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     | Unrecorded Date I'm sure we are all nationalists to the core, expressing our sense of pride to our nation- Somalia. The reason for starting this discussion is for the simple fact to start realizing that our country will never return to the state that it once was, that will never happen. All those pondering the thought of going back once they have acquired great wealth and knowledge need to start investing that energy right now before it is rendered useless. The point i'm trying to make here is that we need to start thinking about the present and not the future. Why can't we help one another in the present time as refugees, asylees, you name it or would our efforts hold less of a value if we did that hence having a frame of mind that we are neglecting the people in the motherland. We need to start mobilizing and appreciate the values and traditions our ancestors left with us. I can't think of one community center that is up and running. All i hear from others is that they will go back home and do this and the other, well what about the communities you are living in right now- isn't that part of the whole that will later find itself in Somalia inshallah. This frame of mind is extremely harmful because the cycle is perpetuated, the tribalism, the hate, the egocentric mentality is fueled. My wish in posting this discussion is to see how we can improve the situation for our children. We need to start realizing that things can only get worse from this point. To be somewhat optimistic for a change let's say that circumstances improve and the United Nations goals are met, how long will it take for things to take their natural course..... 10 years perhaps or longer. In those projected years there a child has already developed a set of values. Walalayal we need to rise up for the sake of our children and leave our differences at the door. There are so many organizations out there who are willing to help jump start underrepresented groups in forming coalitions or community groups, we can get funded. This in turn will create awareness and appreciation for our great culture for those who have not had the chance to see Somalia. Its all about preservation. We need to learn from other communities who have banded together for no other reason but because of the pride and honor they have as members of a community. Ignorance can be the worst weapon of all.
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| | Unrecorded Date Dear Blessed, I have had the same feeling you mentioned above, balse waxaa i rajo gelinayo Dar Al Noor Somali Center in Virginia. For the sake of our children today and tomorrow, waxaa jira dhalinyaro u istaagtay ilaah dartiis oo ku howlan in eey hirgaliyaan daar eey ugu magac dareen DAR-AL-NUUR oo dhowaan laga furay eeriyada aan deganahay ee Northern Virginia, meeshaasoo sida la qorsheeynayo ka caawini doonto qooysaska Somaaliyeed xagga diinta,dhaqanka iyo wax wada qabsi guud. Ilaheey qalbigeenna ha isku fiyaabeeyo, dhalinyaradaasna garabkooda allaha galo. Waxey leeyihiin brochure ku liis gareeysan barnaamijyada Daarta u deggan which I believe it is very helpfule to every Somali, waxeeyna meeshaasi u furantahay qofkasto oo Soomali ah. Waxaan jeclaan lahaa in aan kuu soo gudbiyo phone #kooda balse hadda mahayo laakin waan kuu heli karaa otherwise check the yellow page by dar-al-noor center. Ilaahoow noo gar-gaar Sayidka
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| | Unrecorded Date Sayidka- Thanks for letting me know that there is something out there. As is said there is some light at the end of the tunnel. But in terms of mobilizing we need to work hard on preserving our religion and culture. There seems to be a lack of cultural appreciation when it comes to our youth. It saddens me when i know our potential as a people. We need to accept the fact that the damage done to Somalia is something which cannot be repaired atleast for the next 20 years.
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| | Unrecorded Date Salaamu calaykum Dear Blessed may Allah bless you for starting this discussion. I was impressed while reading your posting because you have expressed what I have been saying and fighting for within our community. I am saddened to say that I have somehow given up. There is this scene that I would like my fellow brothers and sisters to picture. I have chosen Dixon because it is a place that I visit often where I have relatives and friends. It has no other connotation. It could be any neighbourhood in any Western country where Somalis reside. It is a warm and breezy afternoon. In the park, children play with their bicycles, playing ball, jumping rope and roller blades. Mothers beautifully clad in "dirac" and "garbasaar" are sitting on benches keeping a watchful and loving eye on their children. The elderly are grouped in an area. As religion and culture dictate, men and women are separated. When all of a sudden you feel some kind of electricity in the air. It seems that there is news from Somalia. Small groups start to form. Depending on the clan you belong to, either you are crying or laughing with joy, for there has been yet another massacre. The elders regroup and this is when you see men and women talking together in a lively debate. Meetings are setup and a plan is setup in motion. After the maghrib prayers are performed, the Squad Teams are sent out. I call them squads because they know every single household in the area. And they go out to collect money. Within 3-5 days you hear of formidable amounts of money that have been fundraised and sent back home. To defend or attack. At night time, come out our beautiful youth. I call them beautiful because in all the chaos and shambles, they are the ones that have suffered most. And yet no one hears their cry for help. No one sees that under the hood and baggy pants lie young hearts that had so much hope and still do but lack guidance. They stay up till the break of dawn. Laughing and fighting. They are marginalized by a society that they have never really integrated and tolerated by their own in a condescending manner. The same people that are mobilized and energetic when it comes to the affairs of Somalia, when approached about the affairs of our elderly and youth and families have only one answer: " Naa dad dhargay oo Canada Rabbi ugu nimceeyay waxooda ha inoo sheegin. Ina Hebel dhulkii ayuu inoo difacaya waa waajiib in lacag loo diro". I know that if these people put their heads together they could really make a difference for they have amazing organizational skills. In Canada, it is unfortunate that even the communities funded by the government are based on "qabiil". The same mentality that destroyed Somalia remains in Canada. And it is people that make a nation. If we neglect today our youth, the future of Somalia makes no sense. For I ask, for whom will we be rebuilding that country and who will go back? Maybe those who have known Somalia when it was a safe place to live. But for our youth that either witnessed the carnage or were born outside of Somalia I believe they deserve our attention NOW. Peace
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| | Unrecorded Date OH MY GOD AM ABOUT TO CRY.
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| | Unrecorded Date Cajabo- Sister I couldn't of painted a better picture. What you have written is very moving and unfortunately it is happening as we try to make sense of this destructive cycle. May Allah guide us in the right path and give us the strength.
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| | Unrecorded Date OBVIOUSLY IT SEEMS YET AGAIN I'VE HIT A DEAD END AGAIN WITH OUR COMMUNITIES AT LARGE! I SEE HOW MUCH DISCUSSION I'VE GENERATED SO FAR- THIS MUST MEAN THAT THE CYCLE WILL AND CANNOT BE BROKEN. PEACE BE UPON YOU MY BELOVED BROTHERS AND SISTERS. MACASALAMA
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| | Unrecorded Date Asalamu alaykum Cajabo jasaaka laha khayr sis. Let me remind u one thing ppl, we only blame or criticise the elders but each and everyone of us is a guilty for the crime that is happening back home. whether we support it by money(as my sis cajabo mention it) or by world and we still following or carring forward the same mentallity we had when we were back home. let's redefine our selves and look into a ways that we could change this.
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| | Unrecorded Date Assalamu Calaykum (Samawade - brother, indeed there are many of us that had nothing to do with what happened back home, and what is happening at the moment, and it dreadfully revolts them to say they were/are responsible....so please, have a heart!) First, let me thank Blessed for starting this thread. May Allah reward you for your genuine intentions and efforts. Secondly, Cajabo, sister you have indeed painted a picture so vivid in its capture, so moving in its focus, that I thought I was watching a blockbuster! Indeed when I read your descriptive words, teard welled up in my tears, my heart begun to ache.....Oh, how I wish.... I wish Somalia to be the Somalia it used to be....I wish what happened, had never happened, that which caused us to be what we are today... I thank you my beloved sister. Well, we could spend days reminiscing and ruminating about our problems, which will not fade by themselves. As Blessed had put: We have to put our heads to together, hold hands and forget our differences, find the love that is in our hearts, and make a difference......"Allah does not change the condition of a society, unless they change what is within them" - The Glorious Qur'an. But, it easier said than done...Even though I am very optiminstic, this will take us some time.... but, it is better late than never! SUGGESTIONS: 1. There was an association that was initiated sometime ago in this forums; The New Somali Youth League (NSYL), which seemed prospective. However, it died down and I dont know what became of it. Now, if we can all contribute to such a noble cause, and try pulling the youth together, we might accomplish something. Just a suggestion. If NSYL is still alive and functional, my apologies in advance. 2. Bulding Inter-Community relations. By this I mean to bring communities from different locaties, cities, provinces/states, countries, continents...etc together for the sole purpose of preserving the our religion and culture. I think this would be feasible since it is an umbrella under which lies what every Somali stands for. May Allah guide us to the right path, and bestow upon us His bounty. AMEEN. wasalaam.
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| | Unrecorded Date S.O.G- thanks for the great insight and sharing the same visions. Without a doubt we need to awaken our dormant brothers and sisters who mean well but don't and most of the time won't take action. So for all those who have joined me in discussing this dilemma will you take an oath to start something within your communities. Let me know if you do. May Allah bless all of you. Peace.
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| | Unrecorded Date I'll have a diet pepsi please......not too much ice thank you
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| | Unrecorded Date Hebel: You know you need to redirect the energy you used to come up with that creative thought and use it wisely. Maybe you can add to the discussion come on dust off those withering brain cells........ A MIND IS A TERRIBLE THING TO WASTE.
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| | Unrecorded Date No! thanks IM okey here. rite I won't waste my mind I'll make it to go in a dogbag. I'll have it tomorrow for lunch
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| | Unrecorded Date Lol@Hebel, Blessed attempted a patronizing tone and a sarcastic attitude, but I like your punch line!
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| | Unrecorded Date Blessed and the others in this discussion! Good for you all and I'm glad that I share roots with you all. The issue under discussion is quite a noble one, that deserves our attention. However, I suspect that most of you are new comer to this realization or you have ignored so long that it cought up with you. I hate to pass this judgement on you, but I am feeling the heat that I ignored and separated myself so long now, too. You see for so long I concentrated all my effort in trying to educate myself. I didn't agree with most of the attitudes and behaviour of my people, both my clansmate and somali people in general. I suspected that the tragedy that had fallen over to my country and society had arisen from, among others, ignorance. Education and segregating myself from the savage of their ignorance were the only root that I could invision. I did nothing for no one, contributed nothing to my community even though deep down I knew I could do a lot for even one kid in Dixon by being his role model. I saw my peers waste their time and mind on nonsense priorities, but said "cool" to them when they asked me what-z-up. I avoided the community centers because I saw the tribe banners every time I walk by or call; I couldn't polute my promising mind with that deadly desease. When I drive by Banadir/ Wagad/Hall of Fame and the Somali hang outs in T.O., I always held my head high thinking I am better than these "loosers" and avoided the opportunity to be seen with them. From time to time when I ran into old class mates or friends and I inform them how my education is coming along, they boost my ego with shot of "You are lucky". As a result of all of this and my assumed success, I started to think that I am not actually "Somali" ... how could I be... how could I share a name and origin with those "Khad" jewing-welfare cheating-donut bundet loosers. I, the educated one, should have absolutely no association with these people ( I adviced myself). I have survived thus far; but age and majurity are now forcing me to deal with the reality that....I need these people and they also need me....I am not better than anybody, nor am I successfull. Now the action = to participate. To contribute to any community regardless of their tribal banners..... To not waste time with unity and all the idealistic issues that your discussions implied, but to do everything I can anytime I can. I advice you all to cut crab and do whatever you can whenever you can and hope that they will accumulate towards the greater goal that will deserve (unity, nation, peace and properity)! WABS
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| | Unrecorded Date WABS: I commend you for realizing your faults, it takes a strong person with undefeated character to admit they were wrong. That is the first step at solving anything, to admit that we are human and at times we can make mistakes. So you have jumped that hurdle, there certainly are a multitude of hurdles to be jumped down the line and for us Somalis it seems like an endless battle. What seems to be missing from us is the notion that things do not need to be solved in a grandiose fashion. Inshallah we will reach the point when all Clan leaders can sit in one room, inshallah we will soon return to our homeland whether they be under one flag or recognized as separate territories....... one day, not now, not tomorrow, but soon inshallah. What we need to realize as strong persons united by the grace of Allah (SWT)that we need to take baby steps, baby steps to peace and harmony, baby steps to rebuilding our communities from the grassroots level, baby steps to instilling pride in our youths with role models they can look up to and immulate. After taking these actions consistenly and persistently will we notice gradual change, inshallah heading in a positive direction. What is that saying the "world wasn't built in one day"- let's flip the script in terms of our situation back home.... Somalia's problem cannot be solved in one day by deciding that we are all going to pick and move there- it doesn't work like that, it cannot work like that for those who still have that ingrained in them still. I would personally like to thank everyone for sharing their valued opinion and believe I truly appreciate the time you have taken to partake in this meaningful discussion. May Allah bless you all and those that you love so much. Peace.
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