state to accept secularism
in which there is no state religion or a religious state. For a nation,
to live in peace is indispensable to be stable. In Oromiyaa, their
rallying cry for freedom and independence is Oromummaa. Oromummaa
is the Oromo world outlook of liberation that takes all human beings as
equals, and takes no any group as superior to any other. The Oromo
society, like many others, has different groups – be them social,
religious, tribal or ethnic. To administer all these with justice,
equality and without discrimination, there must be a body of laws that
governs them separate from their religious dogmas and group ethos. For
that, the secular method is a panacea.
Now, at a time when we are struggling for our independence and when
all odds are against us, to raise a sectarian debate is no less than a
distraction, for that matter, a sabotage. It is not only being denied
our legitimate rights to implement our right to national
self-determination, but our rights of worship and expression are being
muffled by the enemy. Be them rights of individuals or groups, all
belong to our people, and to protect them is our common concern. No
right denied to a citizen makes freedom of the nation complete.
Therefore, we have to condemn together the interference of the empire
state in citizens’ right of worship. We also oppose any suggestion that
takes this as a pretext and try to mess up with our national integrity.
Let it be also known that any utterance that refers to the Oromo nation
as a “gosa” is taken as contemptuous and so unfriendly. The
recent solidarity meeting in Minneapolis for our compatriots struggling
back home has to be appreciated. For this writer, the speech made by the
young Oromo Jawar Mohammed is appropriate for the occasion. But,
different people may give different interpretation to any speech or
writing; all are entitled to their opinion. But, any comment should have
addressed the issues, not the person. In that way, we can learn from
each other’s strong and weak points. These issues have far-reaching
consequences and must be handled without any bias or idiosyncrasy.
Unless the speech is evaluated line by line, point by point, and is
based solely on an unbiased stance against the speaker, it could lead
one to mistaken conclusion. Let all have genuineness and tolerance
towards each other. Let us give priority to our beloved Oromiyaa’s
interest. Our struggle for an independent homeland and free people shall
continue. Hand in hand, till victory, with Oromummaa!
Source: Gubirmans Publishing
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