Because of the friendship and common interests our two nations

Hear the words of Tom Malinowski, diplomat and defender of human rights, who once said: *“Because of the friendship and common interests our two nations share, the *U.S. has a stake in Ethiopia’s prosperity, stability, and success.” Though spoken in the language of diplomacy, these words carry a wisdom that transcends politics. They remind us of a truth as old as civilization itself — that the bonds of friendship between peoples and nations are not mere formalities of treaties, but threads that weave the fabric of peace and progress. When one nation thrives, its allies are strengthened; when one falters, all who are connected to it tremble in kind.

The origin of this quote lies in the enduring relationship between Ethiopia and the United States, two nations distant in geography but bound by shared ideals and aspirations. Ethiopia, one of the oldest civilizations on earth, stands as a symbol of endurance and sovereignty — a land that, even in times of trial, has never bowed to the winds of conquest. The United States, forged in the fire of liberty, has long seen in Ethiopia a partner in resilience and hope. Thus, when Malinowski spoke these words, he was not merely addressing diplomats; he was invoking the timeless principle that true friendship is built upon mutual respect and shared destiny.

To say that one nation has a stake in another’s prosperity is to affirm the sacred law of interdependence. No people, however powerful, exists alone. As the ancient philosophers taught, the well-being of one part of the world ripples outward, touching all others. The prosperity of Ethiopia — her farms flourishing, her rivers harnessed, her children educated — enriches not only her own people but also the stability of her neighbors and the peace of distant shores. For the light that shines in one corner of the world dispels the shadows in another.

Consider the story of Emperor Haile Selassie, who stood before the League of Nations in 1936 as his country was ravaged by invasion. He warned the world that aggression unopposed in Ethiopia would one day threaten all nations. The world did not listen — and soon, as he foretold, global war engulfed humanity. His plea became a lesson for generations: the suffering of one people is the concern of all. Malinowski’s words echo that same ancient warning, though spoken in a gentler age — that the stability of one nation safeguards the peace of many.

Yet this truth is not confined to nations alone; it belongs to every human bond. Friendship, whether between people or countries, is sustained not by convenience but by care. It is not enough to speak of shared interests; one must act to uphold them. When a friend stumbles, you extend your hand. When a neighbor prospers, you rejoice without envy. So it must be among nations as well. The U.S. and Ethiopia, bound by ties of cooperation, must strive not for dominance, but for partnership — a balance of power tempered by compassion.

The common interests Malinowski speaks of are not only political or economic; they are moral. Both nations value liberty, dignity, and self-determination. To preserve these ideals, one must guard against injustice, corruption, and despair — for where these take root, friendship withers and trust decays. The prosperity he envisions is not merely of wealth, but of character: the flourishing of wisdom, justice, and goodwill among peoples. The stability he invokes is not the stillness of oppression, but the harmony of order and freedom.

The lesson, then, is timeless and universal: no bond, whether between nations or individuals, can endure without empathy and shared purpose. The success of one must never come at the expense of another. Instead, we must learn to see our fortunes as intertwined, our futures as linked. Just as rivers feed into the same sea, so too must nations feed into the same destiny — one of peace, cooperation, and mutual upliftment.

So, dear listener, take this truth into your own life: the world is a garden, and each of us a gardener. When you tend your neighbor’s soil, your own blossoms grow stronger. When you water the roots of friendship and understanding, the harvest is peace. Let the spirit of Malinowski’s words guide you — to act not in isolation, but in communion; to see not “me” and “them,” but we. For only when we meet one another as allies, not adversaries, will the world itself begin to prosper, stabilize, and truly succeed.