Like twentieth-century Iran, the remnant of the Persian Empire, Ethiopia under Haile Selassie attempted to preserve the absolutist state throught an accommodation with modernizing forces in his own terms without completely subduing traditionalists. This was not a strategy of Haile Selassie's own choosing. Instead, he was overtaken by events and forced to deal with contradictions that were from the very beginning too formidable to be managed in the long term.

Democracy, republics: What do these words signify?

If you are open-minded and ready to learn, there are many things which you can learn not only from books and instructors but from the very life experience itself.

Let us set our goals too high; let us demand more of ourselves than we believe we possess

History teaches us that unity is strength, and cautions us to submerge and overcome our differences in the quest for common goals, to strive, with all our combined strength, for the path to true African brotherhood and unity.

Many discouraging hours will arise before the rainbow of accomplished goals will appear on the horizon.

We should accept diversity in culture and tradition and coexist peacefully.