Lessons of the Millennium

Consistency is a valued quality that in myriads of ways, can serve as a barometer of personal and societal success or lack of it. The formation of sound national plans of action and the perseverance to follow through on them is a hallmark of the triumphant nations of today, some of which function on constitutions that have been virtually untouched for hundreds of years. In the case of the U.K., deep rooted societal discipline has even made it possible to live a well ordered national life without a written constitution.
On the other hand, with two by Haile Sellasie, another pair from the Derg and the current federal constitution, Ethiopia has had five Supreme Laws of the Land in less than 75 years.
We are now poised to enter our third thousand years still somewhat un-surefooted and with not a little trepidation. Many things are so unpredictable that national apprehension has made us jumpy, not least our government, which has decided to postpone the greatest Great Ethiopian Run ever organized. Given the frequency and speed with which the socio-political winds shift in our country, perhaps we should not have been all that shocked. However, as late as last week, government airwaves were chock a block with all round assurances to first the 'diaspora' (the government's pet citizens), secondly tourists and lastly to the Ethiopian masses that the new Millennium celebrations would go off without the slightest hiccup.
Nations do not take lightly those moments in their history that come once in a blue moon or maybe never again within a conceivable span of time. These precious national occasions, be they milestone independence anniversaries, commemorations of human habitation or indeed new millenniums, are etched into the national psyche years before they are held as it is no easy matter to mobilize an entire nation on short notice.
Several cases in point from history.
* Preparation for the American bi-centennial of 1976 began in 1970 and to this day the celebrations remain in U.S. history among the most vibrant collective memories of the 20th century.
* The 1000th anniversary of the founding of Moscow was preceded by years of diligent preparations.
* European cities ready themselves up to 10 years in advance to be revolving cultural capitals.
* More currently, India marked the count down to 60 years of independence with a series of promotional campaigns on world media under the motto "Incredible India," nearly two years before the celebrations on August 14, 2007.
Viewed in comparison, the new Ethiopian Millennium was not afforded its deserving importance early enough and the results are now apparent.
There may well be justifiable reasons for postponing the Great Ethiopian Run. This disappointment in and of itself is not necessarily at issue here. What is of more concern is that this postponement has cast a shadow over already beleaguered preparations. This is not to say that very real economic and promotional benefits the Great Run would have brought are not significant for a poor country that can hardly afford to repel even one tourist.
We all hope that the organizers of the Great Run will not be too hard pressed or demoralized to keep the event on life -support without losing too much of the huge international momentum they had galvanized.
What is alarming is the bigger picture of how news of the postponement will affect Millennium bound guests and celebrating locals.
Perhaps the new Ethiopian Millennium's greatest lesson will be that farsightedness and clear cut organizational procedures are what make a nation tick in the larger scheme of things.
It is hoped, that the run-up, organizational challenges and the as yet undetermined eventual outcome of the Ethiopian millennium celebrations will help to make future generations all the wiser.