Speech of The Day (307): ETHIOPIAN STUDENTS ABROAD: NORTH AMERICA

ETHIOPIAN STUDENTS ABROAD:

NORTH AMERICA

I am very happy to be able to send a few words of greeting to you on the occasion of this reunion of the Ethiopian students who are studying in America. It is good that it has been possible to arrange such a meeting so that you may relax and enjoy yourselves together for a time.

We hope that it will also be a period for renewing friend-ships with your fellow countrymen and thus strengthening the ties which bind you to your homeland, Ethiopia. It should also be a time when you may take stock of yourself and may consider what return you owe for the opportunity you have been given.

Great and wise men from all countries have told us through the centuries that the most worthwhile sort of life is one of service – ‘Working for the benefit of others.’ The Divine Teacher by word and example taught us that the only worthy way of living is to give rather than to receive.

In the dark days of the occupation our own patriots did not consider personal advantages as they strove to realize their ideal. As you prepare yourselves to return to Ethiopia I commend to you a life which gives to others who are less privileged than we and who have not had our opportunities.

Each of you is old enough and mature enough to know that in the United States and Canada education has seldom been prized only on account of its usefulness to individuals but to society. It is seldom intended to be merely an ornament to the person who obtains it.

This conception of education is equally important for us in Ethiopia, where only education can lead the way to higher standards of living for all people. It is in expectation of a rich return that the Ethiopian Government has spent freely to send you abroad, hoping that upon your return you will make a generous contribution to the betterment of your country.

We do not want you to return to Ethiopia, Americans or Canadians; American techniques in their entirety may be good only in America and Canadian training will be especially applicable to conditions in that country. We hope that you will be wise in choosing those elements from foreign education which are applicable to conditions in Ethiopia and which can be used in our own country.

There is a third thought which I would like you to keep always before you. In a world which becomes smaller and smaller as communication improves, nations must live as neighbours with other nations. Just as your impressions of an American are formed from the individual Americans you meet, so a foreigner’s ideas about Ethiopia depend upon the Ethiopians he encounters and knows.

Each of you is an Ambassador-at-large of your country. If you are kind and tolerant and courteous you make people think well of us – if you are arrogant and proud and unfriendly you discredit us in the eyes of others. It is my earnest hope that you may be at all times worthy representatives of Ethiopia.

Sept. 2, 1950.

Selected Speeches of His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie – page 43 –     

Speech of The Day (306): O.A.U. Seventh Session Opens

Important Utterances of H.I.M. Emperor Haile Selassie I - page 420 -

Speech of The Day (305) - received at the Guenet Leul Palace in Addis Ababa eight visiting Educational Officers from Eritrea

On Tuesday, September 1, 1959, His Imperial

Majesty Haile Se lassie I, received at the

Guenet Leul Palace in Addis Ababa eight visiting

Educational Officers from Eritrea. The educa-

tional Officers were presented to His Imperial

Majesty by H.E. Vice-Minister of Education.

To the address made by Alo Asfeha Kahsaye,

Director of Education in Eritrea, His Majesty

the Emperor replied as follows:

"You have in your address made it evident that

there is a great deal of difference between seeing for

oneself and hearing. We have made it Our life ende-

avour to see that education be spread throughout the

Ethiopian Empire, with particular attention to the

educational needs of the Eritrean people, who during the

long years of Italian occupation had been the victims of

the denial of education. Our aim is to afford equal

educational opportunities in order to enhance the real

sense of national unity.

Your statement gives ample proof that Our constant

desire for the welfare of Our people has materialised.

The existence of school buildings, however is inadequate,

unless a desire for education becomes part and parcel of

the thinking of the people, including the students and the

teachers.

It is your duty to call to Our attention problems that

need Our attention and at the same time to exert your

endeavours for the attainment of the goal We have

envisaged. You should always feel at home when you

visit the capital and extend the same accomodation and

spirit to those who visit you, thus fulfilling the golden

rule of education which is intended to increase friendly,

civic communion."

Speeches delivered by His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie Ist Emperor of Ethiopia on various occasions - page 161 -

Speech of The Day (304) - received 22 students who were leaving for special training to the US

His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I, on August

30, 1957 received 22 students who were leaving

for special training in the United States under a

jointly sponsored programme of the Ethiopian

Government & Point Four.

"When we established the first public school in our

country some of you were perhaps too young, or may be

some of you were not yet born. Naturally, educational

institutions as exist today were subsequently established

in the face of enormous difficulties and the expansion of

education progressively continues. With the help of the

Almighty Who guides the destiny of mankind, the educational

system has moved from the elementary level through

the secondary and has now reached higher education

given in our colleges. Our pleasure increases day by day

as we recall the initial efforts made to establish education

and see the fruits which grow therefrom.

For example, in the military field, the youth selected

for training in our military academy and in the Imperial

Body Guard Cadet training centre have prouduced

fruits of service in the army and elsewhere which are

gratifying. Even now we continue to select young

men thought fit for various military academies and in

various other fields of higher education.

Education, may be linked to a large tree with many

branches. It comprises various categories of instruction

and discipline each of which, like medicine, engineering,

naval and military science, police-craft and aviation

which calls for specialised studies, is among the vitally

important activities of a nation. Today you, both young

men and women, are seen taking part in these fields of

study.

The benefits of education may be viewed in two ways;

the first, as you mentioned in your speech, is in lifting

the standard of the nation. Secondly, in the shaping and

development of one's character which might reflect in the

direction of both good and evil. It should be your will

and desire to eschew evil and always pursue the good.

For, as disease could be contagious from father to son

through blood, in the same way the character of the

present generation could be contagious to succeeding

ones. It is with this in mind that you should view your

opportunity for education which is as enduring as life

itself.

As we have repeatedly mentioned, our efforts to

increase the number of students and to progressively

lift the standard of education will continue through the

entire span of our life. To be chosen to pursue further

studies is not enough; to be able to accomplish the task

for which one has been chosen should be considered the

crowning jewel of such a choice. After the accomplishment

of your goal you will surely be in a better position

to exercise your capabilities, to fulfil your ambitions and

to render the type of service required of you. We pray

that the Almighty, therefore, would aid you to be of

service to Us and also to serve your country."

Speeches delivered by His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie Ist Emperor of Ethiopia on various occasions - page 11 -