In Ethiopia, 5 May is Patriot’s Day or to give it it’s full title – Ethiopian Patriots Victory Day. On this day Ethiopians celebrate the victory over the Italians in 1941. Ethiopia was invaded by the Italians in 1935 with Addis being captured on 5 May 1936. The reasons for the invasions have never been 100% clear – some say it was to avenge the loss the Italians suffered at the hands of the Ethiopians in 1896; others say it was a scheme by Mussolini to draw attention away from his local failures. The church in Italy supported the war as a way of making the savages more civilized and converting the Orthodox to Catholicism.
Emporere Haile Selassie mobilized the Ethiopian Army and ordered all men to go to war and to bring a woman to cook and clean for him. Only those with babies, the blind and the infirm were excused. The Army was about 500 000 men and most of them were untrained. The Arbegnoch or Patriots was a resistance movement which started in 1936. These cells of men and women undertook guerilla tactics to fight the Italians. They continued fighting through out the years of occupation and on 5 May 1941, five years after it was taken by the Italians, Haille Selassie re entered Addis Ababa. The actions of these men and women are still celebrated and held in high esteem.
On 8 May, South Africa held provincial and national elections. Leading up to the elections there were many promises and threats made, protests held and opinions freely given. The country seems to be divided between those who believe the government can do no wrong and those who think they can do nothing right. There are plenty of people who think there is no future in South Africa, who see the outlook as bleak and who think there is no hope.
There is no doubt that we are subject to our government; they have authority over us and our lives are affected by them. However, we often forget that God is in control of all things. He raises up leaders, He controls the way they go and He is sovereign over all. In this time there are many countries with uncertain futures or with unease and questions. Many people are not happy with their government. Let us not despair or be too caught up in politics. Rather let us thank God that He is in control and may we be obedient to pray for those who God has elevated to leadership of our countries. Moreover, let us, be not part of the problem but part of the solutions and may we do what we can for the best of those around us.
Naomi at Bingham 