ITHIOPIAN STUDENTS ABROAD: UNITED KINGDOM
************************************************************
ITHIOPIAN STUDENTS ABROAD: UNITED KINGDOM
InI are happy to send InI Christmas Greetings to the holiday reunion of Ithiopian students in Great Britain.
They reach you at a time when InI efforts for the reunion of Eritrea to the Motherland have been crowned with success, and access to the sea has been opened to Ithiopia. Since the larger the number of a people, the less they are vulnerable to aggression, InI are proud to know that the people of a former province once torn away from the Motherland are now restored to InI. InI well know that you have been brought together during your holidays by reason of the sense of brotherhood and by loyalty and devotion to your own country. You all know that the high privilege of your study abroad has been made possible through InI Government's policy supported by the individual tax contributions of all InI people. In thus making your education possible the permanent rather than the temporary benefit of InI people has been preferred. You will realize that their sacrifice has imposed a high trust upon all of you; as for InI, InI trust that the idea repaying the price for the privilege you have been given is in the forefront of your plans for the future. You will be able to fulfill this trust when you apply yourselves faithfully to study and pass with distinction through your higher courses. Thus you will also be able to apply the knowledge you are acquiring in your many schools for the benefit of your country and your people.
Wise men have always known the deep and pervading truth that it is better to give than to receive, for even as it conflicts with selfish and ambitious desires, it moderates and controls them. Giving always demands sacrifice. To overcome the temptation of mere daily comfort and to press resolutely and patiently forward on the scheduled way are true tests of the high degree of determination that should bind you together. Any of you, who may wish to profit himself alone from the knowledge given him rather than serve others through the knowledge he has gained from learning, is betraying knowledge and rendering it worthless. A man's happiness is to make his brother happy, and to serve his country. Thus, it is possible to justify for knowledge its high and deserved place. For knowledge is power. When it is not applied property to create, let there be no doubts, it will destroy. Education has value as it is established in individuals of good character with respect for God. InI pray that your destiny shall be embraced in an education firmly based on good character before men and respect before God.
The education and knowledge you are acquiring in England will enable you to alleviate the suffering of your country, Ithiopia, when they are enfolded into your minds in harmony with your country's tradition and character. Not for you will be their display as mere personal ornament. You cannot escape the responsibility of your choice. You must be worthy of InI hope that you return with knowledge and devotion to serve InI country and ameliorate the life of InI People.
Even as the impression of another people is formed from the conduct of a single individual, so are you all ambassadors of your country. When you are found to be well-mannered, thoughtful, faithful and industrious, you make others think well of InI. When you become dishonest, arrogant, careless, and indolent, you discredit InI and yourself, and your conscience will trouble you throughout the rest of your life.
Your country is awaiting the services of her experienced children. Since your desire is to participate in the work which InI have planned for the well-being of Ithiopia and for InI people's prosperity, in sending you this advice, InI pray that the Almighty may help you to attain your loyal and worthy aspirations.
JANUARY 8, 1951
************************************************************
.....Knowledge paves the way to love, and love in its turn fosters overstanding, and leads one along the path of great common achievements.....
When today is being opened this University College, InI feeling of joy has two motivations, InI happiness is of two kinds. These are private and common. Happiness shared with many creates a source of permanent affection and overstanding. Private happiness is a temporary matter.
InI endeavour to expand schools has passed from planning to achievement. InI satisfaction in the field of education is in InI days being shared by the Ithiopian people, and particularly by those who have and are profiting by it.
Thus, InI saying that this would benefit Ithiopia is now being increased greatly. As has been pointed out by InI Vice-Minister, work on the University is progressing rapidly. To make successful the work of those educational institutions of higher education, aid of the students and teachers is needed. InI pray that the preparation of students and teachers is nearing completion.
InI are proud to see Ithiopian youth thirsting for learning. Although the fruits of education can be applied to evil as well as to good things, you Ithiopian students should avoid having a bad reputation and be eager and energetic in your studies, be loyal to your country and obedient to your teachers, eschew lies and follow truth, respect good and be heirs of good work.....
FEBRUARY 27, 1951
************************************************************
.....From truth alone is born liberty and only an educated people can consider itself as really free and master of its fate. It is only with an educated people that representative and democratic organs of government can exercise their influence for national progress.
...However, InI programmes undertaken in the economic field for augmenting the material welfare of InI subjects, has not made InI forget that, according to the words of the Bible, "man does not live by bread alone." InI know that the spiritual and moral welfare of Our people is as important as their material well-being. Thus, it is that following the liberation of Ithiopia from the yoke of the enemy, InI have devoted a very large part of InI budget and national revenues for the establishment and development of schools. During this short period of ten years no less than fifteen secondary schools, of which the last, the General Wingate School, was opened by Ourselves this year, have been established directly as a result of InI initiative and direction. The number of students enrolled in schools in Ithiopia has nearly tripled during that same period. Shortly, the University, the foundation stone of which InI have laid, will be opened under InI direction. InI face with confidence the future of public instruction in Ithiopia.
When InI have made so many sacrifices for the education of InI youth, it is because InI are convinced that only through intellectual progress and universal education can Ithiopia come into its own and make its just contribution to the history of the peoples of the Middle East. InI know that from truth alone is born liberty and that only an educated people can consider itself as really free and master of its fate. It is only with an educated people that representative and democratic organs of government can exercise their influence for national progress. InI Address from the Throne therefore testifies to the importance which InI attach to education and, at the same time, to your role as representatives, in the development and progress of Our people....
NOVEMBER 3, 1951
************************************************************
Copyright © 1997 & 4Iver - [inithebabeandsuckling.com]. All rights reserved. Privacy Statement...inithebabeandsuckling.com does not share personal information with any outside entity whatsoever.