Why do rastafarians believe haile selassie

Arriving in Kingston in a trip to Jamaica, he was overwhelmed by the ecstatic crowds , who jostled to see the African king. As usual, Ethiopia has led the way and set the example for the rest of the continent in recognizing the Rastafarian movement. Reggae, and especially the music of Bob Marley and the Wailers, which introduced Rastafarian culture to much of the world, is also huge on the continent.

In Ethiopia, the recognition of the Rastafarians comes at a tense time, when political and economic protests against the government have folded into a battle over land, language, demography, and ethnicity. Members of the Oromos and Amhara community have been protesting against the Tigray-dominated government, which led to the government instituting a state of emergency.

By providing your email, you agree to the Quartz Privacy Policy. Skip to navigation Skip to content. Discover Membership. That statement alone would have the Dr. When Haile Sellassie met the Rastas, they were total outcast of Jamaican society and they could not give him no benefit. Still he wanted to listen to them and meet them. They had no public relations value back then. This article is at least wrong in that part. No, he was scared of Rastas at first.

Only after his councilors explained to him, this can be a public relations bonanza, he tacitly became receptive. What you selectively ignore Peter, he took a long time to get out of the plane in Kingston. Only after his handlers explained to him, he will be OK and it will be good for his cult of personality, he reluctantly agreed to face the enthusiastic Rasta crowd.

Why is there no mention that H. Who, in fact, is rewriting history? Is it you,Yohannes Woldemariam, or are you just ignorant?

Keep trawling. He had slaves all through his life. I personally knew some of his slaves. They were stamped with his name right on their Butts. It is a wild myth that he eliminated slavery. One of the many lies he used when he wanted to solicit money from the West or gain politically.

He was evil but not stupid. They must have had quite a laugh. Did they show you these stamps? Seems it would have helped his PR campaign. Everything that you you said about Emperor Haile Selassie I is without any base or facts. Therefore, whatever lies you or your fellow Inferior Complexity Disorder victims, and we know many of you are from Tigray and Eritrea, spread about the Emperor means nothing. History already have evaluated him and has given him the appropriate respect!

Especially, the ones from from Adwa Tigray and Eritrea, starting from working as British and Italian Bandas to killing their own people, just to blame Ethiopian Government, have done their best for Ethiopia not to exist.

He refused to let Ethiopia be colonized just like Emperor Meinlik did. Herman Cohen, British, Germany and other European representatives, signed the document that is destroying Ethiopia especially Amhara and Tewahdo Orthodox now. I, strongly, suggest to Dr. Jonnas and to individuals like him to seek a professional help for this disorder before it ruins the world as it is doing to Ethiopia.

All humans are created equal. What you are feeling is only in your heads. From your message, it appears Amara is equal to Ethiopia. Right there is the problem. That sure is a decisive message just to praise one man who ruled five decades. Kudos to you! This author does not all the ridicules he got. I learned some from his article. Glad to read this kind of articles. Lots of information to study in deep are given.

Historical impartial academic research is a must. My two cents about Rastafari: Rastafari was designed as a way to fight white slavemasters oppression, thus a reinterpretation of the bible where afrocentrism takes the dominant position was the elected way.

Rastafari foundation has freemasonic roots, members of The mystic Order of Ethiopia deeply involved. They though a powerfull way to turn around the oppressor mentality was stablishing the divinity of an African man still alive.

And they were right in the short run. They created a substitutive for the white imposed god. Haile Selassie was a dictator, just like his good friend Francisco Franco, the fascist wicked spanish murderer. How can you stand as a fascism defeater prototype when you are close friend of the worst fascist dictators of this world? However mystic still represents a valid answer for those kidnapped by the Abrahamic emotional blackmail. Rastafari is way more complex than the Selassie question, and has very valid points.

Let the righteousness find its way. Thank you Zisen Wada for your thoughtful comment. I can see how mythology can be useful as a tool in the struggle for justice. However, I question utilizing Haile Selassie even for a short time as you say.

There were much better symbols that could have been used. There was no need to elevate a despicable and murderous tyrant like Haile Selassie in search of a hero. Generations of Ethiopians and Eritreans were sacrificed because of his political intrigues. Those lives matter! Far from renewal, many true believers still vigorously and dogmatically defend him. The author is a member of the Tigrigna ethnic group, probably from Eritrea.

Basically, many intellectuals of this tribe have made it a point to demonize and belittle any king who is not of their tribe, and they have a hysterical hatred for the history of the Amhara people. Marxist Leninsts and communists who we all know are one the cruelest intellectuals in the world, continue their campaign against him evan as their ideology has been long discredited after the world saw how their political systems are the most inhumane in the world.

So for example, look at Eritrea led by a deranged marxist leninist dictator. Eritrea under Haile Sellassie was a thriving province. Haile Sellassie was a great and visionary king who transitioned Ethiopia from the medieval era to the modern era. He led the ministry of education himself and my father told me he used to visit classrooms just to see what young people were learning.

Speak to anyone from his time and they will tell you the 50s and 60s was as one of the best times in Ethiopia. As a person he was a very kind, spiritual and gentle man who deeply touched anyone who met him, Ethiopian or foreigner. Unlike other regimes in the third world, he had few political prisoners because he forgave many of his opponents and enemies.

His mother died at his birth, and his fatter when he was a young boy, practically leaving him an orphan. He lost his favorite believed son Prince Mekonnen in a car accident, and both his daughters died young, one during child birth. The Italian fascists murdered some of his closest relatives. He modernized Ethiopia, but ironically that meant his demise, because the modern era does not accept emperors.

IN his youth, he was the modernizer, but in the end, he refused to modernize the political system and especially the fuel system many Ethiopians toiled under. At a result, his imperial political system ended in disaster: with the horrible famine of the s.

By , he as old and senile 80 year old man, and the modern students and army he built and nurtured overthrew him and murdered him. With his death came a cruel and traumatic period for Ethiopians. Sadly, after a military coup and before his death, he lived to see his grandson murdered, and his daughter and grandchildren imprisoned in a dungeon.

But that his not enough for people like this author, who can not see his benevolent side of one of the few great leaders of Africa. He read it many times over apparently.

It is a travesty that his admirers are now traveling to Bath and making his former house there a pilgrimage site. Look it up on YouTube. Plus who knows the Emperor and his works and what he did for African at home and in the diaspora might have a different view. So sad you say that he is dead but still stamped on his name when will the hatred stop. Instead you should be thankful that the education you and many other received in Ethiopia is because of HIM.

Forgive and move forward or else you gonna self-distruct you are no helping Ethiopian by doing this infact what you are doing is trying to make war and divided the people. Used your time for the betterment of the country if you care for it.

Unite is strength but divided we already lost the battle. There is no unity to be achieved by deluding oneself or not confronting history honestly. Why the vested interest in revering and honoring a trashy monarch?

It really blows my mind why people respect such a murderous, good for nothing and cruel man. Please have some self respect! Are you joking? The only thing Meles and Sellassie had in common was that they were very short people.

Please be honest. Some people have written the story of my life representing as truth what in fact derives from ignorance, error or envy; but they cannot shake the truth from its place, even if they attempt to make others believe it. That is very sad. Just know that even Donald Trump has loyal servants.

Just see where Steve Cohen ended up. It is the ultimate waste of life to be a servant of corrupt and cruel leaders. Haile Selassie I. Selassie was a coward who fled the Italians. It was the Arbegnoch patriots who remained and fought against all odds.

Selassie came back after victory and systematically eliminated the Arbegnoch. Those are the cold facts. He was able to talk and write using ghost writers because talk is cheap. The ability to see fully or be a good journalist is to be non partial.

If some real investigation was done they could see mis information is part of his article about mis-information. The struggle for justice can benefit from real heroes but Selassie is a trashy choice. A house built on granite and strong foundations, not even the onslaught of pouring rain, gushing torrents and strong winds will be able to pull down.

Dear Herm, There is no virtue in worshiping even great and exemplary human beings. Worshiping a well known crook like Haile Selassie is simply pitiful. I hope you realize that sooner than later. I learned that Haile Selassie used to sacrifice children for his god Korit. Please someone give more information on this cruel practice of Haile Selassie.

He went to Bishoftu every Saturday for the sacrifice apparently. Children were disappearing mysteriously. If they suspected their children were sacrificed for Korit, they gave up the search out of fear. I mean the amount of social, economic, political and educational reforms for progressive advancement. Implementing a constitution and revising it for the benefit of the people, outlawing feudal taxation, I mean literally one can sit here all day and go down the list of contributions.

You guys still believe the false propaganda of the Red Terror and Mengistu Haile Mariam, like you would still rather him be in power, or maybe be under a tyrannical Islamic state under Lij Yasu. You guys need to do some big fact checking. Rastafari will continue to disseminate the truth while you all spread lies.

His first victim was LiJ Iyassu, the rightful heir to the throne. He conspired with the Showan elites to demonize him as a Moslem. He was very jealous of Iyasu who was tall and handsome.

Iyassu went out of his way to find Haile Selassie a wife convincing the beautiful Menen for whom he was an uncle to marry him. He also betrayed Empress Zewditu.

There is no end to his intrigues and evil machinations. There are many trying to embellish the man. TRUTH is acknowledging the contributions as well as the mistakes and wrong decisions.

No one leader is perfect. Haile Selassie will always be more loved by more people than not. Need to be fair minded and have the courage to speak the truth. This article is trash. The title of the article is laughable. While His Imperial Majesty reigned he was adored throughout Africa and around the globe. Watch the archived footage of his reception anywhere he traveled. He was internationally given the title Defender of the Faith and Father of Africa. He was provided more honors than any person before him and any that has come since.

Liars tell on themselves and this man does continually throughout his piece. These two men did a lot of damage to millions of human beings. As a small gesture of healings for their victims in Oromia and other parts of Ethiopia, bringing down their statues might help. No fuss and fight. Stay focused.

Each one must believe in what they think is the truth. But I think Ethiopians you can say Selassie was not good at home than abroad. His so-called evilness was a threat within just Ethiopia but his goodness was a blessing global wise…you see it. Do you know why Haile Selassie decided to sacrifice Ethiopian soldiers in Korea? Just so he can have U. His own diplomat Imru Zelleke attests to this in his memoir. This policy is the origin of why we have been witnessing immense suffering in the Horn of Africa.

Eritrea, which could have been an amazing example of prosperity in the southern Red Sea has been reduced to being a symbol of producing refugees and an exceptionally cruel dictatorship and violence for seventy years plus.

Haile Selassie was a connoving criminal and a true slave of the Americans. The article wrongly refers to Roosevelt as one who made the deal this evil scheme when it was in fact Truman.

Neverthless, an interesting confession by his former diplomat. He used to wave at me as he was driven off by his chauffier. Little did I know that he was behind the victimization of the Eritrean people. I was only six or seven! The statue shows Ras Makonnen, an important military figure and former governor of Harar province in the 19th Century under then-Emperor Menelik II, sitting on a horse.

We are convinced that the end of that is death and destruction. As a theologian, hero worship is historical and present in most faith traditions. However, there are other wider questions against this position. Some scholars even argue that we are all in fact — sons and daughters of God, and no one is unique in any sense. By and large, one could argue that religion provides simple answers to complex questions about life and meaning.

Whether or not those answers are necessary and sufficient is really down to individuals — and rightly so in my humble opinion! Ethiopian Constitution art. He is consequently entitled to all the honors due to Him in accordance with tradition and the present Constitution.

Any one so bold as to seek to injure the Emperor will be punished. No leader is perfect, including the Emperor. You spend a lot of time on the Rastafarian movement which is really a footnote in Ethiopian history. HIM was the symbol of unity of this country, and as Ethiopians we were respected everywhere in the world. Menguistu Haile Mariam whose brutal policies decimated an entire generation of young Ethiopians.

Haile Mariam Desalegn, a non entity who will end up in the bin of history. Compared to all these minions, the Emperor was a giant despite his height! They created this country with all its shortcomings. Lastly, no one is perfect. Everything is relative.

Your trashing of HIM is unjustified, fashionable, and wrong. We Ethiopians respect and honor our ancestors. They gave us our flag the green, yellow and red , our dignity, our imperfections. We take it all. Tickle any hateful Haileselassie hater, these days and an illiterate Woyane Cadre laughs somewhere in the world. Your obvious hatred for the Emperor is blindingly obvious. A hate-filled person is unqualified to write anything but hate. Funny thing, all such people will, like everyone else, eventually die out.

What remains as a legacy is the good work of people. While Hailesellasie had his own shortcomings, he was great for Ethiopia. And the obvious fear you Woyane have, every time you turn out the lights he seems to haunt your nights, is because you believe in nothing but stealing. As the University singers said, you guys are logarithms.

He was but an imperfect man. He did not fulfill any of the prophecies in the Bible and did not follow the teachings of Christ.

Let the Bible clarify this. Published in Aaduna online Literary mag New York summer JAH lives. It enlightened me to seek to know further about Haile Selassie. Am sure the writer knows the truth. I believe Haile did a lot of mistakes. Yohannes Woldemariam tries to paint his twisted narrative as a fact. He presented a minor flaws of a person as a general character of the leader.

If a leader excuted laws and only 5 turned out negative, the over all impression of that leader has to be regarded as productive and positive contribution for the country. It is up to the present generation not to repeat past mistakes and and most important of all building today to make history for tomorrow.

Yohannes talk too much about the weaknessesof leaders years ago while sowing the seeds of discord today. He is not contrubutinh anything positive for the next generation. While is busy denigrating the image of the orevious leaders hehas nothing to bring us together to build the country today. He soeaks as if he is a mercenery of the enemues of Ethiopia always looking for hot buttons to press to keep Ethiopians apart.

Stop debating things that the whole world will never agree on ,it is a waste of precious Energy that could be used in understanding another person. It looks like a classic case of propaganda. I would expect something like this to come out of london. Never in all of history has one person had absolute power.

I think the difference here could be that the evil regime that was in power over Ethiopia at that time had a different approach. Normally they will pick a guy who is already an evil scumbag much like themselves. That way its easy to control him and get him to say and order what they want.

This time it could be that they were looking for an actually good person who had alot of good things to say…to force into representing them, thereby, attempting to make their opressive and atrocitus actions seem more justifiable which would give them more sway, or so they hoped.

If thats what it was then it was a poor and stupid attempt by that regime. I mean, come on! So far i know of a few things he has said, and they seem to indicate that he was more of a wise and humble representative of the people. He was and environmentalist, knowing the importance of restoring and maintaining forests that grow soil and harbor biodiversity…and he was a Hemp Advocate.

Good enough for me. Im not saying i know for sure. Just throwing this viewpoint out there for good measure. Please go back and see all his articles he is an anti Ethiopian as well as he is focused on the negative naration of Ethiopia and black people. From all the history that we have why does he need to pick the good histroy? Dont we have a history crime comitted by the whites and portrated as a good deed or may not told.

All our problems African problems are brewd by the colonial thinkers not by the same people who share the same discrimination and harassment. Im definitely NOT trying to deify him like alot of Jamaicans. That is utter nonsense. They dont even talk about the good he represented. He even has a really good anti-religion quote….

And, furthermore, if you cant point me to specific writings that prove he was anti Ethiopian then im inclined to think you are just believing in propaganda yourself. But no one is perfect.

Ive done plenty of that myself. At a time when Rastafarians had little political power, Haile Selassie met and dined with them and awarded them gold medals with the Imperial Lion of Judah insignia. And Rastafarians returned the favor when Haile Selassie was overthrown in a coup in Although Haile Selassie had been a champion of modernization, Ethiopians under his rule were still largely poor, illiterate and landless.

A drought, the international oil crisis, and discontent in the military ranks, combined to create conditions ripe for a coup. When he died a year later, the Derg claimed it was due to complications from a prostate operation, but many suspected foul play. The Derg, which adopted communist ideologies, eventually controlled Ethiopia with bloody terror. But it could not have known the power of reggae music, the weapon that Rastafarians would wield to keep Haile Selassie relevant and his memory alive.

When the Emperor died on August 27th , journalists reportedly rushed to confront Bob Marley with the death of his deity. For people like me, those songs were about the Derg regime as oppressor. In a way, Rastafarians and reggae music have made Haile Selassie and his imperial flag shorthand for black liberation and the cause of liberation in general.

In Jamaica, Rastafarianism has worked itself into the culture and popular consciousness. Most Jamaicans are Christians, so belief in the Emperor as deity is anathema. Some are surprised to find out Haile Selassie, like his short-haired grandson, does not have dreadlocks. Back at the airport, I watched an employee snap a photo of Prince Ermias with her cellphone. What did he mean to her, I asked. By providing your email, you agree to the Quartz Privacy Policy. Skip to navigation Skip to content.

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