Customer Reviews

Bless Ethiopia

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Richard Pankhurst is probably the leading expert in the world today on the subject of Ethiopian studies and Ethiopian history. I find him to be very objective and truthfull. I have read many of his works and they surpass any other's in this field, in historical accuracy, depth of study and insight.

For years I have been studying and reading every book on Ethiopia I could get my hands on. I have interviewed quite a few of the elders of the Ethiopian Jews that live in Israel. I have been researching Ethiopian history and gathering material for a book I myself am writing on the subject. I have even traveled extensively in Ethiopia gathering information for my research.

I can honestly say that nobody has helped me like Richard Pankhurst. He has made the study of Ethiopia his life's work and has done so with magnificent zeal.

Local Ethiopian historians such as Bilay Gidday have written a distorted account of Ethiopian history. They are, basically, blindfolded with national pride, corrupting the truth in order to draw a picture portraying Ethiopia as the source of human culture and cradle of both Christianity and Judaism and the Ethiopians as the chosen people.

Richard Pankhurst has successfully managed to fish out the true historical facts from Ethiopia's vast ocean of fantastic myths, legends and folk-tales. For this, he will forever be favoured by scholars of Ethiopian studies all over the world.

I salute him for yet another inspiring piece of work and wish him many more years of such productivity.

Joseph Musael, Jerusalem, ISRAEL.

I have not read this book, but I cannot agree with the idea expressed by other reviewers that he was a racist or that he was unaware of the richness of Ethiopian culture. He has written extensively about the country, appreciates it, and also points out faults and mistakes, which is appropriate. Richard Pankhurst was the last person to portray Ethiopians or anyone as uncivilized, backward, etc. But the truth has to be acknowledged that there are differences between cultures and that in many ways a country like Ethiopia is not as "advanced" as other countries that provide a better life for their peoples.

Bless Ethiopia is an injustice to the rich cultural heritage of the Ethiopian people. The author overlooks this country's vast antiquities and its modern day universities,museums, and other institutions. This book continues the western media tradition of portraying Ethiopia as a desolate and depraved country when in fact it is one of many middle eastern countries which gave us civilization. It is particularly troubling that the author chose to include photographs of certain individuals with social unacceptable behavior for the purpose of stereotyping the whole country of Ethiopia. Certainly, all societies have miscreants but is that representative of the whole country? The rich history of Ethiopia is documented in the Old Testament of the bible. Surely, if the author of this book was familiar with the numerous historical sites of Ethiopia and its modern day development, he would have included it in this book. This book was less than complimentary to the Ethiopian people and a distorted image of this great country.

I hate to see people like Richard P try to distroy a history that preserved itself for 3 thousand years. I am not sure why he is even allowed to stay in Ethiopia. As far as I know he is nothing but a blood sucking parasite who (has been )and still sucking these people dry. Like it or not, Ethiopians and Egyptians were civilized before we even knew how to read or write.

Once again we (white people) hating those that look and act different from us. Live and learn, people.............

I give this book 0 stars!

Thank you

Becky B

The saying goes "little knowledge is dangerous" but pankrust fits "the cancer". In Ethiopia, it is traditional to represent the wealthiest, the creative, the most resourceful and the developed as "backwards". While the good liars are considered "civilized". Peole get confused where to label foreigner liars like pankrest. If you have not gotten yet what I am saying, visit southern central as well as northern Ethiopia, talk to the people and ask your opinion about the cancer. They will all tell you what pankrest is