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CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CLASS
OF 2002
This is the time of ceremonies for all
graduating students in different parts of the world.
There are many Eritreans graduating this year.
First, The Nharnet Team congratulates them on their successful
completion of their perspective field studies.
We all so wish them the best in their future endeavors be it
pursuing further education or start a working life.
Nharnet wants to encourage the youngsters who completed their
under-grad degrees to challenge themselves to higher education. It has been said knowledge is power. Knowledge is confidence.
Knowledge is the key to development.
Knowledge is the fruit of education.
This has special meaning for Eritrean
youngsters. To start with,
almost all of them are first generation citizens of the country they live
in. They went to schools with students of different cultures than
their household and they have had to adjust to new environments to survive
and succeed in their classrooms. They
have had to go through tremendous challenge of fitting in as they come
from a different background than most of their classmates. Despite these challenges, Eritreans have done well and are
succeeding in many fields that are potentially essential to the
development of Eritrea and
the lives of Eritrean people.
These youngsters are mostly (except those who
continued their education in their adulthood) are born in the seventies
and eighties when the Eritrean armed struggle was at its peak.
They are refugees who endured so much financial and cultural
difficulties. Their childhood
did not start with comfort and warmth as their parents tried to make it in
new countries without any financial resource and in many instances with
language barriers. But, all
these hindrances helped them to be determined to focus in their
schoolwork.
They are also young scholars that are
graduating after Eritrea gained independence; but is in very serious
crossroads because of lack of democracy, transparency, accountability,
justice, and freedom of speech. They
are young scholars who are witnessing their brothers and sisters in Asmara
University being jailed, sent to unbearable climate that caused three
deaths, and forced to go to meaningless services in camps.
They are also scholars who witnessed and are still witnessing while
their
counterparts are hunted and taken to military camps.
They unfortunately witnessed thousands of their brothers and
sisters back home being sent to death to a totally avoidable and senseless
war with Ethiopia that finally ended with international arbitration.
What does it mean to be a young scholar under
these circumstances? What do
they think the solution would be to the dilemma our country is in? How do they compare the freedom granted to them in their new
adopted countries to those oppressed in Eritrea, where their beloved ones
gave their lives for? How do
they feel when their parents support the government despite what it is
doing to their counterpart students in Eritrea?
These are very challenging questions when seen in light of the
propaganda they grew up; guided by parents who blindly support the
government because of some financial and other interests.
PFDJ is working on the assumption that the
opposition is from the old rivalry of the armed struggle and does not have
support from the youth. The
PFDJ bosses miscalculated this one as they have many other aspects
of the aspirations of the young Eritrean scholars.
The support for the revolution was the support for freedom,
equality, justice and freedom of speech.
It has never been the endorsement for one man and one party
dictatorship. They also failed to recognize that these youngsters want the
same freedom they enjoy in the Diaspora to be afforded to their counterparts in
Eritrea. They will not fall
for the simple PFDJ propaganda. At
the end of the day, it is this force along with the army, the people
(organized in different forums, associations and movements) led
and supported by the opposition organizations like ELF-RC that will really topple the
PFDJ tyranny.
This phenomenon has already started.
We are encouraged by more and more rejection of what is happening
in Eritrea by the Eritrean youth. Every
youngster who visits Eritrea has a story to tell.
They have their own observations different than that of their parents.
We are also encouraged that the PFDJ propaganda that smears the
opposition of different ridiculous accusations is losing ground by the
hour. We also believe the
youth have started their own debate outside the PFDJ monopoly in the name
of youth organization. The
start of a new website, The Eritreans, by students of universities and
colleges in the USA, is an example of a good start.
In conclusion, WE
CONGRATULATE THE CLASS OF 2002, and challenge them to be thoughtful citizens.
We remind them not to fall for biases, hatred and propaganda.
They are equipped with analytical skills that will help them see through
things clearly. They are in
countries where they are free to think, speak, write and express their
opinions. Never forget their
brothers and sisters back home that do not have that opportunity.
Nharnet.com challenges them to be very inquisitive in their
approach. We do not want them to be the
blind followers of any organization including the ELF-RC. We want
them to open their mind, ask questions, search beyond the surface, and make
intelligent decisions. That is the basis for our building the
foundation of building free Eritrea for free Eritreans. Contact us with
your observations, comments, and opinions, bad or good.
Challenge all organizations, associations, forums and other movements of
their vision for the Eritrea of tomorrow. The issue is not replacing
one power by the other, it is handing over the power to a legitimate power
and to
its legitimate owners, the people. It is the future that we are trying to shape and that future needs
to evolve around you and those in Eritrea.
Now that you have the tools, use it to make a difference.
Knowledge that is not used in making a difference is like” a lamp
in a closed pot”
CONGRATULATIONS AND BEST
WISHES TO THE CLASS OF 2002
The Nharnet Team
 
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