ECSU Center for Research in Ethics and Integrity Held Seminar
Ethiopian Civil service University Center for Research in Ethics and Integrity held its second seminar on "Ethics in Thought and Deeds: Toleration as a Personal and Public Virtue" on March 24/2016 at Hidasse hall. Academics, post graduate students and PhD candidates attended the seminar.
In his welcoming speech, Ato Birhanu Belayneh, Vice President for Research and Community Services said he is deeply honored to have His Excellency Professor Andreas Eshete, as a speaker of the seminar. Ato Birhanu also expressed his delight, on behalf of the University and organizing committee, to have the participants in the seminar. Ato Birhanu said Ethics is the most important value in academic institutions especially, for the ones like us, working to build the capacity of the public sector. According to Ato Birhanu, ECSU is striving to produce ethical civil servants through its core programs- specialized education, training, consultancy, research and community services. " Although we know its importance and preaching about ethical , institution and individuals, the practice is real challenge. " So the seminar is hoped to inform in people a certain understanding of toleration which demands a great deal of responsibility so as to be considered as virtue within our institutional and private life," said at Birhanu in conclusion.
The speaker of the seminar, Professor Andreas Eshete, Adviser to the Prime Minister with a rank of Minister began his presentation by pointing out historical facts, from different perspectives, on public toleration. He said liberal democracy enormously contributed for toleration, but it is not free from in toleration. Ethiopia`s action, while it was under monarchy rule, to create a safe heaven for Muslims who were abandoned by their Saudi rulers clearly shows nobody has a monopoly on toleration or in toleration. Professor Andreas also showed how religious toleration can lead to political toleration by showcasing America’s unification some 300 years ago which comes in the wake of Atheists prosecution of the religious persons. He said, Atheists used to prosecute religious persons and Americans learnt enough lessons from that incident. The opposition parties’ demand for regime change and the government labeling that as trison contributed a lot for political in toleration, according to Professor Andreas.
After the presentation, the participants raised questions and concerns, among others, how can religious toleration contribute for political toleration, adverse effects of ethnic federalism in Ethiopia, what is expected of the government in bringing political toleration, whether individual and community efforts bring toleration etc…Professor Andreas reacted to the questions by bringing students’ movements of Ethiopia, and the Wollo and Harer communities contribution to toleration and others to their knowledge.
Finally Ato Birhanu Belayneh thanked Professor Andreas for his robust presentations and awarded him a certificate of participation.