Confident and Proud

Some intellectuals and interested individuals in the different parts of the world do make efforts at transmitting their ideas through various communication channels to assist the development efforts of their countries. This is viewed in general as part of the freedom accorded them by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as well as the constitutions of their own countries.
From the practical point of view, with the printing cost of books becoming very expensive, people prefer to use the print media as the right means to convey opinions, initiatives or proposals.
It is good practice that a number of countries establish a sort of think-tank institutions to promote new ideas in the social, political and economic fields. A think-tank is a reservoir of ideas where new initiatives could be drawn for consideration. It is obvious that such institutions will require a substantial amount of money to establish and run.
Such institutions could be said to exist directly or indirectly in the developing countries. Universities that promote research and development in different fields and propositions should be said to be playing a good deal of think-tank role. Short of that, individuals can extend meaningful initiatives by working closely with civic societies, appropriate institutions of development and independent institutions of communication.
One of these independent institutions of communication is the print media. Many ideas flow through it. People can be encouraged to write freely and express their minds. I could be wrongly skeptic that what people write on newspapers is only to fill pages of the dailies or weeklies and, perhaps, to fill the pocket on what one earns on contributions.
However, the best way to verify that would be to write out and feel the effect of its outcome. It would be unfair to conjecture positively or negatively about something just in the air. There is nothing better than to wait and see if anything tangible is felt somewhere as a result of the impact of the new initiative or idea thrown to light by the writer.
The moment one realizes beyond reasonable doubt that some of the contributions the weeklies carry out are properly examined by responsible public bodies and is put to use for societal purposes will be encouraging to the contributors. There are positive cases to be cited in this regard. Nonetheless, neither do I have the time to go into the details of what have been positively observed empirically nor does my chosen paper have room to accommodate such details.
In the nature of things, however, I can say confidently that some opinions are immediately attended to while others remain pending. There are encouraging signs today in this country in examining positively what some enlightened elements of society contribute to the print media. There should not be mistaking or confusing nonetheless that some private proposals could easily coincide with governmental concern. In that case, one should not worry unnecessarily over the ownership right of the idea or proposal as long as it is put to public advantage.
Yet, one should be satisfied with the outcome as most likely the steps taken towards a particular development could be due to the ideas that may have been proposed by an independent or casual writer. In other words, some of the ideas and advices that the papers carry out are translated into meaningful actions. Few examples are in order in this regard where suggestions forwarded by article contributors were observed as impacting upon or influencing changes.
One of the weeklies had once carried out an individual’s rational suggestion on the need of improving the narrowing Bole Road; it was soon published for public knowledge in the same paper that it was on plan for expansion. Likewise, the monotonous and crushable iron rims along many road islands were removed and improved with lasting and beautiful carved stones. The Bole Medhanialem Church ugly scene outside of its compound is being improved and beautified by those directly concerned. Likewise, suggestion of individuals to consider pensioners along civil servants for pay increase had coincided with the Government’s positive determination, etc., and hopefully, many more advices may be under consideration for implementation. Yet, one should feel confident and proud in making bold and constructive contribution towards the development of a country.