ON THE DEATH OF THE PRINCE MAKONNEN
May the Almighty God reward you – all our people,
young and old and the thousands of students who have so
profoundly shared our grief in the heavy blow we have sus-
tained on the passing of our son, Prince Makonnen. Itegue
and I are most thankful for your expression of sympathy.
The share that all our people has taken in our sorrow
has helped to comfort us. The students whom, with God's
help we have provided with education, have with their faith-
ful hearts expressed their grief with tears while we followed
the last remains of our son in his funeral. Though he (the
deceased Prince) is our son in flesh and blood – those are
our children in education. The school boys and girls shed
their tears as if for a devoted brother or sister.
Moreover, the telegrams of sympathy which we have
received from dignitaries, officials, from foreign lands and
from all over the Empire have greatly comforted us. As he
is our son and your son, our grief has become your grief.
We loved our son Makonnen in two ways: In the first,
because he is our son. Thus our sorrow under the shadow
of his death is that of the heavy-laden heart of a parent
at the loss of a child. Secondly, since he was a child he was
always beside us offering us essential aid and service. Besides,
at the age of 12, during the war, reluctant to separate
from us, he marched with us to Dessie helping us to protect
ourselves from the raining bombs.
When we were in exile he was Our source of comfort.
During his youth he determined to set a good mental and
decorous example to those whom we prepared to participate
in the progress of our country, thus exemplifying his will, his
efforts and his farsightedness.
In his humane reminders to us concerning the poor and
indigent, he sought and obtained relief for them. These acts
we leave to those who received his benevolence, to recall.
Though young he brought constantly to our attention the
conditions of all those who deserved help, doing so even very
late at night, foregoing all youthful diversion. Young as he
was he was so mentally mature that he advised us like an
elderly person.
We brought him up by feeding him with a nursing
bottle, while his mother gave him her breast. We had hoped
that we might precede him, but unexpectedly this tragic loss
has deprived us of him. Even if we comply fully with God's
commands and take care of his wife and children, can this
to us be a substitute for Makonnen? However, Makonnen
cannot be to us more than the whole Ethiopian people who
are our sons and daughters.
Mortality is man’s inevitable course. We must patiently
accept God's resolution in giving us Makonnen the one whom
He gave us to be the ornament of our life and recalling him.
Today is the third day since we have laid him to rest,
and we must go to him since he cannot come to us.
Let us all return to the services for which we have been
chosen. We must save ourselves so that we may be of service
to others. May God accept the tears that were shed and use
the hearts of those who have shed them to the progress of
our country. So let us return to our duties.
May 18, 1957.
Selected Speeches of His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie – page 645 –
Keine Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen