It is with deep seated anger and regret to find out that Mr. Sachs of Columbia University had chosen to stoop so low in presenting bribe money to his brother in arms, the butcher of Ethiopia Meles Zenawi. It is equally embarrassing to Columbia University for failing to reign in both Messrs. Sachs and Sanchez for making a mockery of the Ethiopian people, in giving thumbs up vote to its dictatorial regime to receive such an award.

I am pretty sure both faculty members and the University had something to gain from this deal. May be a flock of foreign students to the Columbia University, or legitimacy and lucrative financial deals to Mr. Sachs' phony book entitled " The End Of Poverty." I would not buy this book, because the basis in which it is written is not based on concrete facts. It is rather based on hypothetical assumptions he gathered from dictators like Meles who lie to the world through their teeth to make themselves feel good, and important. A trash basket is an appropriate location for this kind of publication. So Sachs did what he did to cover his own ass. I hope he learnt his lesson the hard way.

So many Ethiopians in the past attended and graduated from Columbia University. The one person whose name stands out to this date is none other than the late Girmame Neway. A young political scientist, and a graduate of this prestigious Ivy League institution who sacrificed his own life for the betterment of all Ethiopians.

Bear with me for a moment, and let me take you on a journey back on time several years ago, and familiarize you with a brief story about the two brothers that Ethiopians will never forget them. They were referred to as the Neway brothers. The older brother was general Mengistu Neway commander of the elite Imperial Body guard. The younger brother was Girmame Neway, governor general of Ethiopia's Eastern Zone (Harar and its environs).

First and foremost what would the University's response be, if an Ethiopian who graduated from this Ivy League should ever ask why officials from his almamater sided with a dictator, who is a cold blooded killer, liar, robber, and beggar?
This makes Girmame roll over in his grave knowing that his almamater a champion of human rights at one time, end up becoming the prime supporter of an infamous dictator known for his human rights violation.

The Neway brothers did not come from the bushes, rather they came from a well to do family. They were not born dirt poor. They were born to a privileged family, who taught them at an early age the values and norms of human beings. They had fame and fortune, and every thing went very well for them. General Mengistu as a commander of the Imperial Body Guard enjoyed the best lavish accommodations, that present day high ranking officers would never like to give it up at any cost. Girmame as a governor had the opportunity of amassing millions of dollars should he desire to do like wise.

Unfortunately due to the way they were raised, they did not care too much for material possessions as well as financial gains. They wanted to help the less fortunate so they too can enjoy equally like any one else.

Girmame as governor general while touring different parts of his administration, friends who knew him well told us how he broke down in tears to see the wretchedness of life his constituents had to go through on a daily basis. Such a misery had become unbearable for him to see on a daily basis, and wanted to do something about it.

Together he and his brother wanted to change Ethiopia for the better, so the country could pull herself out of economic, social, and political stagnation. So Girmame and general Mengistu who had every thing they wanted under the sun, staged a coup d'etat to change the course of history for Ethiopians to lead a better life filled with prosperity and tranquility.

Although they knocked out of their ways some of the hurdles that hindered the country's progress they did not cross the finish line safe and sound to see the progress they have done. The two brothers sacrificed their lives fighting for the oppressed masses of Ethiopians. How ever the Neway brothers lit a fire in the minds of oppressed Ethiopians, a scorching fire that will never be extinguished for years to come.

How many of Ethiopia's current leadership has the fortitude of doing things that benefit the masses? You all said that right, none of them are. They all are bunch of illiterate disreputable thugs who ascended to power with a barrel of gun, and put their own selfish interest first ahead of the nation's.

Columbia University owes the people of Ethiopia an apology for allowing its officials to present an award, and be associated with a cold blooded killer, and arrogant Meles Zenawi. Girmame is rolling over in his grave in disgust knowing his alma mater is siding with this trash talking, low down scum of the earth who lacks an ounce of decency in his veins.

It could have been Girmame, not Meles who deserve any kind of an award. Columbia University ought to admit they made a grave error, and rectify it by doing the right thing in posthumously presenting an award to its own alumnus the late Girmame Neway. A man who devoted and sacrificed his own life for the betterment of all Ethiopians.

Email: GebregzeeK@hotmail.com

City: southbrookeridge

Jeffery Sucks!

Email: addis_tesfa1997@yahoo.com

City: Addis Ababa