Ashley Bennerson
10/30/2010
5:40 p.m.
An issue facing the Oromo people of Ethiopia is that some people are turning to religion for guidance and help in life. There was a Unity and Reconciliation Forum held on September 25, 2010, organized by Oromo Artists Association. The ending result of the forum, concluded with the signing of a unification agreement between the two main factions of Oromo Liberation Front (OLF). Leading OLF forum were founding members, Obboos Ahmed Hussen, Xaha Abdi, Leencoo Lataa and Diimaa Nagoo, spoke at the event. Obboo Ahmed Hussein stated, "religion is pulling the Oromo struggle back." He cautioned that the Oromo Diaspora communities are abandoning the struggle and turning to churches and mosques. One of the arguments that the OLF brought up was that religion is a choice, and that being Oromummaa is a collective identity.
This article is focused on the OLF trying to tell the Oromo people that religion comes second to their identity and doesn’t mean as much as who they are as a person. This is not good because some identify themselves with their religion and that creates their identity. I understand that they want the people to remember where who they are and the struggles that they face day to day but at the same time religion can be a way for them to escape the struggle. Religion can be the thing that keeps them motivated to push through the struggle and make things better.
http://www.jimmatimes.com/article/Latest_News/Latest_News/Ethiopia_Religious_division_among_Oromos_harming_OLF_struggle_says_founder/33809
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