June 26, 2002

Talking Veterans Day

M. Filli A.

Eritreans deserve and deserved the minimum of days to observe their Martyrs Day and to commemorate their fallen heroes and heroines solemnly and without any kind of distractions whatsoever. It is for that and only that reason that an exclusive day, June 20, was set and declared a national holiday. Unfortunately and once again there was an attempt to distract this one special, personal and emotional event, spearheaded by yet another BBC reporter, who with his tabloid headliner claimed what didn’t and will never happen. And we have once again, thanks to you all, fought back this futile exercise successfully to the extent that the reporter bowed to our demand and redressed his egregious tabloid claim to what really happened and will always happen. Although I thank the reporter for rectifying the situation and for, inadvertently, hinting to the source of his second-hand misinformation, it is beyond any British mind why he fails to distinguish between the words ‘boycott’ and ’option’? Matching the ceremony at a different location does not constitute a boycott by any definition of the word but an option because the same ceremony did take place in the same way and manner but at a different location. That is their option. Hence the ceremony was not boycotted. By the way, Mr. Plaut, it is not an obligation but mere courtesy to attend ceremonies organized by our embassies! With that and hoping that Mr. Plaut gets it, I rest my case.

Now back to what is high on top of what I call the ERITREAN AGENDA: Our Veterans Day. I brought up this issue again to thank you for the flattering, overwhelming, and very supportive response I received from you all and representatives of our government and to call upon you, fellow Eritreans, to keep up the heat. To cite few, your suggestions included April 13, incorporate Independence Day, Martyrs Day, and Vet Day into one day, call a day and just do it, and more. So, compatriots, speak up your minds, one way or the other, express your support, opinion, or suggestions in writing (articles) and send it via e-mail to the Embassy of Eritrea in your respective countries. There is no need to write a book or to wage a campaign, here, for there is a general consensus within the public and the government. It is all about determining the right day. And for that, the input of the public at large is indispensable.

Having said that, allow me to say that we don’t want to hassle but help our government in determining and proclaiming this special and long overdue holiday at it s earliest convenience.

Eritreans, go Veterans Day

Express what you got to say

United we stand, divided we fall

Eritrea has enough space for all

Eternal glory to our Martyrs, we pray

Let there also be our Veterans Day

E-MAIL OF EMBASSY OF ERITREA:

For the USA: freweini@embassyeritrea.org

For Germany: er.embassy@freenet.de

Dr. M. Filli A.