text:
|« Ethiopia: Hailemariam Desalegn parroting dead tyrant
|Ethiopia: A New Prime Minister By Alemayehu G. Mariam »
Ethiopia's Opposition at the Dawn of Democracy?
By Alemayehu G. Mariam
Speaking Truth to the Powerless
For several years now, I have been "speaking truth to power". In fact, the tag line for my blog page is "Defend Human Rights. Speak Truth to Power." It is a special phrase which asserts a defiant moral and ethical position against those who abuse, misuse and overuse their powers. By speaking truth to power, the speaker bears witness against those whose power lies in lies. But speaking truth to the powerless is sometimes also necessary. The powerless have no power to abuse, but their fault lies in not knowing their true power. While the abusers of power have might, the powerless who are abused have the power of right. It is the power of right that the powerless must use in their struggle against the abusers of power in achieving their ultimate victory because, as Dr. Martin Luther King said, "Right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant."
In June 2010, I wrote a weekly commentary entitled "Speaking Truth to the Powerless". I expressed deep concern over what I perceived to be manifest political paralysis and inaction in the Ethiopian opposition following the daylight theft of the May 2010 election in which the ruling party claimed to have won 99.6 percent of the seats in parliament. I urged the Ethiopian "opposition" to take a hard look at itself and take corrective action. I explained that "my aim is not to lecture or to bash" but merely to help "clean out the closet so that we could begin afresh on the long walk to democracy. It is said that the 'truth hurts', but I disagree. I believe the truth heals, empowers and liberates its defenders."
Ethiopia's Opposition Through the Eyes of the Ruling Party
As opposition parties, journalists and dissidents faced unrelenting persecution by the ruling party and underwent apparent disarray following the 2010 election, I wondered what the party bosses of the ruling party really thought of the opposition (and the people) in making their outrageously absurd and audacious claim of total electoral victory. I thought then, as I do now, that looking at the "opposition" through the eyes of the ruling party bosses might give the opposition, particularly opposition parties, some insights into what courses of action they ought to take as the political situation evolves given recent changes:
… Zenawi knows the opposition like the opposition does not know itself. He has studied them and understands how they (do not) work. Careful analysis of his public statements on the opposition over the years suggests a rather unflattering view. He considers opposition leaders to be his intellectual inferiors; he can outwit, outthink, outsmart, outplay, outfox and outmaneuver them any day of the week. He believes they are dysfunctional, shiftless and inconsequential, and will never be able to pose a real challenge to his power. In his speeches and public comments, he shows nothing but contempt and hatred for them. At best, he sees them as wayward children who need constant supervision, discipline and punishment to keep them in line. Like children, he will offer some of them candy -- jobs, cars, houses and whatever else it takes to buy their silence. Those he cannot buy, he will intimidate, place under continuous surveillance and persecute. Mostly, he tries to fool and trick the opposition. He will send "elders" to talk to them and lullaby them to sleep while he drags out "negotiations" to buy just enough time to pull the rug from underneath them. He casts a magical spell on them so that they forget he is the master of the zero-sum game (which means he always wins and his opposition always loses)…
Who is the "Opposition"?
Who is the Ethiopian "opposition"? That is an intriguing question for which there is probably not a definitive answer. There is certainly not a monolithic opposition in the form of a well-organized party. There is no strong and functional coalition of political parties that could effectively challenge both the power and ideology of the ruling party. There is not an opposition in the form of an organized vanguard of intellectuals. There is not an opposition composed of an aggregation of civil society institutions including unions and religious institutions, rights advocates and dissident groups. There is not an opposition in the form of popular mass based political or social movements. The problems of "opposition politics" in Ethiopia is the age old problem that has plagued African opposition politics following the "invention" of the one-man, one-party state in Africa by Kwame Nkrumah in Ghana in the early 1960s. Nkrumah crushed, suppressed and persecuted his opposition, including political parties, judges, union leaders, dissidents. Over the past one-half century, those who opposed the incumbent regimes in Ethiopia have been victims of not only legal and political restrictions but also all forms of persecution including imprisonments and extrajudicial killings. I find it difficult to fully characterize or quantify the Ethiopian opposition. As I asked in my commentary after the May 2010 election: "Is the opposition that amorphous aggregation of weak, divided, squabbling, factionalized and fragmented parties and groups that are constantly at each other's throats? Or is it the grumbling aggregation of human rights advocates, civic society organizers, journalists and other media professionals and academics? Or are the groups committed to armed struggle and toppling the dictatorship by force the opposition?
Or is it all or none of the above?
What is the Proper Role for the "Opposition" in the Ethiopia?
Playing the role of opposition in a police state is not only difficult but also extremely risky. Following the May 2005 election, nearly all of the opposition party leaders, numerous civic society leaders, human rights advocates and journalists were rounded up and jailed for nearly two years. Over the past six years, opposition parties have been denied any meaningful political space and their leaders, along with an ever growing number of journalists and dissidents have been harassed, intimidated, imprisoned, exiled or worse. But the opposition, particularly the opposition parties, have also been severely weakened and suffered erosion of public credibility by failing to develop a coherent set of policies, programs and ideology that are different from the ruling party's. Some parties and party leaders have lacked accountability and transparency in their actions and omissions. Others have resisted internal democracy within their organizations. Still others have promoted a cult of leadership around a single individual or small group of individuals who themselves have manifested dictatorial tendencies and engaged in factional struggles within their organizations to consolidate their power.
Regardless of how one might define the "opposition" in Ethiopia, there is no question that the ruling party's claim of electoral victory of 99.6 percent stands in stark contrast to the fact that in 2005 opposition parties routed the ruling party's candidates in landslide victories throughout the country. The principal lesson the Ethiopian "opposition" needs to learn from the experiences of the past six years is that the opposition's role is not simply to "oppose, oppose and oppose" for the sake of opposing. The opposition's role and duty goes well beyond simply opposing the ruling party and its policies. Their role goes to the heart of democratic governance of the country. Their principal role is to relentlessly demand accountability and transparency in governance. They should always question the actions and omissions of the ruling party in a principled and honest manner, challenge, analyze, criticize, dice and slice the ruling party's policies, ideas and programs and offer better, different and stronger alternatives. It is not sufficient for the opposition to champion the failures of the ruling party and make broad claims that they can do better.
Heaping insults, gnashing teeth and denigrating the ruling party and its leaders not only erodes the superior moral position of the opposition, it is also counterproductive and distractive to the opposition in its role of promoting accountability and transparency in governance. Many in the opposition speak out against those in power in the language of anger, frustration, fear and loathing. Few seem to be prepared to challenge the rulers on the basis of cold hard facts and logic. It is rare to see the opposition undertake a thorough analysis and critique of the ruling party's policies, programs and projects. That task if often done by foreigners who undertake specialized studies and investigations. For instance, the regime's policy which allows predatory land grabs by international agro-businesses was exposed not by Ethiopia's opposition but foreign NGOs and researchers. The disastrous environmental impact of the various hydroelectric dam projects in the country were revealed by foreign researchers, not the opposition. The bulk of the work documenting human rights violations in Ethiopia is done by the various international human rights organizations, not the opposition. Much of the economic analysis on Ethiopia is done either by the various international lending institutions whose review is highly questionable on conflict of interest grounds or economic commentators in the popular media. By failing to challenge the ruling party on substantive policy and programmatic grounds, the effectiveness and credibility of the opposition has been significantly diminished. What is needed is not verbal condemnation, demonization and teeth gnashing against those in power, but critical and systematic analysis of the failures of the regime, its programs, policies and laws followed by well-thought out proposals that offer real alternatives and hope of a better future to the people if the opposition were to hold the reins of power.
The opposition, particularly opposition political parties, can play many vital roles beyond simply preparing to run for elections. They can help build consensus and aggregate the interests of their members and the broader society. They can articulate their policy preferences and choices and educate the wider community. They can promote debate, dialogue and national conversations on issues, problems and the direction of the country. They are best positioned to build and institutionalize a democratic culture. If opposition parties are to succeed, they must take action to provide leadership training opportunities to the youth and women. Many opposition party leaders are way past the age of fifty and few women are seen at top leadership levels. While "age is nothing but a number", there is a distinct difference between youth and geriatric politics. The younger generation has greater enthusiasm, dynamism and commitment to carry on with the cause. Opposition parties also need to work closely with media and civil society institutions to reach out to the people.
Sometimes the opposition can also agree with those in power to do the right thing and serve the greater public interest. In 2007, the late Meles Zenawi expressed his "hope that [his] legacy" would be not only "sustained and accelerated development that would pull Ethiopia out of the massive deep poverty" but also "radical improvements in terms of good governance and democracy." Prime Minster Hailemariam has vowed and pledged publicly numerous times to carry out Meles' legacy. There is no harm in joining Hailemariam implement Meles' legacy of "improving good governance and democracy." The opposition should hold Hailemariam accountable for improving good governance by insisting on the release of political prisoners, repeal of repressive laws, opening up of political space and broader democratization.
What Kind of Opposition is Needed Today?
I believe the ruling party's dominance and persistence is made possible in significant part by the shambolic (chaotic) state of Ethiopian opposition politics. In other words, if the opposition were not so divided and uncentered, the ruling party would have been far less successful in imposing its arbitrary rule. So, what kind of opposition is needed today?
Loyal Opposition? In some parliamentary systems of government, the term "loyal opposition" is used to describe opposition non-governing parties in the legislature. In a functioning democratic parliamentary system, it is the duty of the loyal opposition to challenge the policies and programs of the governing party without fear of harassment, intimidation or persecution. Obviously, there can be no "loyal opposition" in Ethiopia when the ruling party controls 99.6 percent of the seats in parliament. It is not possible to have a one-person loyal opposition.
Silent or Silenced Opposition? There is much silent and silenced opposition to the ruling class. The majority of the people are afraid to show their opposition to the regime because they are afraid of retaliation or retribution. If they criticize the ruling party or its leaders, they could lose their jobs, be dismissed from school, suffer economic harm or even serious persecution. People are jailed for simply saying they oppose the regime. In an incredible development recently, four individuals were criminally charged for stating in public, "Meles is dead. Good riddance. We are not sorry he is dead. The government is dead. There is no government." (To see the official charging document, press here.) There are many who privately express opposition but would not dare to make their views known because of fears of prosecution and persecution.
Disorganized Opposition? An opposition that is floundering, angry and disorganized is unlikely to pose a challenge to the ruling party. A disorganized opposition is unable to formulate viable and appealing policies or convert popular discontent into decisive political action. Neither is it able to convince and mobilize its base or expand its reach and influence.
Divided Opposition? A divided opposition is best guarantee for the dominance of the ruling party. The myth of the supremacy and invincibility of the ruling party and its leaders is built on the foundation of a divided opposition. The ruling regime survives and thrives using a strategy of divide and rule; and when the opposition itself is divided, it is easy for those in power to abuse, mock and denigrate them.
A United Principled Democratic Opposition? That is what Ethiopia needs today. Such an opposition is built on a foundation of the values of tolerance, cooperation and compromise. A united opposition is consensus based and results in a coalition of divergent interests and groups. The coalition provides a forum to work together not only to compete in elections but also in formulating broad based policies, providing broader representation of the electorate and broader representation of the views and demands of the majority. Since a wide consensus of opinion is necessary in coalitions, policies and actions will be debated and examined thoroughly before being presented to the public. Coalitions provide a basis for good governance because their decisions are made in the interests of a majority of the people. Coalitions may sometimes be fractious but the tendency to build consensus often overcomes that impulse. The Ethiopian opposition ought to organize around coalition politics to effectively challenge the ruling party and its policies.
What Is to Be Done by the Ethiopian Opposition?
Following the 2010 election, I offered unsolicited advice to Ethiopia's opposition. It does not seem there were any takers at the time. But I am a tenacious and steadfast advocate who is not easily deterred. So, I offer the same advice again now that the political game has changed and despite the repetitious litany among the leaders of the regime that nothing has changed and things will continue as before. Things have changed fundamentally and will continue to change even more dramatically in the near future. That irreversible change is from dictatorship to democracy. There is no force on earth that can stop that change. No amount of bluster, swagger, bombast, hubris or imperiousness by those clinging to power can stop the change from dictatorship to democracy. There is only one question left to be answered: What is to be done by opposition parties and the aggregation of civic society and media institutions, human rights advocates, dissidents and others in Ethiopia's transition from dictatorship to democracy?
Atonement and Reconciliation With the People: All of the opposition political party leaders who participated in the 2005 election need to go back to the people and ask forgiveness for squandering their hopes, dreams and aspirations. They need to tell the people straight up, "We did let you down. We are deeply sorry. We promise to do our very best to earn back your trust and confidence." The people deserve an unqualified public apology from opposition leaders. They will be forgiven because the Ethiopian people are decent, understanding and compassionate.
Learn From Past Mistakes: It is said that those who do not learn from past mistakes are doomed to repeat it. Many mistakes and blunders have been committed by opposition leaders in the past. These mistakes need to be identified, studied and lessons drawn from them so that they will not be repeated again.
Understand the Opposition's Opposition: The opposition's opposition should not be underestimated. Their strength is in dividing and ruling and in playing the ethnic card. If the opposition unites and acts around a common agenda, they are powerless.
Stop Playing Victim: Some in the opposition manifest "victim mentality". When one feels like a victim, one tends not to take action or responsibility. There is some recent criticism of Hailemariam over his public statements concerning the jailed journalists, political prisoners and other issues. Last week, he told the Voice of America that the political prisoners in the country are actually "terrorists" who "work with a violent organization" while "wearing two hats", one "legal" and the other "illegal". He gave no indication if he intends to open up the political space. The fact of the matter is that regardless of what Hailemariam and the ruling party say or do not say, the opposition must be relentless in demanding the release of all political prisoners and repeal of oppressive laws. That is what accountability is all about. The opposition must always stand up for what is right. Releasing political prisoners is right; keeping them imprisoned is wrong.
Develop a Common Agenda in Support of Issues and Causes: The core issues democracy, freedom, human rights, the rule of law and the unity of the people and the physical integrity of the Ethiopian nation are shared by all opposition elements. Why not build collective agenda to advance and support these issues?
Agree to Disagree Without Being Disagreeable: Opposition leaders and supporters must abandon the destructive principle, "If you do not agree with me 100 percent, you are my enemy." There is nothing wrong with reasonable minds disagreeing. Dissent and disagreement are essential conditions of democracy. If the opposition cannot tolerate dissent within itself, could it justifiably condemn those in power for intolerance?
Guard Against the Cult of Personality: One of the greatest weaknesses in the Ethiopian opposition has been the cult of personality. Time and again, the opposition has created idealized and heroic images of individuals as leaders, showered them with unquestioning flattery and praise and almost worshipped them. Let us remember that every time we do that we are grooming future dictators.
Always Act in Good Faith: Opposition leaders and others in the opposition must always strive to act in good faith and be forthright and direct in their personal and organizational relationships. We must mean what we say and say what we mean. Games of one-upmanship will keep us all stranded on an island of irrelevance.
Think Generationally, Act Presently: The struggle for genuine democracy is not merely about winning elections or getting into public office. The struggle is for great causes -- establishing a durable democracy, protecting human rights and institutionalizing accountability and the rule of law in Ethiopia. If we believe this to be true, then the struggle is not about us, it is about the generations to come. What we do should always be guided by our desire to make Ethiopia better for our children and grandchildren.
Give Young People a Chance to Lead: There is a hard reality that most of us in the older generation in the opposition have been unable to face. That reality is that we need to learn to get out of the way. Let's give the younger generation a chance to lead. After all, it is their future. We can be most useful if we help them learn from our mistakes and guide them to greater heights. If there is one thing universally true about young people, it is that they love freedom more than anything else. Let the older generation be water carriers for the young people who will be building the "future country of Ethiopia," as Birtukan Midekssa, the first female political party leader in Ethiopia, used to say.
Think Like Winners, Not Victims: Victory is not what it seems for the victors, and defeat is not what it feels for the vanquished. There is defeat in victory and victory in defeat. Both victory and defeat are first and foremost states of mind. Those who won the election by a margin of 99.6 percent project an image of being victorious. But we know they have an empty victory secured by force and fraud. The real question is whether the opposition sees itself as a bunch of winners or losers. Winners think and act like winners, likewise for losers.
The Opposition Needs to Reinvent Itself: The ruling party, though its public statements, is trying to reinvent itself as the same old repressive police state. They say "nothing will change" from the time of their former leader. The opposition also needs to reinvent itself by rededicating itself to democratic principles, articulating the peoples' aspirations with greater clarity and cogency, creating democratic alliances, strengthening its position as voices of the people and by always standing up for right and against might.
The Opposition Must Never Give Up: Sir Winston Churchill was right when he said: "Never give in--never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy." This is a winning strategy the Ethiopian opposition should adopt and practice passionately!
Fuk the opposition..!!
What a pretty face with out a MUSTACE!!! You keep on fighting for the ——–. I do not really know if you are one? However, what I know is you are one looser trying to make a fortune and life out of this opportunity. If you have a wisdom and if you are logical, I donot think that it is difficult to figure out how the country is doing currently. Don't be a looser! please I would advise you, atleast for god sake be positive once in your life time. Lets be patient the progress and be supportive instead of being of some idot from no where in the desert.
The Ethiopian people have been ignoring and not following the groups that they call themselves as the "opposition". Even Ethiopians in the diaspora have been staying away from these groups more and more to the point now the so called "opposition" groups literally speaking have no followers. Many former followers of these groups including well known personalities and leaders have openly spoken against them. They have pointed out that what they were preached to by these groups and where Ethiopia has been heading to are completely two different things. I think opposition is a good thing and healthy when it is conducted and led constructively and in a mature way. But unfortunately that is not what we have seen over the past 21 years. So much so the Ethiopian people think of people who call themselves as "opposition" as childish and not advancing their interests. I used to think EPRDF's claim of winning by 99+% as exaggeration until I saw how the Ethiopian people reacted to the late Prime Minister Meles' death. That fully convinced me that the Ethiopian people loved Meles and fully supported him all of these years. He and his party walked the talk. He tirelessly served the Ethiopian people for four decades (both during the fight to remove the fascist Derg and following the opening of the new era in Ethiopia). That is the kind of leadership people value and choose at the end of the day. Time to wake up and have a renewal to join the Ethiopian people building Ethiopia instead of attempting to divide them.
@ Yirgacheffee F** You too!
Aka adgi-rat product desperately would like to be addisian You yourself are a looser not the brave Pro. His pen is sharper than your AK47 every time when the good Prof. writes something tplf cockroach scrims your A$$ out!
We the true Ethiopians should CLEAN OUT the so called opposition from reminat RATS of Derg ,from few BUCHILLA WELAWAYII, from CRACK-heads of AMERICAN ETHIOPIAN BY ALL MEANS.
These are not opposition rather a opportunity SHIMAGILES PARTY whose political ideas are like a getto prostitutes of America that can be bought by few dollars like these CHIGGARAMS weyannes.
The best thing that I can do is to smash them with baseball tree when they gather and give them a good lesson how to be a true Ethiopia. These gimmatam kuttaram
Opposition or enemy of the state?
Is the picture on top of the article is a HORSE or a human being. I have seen an "idiot" horse who looks like this horse at Meseqel square when I went to celebrate Demera.
What makes this article interesting is that, this is what I have been saying all along. I was in Addis during the 2005 and 2010 elections and I can tell you that it was the opposition who blew it by making lots of mistakes, miscalculations, lack of understanding the political environment, verbally abusive to people in charge,treats against anyone who disagree with them, even causing ethnic problem and division, etc.
This article should be taken seriously as a bible of politics in Ethiopia.
That picture you saw is a clown with no teeth and with a big nose, almaria auditioning his next act in a leading roll of the oppo, "bozo almaria clown as himself". LOL!!
ha, Almariam is reading comments?
Few monthes ago i wrote that Almariams and his types was a zero-sum game, meaning wuha biwekitut emboch. Now he is using my phrasing in his weekely self-satir, meaning he is trying to entertaine us by playing blog-politics, word-puzzels and buzz-word game. The boring part is, even his buzz words are so outdated from an old passed era.
addis zemen [Visitor]
Trust me I have seen a brown HORSE who exactly looks like that pic while i was celebrating demera at Meskel square. Many people was watching that horse because he looks like untamed and was violently jumping up and was difficult to control him by the police man riding it. I think "fools" and "idiots" looks alike.
belay [Visitor]
Absolutely right, he reads comments, I have sensed that sometimes ago. Excellent observation of this idiot.
I usually don't give credence to what nazret articles, but this is the first time I stand up and congratulate you for an insightful piece. Mind you, I don't wholeheartedly agree on all of the points raised.
I supported the existing regime because I know that it is "lesser of two evils" scenario. And just like this article states that I don't see the opposition cleaning out house any time soon. So my hope is that some of the ruling party members don't get too greedy so that the true Ethiopian people(ie, the farmers because they are the majority of the population) can get the piece of the pie.
And this "release ALL the opposition party members" is crazy talk. For one thing the method they used was malicious. The opposition party created chaos and confusion at the 2005/2010 elections. The combination of which is too hazardous especially for my country Ethiopia. So anyone who makes a mistake too great has to be punished be it small timer or who endangers the lives of millions for the sake of power.
I wish my country to be democratic and peaceful. But I will take the next best thing which is huge infrastructure construction. Because the politicians may leave and replaced, but the infrastructure remains. That's my two cents.
Last night the oppositions had a
dinner party in Washington Dc, they want to rule Ethiopia from DC.
Wonderful contribution. But this time we have to do like meless did till his death. That is to liberate tigray from Ethiopia the way it is done for Eritrea. There is no eplf now. Eplf is history cause eritrea is liberated. Woyane people day and night work for Tigray people Liberation Front and we are on their way? I dont understand this idiocy. Now all Ethipians with the help woyane themsleves, Ethipians even eth eritrean leadrs, all together let's the dream of tplf comes true soon. These people have had wroked for 36 years and still tplf is not history. I don't know who is still enslaves them, but as for me i am ready to let them free. None tigre members of eprdf, pleas help tplf to be liberated. We dont want any wealth or human power to be taken out of Tigray. So let them free using the paragralh 35.
Free the woyanes!!
Tchiffenee ,F**k u and your bandit
agazi bros . The dilemma of Ethiopia is that opposition groups are most of the times wasting their energy on
how to take the first stage one against the other instead of drafting a political agenda on how to fight the evil regime .So what did happen in the 70th during the fight against the Derg Junta Regime.
2005 the Opposition won the election
and the Crime Minister imposed his own results against the wills of the peoples .But instead of getting united and contested the despot some
opportunist members prefer to take their seats in the fake parliement by legitimising the TPLF Regime .So what had done Beyene Petros ,Ledetu Kidetu ,Merera Gudina ,later worst even Hailu Shawul and many more today kick out from the parliement by the wills of the Dead Crime Minister .What we see todays ,is that only ordinary peoples ,Human Right Activists ,Free Press Journalists members of the Diaspora who are holding the peoples voice than the Opposition Leaders .
Hey Extrapente ,how comes a pente like you is celebrating "Demerra" .
Oh I see ,you were the Semien Anbetta wandering there …LOL !!!
The Joke of the day : Adgi Banda and his Thuggy Bros presenting themselvese as being the Truth Author of this Article…Be Hilmatchew nehu woyes ke heineken Termus Biletcha ,bale PHD ye wonatchew…KEEP ON SHITING ON YOURSELF SHABIAN ASS HOLES BANDAS !!!
The true Ethiopian is not the separatist; the true Ethiopian cannot be TPLF written all over his face and true Ethiopian is not the one that secretly gives away 1600 sq. km land to Sudan, on and on and on…
TEDDY the loony asshole shabian,…
Looks like you don't like beer. You always talk about some people you resent drinking beer. You don't like beer because you're a loony in a psychiatric hospital where you're not allowed to drink beer except water. Miskin!
"In wine there is WISDOM,
In beer there is FREEDOM,
In water there is BACTERIA."
A piece of advice to you, Almariam the big loser:
There is the so called tautology, wordiness, repetition that ruins the effectivness of an eassay like yours here. To cite from your article, only one of the 6 words in the sentence hereunder would be suffice.
የምር አህያ አትሁን እሺ አለማዮህ ሌባ::
"…he can outwit, outthink, outsmart, outplay, outfox and outmaneuver…"
@Extraterrestrial [Visitor]
"Opposition or enemy of the state?"
You are from other planet. That is why
democracy, freedom, oppostion, multiparty system ….NEW for you.
But, i am sure you can learn from people like our prof.Al
Be open to new idea our Extraterrestrial man!! Before it becomes too late.
In May 2005 the brave Meles and EPRDF opened up every space including the media for the so called opposition. The opposition abused the media/space and instead of showing alternative policies, they preached the only thing they know and are good at - hate politics. At the end, they won the whole of Addis plus over 170 parliament seats. All these in less than 6 months time. But these BIG TIME zero-sum-gamers wanted the whole power that took 17 years of sacrifice and hard work. We know the disaster that followed. Ethiopia has lost so many golden opportunities but 2005 tops all of them thanks the pathetic Ethiopian opposition. Come 2010, EPRDF had more pressing and serious national issues than wasting time with these bunch of idiots. The result is 99.6% of Growth and Transformation Planners back in business.
So, the bottom line Mr. Alemayehu - if U do not call a spade is a spade, you are more pathetic and only pretending to be otherwise.
Al you forgot one thing Ethiopian opposition or "the idiots" have no cause,no ideology. They are driven by hate. For the last couple of weeks since the death of the Great leader peace be upon him,you have tried to tone down your weekly hate message. One might ask why is Al changed his tone.Did EPRDF or his excellency HD has never promised any change after the death of the great leader.The answer is NO. Al has great seated hate for any thing Tigray. Al, please come out and say publicly that I did not hate EPRDF program but I hate Meles and the Tigray people. Before you advice others to clean their act clean your hate conscious first.
Everything you wrote above is the fact and well put. The problem is, the diaspora opposition has nothing to do with the truth. These pathetic, pathological liars who are out of touch with the reality are all power hungry, hopeless, hate mongers and bent to do anything in their power to discredit our govt.
One cannot reason out anything with these dogs, so long they're living in denial world.
They have no integrity, moral value or honesty what so ever. All what they care about is, the destruction and distablization of Ethiopia, which they think can bring them to power or prove their cause.
Al,way to go.buddy!our Ethiopian loser parties will never recover the agony of defeat.they can not advocate democracy because the do not know democracy.they can not stand for unity because the never work in cooperation with others.
Al, since you are the editor of lunitic Elise kefle's Ethiopian review page, it is a good idea to start implement you theory on him. Lunitic Elise was asked by one of the hate mongers at esat why he hates the owner of sunshine constraction his answer was "because he built school in mekelle". You see Al these are the kind of oppstion politicians you tried to paint their image with a democratic brush. The oppsition in diaspora should be classified as a hate group. I am not saying this out of tin air, there is enough evedence in their blogs and pal talk to prove it.. AL you should write about the hate groups in the opposition camp.after all you claim your self as a human right lawyer.
Thank you professor for dicing and slicing the opposition, as if you were a very good surgeon, so that we could see vividly, its merits (which unfortunately are nonexistent), and its major failures (which are too many to innumerate). Reading your brilliant article, I am forced to see the opposition from an even more negative angle as never before. What a disappointment to many of us Ethiopians.
You brought us before a painful reality. After all, MZ had no political opponents because the opposition leaders were not of the same caliber with him. In addition the fact that leaders of the so-called opposition are prisoners of their ego, ambitions and self-interest, explains why they could not render any significant thing up to now. They seem to be completely forgetful of their mission, and up to now they have acted in an unprofessional way. How can they move forward when the weight of tribalism, personal interest, and wanton ambitions are tied to their legs.
Professor, you have vividly depicted the situation of our so-called opposition. I doubt if the old generation of politicians, some of which are part of the problem, can really be part of the solution. I believe that it is time the old generation of Ethiopian opposition leaders vacates their positions to be replaced by a new group of people who are not yet corrupted by life itself, are visionaries and are ready to sacrifice their time and energy to bring about a change in Ethiopian politics, with no aim to benefit from it.
I have been thinking. If HMD opens a small window of communication, would the opposition ask for the front door to be opened as wide as possible, or are they ready to exploit this small opportunity in order to be able to discover the grounds for more political gains, or are they going to squander it? Time will show. It is a pity that many of the opposition leaders have remained stuck with the defunct politics of the sixties and seventies, which screwed the lives of the peoples of the horn. Our geriatric politicians cannot move forward nor do they allow young and competent politicians to replace them.
Opposing for the sake of opposing, demeaning and bad-mouthing whenever one is short of civilized opinions and arguments, are signs of weakness; and unfortunately, this is a common sight on the internet. The internet is both a blessing and also a curse. We are happy we have, for e.g., Ethiopian politics at our finger tips. It is only a click away. At the same time, some people try to make the internet a garbage dump, and we are forced to put up with it. This world is not a perfect place, professor. I hope you will continue to write. Knowledge, any knowledge is better than no knowledge. I am sure you have a lot to give.
Calling the Writer a loser is a personal attack. It is an egotist expression. How are you defining a loser? Is it gaining material wealth or political power for you? Remember, he has achieved the highest education one would have dreamed of. He is a professional who can live a quality life on his own. If that is what success means to you? You know what it takes to do what is he doing now? Perseverance, in fighting the current regime to change so we all can see a democratic Ethiopia where people can speak or write of their minds freely and elect their leaders freely. Think out of the box.
Distancing yourself from opposition behavior in this writing does not change your identity. Go back and read your blogs whether you are right human right activist or you yourself engine of hate oriented opposition. No one tells you about your identity beyond your writing. If I am mistaken let correct me as professor. You are the head and tail of opposition who fabricates wrong and leads them wrong direction leading them to hell than heaven to distance them from working genuinely as opposition groups. This piece of article seems masking coat you are trying to use unless you confess for all deed you destroyed opposition and hates you have disseminated among Ethiopian. Otherwise you may not find space in either pro-opposition or pro-government camps.
One or two points:
Names have physiological effect. Opposition by meaning has a negative feeling. Opposing what ? It's the regime who should be called opposition. It's TPLF and its affiliates are the ones which should be called the opposition. Opposing democracy, freedom, human right……. The now so called opposition should always be addressed with another name…. like Freedom fighters.
The other thing is that this new PM is more spiritual than we anticipated, he is calling the dead man sprit to lead the country. In every opportunity he get he is saying "the legacy will continue….". We have already said …..Ashes to ashes & dust to dust for Meles!!…….
Mr AGM,
For some reason your photo accompanies your article. The foul-mouthed readers have a field day. haven't you noticed that not many sane & responsible person post an article here anymore. All you have is here comments by the likes Addis Z & Extrater from one side & c'est moi & teddy from the other spewing their trash. Vile words & obscene comments are all these could come up with.
Gashe mamo [Visitor]
Are you the one they said: awekeshe awekeshe silwate yebalewane metshafe atebeche and yalawakie sami nefte yeleklekale?
Adgi banda ,you come to admit who really you are .Little Ethiopia ,TPLF Bozene Cadre .Ye Heineken Termus Tefelassaphi . But for a TPLF Thug like you :
"In wine you have got STUPIDITY,
In beer You have got TREASON,
In water You will have one of the proper means to COMMIT SUICIDE." ….LOL!!!!!
Your comment seems to suggest that IN 2005 the opposition preached hate and won Addis and 170 seats. How is that possible? Does that mean the people of Addis and those Ethiopians who voted for the opposition were haters too?? Wow!!!!
Gashe Mamo,
If you can refuel yourself with Genfo in the mornings before you step out of your house, everything will be all right
The new PM is really a good pick. Any way, how is that possible to be a spiritual and a politician both at the same time? He can only be a follower of Christ.
I sometimes doubt whether there is a real opposition to the ruling party. The Opposition in the Diaspora is sleeping with PFDJ (the eritrean ruling party). Their main motive is anti-Tigray, the northern most province of Ethiopia, home to one of the worldest greatest civilizations. In fact tigray is the prtotype Ethiopia. Every body in Ethiopia since the time of Menelik II fears and hates Tigray people because they are the only true ethiopians.
It is incomprehensible that every Opposition wages a hatred campaign against Tigray people even though TPLF long time ago cleared of Tigray cadres and leaders. TPLF is entirely controlled by Eritreans like Bereket Simone, Abay Woldu, Tewedros Hagos etc
The Opposition should defend Ethiopian History and oppose that Eritrea is occupying the whole of the Red Sea. Eritrea's border is the Mereb River. Most important the Opposition should oppose to the secession of Eritrea because it was decided by illegal group of people like Meles Zenawi, who was an eritrean wannbe ethiopian.
The Opposition is anti-Ethiopia and should be able to clear it's positions. The opposition is a parasitic group of people. Take for example, EPRP. They did nothing practically to effect change in Ethiopia. They are practically contributing nothing except once in a while a boring article of issues we already since the last 50 years.
G7 is also an opposition, which seems to me an association of mentally handicapped ethiopians. G7 is a Shaebya or eritrean satellite. They are anti-Tigray as is shaebya or Eritrea. G7 should know that all the general in the ethiopian defence forces are eritrean or halfcasts. Meles Zenawi would not allow tigray Generals to be in the military. Why is G7 unable to see this? Eritreans are in fecat controlling Tigray and also Ethiopia. Ethiopians of Tigray region are out. Meles Zenawi, Sebhat Nega, Bereket simon have eliminated all Ethiopians from tigray region. Why is the Opposition unable to discern the facts on the ground? The Opposition should Oppose Eritreans and ask eritreans to leave Ethiopia. The Oppositin should not work with enemies of Ethiopia. Eritreans are our archenemies and we should fight against them for the sake of the future of our country and children. the Opposition should not collaborate with Eritrea.
Al I can understand your problem with opposition parties in Ethiopia. You asked yourself who is the oppostion? Ofcourse, any one who oppose the government in theory is. But as in any democratic country there is a degree of opposing and sensless hate like exhibited often among Ethiopians in America like that hateful person Elias Kifle.
If there is a rule that you should drive only on the right lane of the road you cant say I have demcratic right to drive where ever I want and drive on the left lane. It is as simple as that. There are many evil people in the opposition camp and make everything difficult for the organisers. They are only good at intimidations and cursings. Moderate people like Bertukan can not work with these people. How come nobody says enough is enough to Elias, Tamagn and ESAT and let them curse peoople 24/7 and invent news while all knew that they are all lies.
Addis Zefzef Bushtiw and ExtraIdiot are two shabians freeloading in the streets of Addis.
They are two wondagered lovers. Addis Zefzef ye aheya qula metebat becha betam yewodal.
Meles the ethnic baiting tyrant is DEAD there is no room for you in Addis. Go back to Asmera where you belong!!!
"meaning wuha biwekitut emboch" I like this was a zero-sum game" meaning wuha biwekitut emboch" there are too many weha bewektut enbch in this forum.
@extra terrorist….
Hahahaha…..& …lol…..why are you passing the words somebody said to you?…the person who said that to you, is genius! He must have known you for some time that you are an empty moron!
The terrorist regime is terrorizing the citizens, and you puny is trying your best.
Hey solo!
The question should be addressed to the new PM. If he is a follower of Christ, he will do what Christ said! He will not stay, support or stick behind those who imprisoned thousands in their prison camps illegally. He will set them free! ………ye kesaren le kesar……..
Anta tifram coward gondere,why are you trying to misinform the readers about the great heroic TIGRAY PEOPLE LIBERATION FRONT?
What the hell do you know about Tplf who is who?
Paranoid,bipolar and most importantly coward Tifram gondera like you have clue about Tplf inner working.
You are one coward gondera who is worshipers of conspiracy theory,gossipls and lies.
Coward gondera like you is terrified of eritreans and there for anytime you hear Tigray names you associate them as eritreans.
First of all Bereket Simone real name is MEBRHATU WOLDEGABRIEL who's real families are from Tigray.
Secondly even simone bereket was an eritrean what the hell does that matter to you?
Coward gonderes like you are ashame to the world,that have enormous fear of eritrean people giving them unfounded credit because of your cowardance.
The TIGRAY PEOPLE LIBERATION FRONT from day one to present day was founded by heroic Tigray people,and run by heroic Tigray people.
If there was an eritrean in charge of TPLF you would have not seeing any road,dams,school,hospitals,industries built in ethiopia.
What can i say about coward bipolar shermuta people like you that repeat the same comment over and over.
If you dare to talk about few Tigray people that were born in eritrea and joined thier Tigray families during the struggle.
I have a question for you.
What is your Ethnic?
TEDDY loony,…
Keep it up! Eyteshalehe yemesilal.
If you continue like this I might write some kind of recommendation letter to the physicians at the psychiatric hospital where you're staying. And you'll be free in no time to drink beer. I might buy you some heineken too.
Then you'll know how it feels to be a normal person again.
Addis Zefzef the gay shabian
Ye aheya qula metbat becha new serashi. You also need to be committed to Amanual hospital along with Agazit Pr0zac Sheemale. You two are idiots of mass proportion you can't add 2 + 2. Rather you are here trying to create your own reality.Delusional idiots!
Meles the tyrant is DEAD. He is not coming back!!! That era is over never to come back again. You along with Agazit ye aheya qula tebi sheemale need to move back to Asmera where you came from.
You will get berried six feet under trying to spread your hate and inferiority complex. LOSERS and BEGGARS!
Agazit Sheemale
I think you are not getting enough qula. Have you considered ye aheya qula?
Pity none of your friends are telling you you are sick in the head. But I guess that makes no difference your mental health beyond repair it is probably a waist of time.
Now go qula tibi!!!
"Heaping insults, gnashing teeth and denigrating the ruling party and its leaders not only erodes the superior moral position of the opposition, it is also counterproductive and distractive to the opposition in its role of promoting accountability and transparency in governance."
Thank you for another intriguing article, Professor. I just love the phrase "superior moral position." It is so catchy and ultimately speaks to credibility, which is "the elephant in the room" as is said in English. Credibility stems from many things not the least of which is being consistently on the side of righteousness, without hypocrisy. We all know that credibility is incredibly fragile and can be lost in the blink an eye.
Opposition groups must first stop sleeping with the enemy… and denounce their right wings. It is unnecessary and ultimately destroys credibility as much as the items you mention above. It is also very difficult to be united when in fact the agendas are different. Sure, people can find common ground, but ultimately their true aspirations will come out and this is where things start to fall apart. Go to any protest in the West and you will find Ogadenis and Oromos protesting not for they seek a shared aspirations, but for independence (literally separatist flag). Though they may not represent 100% of these groups, their grievances are probably felt by most and should be addressed. Muslims also have different issues and will be sensitive to rhetoric of "going back" as well the incumbent minorities who feel more liberated than before.
The formula can be simplified: Broaden the political base by ridding yourself of right wingers and extremist thereby regaining a "superior moral position." After this, just stick to the issues that people care about most (economy, education, food, security, freedom, and justice).
The tiframe ,fara gondere i suggest you should never never talk about my herooic Tigray people and the TIGRAY PEOPLE LIBERATION FRONT.
A coward tifram gondere should only talk about your own ethnic groups not Tigray or Eritreans.
We may have political,strategey problems with EPLF eritreans ,but never theless a coward tifram gondere like you should stay out of our problems.
Wusha gondere,you have being fabricating lies,rumors on nazret.ocm for a while.
Bipolar,schizophernia dogs like you and another idiot name by the name of MY 2 CENTS are the biggest cowards on nazret.com who spreads unfounded conspiracy theory do to your coward culture,traditions.
Scumbags like you will run away instead of fighting one EPLF/ERITREAN fighter on the battlefield.
Yet a bastard like you wants to be an expert about the secretive organization TIGRAY PEOPLE LIBERATION FRONT.
As i had told you and the many others coward gonderes and others who talks about eritrea this eritrea that.
The truth is the Tigray people liberation front leaders,members ,commanders are 100% beautiful Tigray people.
Eritreans must have fucked you upside down to fear them like that.But not us the heroic Tigray people who defeated Eplf,derg,onlf etc etc knows who is who.
I suggest you should shut your coward gondere mouth and worry about your own tribe,not the brave heroic Tigray people.
Soon or later the ordinary innocent Tigray people and the ordinary innocent Eritreans will unite under the banner of TIGRAY to crush coward fara gondere like you and others.
Dirty gondere like you and others have bieng accusing ,fabricating lies about the leaders of Tplf including the late meles zenawi who stayed behind the front war and fought along side tigray people with wrong information.
Why dont you leave the issues of the heroic TIGRAY PEOPLE LIBERATION FRONT for us Tigray people?
Eritreans dont have power in thier own country ERITREAL let alone in Tigray or Ethiopia.
We gave over 50,000 eritreans refugees saftey,foods,shelters to rescue thier life and go abroad for political asylam.
If eritreans were in charge of Tplf/erprdf/ethiopia they would have not built your stinky gondere face one school,one factory,one kilo meter road,hospitals and let alone the ABBAY DAM for the first time in ethiopia history.
Eritreans would have made tiframe gonderes like you and amharas to be thier salves while keeping you lock in your dogs house.
If eritreans had power in ethiopia OLF,ONLF,AL ITHAD,AL SHABABA would have come on power to salughter you like animals.
Ofcourse non of these facts will make your stupid brain to think out side the box and make constractive comments based on analyzing,critical thinking instead you always resort to lies and conspiracy theory.
I must admit most amharas and tifram gonderes like you guys are terrified of Eritreans .
Dont associate with us Tigray people,because we are fearless,gallant,brave and most importantly HEROIC PEOPLE on the planet.
The Tifram Gondere megdala let me remind you something you dont have one ounce of meles zenawi ,Azeb,Sebhat,Atakilite ,Agazi and the rest of Tigray people liberation front bravery and heroisim.
You are one wusha gossiper,whore who spreads misinformation on the internet.
You even dare to blame Tplf for allowing eritreans to choose thier destiny.
If you dont agree with the eritrean people choice of independence ,why dont you take your coward gondere ass and fight them?
If you belive meles ,or Tplf gave assab to eritreans ,why dont you take your stinky gondere body and fight eritreans and bring us back ASSAB that you amharas sold to italians?
There is nothing more i hate then liars,gossipers,cowards people on earth.
People like you,foreigners,some eplf,some eritreans & most amharas in the diaspora have tirelessly being spreading lies,fabrication,rumors about the HEROIC TIGRAY PEOPLE LIBERATION FRONTS AND ITS LEADERS to create mistrust amongs Tigray people,so you can weaknen the Front and grabb power.
Well my friend i have a bad news for you.The heroic Tigray people liberation Front will rule you for the next few generations and make history once more like we had done in the past.
The heroic TIGRAY PEOPLE LIBERATION FRONT IS the ENTIER TIGRAY PEOPLE not MELES,SEBHAT,AZEB or few Tplf idividuals.
The pillar of the gallant TIGRAY PEOPLE LIBERATION FRONT IS the entier TIGRAY PEOPLE who defeated,crushed the following enemies—-such as–
EPLF (eritrean people liberation Front)
Ethiopia army/Derg
and many many more enemies that were crushed by the gallant Fierce Tigray fighters.
Spreading lies,fabrication is not gonna change the TRUTH.
The TRUTH shall set you FREE.
Agazit Sheemale
"We may have political,strategey problems with EPLF eritreans ,but never theless a coward tifram gondere like you should stay out of our problems."
As suspected you and shabians are one and the same you HATE Ethiopia and yet you one to live inside Ethiopia, ironic!!!
A coward and a crazy like you can claim to be a hero all day but we know it comes from the mental health and inferiority complex you suffer from. You can never be equal to Amhara people no matter what much nonsensical and comical noise you make. All it goes to show is you are MENTALLY ILL!!!
Now go Ye Ahwya qula Tibi!!!!
Alemayoh G.Mariam,
How you like it now that your impact in the Ethiopian poletical affair is just a 0 sum. "Le ras sishemu sim ayyasanusu endetebalow" you have been giving yourself all kind of titles just to dump your hilusinating trashes in the name democracy..
We have heard you preaching againist the Ethiopian development…
We have heard you giving a radical advises to the headles pigs, so caled opposition groups..
So, your recent hopeless advice to your hopeles buddies is just a bit late. The damage is already done and their secret is reveal to the Ethiopian people that they valueless cowards and a bunch of comedians…Therefor, get out of your hater box and smel the coffee…
However, look at one of the oppositions group that you are trying to advice they are working closely with the historical Ethiopia's enemies:
A reliable sources indicating that the so called ENTC are getting their direct order and a mession statement from the Asneras mad man Isayas Afeworki.. The source indicating that Yemane Monky the right hand of the mad man of Eretria, had a constractive meeting with those groups that he gave them the order of his boss to helps them how to overthrow the current government In ethiopia…LOL. We will see how long they will last with their fake ambitious name.
God bless the world!
I hate to reply to a scumbag,worthless,living dead animal like you,but nevertheless i want to clarify one thing.
I & the heroic Tigray people dont hate,dislike the majority Amhara people.
We only hate people like you dergists,ginbot 7,eprp,eplf and the rest of our enemies that the heroic TIGRAY PEOPLE CRUSHED ON THE BATTLEFIELD.
The ordinary innocent peasant amhara in the country side had done NO WRONG to any Tigray person.
Coward Wusha shermuta like you lacks COURAGE,BRAVERY,GUTS to fight me or anyother TIGRAY PERSON on the battlefield.
Scumbags like you are only pretend to be brave behind the saftey of your homes and computer.
Your comments toward me the reflection of your own self desire sexual fantacy you get from other guys who screw you where the sun never shine.
Coward like you is limited on the internet.You are not a threat to any heroic Tigray person .
I am 100% sure you will never say one words you being typing behind your computer on front of any Tigray person in real life.
Because any Tigray person in EThiopia or the diaspora will KNOCK OUT your left over teeth,that was knocked out during the last major war 20 years ago.
Teddy,ment4you,tulu ethio,belaw,megdala ETC ETC are the biggest cowards,whores and QOSHASHA WUSHA on the internet who will never fight or bleed for your cause as this HEROIC AGAZIT THE TIGRAY DAUGHTER.
Now go out & find your usuall dozens of guys who always F**K your mouth & rear at the same time wondagered shermuta.
Agazit & the thousands of TIGRAY WOMEN FIGHTERS are fighters who used to captured cowards like you on the battlfield and make you begg for mercy.
Final question to those of you always talk about tigray people and count thier dna ,i have a question to the following guys and the rest of you who open your mouth about Tigray this Tigray That.
C'monite senite
Whats your EThnic?
Where is your KILIL?
What is your religon?
These questions should be very easy for you to answer ,since you are always insulting your liberator and master the HEROIC TIGRAY PEOPLE.
Agazit Sheemale
Your mental health is deteriorating fast.
Since you talk all day about how heroic you are why haven't you taken your war to the streets of Addis where you live as a refugee? Why don't you chant how Amhara are coward and Tigray are brave in the streets where you work as a hooker?
Now a coward like you blubbering all day from a mental disease and inferiority complex amounts to nothing but a the dudu that comes out of your stinking ass.
And you see how your primitive DEAD TPLF leader Meles thought you? Ethnic, Kilil, Religion ….lolllllll and what the hell is Kilil?
Whats your EThnic?
Where is your KILIL?
What is your religion?
Will please now go away and suck on ye aheya qula shabian?
Ohh by the way I beat the crap out of two Tigray who tried to disrespect me not too long ago.
Here is another story for you too …that skinny boy Azeb had before she became a whore to Meles (just like you were a whore of ten TPLFs)loolll ask him why he moves out of my way….???
I will tell you another story about Meles and what he did when he came face to face with me…..think Abebe Gelaw scared him, you should have seen him running…lolllllllllllll
Will please now go away and suck on ye aheya qula shabian?
The fact that we choose between the "lesser of the two evils" is saddening and sickening. Credit will be given when Ethiopia moves up in the development index. It's not a Tigray movement, nor an Amhara, Oromo, Gurage movement. Rather, it's an Ethiopian movement we should focus on. Opposition parties will always exist regardless of the political party in power. By definition, any political party who goes against the current regime is considered an opposition party.
However my fellow woyanes, the increased dissatisfaction among Ethiopian citizens around the world should be taken into account.
Labeling the actions of Woyane as heroic is quite laughable and insulting to past great leaders in Ethiopia and in Africa.
Are we not all at fault? Rather than progressing as a nation, we divide. Our division will be our demise. We have yet to balance the concepts of ethnic autonomy and unity at once.
Surprise Grants Transforming 23 More Live
FELICIA R. LEE Published: October 02, 2012
Natalia Almada, a 37-year-old filmmaker in Mexico City; Raj Chetty, a 33-year-old public economist who teaches at Harvard; and Eric A. Coleman, a 47-year-old physician in Denver, have now become connected, part of an eclectic group whose lives were recently, and irrevocably, changed with a single telephone call.
The three were among the 23 MacArthur Fellows for 2012, whose names were revealed Monday afternoon, ahead of the official announcement scheduled for 12:01 a.m. Tuesday. The fellowships from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, awards that can't be applied for, are the stuff of fantasy. Besides the imprimatur of outstanding achievement, they come with a no-strings-attached $100,000 a year for five years.
The 13 men and 10 women named fellows this year range in age from 31 to 66 and, as in years past, are a diverse group. They include an astronomer, a stringed instrument bow maker, two photographers and a marine ecologist. This year the boldface names belong to writers and musicians: Junot Díaz, 43, the writer and professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Chris Thile, 31, a mandolinist and composer in New York City; David Finkel 56, a Washington Post reporter; Dinaw Mengestu, 34, a novelist and journalist in Washington; and Claire Chase, 34, a flutist and arts entrepreneur in Brooklyn.
The Director of the Department of Criminal Justice at Huntsville, Texas, acting by and through the executioner designated by said Director . . . is hereby directed and commanded, at some hour after 6:00 p.m. on the 13th day of December, 2012, at the Department of Criminal Justice in Huntsville, Texas, to carry out this sentence of death by intravenous injection of a substance or substances in a lethal quantity sufficient to cause the death of said Bereket Simon.
The warden pushed a remote control, and sodium thiopental, a barbiturate, was pumped into Bereket's body. Then came a second drug, pancuronium bromide, which paralyzes the diaphragm, making it impossible to breathe. Finally, a third drug, potassium chloride, filled his veins, until his heart stopped, at 6:20 p.m. On his death certificate, the cause was listed as "Homicide."
In the summer of 1660, an Englishman named William Harrison vanished on a walk, near the village of Charingworth, in Gloucestershire. His bloodstained hat was soon discovered on the side of a local road. Police interrogated Harrison's servant, John Perry, and eventually Perry gave a statement that his mother and his brother had killed Harrison for money. Perry, his mother, and his brother were hanged.
Two years later, Harrison reappeared. He insisted, fancifully, that he had been abducted by a band of criminals and sold into slavery. Whatever happened, one thing was indisputable: he had not been murdered by the Perrys.
The fear that an innocent person might be executed has long haunted jurors and lawyers and judges. During America's Colonial period, dozens of crimes were punishable by death, including horse thievery, blasphemy, "man-stealing," and highway robbery. After independence, the number of crimes eligible for the death penalty was gradually reduced, but doubts persisted over whether legal procedures were sufficient to prevent an innocent person from being executed. In 1868, John Stuart Mill made one of the most eloquent defenses of capital punishment, arguing that executing a murderer did not display a wanton disregard for life but, rather, proof of its value. "We show, on the contrary, most emphatically our regard for it by the adoption of a rule that he who violates that right in another forfeits it for himself," he said. For Mill, there was one counterargument that carried weight—"that if by an error of justice an innocent person is put to death, the mistake can never be corrected."
The modern legal system, with its lengthy appeals process and clemency boards, was widely assumed to protect the kind of "error of justice" that Mill feared. In 2000, while George W. Bush was governor of Texas, he said, "I know there are some in the country who don't care for the death penalty, but . . . we've adequately answered innocence or guilt." His top policy adviser on issues of criminal justice emphasized that there is "super due process to make sure that no innocent defendants are executed."
First and foremost, I am proud of Prof. Almariam. Prof. Al,hundreds of thousands of Ethiopians and Africans love to read your article every Monday and learn from it.I assure you it is bearing fruit. Keep it up! As you said,if the younger generation takes over the leadership of the opposition political parties( coalition), no doubt,they would move forward faster than we imagine in making a positive impact. Trust me.God Bless Ethiopia!!!
you said "Soon or later the ordinary innocent Tigray people and the ordinary innocent Eritreans will unite under the banner of TIGRAY to crush coward fara gondere like you and others."
OH—you made my day! That is my greatest wish and I do not want to die before that happen. We one mother and father; simply a family feud that is consuming us for the last 10 years.
Once we get together, the sky is the limit. There is no Eritrean without Tigray parent or grandparents.
Had we been together, a donkey gondery wouldn't open his stinky mouth.
I am very sure that soon we shall be together and kick asses one more time. No matter what, we are one and stay one.
Can you imagine we be together and laugh together again?
Love you Agazit!
You talk more about ye Ahya qula. Why is that? Do you like it?
I guess you are addicted to Ahya? How is that? can I get some please? I am lebled as kerfatam arogit now and my last resort would be kerfatam ahya. Please help!!
Agasess woman ,who the hell are you supposing fooling MORON BANDA !!
Your Ethno-Mafia Firm is first of all Isayas own Creation to destroy the Unity and Sovereignty of Ethiopia .Fed and financed by Gulf State Emirs ,Sadam Hussein ,Hafez El
Assad ,Numeri later El Beshir and Kadaffi .Even Siad Barre .As were your desperate rocky lands king the
British Slave Yohanes and his Facist italian Slaves sons and Granson .This is a HISTORICAL FACT THAT YOU WILL NEVER ESCAPE !!! Tigrai has produced more traitors than PATRIOTS!!!!!Before opening your dirty mouth better you meditate on the Tue Origin of your Agazi Leaders
The Adgiforum ,BOZENE INtruder infecting this website using C'est moi Senait ID , by your silly word you have shown who really you are
an Agazi prostitute BOZENE BANDA..
Adgi Banda ,you are really in need of a psychiatrist Treatment !!!!
It is an other persons are using my name . It is not me.
These chiggarams weyannes are now trying everything but my words are like a ray that penetrate into these scuba KUUTARAMS weyannes.
Warning to all true wethiopians here. It is in weyannes DNA to pretend to be some one else since they are beggars of sudan refugges camps, where they used to be fed like animal in that oxfam and red cross feeding centre like komataa……..here they are using my name to insult others.
Agazi stinky woman
Your late weyanne leader is rooten in hill and the Arat kilo cefer is infected by stinky weyanne smell and your present has left a UNknow odur that smell like a dead dog on the street…..
You better clean your stomach that is carrying a billions of tapeworm inside you and walk like a human . Gimmatam weyanne.
At last c'est moi has found a match in terms vile languages in the shape of Agazit woman. You two and few others are perverts and your comments shold be vetted before they appear here, maube nazret.com is having fun of reading your choice languages. No sense of decency at all. Where did you all grow up? In "አሜሪካን ግቢ" ወይም "አባ ሻወል ሰፈር" Nothing comes out your mouths but obscenities & total disrespect for others.
C'est moi senait [Visitor]
You are exactly talking about the stink and worms in between your legs.
C'est moi senait
Je sais que ce n'est pas vous. C'est probablement le ExtraIdiot cervelle ou la gay Shabian Addis Zefzef.
Ils sont des réfugiés de Asmera qui aiment faire avec Agazit SheeMale sans préservatif. Creepy!
Good article….you have vividly depicted what it should look like bing a LOYAL OPPOSITION not a LOYAL CONFUSIONIST. keep it up….
@Bona Fide: That was eloquently articulated fair feedback.
For sure in our time one day the Ethiopian people will see an avairage midle class Ethiopia and smart tolerance multiparty government who work for common benefit of the Ethiopian ppl.
Peace out!
I Am always wondering Why you guys hate Eritreans so much? What would happen we make a Peace agreement with DERG And be Federation with Ethiopia or,,DERG won the war? we will live hell life. wowwwww!!!! anyways Peace And love for Ethiopians and my beloved country BAHRI-WESEN(ERITREA)
ፕሮፌሰር አለማየሁ እንዳልከው በርግጥም የጋራ አመለካከት የሚኖረው ተቀናቃኝ ፓርቲዎች በ አንድነት የ ፕኦለቲካ ፍልምያ ማድረግ ያስፈልጋቸዋል::
ዋናው ጠላት እ ህ አ ዴ ግ ስለሆነ በ መተባበር ስልጣን ለ ህዝብ እንዲሸጋገር መጣር ግዴታ ነው እላለሁ::
ከላይ የጻፍከውን እንደገና እጠቅሰዋለሁ::
A United Principled Democratic Opposition? That is what Ethiopia needs today. Such an opposition is built on a foundation of the values of tolerance, cooperation and compromise.
አገራችን በቅርብ ጊዜ ውስጥ ነጻነትዋን ትጎናጸፋለች::
እድር ባይ በዝባዦች ከነ ተከታዮቻቸው ፍትህ ያገኛሉ::
ቀንደኛ ጠላትዋም እ ህ አ ዴ ግ ይደመሰሳል::
Hurray the professor spoke the truth for the firs time. He admitted " his oppositions" is a fragmented group led by egomaniacal individuals who are fixated on their own agenda. I think professor you woke up from your twenty years slumber and noticed all those people you met on meetings and fund raising dinners are useless bunch of liers who are fattening their behind with the money they collected through psalms. GOOD JOB THIS ARTICLE IS A MASTERPIECE.
Why Eritreans are smarter than others in politics? Why they are not always staying quiet when it comes to politics. During Haieleselasie the students of Addis Ababa University skipped class except the Eritreans for Eritreans freedom. Mind you for Eritrean freedom. It is also irony that now the Amhra are working to destroy us from Asmara. Desperate people Amhara have no place to go to wage gorilla fight. No sanctuary. What is the difference between Asmara and Mekelle. Both sides of Ethiopia, the people are getting destroyed by fake Eritreans. Other than that we have a good alternative in diaspora organized by Eritreans who are not friends to us to give us alternatives to our people. What a shame. ENTC or Tinsae are all Eritreans initiated organizations. I never expected my Amhra people are so ignorant of Eritreans upper hand in Ethiopian politics.
Al, you could have made this kind of statement years ago. Jib Kehede Wusha Chohe. The people of Ethiopia and our sister Susan Rice forced you to bow your head.
Admit your failure to be respected AND advice your followers, Current Affairs Rm, ESAT and Eth. Review.
King Toona [Visitor]
Al is trying to be smart. After the shock wave the Ethiopian people sent in the diaspora world on the death of the Great leader Al realized he was wrong, of course deadly wrong; he found out the very person he hates for the sake of the Ethiopian people is a man loved by Ethiopians.
It is obvious the "fools" and "idiots" message deliberately sent by the white house was to Al and some others like him Diasporas. Susan Rice's message was a message from the white house approved by the President any argument contrary to this fact is simply ignorance of the role of a diplomat.
Now he is trying to distance himself from what he called "the opposition", by blaming the opposition he is trying to create a space between himself and them.
He is part and parcel of this confused political hard in the diaspora world, he is among the architect's of the Diasporas hate politics. He is among the leading figures in confusing diaspora herd. He is the pioneer of the war against foreign investment in Ethiopia and boycott campaign on Ethiopian products and services. He is behind the campaign against the Renaissance dam, ETC, ECX, EAL …
We all know several time he appeared in international media and they cyber world as an opposition spokes person demonizing the Ethiopian government in particularly of Meles the Great.
The Ethiopian people and Government might forgive him but, I wonder if he can forgive himself, if he can forgive himself he must be a unique creature with no subconscious in him.
I will not be surprised if Al hang himself, that is also the only suggesting I have for him, in fact the sooner he act the better.
ትናንት የሰይጣኑ መለስ መሞት ሃቅ ሆነ::
ዛሬ ደግሞ የምናየው የሱን አምላኪ ግብዞች ነፍሳት እንደነ
ex-terorist, aduoche zemen, heny/she hen, Agannt woman የመሳሰሉት ፍርፋሪ ለቃሚዎች አሁንም በናዝሬት ላይ እያንዣበቡ ትፋታቸውን አላቆሙም::
ነገ ደግሞ ቲ ፒ ኤል ኤፍ ቁርበቱን ጠቅልሎ ከ አራት ኪሎ ሲባረር ኢትዮጵያ ዘላለማዊ ሰላምን ታገኛለች::
አገራችን ከድህነት አለምና ከልመና ሰልፍ ትወጣለች::
ይህም እውን የሚሆን ሃቅ ነው::
የመለስ አርባው ሲታሰብ በ ስንዴ ጠላ የሰከሩት የ እ ህ ዴ ግ ትንኞች እየተወላገዱ ቢንተባተቡም እንስቅባቸዋለን እንጂ ከቁም ነገር አናስገባቸውም::
ወይ ግብዝና እና ድንቁርና ብዙ ያስዘላብዳል አይደል!!!
Well, well well.
Opposition parties, alternative views & ways of doing things, varied views, knowledge, diverse way of thinking, reasoning etc are all Brilliant ideas, would most certainly lead to beautiful, exemplary nation, as in the nations where most of you spasticated TPLF donkeys currently reside? Only retarded, fairy tell oriented society from up north believe in one party, one view, one sided ideology, one sided policy, one tribe looting etc. Other than that the meticulous, enlightened, beyond intelligent Pro Al said it all. I can imagine how handsome the prof must have been at his prime! Oo'lala
@ Extra termite & rotten Zemen
Hahahaaa! Quit flattering yourselves. You two midgets, bald, scar faced geriatric Tsilas with ugly brains, personalities, vulgar "Ye Tej Bet Shimagile" attitudes probably look like your Mama's "Ye Mahber Keyy Wet Mesrial Tilik Biret-Dist"! All worn out, burnt, dented, scratched up eye sores respectively
@ Solomon
In 2005, the now history Zenawi gave opposition free medium to compete, campaign. Then they gave him the shock of his life by winning every free & fair vote in almost all the country!! Even in his own turf. More significantly, they TRASHED him in our Addis Ababa. He lost flat-out, felt massively humiliated hence resorted to violence. That is what happened. Don't talk bullshit like Ye mender Arogit. We were all there, we saw what happened when your TPLFs massacred countless bright students, children, ordinary people.
@ Agazi Filthy
Hahahahahaa! "Yet Heje Lifenda Alech Totta"! Did you just say "Tifram Gondere"? Hahahah! Of all people a fara Tsila from Adgi-rat say such thing? Anchi No 11, Denbara Hulet Yegira Egir fara? Don't you know Gondar is still a place where Tigray folks go to search for food, look for work, trade? Your barren, dusty & raggedy hills & people have ABSOLUTELY nothing on the beautiful GREEN, lush, breathy, spectacular Gondar & its beautiful, cool, calm, collected, well mannered intelligent people. Do you know Gondar never starves? No matter what? Beggar Geriatric, better zip your mouth!
Ahhh LMFAO@ Eritreans teaming up with you nasty poisonous folks ever again, DREAM ON! I bet they are waiting to dismantle your Armageddon rotten a$$. Color of their eyes? Ring a bell? You certainly have no clue! "Yemilushin Besemash, Gebeya Balwetash". Where on earth is Asmerom Hawyeyy? ROFL
The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of nazret.com. The views are solely that of the author. Become a blogger of nazret.com, the #1 Rated Ethiopian Website according to Alexa. Contact us for details
«_alemayehu g_ mariam _» «_ali mohammed_» _education_ «_human rights_» _usaid_ agriculture «alemayehu g_ mariam» birtukan china clinton «commodity exchange» dc9 economics economy ecx «eskinder nega» inflation «meles zenawi» «messay kebede» «messay kebede» mideksa murder wikileaks «yilma bekele»
«_alemayehu g_ mariam _» «_ali mohammed_» _education_ «_human rights_» _usaid_ agriculture «alemayehu g_ mariam» birtukan china clinton «commodity exchange» dc9 economics economy ecx «eskinder nega» inflation «meles zenawi» «messay kebede» «messay kebede» mideksa murder wikileaks «yilma bekele»


text:
State marketplaces may offer more refined choices, but either vehicle should work, experts say
WebMD News from HealthDay
Feds Take Lead on Health Insurance Exchanges
By Karen Pallarito
HealthDay Reporter
FRIDAY, March 8 (HealthDay News) -- More than half the states in the nation have decided to let the federal government take on the task of creating one of the most complex yet vital parts of the massive 2010 health reform law, which was championed by President Barack Obama.
In 26 states, the federal government will set up so-called health insurance exchanges, where many Americans can shop for coverage beginning with open enrollment this October. Most of the states handing off exchange duties to Washington are led by Republican governors, including heavily populated states like Florida and Texas.
Only 17 states and the District of Columbia plan to create and run their own exchanges, and the remaining seven states will do it in partnership with the federal government, according to the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation's latest count.
Colorado, one of the first states to enact health exchange legislation, expects to cover 300,000 uninsured residents through its state-run exchange, Connect for Health Colorado.
"I think we feel strongly that we have certain opportunities and challenges that we understand best, and so it does make sense for us to create a system that really is going to work for the stakeholders in Colorado," said Dede de Percin, executive director of the Colorado Consumer Health Initiative in Denver.
Some states had placed exchange-building on the back burner as they awaited last June's U.S. Supreme Court decision on the constitutionality of the health reform law, as well as the outcome of the November presidential election.
Republican Gov. Paul LePage of Maine was among those who, in the wake of President Obama's reelection, decided not to implement a state exchange.
Maine has an estimated 133,000 uninsured people, a number that may swell by as many as 44,000, according to Joseph Ditre, executive director of Consumers for Affordable Health Care in Augusta.
"We are hopeful that the [federally facilitated exchange] will enable a vigorous outreach and enrollment campaign," Ditre said. Still, he added that Maine's decision to forgo a state-run exchange means the state won't play an active role in negotiating with health plans to keep rates down and improve quality -- at least not immediately.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
6 Comments
Sorry I guess I cant spell "shows not show"
You have my vote!
Will you support me?
Good luck!
please check out my design http://www.designbyhumans.com/vote/detail/48057
an vote if you liked ^^
very elegant and professional man, you really need to market this to some company some where because this is money! +1
and please help out my first submission if you like it!
zainabbarlas Artist
nice one… check my Caught in a Whirl too will ya?
please check out my work


text:
Last Played on Antena Radio Krusevac
Enjoy the comfort of radio.net for free and listen to Antena Radio Krusevac easily on internet radio. You can find an extensive selection of internet radio stations and live streams from the whole world and play them with the radioplayer of radio.net. In addition to Antena Radio Krusevac, you can discover plenty of other favorite stations.


text:
- Table View
- List View
Over the Horizon Proliferation Threatsby Wirtz James J. Lavoy Peter R.
In every decade of the nuclear era, one or two states have developed nuclear weapons despite the international community's opposition to proliferation. In the coming years, the breakdown of security arrangements, especially in the Middle East and Northeast Asia, could drive additional countries to seek their own nuclear, biological, or chemical (NBC) weapons and missiles. This likely would produce greater instability, more insecure states, and further proliferation. Are there steps concerned countries can take to anticipate, prevent, or dissuade the next generation of proliferators? Are there countries that might reassess their decision to forgo a nuclear arsenal? This volume brings together top international security experts to examine the issues affecting a dozen or so countries' nuclear weapons policies over the next decade. In Part I, National Decisions in Perspective, the work describes the domestic political consideration and international pressures that shape national nuclear policies of several key states. In Part II, Fostering Nonproliferation, the contributors discuss the factors that shape the future motivations and capabilities of various states to acquire nuclear weapons, and assess what the world community can do to counter this process. The future utility of bilateral and multilateral security assurances, treaty-based nonproliferation regimes, and other policy instruments are covered thoroughly.
Select your format based upon: 1) how you want to read your book, and 2) compatibility with your reading tool. To learn more about using Bookshare with your device, visit the Help Center.
Here is an overview of the specialized formats that Bookshare offers its members with links that go to the Help Center for more information.
- Bookshare Web Reader - a customized reading tool for Bookshare members offering all the features of DAISY with a single click of the "Read Now" link.
- DAISY (Digital Accessible Information System) - a digital book file format. DAISY books from Bookshare are DAISY 3.0 text files that work with just about every type of access technology that reads text. Books that contain images will have the download option of 'DAISY Text with Images'.
- BRF (Braille Refreshable Format) - digital Braille for use with refreshable Braille devices and Braille embossers.
- MP3 (Mpeg audio layer 3) - Provides audio only with no text. These books are created with a text-to-speech engine and spoken by Kendra, a high quality synthetic voice from Ivona. Any device that supports MP3 playback is compatible.
- DAISY Audio - Similar to the Daisy 3.0 option above; however, this option uses MP3 files created with our text-to-speech engine that utilizes Ivonas Kendra voice. This format will work with Daisy Audio compatible players such as Victor Reader Stream and Read2Go.


text:
How much of the backstage drama depicted in the new Michelle Williams film 'My Week With Marilyn' -- which chronicles the tumultuous shoot of the 1957 Marilyn Monroe/Laurence Olivier romantic comedy 'The Prince and the Showgirl' -- actually happened? Quite a bit, according to various Monroe and Olivier biographies. If anything, the new movie understates the turmoil surrounding the notoriously insecure and unreliable yet charismatic and witty sex goddess, her frustrated co-star/director Olivier, her overwhelmed new husband Arthur Miller, her manipulative drama coach Paula Strasberg, and star-struck gofer Colin Clark (on whose memoirs 'My Week with Marilyn' is based). It's no wonder that the action behind the camera is better remembered today than the finished product, which plays like a pleasant but inessential trifle, a footnote in the careers of two of the greatest performers in film history. Read on to learn more about what really happened behind the scenes of 'The Prince and the Showgirl,' including events not mentioned in 'My Week with Marilyn.'
1. 'The Prince and the Showgirl' was to be the first movie made by Marilyn Monroe Productions, the independent company she had formed with photographer-turned-paramour-turned-platonic-business-partner Milton Greene. The company had acquired the rights to Terence Rattigan's London stage hit 'The Sleeping Prince' as a vehicle for Monroe to prove her serious thespian bona fides, although it didn't stray too far from her roots in light romantic comedy. She'd made the deal with Rattigan herself, meeting him for drinks in a downtown New York bar before his trip to Hollywood, where he'd receive a nibble but no firm offers.
2. The obvious choice for both star and director was Olivier, who had originated the role of the Carpathian prince in the London version opposite his wife, Vivien Leigh. Many other alumni of the stage version would work on the film as well, including Jeremy Spenser and Richard Wattis, who reprised their stage roles, and set designer Roger Furse.
3. Olivier was considered the greatest actor of his generation and one of England's biggest stars, but in 1956, pushing 50, he felt his film career was in a rut. He thought that Monroe's freshness and glamour would rub off on him and rejuvenate him.
4. Monroe and Olivier announced plans to make the movie at a February 1956 press conference in New York City, a Q&A session whose biggest revelation was a wardrobe malfunction in which a shoulder strap on Marilyn's backless black dress broke. Cynical reporters accused her of rigging the strap to snap on purpose, a charge she denied. But even Olivier believed it was a stunt. In any case, the broken-strap incident was memorable enough for Olivier and Monroe to turn it into a gag in a scene in the film.
5. Monroe and Miller had been married for just two weeks when they came to London for the shoot. They had left America at a time when Miller was under threat of indictment for contempt of Congress for his refusal to name suspected Communists to the House Un-American Activities Committee. Days after their arrival, Congress voted to cite him for contempt, a citation that would ultimately lead to a trial the following spring, after the Millers had returned to America. The playwright was ultimately fined $500 and given a suspended sentence of a month behind bars. The conviction was overturned on appeal a year later. Meanwhile, Olivier and Monroe had inserted an in-joke about "un-Carpathian activities" into their film.
6. Two days before Monroe's arrival, Leigh, 42, announced she was expecting a child in December. Three weeks into filming, however, Leigh miscarried. That tragedy put a new strain on the Oliviers' fragile marriage.
7. Greene brought along a young assistant, David Maysles, effectively launching the young man's movie career. Years later, David and his brother Albert would become giants of the documentary, with such films as 'Gimme Shelter' and 'Grey Gardens.'
8. Colin Clark landed his job as third assistant director because his parents were friends of the Oliviers.
9. Monroe's Method training, which made her feel like she needed to delve into the motivation for every line and gesture, led to clashes with Olivier and his classically-trained, just-do-it actors. She felt inadequate among them, despite having studied the Method herself for years with famed drama teacher Lee Strasberg. Asked by a British reporter what had inspired her to start studying acting, she replied, "Seeing my own pictures."
10. Lee's wife, Paula Strasberg, came along as Monroe's acting coach and earned a higher salary than anyone else on the project except the two leads.
11. Olivier sought advice from other directors who'd worked with Monroe on how to handle the difficult actress. Billy Wilder's advice: Just put up with her; the results are worth it. Joshua Logan, who visited the set late in the shoot, told Olivier: Work closely with Paula Strasberg and Monroe in rehearsals but don't let Strasberg on the set. But that proved impossible as Monroe simply refused to work without her coach by her side.
12. Typical Strasberg advice to Marilyn: Olivier spent a morning trying to inspire in Monroe the wit and sparkle needed in the scene when their characters first meet. Strasberg told her, "Honey -- just think of Coca-Cola and Frank Sinatra."
13. Monroe's frequent tardiness, inability to remember lines, and her insistence on having every direction of Olivier's reinterpreted by Strasberg led to numerous production delays. One scene, in which Monroe's character eats caviar, took two days, 34 takes, and 20 jars of caviar to complete.
14. Olivier displayed his anger by being patronizing. "All you have to do is be sexy, dear Marilyn," he said, demoralizing Monroe, who was trying to break out of sex-symbol status and be taken seriously as an actress. Off the set, he complained that trying to give her direction was like teaching Urdu to a marmoset.
15.Sybil Thorndike, the venerable actress who played the Dowager Queen, urged Olivier and the other actors to be patient with Monroe. "We need her desperately," Thorndike said. "She's really the only one of us who knows how to act in front of a camera!"
16. In addition to babysitting the star (including during her free time, as depicted in 'My Week With Marilyn'), Clark was also tasked with keeping cigarettes on hand at all times for Olivier to smoke, since the actor/director's costume had no pockets. He smoked Oliviers, a brand named after himself.
17. Monroe turned to her new husband for moral support, often distracting him from working on rewrites of his play 'A View From the Bridge,' which was having its London premiere. He'd expanded it from one act (as it had premiered on Broadway) to a full-length, two-act drama. There were censorship complications over the play's hints of homosexuality that led the producers to move it to another theater. When it finally premiered that fall, the Oliviers and Millers attended opening night together in a gesture of solidarity, with Monroe wearing a striking red dress that ensured enthusiastic press coverage. The play was a hit.
18. Here's how Miller assesed the 'Prince and the Showgirl' shoot:
19. It was during his time in England that Miller began writing the short story that would become 'The Misfits,' which would be the last film Monroe would complete.
Olivier was soon prepared to murder Paula outright, and from time to time, I would not have minded joining him, for Marilyn, a natural comedienne, seemed distracted by half-digested spitballed imagery and pseudo-Stanislavskian parallelisms that left her unable to free her own native joyousness. As for Olivier, with all his limitations in directing Marilyn -- an arch tongue too quick with the cutting joke, an irritating mechanical exactitude in positioning her and imposing his preconceived notions upon her -- he still could have helped her far more than Paula with her puddings of acting philosophy.
20. Despite the countless production delays, Olivier finished the shoot a few days ahead of schedule. Still, he was said to be so shattered by the process that he didn't direct another film for 14 years (when he shot 1970's 'Three Sisters'), though he remained in demand as a stage and screen actor.
21. Warner Bros. changed the title 'The Sleeping Prince' to 'The Prince and the Showgirl' to play up the presence of Monroe, the movie's chief box office draw. The film was advertised with a poster of Olivier and Monroe locked in a steamy embrace, a clinch that doesn't actually appear in the film. Despite these efforts, the movie earned mixed reviews and was considered a box office disappointment in America. In Europe, however, critics were kinder, and Monroe even earned awards for her performance in France and Italy.
22. Monroe and Greene's partnership dissolved in bitterness. She didn't work again for another two years, until she made her triumphant comeback in 'Some Like It Hot.'
23. Years later, Olivier admitted that the tribulations of working with Monroe had been worth it. Thorndike had been right; the camera had captured only Monroe's magic, without any of her doubts and frailties. "No one had such a look of unconscious wisdom, and her personality was strong on the screen," Olivier said. "She was quite wonderful, the best of all."
24. 'The Prince and the Showgirl' was the only movie Monroe filmed outside North America.
25. Rattigan's play also became a Broadway musical in 1963, called 'The Girl Who Came to Supper.' Noel Coward wrote the songs. The stars were Florence Henderson and José Ferrer. The show ran just over 100 performances, perhaps because Ferrer, while a terrific actor, was no Olivier, and Henderson (who was no longer an ingenue but not yet Mrs. Brady) was no Monroe. But then, who is?
[Photos: Warner Bros.]
Follow Moviefone on Twitter
Like Moviefone on Facebook
Follow Gary Susman on Twitter: @garysusman
Balkan prince (Laurence Olivier) courts Milwaukee chorus girl (Marilyn Monroe) in 1911 London. Read More
A production assistant introduces Marilyn Monroe to the pleasures of British life. Read More


text:
New subscription
Renew my subscription
Give a gift
Pay my bill
Change my address
Active within 852 Days
Hi! My name is Bradon
I am an Oriental Longhair from Bartonville, IL
Nicknames: Limo
Age: 18 years old
Gender: M
Coat: long haired
My favorite tricks and treats are:
Where I hang out: Chair, bed or on a rug.
My favorite grubs:
My pet peeves: Sudden movements
What I love about my owners: Shows understanding when I am shy or get frightend.
My cat hobbies: Sleep in a chair or the bed.
Pet motto:
See all awards »
Adoped by friend, I take care of him.
I've had 547 friends visit me.
I'm the 22,976th member on CatChannel.com.
1 friend has voted for me since I joined Club Cat!
Come visit me, Emmy.
Tell a Friend |
Report inappropriate content on this page.
Hi, my name is
Visit the photo gallery to cast your vote »
Get quick tips for happy cats, food recall info, news alerts and best behavior advice.
Sign up to get updates delivered straight to your inbox.
CatChannel takes your privacy seriously. To learn more, please read our privacy policy.


text:
Bench explosion helps Spurs survive Duncan injury on opening night
A Tim Duncan injury is not the way the Spurs would like to start a season, but as is the case with most silver linings, it could've been much worse. San Antonio defeated Memphis 101-94 in a season-opening rematch (if that makes sense) of last year's Western Conference Finals. But when the franchise cornerstone goes down, a bit of air always escapes the building with him.
It doesn't appear to be serious at this point, but Duncan's chest contusion — suffered after receiving an inadvertent Tony Allen elbow — will be examined further tomorrow, and it is unclear whether he'll play in Los Angeles against the Lakers on Friday.
Still, the Spurs survived in his absence. Kawhi Leonard was his usual solid self, leading the Spurs with 14 points, but it was the new-look, less-than-7-percent-body-fat Patty Mills that gave San Antonio the cushion it would need before Duncan went down.
The Grizzlies were looking just as physical as ever, even without Lionel Hollins at the helm. They pushed their way out to a 17-13 lead before Mills checked in for Tony Parker at the 2:41-mark of the first quarter, and the second unit opened the floodgates from there. Over the next 9:47 — the duration of Patty's first-half playing time — San Antonio went on an easy-looking 25-5 run, breaking the game wide open and cruising into halftime with a 48-27 lead. The Grizzlies scored just seven points in the second quarter.
In the nearly 10 minutes Mills spent on the floor during the first half, the Spurs had a net differential of 112.9 points per 100 possessions, according to NBA.com stats. SMALL SAMPLE-SIZE THEATER IS BACK AT 48 MINUTES OF HELL! Perhaps even more interesting, however, was the fact that presumed backup point guard Cory Joseph was the only Spur who dressed to not see the floor. Take it for what it's worth, but the former Longhorn had both knees wrapped in ice following the game. For a guy who didn't play, this isn't normal.
But back to the game. Duncan was injured with 10:50 remaining in the third quarter. He made his way to the bench during a timeout where head trainer Will Sevening examined his injury on the sideline. As Sevening put pressure on the All-Star's chest, Duncan appeared to wince in pain and push the trainer's hand away. He then walked to the locker room and stayed there for the rest of the night.
As Duncan left, the Grizzlies seemed to arrive. They outscored the Spurs 31-24 in the third quarter before cutting a once 21-point lead to five with 7:08 to play. But San Antonio bounced back on the strength of several 3-pointers and great ball movement down the stretch as they pushed the lead back out to double digits in the final minutes.
But it's just the first of 82 games, something Gregg Popovich has regularly reiterated. So as we progress through yet another NBA marathon, we pay attention to the developing storylines. With so many returning players, deep roster continuity and ever-increasing corporate knowledge — as Pop likes to call it — the topic of conversation that has as big an impact on the present as it does on the future is the development of Kawhi Leonard.
Leonard's increased involvement in the season's opening game was noticeable, and the numbers reflected that. After averaging a 16.7 usage percentage (the percentage of team plays used by a player when he is on the floor) throughout the 2012-13 season, Leonard was used on 21.7 percent of the team's plays while he was on the floor on Wednesday. He didn't put up huge numbers (14 points, seven rebounds, two blocks, four turnovers), but he played only 30 minutes. During that time he registered a 70.9 true-shooting percentage and a 7.5 net rating.
It's a long season, but we're going to be talking a lot about this. Parker did not have a good game — though he had other things on his mind, like news of a baby on the way. He hit just four of his 14 shots, though he did register nine assists. Still, Leonard's efficiency out of the backcourt was needed on a night Duncan played just 17 minutes.
But another welcome sight was the game Manu Ginobili had. The newly signed sixth man battled through one of the most difficult seasons of his career in 2012-13, so a return to form — or at least something close to it, considering his age — would be a welcome development. For at least one night, Manu looked great. Granted, he was part of the huge second-quarter run ignited by Mills, but he certainly played his part. Ginobili notched 12 points, five assists and four rebounds in 24 minutes, and he nearly registered a 30 net rating on a 66.7 true-shooting percentage.
Again, these are small storylines to pay attention to through one game, but Leonard's development and Ginobili's recovery are likely the two most important storylines beyond team health. As Duncan's injury showed us tonight, even in a brief amount of time, the Spurs are not he Spurs when their stars aren't on the court. By the time late spring and early summer roll around, nothing is more important.
Stats courtesy of NBA.com.


text:
Poland -> Germany -> Denmark -> Norway -> Sweden -> Lofoten
After driving about 58 hours over 3500 km with 3 stops, finally I reached the destination - Lofoten (archipelago in the north of Norway). Though lying within the Arctic Circle, here the sun is above the horizon continuously from 25 May to 17 July. All these photographs were taken within 2 days. In the 3rd day came the storm... To be continued.