| 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 |
| Selected Speeches |
| Haile Selassie the First - October 2, 1960 |
Convinced that records and monuments give standing evidence of a
people's long history, We feel proud to observe the precious gifts of Our
forefathers in the fields of art and literature which bespeak the age and
greatness of Our country for all times. It is a recognized practice to erect
monuments to those who have served their country loyally and with
deserved distinction.
It is only fitting that the present and future generations of Ethiopia should
revere the names and scan closely the biography of Our forefathers who,
through their courage, wisdom and foresight, throughout the last three
millenia, devoted their lives to the greatness and advancement of Ethiopia,
and to honour each one of them by erecting and preserving memorials.
Monuments so erected help to recall the past, to link the present with the
future generation and to encourage Our beloved people to accomplish
better things with greater zeal and devotion by reminding them of the
greatness of Our history.
It is for Us today a source of gratification and immense joy when We
unveil in the city of Harar this statue of Our father His Highness Ras
Makkonen, whose name occupies ample space in the pages of Ethiopian
history as the foremost among the country's distingished servants who,
during the past century, rendered invaluable service to preserve the unity
and greatness of Ethiopia, already attested by recorded achievements.
Apart from the great service he has rendered as a military leader and as an
envoy of goodwill who has secured many friends for Our country, His
Highness Ras Makonnen was a kind and sympathetic administrator and a
great lover of truth and justice. He paid particular attention to Us from
childhood so that this love of truth and justice has been instilled in Our
mind, an element which has been a fountain of inspiration for Our own
self-discipline and for leading Our people towards their destiny, thus
permitting the memory of his priceless serivce to remain perpetually vivid.
His Highness Ras Makonnen, besides taking the keenest interest in Our
education in Ethiopian literature and other exotic disciplines, showed signal
farsightedness in the educational field and sent a number of Ethiopian
youth abroad for higher education.
people's long history, We feel proud to observe the precious gifts of Our
forefathers in the fields of art and literature which bespeak the age and
greatness of Our country for all times. It is a recognized practice to erect
monuments to those who have served their country loyally and with
deserved distinction.
It is only fitting that the present and future generations of Ethiopia should
revere the names and scan closely the biography of Our forefathers who,
through their courage, wisdom and foresight, throughout the last three
millenia, devoted their lives to the greatness and advancement of Ethiopia,
and to honour each one of them by erecting and preserving memorials.
Monuments so erected help to recall the past, to link the present with the
future generation and to encourage Our beloved people to accomplish
better things with greater zeal and devotion by reminding them of the
greatness of Our history.
It is for Us today a source of gratification and immense joy when We
unveil in the city of Harar this statue of Our father His Highness Ras
Makkonen, whose name occupies ample space in the pages of Ethiopian
history as the foremost among the country's distingished servants who,
during the past century, rendered invaluable service to preserve the unity
and greatness of Ethiopia, already attested by recorded achievements.
Apart from the great service he has rendered as a military leader and as an
envoy of goodwill who has secured many friends for Our country, His
Highness Ras Makonnen was a kind and sympathetic administrator and a
great lover of truth and justice. He paid particular attention to Us from
childhood so that this love of truth and justice has been instilled in Our
mind, an element which has been a fountain of inspiration for Our own
self-discipline and for leading Our people towards their destiny, thus
permitting the memory of his priceless serivce to remain perpetually vivid.
His Highness Ras Makonnen, besides taking the keenest interest in Our
education in Ethiopian literature and other exotic disciplines, showed signal
farsightedness in the educational field and sent a number of Ethiopian
youth abroad for higher education.
| Chapter XV |
| Unveiling Ras Makonnen Monument Oct. 02, 1960 |
| Culture |
| A country of a history that stretches from ancient times. Ethiopia has a long and varied cultural heritage. Since it is the Emperor's policy to select strains of modern civilization and to blend them with worthwhile and enduring elements from the Nation's ancient culture, He has unceasingly shown particular interest in cultural matters as can be gathered from the few selected speeches that follow. |
| His Military Exploits |
The patriotic services of His Highness Ras Makonnen were not restricted
only to guidance and leadership; he was engaged in actual combat and had
himself suffered bodily wounds on the field of battle. He left a lasting
example to others both in his military exploits and in his moral leadership.
Majesty Menelik II had expressed the high esteem he had for the services
of His Highness Ras Makonnen. It stated: "Sincere prayers to Almighty
God to bestow upon you his blessings are not only for you but for your
offspring as well. We trust that Our solemn prayer would be answered."
Nor can We forget that among the many achievements of His Highness
Ras Makonnen was his success in bringing about fraternal harmony
between Ethiopians of both Christian and Moslem persuasions in the
province of Harar.
As We express before this statue and in the presence of Our people the
deep love enshrined in Our heart for Our father, who had brought Us up
and educated Us, Our pleasure is further increased by being able to entrust
to the present and future generations this visible and perceptible historical
testimony which shall remain as a symbol of the distinguished services of
Our father, who has earned the love, admiration and respect not only of
the people of Harar, whom he had loved like his own children, cared for
and served, but of the entire Ethiopian people who realize their
indebtedness to his efforts.
We thank the Almighty for having blessed Us to be able to perform this
public act in the lasting memory of His Highness Ras Makonnen. Several
of Our ancestors and many others who have rendered meritorious service
to their motherland are worthy of such monuments and it is Our intention
to likewise honour their memory. May the Almighty God spare Us to
accomplish Our desire.
only to guidance and leadership; he was engaged in actual combat and had
himself suffered bodily wounds on the field of battle. He left a lasting
example to others both in his military exploits and in his moral leadership.
Majesty Menelik II had expressed the high esteem he had for the services
of His Highness Ras Makonnen. It stated: "Sincere prayers to Almighty
God to bestow upon you his blessings are not only for you but for your
offspring as well. We trust that Our solemn prayer would be answered."
Nor can We forget that among the many achievements of His Highness
Ras Makonnen was his success in bringing about fraternal harmony
between Ethiopians of both Christian and Moslem persuasions in the
province of Harar.
As We express before this statue and in the presence of Our people the
deep love enshrined in Our heart for Our father, who had brought Us up
and educated Us, Our pleasure is further increased by being able to entrust
to the present and future generations this visible and perceptible historical
testimony which shall remain as a symbol of the distinguished services of
Our father, who has earned the love, admiration and respect not only of
the people of Harar, whom he had loved like his own children, cared for
and served, but of the entire Ethiopian people who realize their
indebtedness to his efforts.
We thank the Almighty for having blessed Us to be able to perform this
public act in the lasting memory of His Highness Ras Makonnen. Several
of Our ancestors and many others who have rendered meritorious service
to their motherland are worthy of such monuments and it is Our intention
to likewise honour their memory. May the Almighty God spare Us to
accomplish Our desire.