BIRMADUU MEDIA

Without any doubt it is time for all of us to tear down walls, fortresses and forts and start building bridges of relationships, friendships and nationhood.  Every time walls and fortresses are built to divide people and enhance animosity we loose golden opportunities for our collective advancement as a people. Therefore as a church we have decided to pick up this mission of tearing down these walls and building bridges among our people regardless of their region, religion or political affiliation. As a people it is compulsory to have a strong sense of unity for the sake of dwelling together under the wings of our almighty God and seek freedom, peace and prosperity. In the absence of national unity weakness and fragility becomes our trademark. It is time to wake up, smart up and tear down divisive walls for the sake the current generation and generations to come.

Tear down this wall is a famous phrase taken from the most dramatic speech given by President Ronald Reagan of the United States of America. President Reagan led the free world in one of the most challenging times of human history.  Reagan’s presidency was repeatedly tested and challenged. In his days many nations were at war with each other over conflicting political ideologies. Conflicts such as civil wars, revolutionary wars, coups all over the third world, terror attacks and most importantly the called war between the eastern and the western world were shaping and reshaping the entire human livelihood and interaction across our world. 
This former movie actor, who rose to run for the presidency to the United States, was determined to take on this challenge with the help of many smart and talented leaders from all over the socio-political landscape of this nation. After surrounding himself with these talented minds of the late 19th century he took this leadership task by anchoring his life on his unwavering faith in God.

Unlike most modern American Presidents Reagan was unashamedly public about his faith in God. Most of his speeches were witty, artistic, charming and poetic. Obviously his background as an actor and his passion for life permeated his presidential discourses. All of his speeches were commencing and ending with unequivocal references to God. This simple but persistent act of pointing to God as a source his comfort, strength and hope evidently served him and his administration as an anchor of his leadership. It was also an act that was setting him apart as a leader grounded in faith practices.

Ronald Reagan was also seen as statesman and as one of the most distinguished leaders of his nation.  In some instances he stretched his presidential image and stature and positioned himself as a father figure to the nation. He used biblical expressions such as a ‘city on the hill’ to describe the United States as a leading moral example to the global communion of nations. Citizens of this nation were witnessing in him that as a leader he was advancing their national interest over his party agenda. He was also promoting his nation ahead of his personal presidential ambitions. His primary loyalty was to the image/stature of his nation therefore he was neither committed to nor loyal to the parochial and divisive party politics in Washington DC.
Reagan as leader united his nation under one national banner. All sectors of his government were well aligned and calibrated to present themselves to be subservient to his national and international agenda. This highly respected national figure grew stronger in stature and political influence. Western European leaders were giving him the respect and attention he so very well handled with class and grace. His popularity grew and extended far beyond the shores of the United States. This respected American icon out grew his republican party and transcended his national boundary and became a respected global icon.

In his final days and even today President Reagan is very vividly remembered for his very open and clear statement addressed in Berlin Germany. This was an open air campaign style speech made at the vicinities of the Berlin wall. In that place he openly and boldly spoke to his very powerful counterpart in the East, General Secretary Michael Gorbachouve of the Soviet Union. “Mr. Gorbachouve open this gate and tear down this walls!”  This global icon spoke to the psyche of the international community. Germans on both sides of the wall heard this powerful four words, ‘tear down this wall!’. Those words shook the foundations and fundamentals of the cold war and human division.
The power of those few yet remarkable words started to shatter those complex and heightened political fortresses. Powerful states, intact armies, piles of nuclear weapons, dynamic political powers of the east were shattered beyond repair. A new brand of leaders rose from around the globe to usher in a new world order. In most cases the changes witnessed as a result of this momentous wave of global reunification closed one chapter of our global human journey and welcomed new days of global human interaction.

Looking at Reagan I pray that God would raise a national figure, statesman, visionary and a man or woman of class and grace to bring about a sweeping change in our land. Oromo political leaders, intellectuals, religious leaders, business people and even Oromo youth have so much to learn from this outstanding global figure. Oromo political space is now infested with unhealthy factions perpetuated by toxic and divisive discourses. Much of these unhelpful and unhealthy chatters are harming our national unity and the beauty of our emerging nationhood. There are many divisive regional walls, unnecessary political fortresses, useless religious forts and meaningless class trenches being built throughout the fabrics of our emerging nationhood. These are negative and weakening factors in the process of birthing and building a nation.

Therefore it is time to rise for our people from all walks and sectors of life. It is time to live above petty party politics, regionalism, religious fundamentalism and cliquish behaviors. It is time for our people to collectively rise and resist divisive tendencies. It is time to tear down these meaningless walls. This is not a time to erect walls and build factions among our fragile society. However it is time to tear down those walls, emerge as a strong nation and assume a leading role in the horn of Africa.
As church leaders we are determined, prepared and equipped to entertain and engage people individually or collectively and facilitate safe platforms and initiate processes of respectful dialogue. We are also called by God and by millions of our people to be agents of peace, justice, reconciliation and freedom. Therefore our doors remain open to friends and foes alike. As long the intended outcome is peace, justice, freedom, equality to all, human rights, ending poverty and reconciliation we are ready to work and engage the challenge through the power of Waaqaa which gives us strength!!
May God help us to tear down these walls and build bridges,

Rev. Dr. Gemechis Desta Buba
President of UOEC Inc.