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SELASSIE

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Messenger: the rock Sent: 3/31/2005 8:37:12 AM
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there is so much out there about HIM but i wanted to give thanks for this article...onelove


SELASSIE, WHO was one of Africa’s most charismatic leaders and ruled Ethiopia for 44 years before he was overthrown in 1974, was then lowered into a tomb next to an identical one holding his wife, Empress Menen.
The haunting chant of Orthodox prayers echoed out over the city and thousands of ordinary Ethiopians bowed their heads in prayer in the grounds of the cathedral, many weeping openly.

Selassie, who is considered God by followers of the Rastafarian religion, died in 1975 at the age of 83, allegedly murdered by Marxist officers who seized power a year earlier.

His body was buried near a latrine, an insult to a man who had enjoyed almost absolute power.

After the regime that toppled him was ousted in 1991, the remains were put in a mausoleum holding another former emperor, Menelik II, and other members of the family dynasty.

But he had wanted to lie inside the granite tomb in Holy Trinity Cathedral so his family, most living in exile, worked closely with the Orthodox Church and his allies for a reburial.

SELASSIE HEADS ORTHODOX CHURCH

The Orthodox Church still considers Selassie its head and his reburial was a showcase of Ethiopian culture.

Old warriors sporting lions’ manes on their heads and carrying shields and spears formed a guard of honor for Selassie as his funeral procession weaved across the city.

The coffin was draped in the red, gold and green of the national flag and embroidered with Selassie’s personal standard, showing on one side Ethiopia’s patron St. George slaying a dragon and, on the other, the Lion of Judah.

The patriarch, bishops and high priests of the Orthodox Church said in the shade of velvet umbrellas intricately embroidered with flowers and religious scenes.

“Although they killed you and threw your body in an unmarked grave, they could not tarnish your image. You are a great leader, you have done so much for your nation and Africa,” an Orthodox priest said during a mass held in Selassie’s honor.

Legend has it that Selassie was the 225th monarch in a line that stretches back well over 2,000 years, a direct descendant of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba.

Westerners remember him addressing the League of Nations after Mussolini’s fascists invaded his country and telling the Europeans who did not come to his aid: “This time it is my turn; next time it will be yours.”

MODERNIZER OR DESPOT?

Supporters view him as a modernizer who promoted education at home and a figurehead for the struggle against colonialism.

But he also ruled over a system that created a small class of wealthy landowners but kept most subjects in abject poverty.

A famine killed hundreds of thousands in the last years of his reign and his moral authority was undermined by images of him feeding his pets prime meat while his people starved.

Ethiopia’s current government earlier this week attacked Selassie’s legacy, accusing him of oppression and brutality against the country’s peasants.

Although his reburial was intensely emotional, few lined the funeral procession’s route and only a few thousand gathered in the huge Meskel Square to see the coffin.

Many of those who did turn out said the emperor made mistakes and perhaps stayed in power for too long but that he was a gentle man who tried his best to help his people.

“He was one of the world’s most brilliant leaders, next to King Solomon of Israel,” said Feyesa Wolde Emanuel, a sprightly 87-year-old dressed in the uniform from his time in Selassie’s imperial guard. “He loved his people.”

Rita Marley — widow of reggae legend Bob Marley — was among the Rastafarians at the ceremony. “Rasta people will be all loving his Imperial Majesty, Emperor Haile Selassie I. There is no end of his reign,” she told Reuters.

Rastafarians are named for Ras (Prince) Tafari, Selassie’s title before being crowned emperor in 1930. The movement grew under the influence of Jamaican nationalist Marcus Garvey and his Back to Africa movement.

Selassie gloried in the title “King of Kings, Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah” but neither he nor his family ever claimed he was a divine being, as Rastafarians believe.




Messenger: the rock Sent: 3/31/2005 8:42:40 PM
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found this a long time ago, glade too see it is still out on the web, INI give thanks.

Haile Selassie
Haile Selassie was born Tafari Makonnen in Ethiopia in 1892. He married Wayzaro Menen in 1911, daughter of Emperor Menelik II. By becoming prince (Ras), Tafari became the focus of the Christian majority's approval over Menelik's grandson, Lij Yasu, because of his progressive nature and the latter's unreliable politics. He was named regent and heir to the throne in 1917, but had to wait until the death of the Empress Zauditu to assume full kingship. During the years of 1917-1928, Tafari traveled to such cities as Rome, Paris, and London to become the first Ethiopian ruler to ever go abroad. In November of 1930, Zaubitu died and Tafari was crowned emperor, the 111th emperor in the succession of King Solomon. Upon this occasion he took the name Haile Selassie, meaning "Might of the Trinity." This paper will focus on Selassie's progressive politics and attempts to modernize Ethiopia through technological advances and membership in the world community. Relevant to these topics is Ethiopia's struggle with Italy in World War II, Selassie's embracing of the League of Nations, and his popularity and attention worldwide because of his efforts towards humanitarianism and Ethiopian sovereignty.
Ethiopia was a culturally and resourcefully rich land recognized by the European colonial powers as sovereign from as early as 1900. Selassie's predecessor expanded his empire successfully in the 1880's and formed treaties with the Italians, who recognized the imperial potential of northern Africa. Relations became strained, however, in the 1890's when Britain and Italy agreed that Ethiopia should fall under Italian influence. Despite occasional conflicts, Ethiopia under Menelik remained sovereign, and thus we see a stage set for the leadership of Selassie: a free Ethiopia with Italian, British, and French colonies nearby, and an Italian will to expand its territorial claims when its power and opportunity arise. (Marcus, 52)

Well before Selassie's crowning as negus (king), he began work modernizing Ethiopia to rival that which he saw in Europe during his time abroad. He took steps to improve legislation, bureaucracy, government schooling, and health and social services in preparation for his new reign. More importantly in a diplomatic focus, Selassie acted to promote Ethiopian power and sovereignty and secure allies abroad. In 1919 Ethiopia applied for membership into the League of Nations but was banned because its practice of slavery was still strong. By 1923, working with the Empress Zauditu, the slave trade was abolished and Ethiopia was unanimously accepted into the League. He further acted to seek approval of other nations by emancipating existing slaves and their children and created government bureaus to do so. Also prior to his taking of power, Selassie promoted a twenty year treaty of friendship with Italy in 1928 and established legislation in 1930 to ban illegal sales of arms in Ethiopia, and to establish the government's right to procure arms for protection and internal unrest. (Marcus, 60-73)

In 1931, upon assuming power, Selassie established the first Ethiopian constitution, which aimed to re-focus governmental power from many rases to his blood line solely. This move was effective in aiding Ethiopia's modernization through bureaucracy and solidarity, and forced the many regional rases to either oppose him treasonably or join him with their support. (Marcus, 98-100) By 1934, after several suppressed revolts, all the major rases were either supporters or outside the empires influence in the outer regions of Ethiopia. Much of Selassie's loyalty was fostered by the building of schools, universities, and newspapers, as well as increased availability of electricity, telephone, and public health services. The Bank of Ethiopia was also founded in 1931 and introduced Ethiopian currency.

Though the changes in Ethiopia sponsored by Selassie and his new progressive government seemed very promising, there lingered a new threat to the growing country when Benito Mussolini came to power in Italy in 1922. The north African colony of Eritrea, held by the Italians, was harmonious in its African/Italian co-existence from the 1890's until 1922, when Mussolini's administration began to emphasize the superiority of Italian inhabitants, and even enforced the segregation of the population. As late as 1928, motions of peace were made by Italy, but it seemed as though Mussolini wanted Eritrea only as a strategic base for future conquest in Africa. (Marcus, 108) In December 1934, there was an incident seemingly provoked by Italian forces which involved an Ethiopian escort to the Welwel wells used by desert nomads. The League of Nations exonerated both parties in the battle in September 1935, and it seemed to Mussolini that he would not be condemned for his future hostilities. (Marcus, 148-49) Italy invaded Ethiopia one month later without declaring war; the League of Nations condemned Italy as the aggressor, but no actions were taken. The fighting persisted for seven months, and Ethiopia was pushed back quite forcefully. Selassie found his forces unmatched militarily and was shocked at the use of chemical weapons by Italy, and the lack of action taken by the League of Nations. He was forced to exile on May 2 of 1936, a move which raised harsh criticism from many who were used to a warrior emperor of Ethiopia. On June 30, Haile Selassie went to Geneva to seek help from the League of Nations. He made a powerful speech in which he addressed the lack of enforcement of the Italian arms embargo, and quite effectively illustrated the consequences of the League's stifled actions: either there would exist collective security or international lawlessness. (Selassie, Internet) His speech was taken quite emotionally by audiences around the world, especially in America, where he achieved much sympathy. Selassie succeeded in raising the support of the United States and Russia, at least verbally, but Britain and France still recognized the Italian possession of Ethiopia by Italy.

While Selassie was in exile, the Italian forces established new government and attempted to crush the continuing revolts by massacres and segregation. In Britain for most of his exile, he attempted to raise public support for the plight of his country, but gained little attention until Italy entered the war on the side of Germany in June 1940. After the entrance, Britain and Selassie worked together to rally the remaining revolutionary forces in Ethiopia. He proceeded to Khartoum in 1940 to be in closer contact with his troops and British coordinators. With an army of British, South African, African, and Ethiopian soldiers, Haile Selassie re-entered Addis Ababa on May 5, 1941, but fighting continued on Ethiopian soil until January 1942. During the years of war, Selassie controlled internal affairs, but with required British approval. Upon his return he, without consulting Britain, appointed a seven member cabinet and a governor of Addis Ababa. The British aided Ethiopia in training a new army with advisers, which helped him substitute experienced administrators in place of traditional nobility, but he rejected British help whenever the reforms threatened his own personal control over his country. His stubbornness and foresight to retaining power showed Selassie to be a determined dictator, but certainly not without Ethiopia's benefit in mind. The modernization's made by Britain concerning currency, industrialization, and bureaucracy made Selassie see the major importance in modernizing in order to survive. He attempted to secure Eritrea as Ethiopian, but the decades of Italian influence imparted an independent sense on the part of the Eritreans, and the British denied his wishes.

When Selassie returned to power, he realized the necessity of a dependable tax base and issued a flat tax based on the richness of the land. Unfortunately, the nobles of several provinces battled the tax and the path was lain for opposition to the newly re-established government. Selassie backed down from his new tax brackets and issued a flat tithe to all noble landowners who resisted, but this merely passed the tax on to the tenants of the regions, who carried the entire burden of taxation. Another huge reform made by Selassie was the 1948 change in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. He removed the responsibility of appointment of the Church's patriarch from Alexandria to himself, a move which revolutionized the sixteen century old tradition.

After World War II, Selassie saw himself as a humble, but emerging, world leader. (Prouty, 93) Ethiopia was a founding member of the United Nations and the Organization of African Unity. Haile Selassie, after his aid from Britain wound down in 1953, sought and developed an aid-based relationship with the United States, and later sought and received aid from such diversified nations as Italy, China, West Germany, Taiwan, Yugoslavia, Sweden, and the Soviet Union.

Within his country, Selassie favored political realism, and attempted to make peace with the many Ethiopian factions- ethnic, religious, and economic- through appeasement and compromise. Despite his growing international stature, however, his internal influence lacked major support which would, in the future, lead to problems in his stability as a ruler. The emperor attempted to further strengthen the national government by placing newly educated ministers with more specific powers, establishing a central judiciary and self-appointing its judges. He also proclaimed a new national constitution in 1955. The constitution was enforced by a new, younger, foreign-educated staff, who sympathized with Selassie's reforms and were intellectually supportive of his claims. It was also heavily influenced by Selassie's concern for international image, as many African countries were thriving under colonial support and Ethiopia was still laying its claim to Eritrea. (Prouty, 93) The new constitution emphasized Selassie's religious right to power, and while it promised several inherently American rights (freedom of speech, assembly, and due process), the Ethiopian population lacked the literacy and independence from local nobility to really appreciate its declarations.

Selassie's major changes in form of the Ethiopian government promised huge reforms, and when these were realized to be slowly obtained, a coup d'état occurred in Addis Ababa in December 1960, while Selassie was abroad on one of his frequent diplomatic missions. (Prouty, 40) While initially successful, the coup led by the Imperial Bodyguard, police chief, and intellectual radicals lacked the public support necessary, and fell upon the return of the emperor and his assertion of the loyalty of the army and air force, as well as the church. The coup's failure did, however lead to the polarization of the traditional and progressive factions, and the public awareness of the need to improve the economic, social, and political position of the population.

After the coup, Selassie tried to calm his opponents mostly through land grants to officials, but with little social or political reform. In 1966, a plan to reform the tax system with intent to destroy the landowners grasp on the economy was drafted, but opposed vigorously by the parliament, who were all landowners. The years prior to 1974 were filled with rising inflation, corruption, and famine, as well as growing discontent by many of the organized urban groups and unions. Selassie had organized his military so that each branch opposed each other in class, benefits, or treatment in order to keep one from becoming so powerful as to threaten his power. It was perceived that the droughts and famines within the army and the public were intentional, and that civil freedoms were increasingly disappearing. Mutiny in the army branch of the military began on January 12, 1974, and was followed by several provincial takeovers in February. In early June, a group of about 120 military officers formed a group known as the Derg (committee) who represented the military and worked behind closed doors to gain power militarily. Although they claimed allegiance to the emperor, they began arresting aristocracy and parliament members who were associated with the old order. This group effectively removed Selassie's means of governing, as they had complete military control. In July 1974, the Derg demanded a new constitution; when it was found to be unsatisfactory to their "Ethiopia First" ideology, they proceeded to undermine the emperor's authority, and enjoyed much public support. (Tareke, 204-13) The emperor's estate and palace were nationalized and in August, Selassie was directly accused of covering up famine of the early 1970's which killed hundreds of thousands of people. On September 12th, he was formally deposed and arrested and power was given to the Derg, formally renamed the Provisional Military Administrative Council. In August 1975, His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie died under questionable circumstances under house arrest, and was secretly buried. (Prouty, 93) His early legacy of Ethiopian pride and sovereignty, had transformed itself to a major struggle of the old versus the new orders. The old order was effectively destroyed by 1977, and the Derg began its new agenda of socialism in the Ethiopian government.

Works Cited:

1. Marcus, Harold G. Haile Selassie I: The Formative Years, 1892-1936. Los Angeles: UC Press, 1987.

2. Prouty, Chris, and Eugene Rosenfield. Historical Dictionary of Ethiopia. London: The Scarecrow Press, Inc., 1982.

3. Tareke, Gebru. Ethiopia: Power and Protest. Cambridge UP.

4. Haile Selassie's Appeal to the League of Nations. Internet address: http://www.boomshaka.com/league.html. 29 April 1996.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This paper was written May 1, 1996, by Mike Cutri (acutri@acusd.edu)


Messenger: Dreadnut Sent: 4/1/2005 2:36:28 AM
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What is with that whole story about His Imperial I Selassie I being buried underneath a toliet?

"His body was buried near a latrine, an insult to a man who had enjoyed almost absolute power.'

How did His Majesty enjoy absolute power? Fire fi dat rasta.

Ras Zion I


Messenger: the rock Sent: 4/1/2005 7:23:04 AM
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I do not know about .... ""His body was buried near a latrine, an insult to a man who had enjoyed almost absolute power.'"...but I do know there is more to brun then lack of respect, that someone gave a body after JAH has left it.

onelove


Messenger: Nyah Jahphet Anbassa I Sent: 4/1/2005 8:44:03 AM
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Ises

HIM body is nowhere buried as you have to die first to be buried. It is like asking where Yeshuah is buried.

When HIM just disappeared from the arrest, Mengistu came in troubles because such information out there in the country would have lived up the selassie-loyals and anti-mengistu forces, if they had told that HIM just disappeared making it seem as if he was out there somewhere in opposition. So Mengistu told that he killed HIM. Then foreign countries wanted to see the corps for a official funeral, which is usual for a head of state. The next problem for Mengistu, there was no body. So they said that his body was put in accid. What a foolishness. If one knows about revolution- and coup- situations and especially the one in Ethiopia, it is truly a foolishness to claim that. Because it was clear the mengistu then had many trouble to clear up things and make clear that he is REALLY dead.... ONE photo of mengistu holding high HIM head, like every rebell would have done, would have helped Mengistu out of all troubles. But instead he does the exact opposit? And make his corps vanish? And make way for selassie-live roumors?
And in the 17 years of Red Terror more and more contradicting statements about HIM death and corps were made by the Derg and Mengistu. And finally after Mengistu, the Imperial Family claimed to have found his corps under a toilet... again a foolish statement, because if somebody knows ethiopian kind of toilets, also palast toilets, it is clear that no body would have been able to stay there for 17 years! But why did the Imperial Clan claim that?
Because after Mengistu they wanted back the Monarchy with one of the heirs on the throne. And as tradition and constitution in Ethiopian minds clearly says: no heir without the old one proofed dead!
Everybody knew that this weren't HIMs corps as they were far too large... so this makes the whole Imperial Clan highly suspect to me.

Like Jeremiah says: the King is like childless when his childs do not sit pon the throne. This is why HIM was truly the last!

Selah


Messenger: the rock Sent: 4/1/2005 9:22:12 AM
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were did you hear all this from.It is one thing if him told you this things.(about him not disappeared).Did some rasta that you follow tell you this.Christ body was tombed over 1000 year ago.So how can you find bone unless they were mummiefide(sp).DNA...

Interviewed by Oriana Fallaci
Sunday, June 24, 1973

The Lion of Judah has prevailed
Haile Selassie I, Elect of God
King of Kings of Ethiopia

The Emperor of Ethiopia, Lion of Judah, King of Kings, Elect of God, Power of the Trinity, Haile Selassie was interviewed by Oriana Fallaci in His Palace in Addis Ababba, Ethiopia.

Fallaci: Your Majesty, I would like you to tell me something about yourself. Tell me were you ever a disobedient youth? But maybe I ought to ask you first whether you have ever had time to be young, Your Majesty?

Selassie: We don't understand that question. What kind of question is that? It is obvious that we have been young. We weren't born old! We have been a child, a boy, a youth, an adult, and finally an old man. Like everyone else. Our Lord the Creator made us like everyone else. Maybe you wish to know what kind of youth we were. Well we were a very serious, very diligent, very obedient youth. We were sometimes punished, but do you know why? Because what we were made to study did not seem enough and we wished to study further. We wanted to stay on at school after lessons were over. We were loath to amuse ourselves, to go riding, to play. We didn't want to waste time on games.

Fallaci: Your Majesty, of all the monarchs still occupying the thrones you are the one that has ruled the longest. Moreover, in all age that has seen the ruinous downfalls of so many kings, you are the one the only absolute monarchy. Do you ever feel lonely in a world so different from the one you grew up in?

Selassie: It is our opinion that the world hasn't changed at all. We believe that such changes has modified nothing. We don't ever notice any differences between monarchies and republics. To us they appear two substantially similar methods of governing the nation. Well, tell us,: What is the difference between a republic and a monarchy?

Fallaci: Actually, your Majesty, I mean to me, it appears that in republics where democracy reigns the leader is elected. But in monarchies he isn't.

Selassie: We don't see where the difference lies.

Fallaci: Never mind, Your Majesty. What is your opinion of democracy?

Selassie: Democracy, republics: What do these words signify? What have they changed in the world? Have men become better, more loyal, kinder? Are the people happier? All goes on as before, as always. Illusions, illusions. Besides, one should consider the interest of a nation before subverting it with words. Democracy is necessary in some cases and we believe some African peoples might adopt it. But in other cases it is harmful, a mistake.

Fallaci: Your Majesty have you ever regretted your Kingly fate? Have you ever dreamed of living the life of an ordinary mortal?

Selassie: We don't understand that question. Even at the hardest, most painful moments, we have never regretted or cursed our fate. Never. And why should we have? We were born of royal blood, authority is ours by Right and since our Lord the Creator has deemed, we might serve our people as a Father serves his Son, being a monarch is a great joy to us. Its what we were born for and what we have always lived for.

Fallaci: Your Majesty, you are Ethiopia. Its you that keeps it in hand, that keeps it united. What will happen when you are no longer there?

Selassie: What do you mean? We do not understand this question?

Fallaci: When you die, Your Majesty?

Selassie: Ethiopia has existed for 3,000 years. In fact, it exists ever since the first man appeared on Earth. My dynasty has ruled since the Queen of Sheba met King Solomon and a Son was born of their union. It is a Dynasty that has gone thru the centuries and will go on for centuries more. A King is not indispensable, and, besides, my succesion is already ensured. There is a Crown Prince and he will rule the country when we are no longer there. This is what we have decided and so it must be.

Fallaci: On the whole, your Majesty, yours has not been a very a happy life. Those you loved have all died: your wife, two daughters. You have lost many of your illusions and many of your dreams. But you must, I imagine, have accumulated great wisdom, and of this I ask: How does Haile Selassie view death?

Selassie: What? View What?


"THERE IS A CROWN PRINCE AND HE WILL RULE THE COUNTRY WHEN WE ARE NO LONGER THERE.This what we have becided andSO IT MUST BE!!!!"
Fallaci: Death your Majesty.

Selassie: Death, Death? Who is this woman? Where does she come from? What does she want? Enough, go away, ca suffit! Ca suffit!!"



"THERE IS A CROWN PRINCE AND HE WILL RULE THE COUNTRY WHEN WE ARE NO LONGER THERE.This what we have becided andSO IT MUST BE!!!!"

with out a king HIM WORD WILL NOT BE comeing to life...AND DERG WOULD HAVE WON.

WORDS OF THE MOST HIGH.....

ONELOVE










Messenger: followersaustralia Sent: 10/26/2021 9:29:47 AM
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Haile Selassie I, emperor of Ethiopia from 1930 to 1974 who sought to modernize his country and who steered it into the mainstream of post-World War II ...
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Messenger: followersaustralia Sent: 10/26/2021 9:30:48 AM
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Emperor Haile Selassie, who ruled Ethiopia from 1930 to 1974, died in 1975, but he lives on through the romantic lyrics of the late Jamaican ... buy Followers Australia


Messenger: Likkle Ithiopia Sent: 10/26/2021 9:16:39 PM
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SELASSIE is the holy water of the RastafarI, InI wash I face with his Name. Selassie is the First Coming of Jehsus Christ, I love how H.I.M. says "We don't understand that question." Knowing H.I.M. does, yet H.I.M. didn't want the guy interviewing to notice it. H.I.M. knows all things, blessed be His Majesty Menen I in times of the wars with Italy, Italy--- the Augustus Caesar land of ancient times can never conquer The Zion (Ion) of Haile Selassie. Jesus Christ


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