Who Delivers the Olive Leaf: the Dove or the Raven? – Part I
Well, there seems to be a big disconnect between liberationist Eritreans and acculturated pundits in the way they see the language issue in Eritrea. For liberationists, the Arabs, Egyptians, The Ottoman Turks, The Italians, the British and later the Ethiopians and their corresponding languages are cruel reminders of how these ominous occupiers imposed their will on the Eritrean people by the barrels of their guns. The whole idea of liberation, as we know it during the 30-year struggle and now, is not limited to ejecting colonial armies from Eritrean territories, but also aims at reinstating Eritrean dignity and identity. It encompasses the grand mission of reviving Eritrean culture, language, norms and national spirit. It aims at freeing the people psychologically from colonial mentality. The injustices inflicted on our people by former colonizers and slave traders are part of our dark historical past and we must recuperate from that tragedy by starting to value our languages and cultures and committing ourselves to develop them.
