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How do you measure manhood and bravery???

SomaliNet Forum (Archive): Islam (Religion): Archive (Before Sept. 29, 2000): How do you measure manhood and bravery???
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The Equalizer

Unrecorded Date
I opted to talk about this topic ‘cause our view of bravery and manhood is very different from that of the West and needs to put under the lens of the microscope. If you listen to most of the Somalis, being a brave person means stealing, killing, raping, and the list goes on and on. On the other hand, when you come to the West, the qualities of bravery and manhood that we admire so much and we’re proud of it is an unspeakable and a shameful act. People, in the West, tend to distance themselves as far as possible from such individuals. But, before I go any further I would like to clarify something so that there won’t be any misunderstanding. When I use the pronoun ‘We,’ I’m talking about Somali people in general. So, please don’t jump on my throat and accuse me of being one of those individuals. Now, let’s pick up from where we left. In the West, people don’t even want to be seen or associated with these bums and good-for-nothing individuals. Of course, some of you will even deny the existence of such individuals in Somalia out of nationalism feelings. Others will argue that even in the West you will come across bums. That’s absolutely true. There’re bums everywhere you go in the world. The only difference is the way they are treated and dealt with though. In the West, bums are looked down on whereas in Somalia they are looked up to.

Having said all of this, naturally the question arises of what we should do about it. I think we should start from our own houses. In other words, we should get rid off of all those scum that are the sole reason of our being displaced and spread around the world. Secondly, we should establish an Islamic state that rules according to the laws of Allah. In doing so, we will not only reacquire our long lost honor, but we will also put in leadership positions very capable and qualified leaders. Of course, these leaders will be chosen based on their qualifications and not their clan affiliation. In this way, we will also strip ourselves off the robes of tribalism and bury it once and all. We will then go back to rebuild our country and social fabric, of course all this with the help of Allah and before we know it we will become a world power to ponder with. Eventually, with the help of Allah, we will spread Islam around the globe.


May Allah bless us all and strengthens our faith (Amen!!!)

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Warsame

Unrecorded Date
Equalizer, intresting subject indeed. And i agree with you that our defintion of bravery and manhood is completely different from that of west, and that our heroes are a bunch of thugs, criminals and killers. But you have to look this issue as indeed many others from a historic perspective. 300 years ago the West's heroes were exactly the same as ours are today!!.

But when the enlightenemnt and humanist ideas with the idustrial developments rooted down among the populations in the west, had real change happened in this front as well. From then on it was firefighters, sportsmen and women of all sorts, the volunteers of compassion and help to follow humans around the world, adventurists..... and of course those who fight or die to defend their country are considered the real heroes. In that sense i would see, also as in many other isuues, that we (as a member of the the third world!) are simply lagging behind....

As for what we should do about it, while agreeing with your first point, i don't know what you mean with the Islamic state and the reacquiring of our long lost honor?. Of course they are fine words, per sig, but have you thought any model of the "islamic state" which will solve our problems? Iran? Saudi Arabia? Afganistan? Pakistan? Sudan?. Or, do you have in mind that we, somalis should stablish a copy of last Turskish and arab empires who conquered and ruled many different populations?!. And is the "lost honour" that you feel being part of those empires and you want revive them!?. Don't get me wrong, i am only asking, i may have undertood you wrong.

I'll emphasize that i'll agree with you that we should start with our own houses and make a case to distance our selves from "hero-killers" but i'd add that this problem is part of our "package of problems".

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