| Ba Beta Kristiyan Haile Selassie I |
| Haile Selassie I |
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| Selected Speeches |
| The Church of Haile Selassie I, Inc. |
| The Church of Haile Selassie I, Inc. |
| Ba Beta Kristiyan Haile Selassie I |
| ... If, in defending Free Ethiopia and her freeborn children from the detestable yoke of slavery, you learn to combine the spirit of heroism which you have inherited from your forefathers with the technical skill which you will acquire at this Academy, the faith and trust which We and Our people have reposed in you will be fully justified, and you will, moreover, be able to be of help to our brethren both far and near .... |
| Opens Haile Selassie I Military Academy Oct. 06, 1958 |
| Selected Speeches |
Many years have elapsed since We first planned the establishment of this
Military Academy which We inaugurate today. The Military College which
We instituted at Guennet in 1934 was intended to serve as the bridge
towards the attainment of the goal which We now see realized. Through
the invasion of Our country interrupted this and the many other projects
which we had in those early days laid out for the development and
progress of Ethiopia, We can today offer unbounded thanks to Almighty
God that We have been permitted to witness the fulfillment of many of
Our original projects.
We have long recognised that raising the general level of education in
Ethiopia required the opening of many institutions of higher learning, and
that We could not attain our objectives unless this was accomplished and
large numbers of Our people received extensive education. In this same
spirit, We have established this Military Academy in order that Our Armed
Forces might acquire the advanced training in military science which is
essential under the conditions created by modern civilization. The
responsibility which devolves upon this institution is great indeed, for it is
this Academy's task to impart to officer cadets the new skills and
techniques by which, in modern warfare, the overwhelming numbers and
military might of an enemy may be overcome.
Our forefathers, benefiting from the wisdom which Almighty God
revealed to them in their time, fought with valour and heroism to preserve
the freedom of Our country. To complement the valour and heroism
which Our Armed Forces have inherited from them -- qualities which no
amount of military training can provide -- there must now be provided
mastery of the complex techniques of modern warfare. Strength may be
useless where skill is required. A mature mind and a wealth of experience
are needed to decide upon the time and place where strength and skill may
be most effectively combined in battle. A military officer confronted with
the task of carrying out an operation entrusted to him by his superiors,
feeling the weight of the responsibility of devising the proper means of
fulfilling his duty, will be able to call for assistance upon the training he
has received in this institution, which, like torch shedding light both
forward and behind, will guide him in his work.
Military Academy which We inaugurate today. The Military College which
We instituted at Guennet in 1934 was intended to serve as the bridge
towards the attainment of the goal which We now see realized. Through
the invasion of Our country interrupted this and the many other projects
which we had in those early days laid out for the development and
progress of Ethiopia, We can today offer unbounded thanks to Almighty
God that We have been permitted to witness the fulfillment of many of
Our original projects.
We have long recognised that raising the general level of education in
Ethiopia required the opening of many institutions of higher learning, and
that We could not attain our objectives unless this was accomplished and
large numbers of Our people received extensive education. In this same
spirit, We have established this Military Academy in order that Our Armed
Forces might acquire the advanced training in military science which is
essential under the conditions created by modern civilization. The
responsibility which devolves upon this institution is great indeed, for it is
this Academy's task to impart to officer cadets the new skills and
techniques by which, in modern warfare, the overwhelming numbers and
military might of an enemy may be overcome.
Our forefathers, benefiting from the wisdom which Almighty God
revealed to them in their time, fought with valour and heroism to preserve
the freedom of Our country. To complement the valour and heroism
which Our Armed Forces have inherited from them -- qualities which no
amount of military training can provide -- there must now be provided
mastery of the complex techniques of modern warfare. Strength may be
useless where skill is required. A mature mind and a wealth of experience
are needed to decide upon the time and place where strength and skill may
be most effectively combined in battle. A military officer confronted with
the task of carrying out an operation entrusted to him by his superiors,
feeling the weight of the responsibility of devising the proper means of
fulfilling his duty, will be able to call for assistance upon the training he
has received in this institution, which, like torch shedding light both
forward and behind, will guide him in his work.
| Worth of Freedom |
All officer's duties, however, are by no means limited to ensuring that the
soldiers under his command have received proper military training. He
must be able to convey to his men the full signficance of the tasks
assigned to them, so that their hearts and spirits, as well as their bodies,
will be enlisted to their fulfillment. He must, in order to defend his
country's material wealth and natural resources from the invader, also
have a deep understanding of the true worth of freedom, which he is
called upon to defend, and unless his mind is guided by these higher
values, he will not measure up to the high standard expected of him.
Today, while man still remains incapable of controlling his insatiable lust
for power and wealth and persists in using force as a means for satisfying
his desires, his ability to wreak destruction on his fellow-men is steadily
increasing. Technology and science have produced in abundance the
weapons whereby human life can be wiped off the face of the earth. In
the face of these conditions, it is not enough that our young men be brave,
and prepared, if necessary, to sacrifice themselves for their principles and
ideals. If those who would thrust the world into the holocaust of war are
to be deterred from aggressive action it can only be by the threat of a
counterblow poised to strike should the need arise. We have considered it
Our duty, therefore, to train Our Armed Forces in the modern techniques
of defence so that Our people might be spared from the ravages of this
most terrible of plagues. It is for these reasons that We have caused this
military Academy to be established and have come here today to
inaugurate this institution.
The faithful and enlightened services to be rendered by the officer cadets
who will study here and who, upon their graduation, will assume the
command of Our Armies in the field, will, We sincerely trust, constitute an
impregnable bulwark against those who would violate Ethiopia's glorious
tradition of liberty which, for centuries, has been handed down from
generation to generation. The officers who will graduate frm this
institution must be constantly aware that Ethiopia shares in the
responsibility of assuring the collective security of the world. Every
country that has to struggle for its freedom will naturally look to other
freedom-loving nations for assistance in their efforts. We would,
therefore, be pleased to see students from our neighbouring nations in
Africa benefit from the instruction that is being imparted at this Military
Academy.
soldiers under his command have received proper military training. He
must be able to convey to his men the full signficance of the tasks
assigned to them, so that their hearts and spirits, as well as their bodies,
will be enlisted to their fulfillment. He must, in order to defend his
country's material wealth and natural resources from the invader, also
have a deep understanding of the true worth of freedom, which he is
called upon to defend, and unless his mind is guided by these higher
values, he will not measure up to the high standard expected of him.
Today, while man still remains incapable of controlling his insatiable lust
for power and wealth and persists in using force as a means for satisfying
his desires, his ability to wreak destruction on his fellow-men is steadily
increasing. Technology and science have produced in abundance the
weapons whereby human life can be wiped off the face of the earth. In
the face of these conditions, it is not enough that our young men be brave,
and prepared, if necessary, to sacrifice themselves for their principles and
ideals. If those who would thrust the world into the holocaust of war are
to be deterred from aggressive action it can only be by the threat of a
counterblow poised to strike should the need arise. We have considered it
Our duty, therefore, to train Our Armed Forces in the modern techniques
of defence so that Our people might be spared from the ravages of this
most terrible of plagues. It is for these reasons that We have caused this
military Academy to be established and have come here today to
inaugurate this institution.
The faithful and enlightened services to be rendered by the officer cadets
who will study here and who, upon their graduation, will assume the
command of Our Armies in the field, will, We sincerely trust, constitute an
impregnable bulwark against those who would violate Ethiopia's glorious
tradition of liberty which, for centuries, has been handed down from
generation to generation. The officers who will graduate frm this
institution must be constantly aware that Ethiopia shares in the
responsibility of assuring the collective security of the world. Every
country that has to struggle for its freedom will naturally look to other
freedom-loving nations for assistance in their efforts. We would,
therefore, be pleased to see students from our neighbouring nations in
Africa benefit from the instruction that is being imparted at this Military
Academy.
| Haile Selassie the First - October 6, 1958 |
| Tasks Strenous |
We would have you realize, you future officers standing in proud ranks
before Us, that the tasks which await you will be strenuous and heavy.
The words "Learn to obey that you may learn to command" must be
engraved on your hearts. Unless one is faithful, no one can trust him. If,
in defending Free Ethiopia and here free-born children from the detestable
yoke of slavery, you learn to combine the spirit of heroism which you
have inherited from your forefathers with the technical skill which you will
acquire at this Academy, the faith and trust which We and Our people
have reposed in you will be fully justified, and you will, morever, be able
to be of help to our brethen both far and near.
The mastery of modern techniques and methods of warfare calls for
unremitting study, constancy of purpose, and intellectual attainments of
the highest order. Modern military science, in this nuclear age, is a
perpetual spring, and the officers who graduate from this Academy must
continue their pursuit of military knowledge long after they have taken
place in the field.
Humanity has long dreamed of and anxiously waited for the day when the
world would be rid of the plague of war. However, when and aggressor,
driven by insatiable appetites and voracious desires, sets out to violate the
freedom of a neighbouring land and enslave its people, the latter must
inevitably seek to repel the invader with all the heroism and bravery at their
disposal. If the invader would only refrain from aggression and seek to
resolve by peaceful means whatever quarrels and misunderstandings that
exist, surely both sides would be prepared to make their share of the
sacrifices necessary to achieve a peaceful settlement. We, Ourselves, in
Our lifetime, have laboured unceasingly for the creation of the conditions
essentially prerequiste to the establishment of an enduring peace. We take
great pleasure in the knowledge that Our Country, Ethiopia has become a
symbol of hope and freedom to our brethren in all the African countries.
before Us, that the tasks which await you will be strenuous and heavy.
The words "Learn to obey that you may learn to command" must be
engraved on your hearts. Unless one is faithful, no one can trust him. If,
in defending Free Ethiopia and here free-born children from the detestable
yoke of slavery, you learn to combine the spirit of heroism which you
have inherited from your forefathers with the technical skill which you will
acquire at this Academy, the faith and trust which We and Our people
have reposed in you will be fully justified, and you will, morever, be able
to be of help to our brethen both far and near.
The mastery of modern techniques and methods of warfare calls for
unremitting study, constancy of purpose, and intellectual attainments of
the highest order. Modern military science, in this nuclear age, is a
perpetual spring, and the officers who graduate from this Academy must
continue their pursuit of military knowledge long after they have taken
place in the field.
Humanity has long dreamed of and anxiously waited for the day when the
world would be rid of the plague of war. However, when and aggressor,
driven by insatiable appetites and voracious desires, sets out to violate the
freedom of a neighbouring land and enslave its people, the latter must
inevitably seek to repel the invader with all the heroism and bravery at their
disposal. If the invader would only refrain from aggression and seek to
resolve by peaceful means whatever quarrels and misunderstandings that
exist, surely both sides would be prepared to make their share of the
sacrifices necessary to achieve a peaceful settlement. We, Ourselves, in
Our lifetime, have laboured unceasingly for the creation of the conditions
essentially prerequiste to the establishment of an enduring peace. We take
great pleasure in the knowledge that Our Country, Ethiopia has become a
symbol of hope and freedom to our brethren in all the African countries.
| Must be Vigilant |
Today, when the itch of war is spreading like an epidemic over the world,
and the threat of armed conflict, with all the evil that this portends for men
everywhere, hangs heavy over the earth, casting its dark shadow on
humanity, men of honour, wherever they may be, must be vigilant in
defence of their freedom, so that they may be spared suffering and
humiliation. We, Ourselves, if We fail to make adequate preparations for
defence, will be held to have failed both in Our responsibility to Ourselves
and in Our duty to aid in the preservation of world peace.
The pages of Our country's history shine with the deeds of soldiers, who,
in the spirit of heroism inherited from their forebears, fought in a just
cause and for the preservation of peace, as well as those
soldier-statesmen, who -- in time of peace -- laboured for the preservation
of humanity's great ideals and values. It is the example of such men that
you who study here should emulate. Your duty is to study their history
and to record it for the benefit of future generations.
We express Our thanks to all who have laboured zealously to carry out
Our plans and commands for the establishment of this Academy. We
would also extend Our special thanks to Prime Minister Nehru of India,
who, in the spirit of friendship and mutual assistance existing between the
peoples and Governments of Our two countries, selected and deputed a
fine team of Indian officer to staff this institution, as also to Colonel
Rawlley, the Commandant of the Academy.
and the threat of armed conflict, with all the evil that this portends for men
everywhere, hangs heavy over the earth, casting its dark shadow on
humanity, men of honour, wherever they may be, must be vigilant in
defence of their freedom, so that they may be spared suffering and
humiliation. We, Ourselves, if We fail to make adequate preparations for
defence, will be held to have failed both in Our responsibility to Ourselves
and in Our duty to aid in the preservation of world peace.
The pages of Our country's history shine with the deeds of soldiers, who,
in the spirit of heroism inherited from their forebears, fought in a just
cause and for the preservation of peace, as well as those
soldier-statesmen, who -- in time of peace -- laboured for the preservation
of humanity's great ideals and values. It is the example of such men that
you who study here should emulate. Your duty is to study their history
and to record it for the benefit of future generations.
We express Our thanks to all who have laboured zealously to carry out
Our plans and commands for the establishment of this Academy. We
would also extend Our special thanks to Prime Minister Nehru of India,
who, in the spirit of friendship and mutual assistance existing between the
peoples and Governments of Our two countries, selected and deputed a
fine team of Indian officer to staff this institution, as also to Colonel
Rawlley, the Commandant of the Academy.
| Chapter I - Part 2 |
| Special Education |