Real Dreams: A Brief Response to Mr Yosief Ghebrehiwet

I read the article which was posted at Asmarino on 13 Apr 2011 under the title of “The Elite: Normalizing the Abnormal State of Eritrea”. Allow me to say that I was fascinated by the issues the author, a certain Mr Yosief Gebrehiwet, raised there which revolved around Eritrean identity and matters that define Eritreanness.  Actually, I was not only fascinated but equally alarmed by the passage he included regarding Prof Gaim Kibreab’s most recent book – A Dream Deferred, which I thought was unfairly weighed up from his part.  I would also like to mention the fact that I have read the review posted by Dr Tekeste Negash (at the same website), a renowned Ethiopianist, on the same subject matter, which I thought was professionally presented.

Most of my fascination is confined to the level of the author’s mastery of the English language rather than the substance of his argument.  All together, my apprehension emanates from his level of arrogance he demonstrated in assessing the Eritrean cause and its cogs.  First of all, from what I could gather from his article, I do not think he read the book he was “reviewing”.   His anecdotal evidence, rather than the inter-connectedness of the book’s discourse, showed me he was not only unfair but farcical.  Actually, he admitted that he did not read the book when he wrote: “Odd as it may seem, one can “review” the book without reading it ...”.  However, after I finished reading his article I was left with an aftertaste that is difficult to describe.

I thought a book review is not only a well thought-out description of the book but also a critical analysis of the major theme and how it is revealed and developed.  I think he failed to present a proper evaluation on the quality, meaning, and significance of the book. Perhaps he may need to read it and then, by following a simple book-reviewing procedure, give us an elucidating rebuttal of his analysis.  For now, may I suggest that he read Dr Tekeste Negash’s review first?  Although I do not agree with key contents of Dr Negash’s assessment, I thought his review was professionally conducted.  

Having said the above, I would like to make a mention of Yosief’s arrogance towards me as a reader.  As he is basking in the Internet world, which snubs accountability, doesn’t he think it is incumbent on him to exercise modesty, factuality, respect not only towards individuals he targets but his audience?

Would the author agree with me if I say that some of us, rather sadly, feign to flex intellect that does not exist within our own minds?   Self-admittedly, I do it sometimes.  All I need is an audience which the Internet readily provides and then, in the interest of protecting and preserving my delusions of grandeur, I fall victim to flatulence – basically, I pass gas thinking it won’t be detected by those around me.   I think they call it pseudo-intellectualism. Do I think that may relate to the author to a certain extent?  I do.  I guess there is nothing fiercer than a failed artist.  The author and I could be suffering from flatulence.

Dear Yosief, FYI, the Eritrean dream to be free is not enforced on me as you wrongly stated it repeatedly in your article.  I do not think that you, out of all Eritreans, have the right to tell me that I am a brainless follower of that very dream that kept me corporally and emotionally alive as well as the revolution I supported for all those years.  I know that the revolution did not stay on course, but the straying does not negate the fact there was once a dream.  It is still in me. Unlike you, I happen to respect those who sacrificed their lives for Eritrea. Unlike you, I believe, just like Dr Gaim Kibreab stated it in his book, in my dream of a great Eritrea which has been temporarily DEFERRED.

You see, I am a product of our forefathers – the likes of Woldeab Woldemariam and Ibrahim Sultan. You could be a product of your own frustrations which is normal as far as I am concerned. But imposing that frustration of yours on me is not right. You cannot take my dream away from me.   The good thing about dreams is that fleeting moment when it navigates between reality and fantasy. Mine are real and yours could very well be based on fantasy.

Sara Zere