Fayisa Lelisa Powerful Op-Ed in Washington Post

Wait a minute. Why would he come to the country where blacks are allegedly oppressed all the time, if he is escaping oppression?

And which honorable man betrays his wife and children like that?

He also fails to mention that his movement has been using violence.

Why is it so hard to spell the guy's name correctly?

LILESA

close enuff wrote:

Why is it so hard to spell the guy's name correctly?

LILESA

Because another prominent runner spells it Lelisa (Desisa).

close enuff wrote:

Why is it so hard to spell the guy's name correctly?

LILESA

And "Feyisa"

Its good to see Lilesa continuing to press his case. I follow international news more closely than the average American but were it not for his display at the finish line I wouldn't have known about what has been going on in Ethiopia. Hopefully he wins a world marathon major and ends up in an even better position to make his case to the world.

What kind of knob leaves his wife and kids behind like that?

Man, when there's alot of stress anything can happen, I think maybe the family will reunite someday, stronger than ever... So they're fighting over farmland? I think the same thing happened between the Masai and wealthy people. What I the best way to tackle the social problems today?

I can wait to hear what bekele says in berlin when they ask him about fayisa, I know Bekele is from the same region and he is from the oromo tribe. I hope he does not just lie to protect himself. He need to tell the truth about what is happening in Ethiopia, especially in the Oromo and Amhara region.

A knob who knows nothing will happen to his family. His wife and mother recently gave an interview to an international media from Ethiopia and were very much alive :)

Clearly could not stand his wife and kids and used this whole thing as an excuse to get away from them.

Just kidding.

Quite frankly, I think his methodology of bringing attention to this issue is working quite well, many of us would not know a lick about the whole situation if he did not throw up the protest sign.

You often hear the Kenyan champs talking about their hopes for their countries future. Korir said, like, three things: He wants a Kenya where people have work, a self sufficient Kenya, and a Kenya that believes in herself. Kirui said basically the same thing, just interesting. I like Lelisa, he's like the new Stephen Kiprotich.

Like what do you think can there be a rebirth in Africa, much like we need one in the USA

Given that Ethiopian government is viewed by Washington as an important ally in the war on terror, very little will be done no matter how many human rights abuses and atrocities they commit.

One strange ordeal wrote:

What kind of knob leaves his wife and kids behind like that?

Someone in a desperate situation. How do know his wife doesn't approve of what he is doing? How else are they to get publicity for what is happening? People from that region are almost never granted the privilege of exiting as a family. He has a far greater chance of getting them out now than he would have if he had tried to leave with them. Americans just have no idea how limited Ethiopians are because of the ruling regime. Even the great Gebreselassie has been intimidated and cowed by the government. You just have no clue sir about the desperate choices families must make if they wish to bring some political pressure upon the government there.

Olympian Feyisa Lilesa speaking at press conference in Washington DC about oppression in Ethiopia.:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKd8V_vcfHc

Video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sdB54BDQkM

Audio:

https://soundcloud.com/user-671998830

Thank for posting this.

Lilesa is an impressive man. You cannot watch that video without seeing that he is fully committed to a meaningful cause, and you cannot help but hope that his family is allowed to join him.

And to the guy who asked 'what kind of knob abandons his wife and children', maybe one answer is 'every soldier who ever went to war'. I would find that very hard to do, but I suspect he is hoping to give them a better future, just in a high-stakes manner.

His raising awareness of the situation is very impressive. Perhaps it could lead to the oppression and violence eventually subsiding. Most people bashing him are the real cowards and hypocrites hiding behind a keyboard!

Black Lives Matter wrote:

Given that Ethiopian government is viewed by Washington as an important ally in the war on terror, very little will be done no matter how many human rights abuses and atrocities they commit.

Ethiopia's relative stability and safety is actually admirable considering the country is surrounded by Eritrea AKA "The North Korea of Africa", Somalia (enough said), south sudan and Kenya. Lelisa's grievances might be legitimate however, the protests were hijacked by fringe elements who are hell bent on destroying the country and advancing their secessionist agenda.

ShouldReturn wrote:

Black Lives Matter wrote:

Given that Ethiopian government is viewed by Washington as an important ally in the war on terror, very little will be done no matter how many human rights abuses and atrocities they commit.

Ethiopia's relative stability and safety is actually admirable considering the country is surrounded by Eritrea AKA "The North Korea of Africa", Somalia (enough said), south sudan and Kenya. Lelisa's grievances might be legitimate however, the protests were hijacked by fringe elements who are hell bent on destroying the country and advancing their secessionist agenda.

I appreciate stability but when you jail and torture journalists, bloggers led and tortured, and kill unarmed protesters you have a problem. If Ethiopian government did not serve US interests, these issues would have been a big deal.