SNettter's Short stories/essays/articles Thread

[Futurist]

A thread for people to share their unfinished/unpublished stories/essays/articles. Basra, Lamagoodle and co feel free to contribute

[Futurist]

I will try to read people's articles when i've got a spare 5 mins. Should be interesting.

[Futurist]

I'll start us off. A few months ago i was pondering the fate of Somalis who tahriib and perish in the seas. The following is a draft/unfinished start to an article that never saw the light of day.

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In the era of hyper-digitalised and mass-distributed news stories, it is rare that one serendipitously finds a story, amongst all the noise, that is deeply moving and to which one feels a deeply personal connection. These stories, as rare as they are, sometimes invoke in us a need to write, a need to speak, a need to intervene. Today I came across such a story, when I read about the deaths of hundreds of migrants who died when their boat capsized off the coast of Libya, en-route to Italy.

The people on this boat were desperately trying to cross the Mediterranean sea under the cover of night in search of better lives. Their intentions were to look for opportunities in Europe and through doing so, better the lives of the families they left behind in their countries of origin. They wanted to gain opportunities for employment and education in Europe. They wanted to escape poverty, hunger, disease, war, drought and oppression. They wanted a taste of property and opportunity. Unfortunately, they were not to realise these aims. Nevertheless, full of hope, anticipation and dreams, they set out on flimsy dinghies into the vast expanse of water that is the Mediterranean Sea. Little did they know that this would be their last voyage. As we now know, they were met with tragedy several hundreds kilometres out into the open sea.

It is right that we mourn them and that we remember them, even if we did not know them, even if we will never know them. This is the humane and decent thing to do, because, after all, every human being - every life - matters. If we apply the concept of the veil of ignorance, it is easy to see that we could, theoretically, have been in their shoes. So it is right that we afford them the same compassion and consideration that we like to be afforded.

But we must do more than just feel and show compassion towards them. We must take this as a call to action that appeals directly to our collective humanity. We, our politicians and our public institutions must learn lessons from this tragic yet preventable loss of life. We must ensure the their deaths were not in vain. We must ensure that no other parents or families lose their children in such a cruel way. Unable to bury their bodies, unable to say one last goodbye, unable to hug one last time, unable to even identify their final resting place among the mass graves underneath and along there shores of the Mediterranean sea.

To do this we must ask ourselves some tough questions: Why are these young people leaving their homeland, their countries of birth? Why are these young people risking their lives? Why are our previous interventions not working? Trekking hundreds of miles across the vast expansive wilderness of the African savannah, the desolate and unforgiving Saharah desert and the treacherous seas they inevitably lead to. The answer is complicated and it demands that we look at the politics, economies and socio-cultural environment of their countries of origin.

In the context of young Somali people who are leaving the Somali Peninsula, it seems obvious to me that the lack of economic and educational opportunities is the primary reason for leaving. So if we are to successfully encourage these young people to remain, live and work in their homeland, we have to create jobs. But I can understand their reasons for taking the perilous journey. As I sit here on a train in England, I watch the immensely green rolling hills of the beautiful English countryside. I fleetingly gaze onto the lush farm fields, the livestock dotting the horizon, the streams and canals irrigating farms and the many small villages that the train passes by. And I hope for all the Somali youth a brighter future.

[Basra-]

A Romantic encounter: Lama-gor-wassa




I was stuck in my normal dreaming adventure la la land, in a midst of a crispy, almost chilly October Thursday night. Leaves changing into brown, and best of colors! The Evening came with a rapturous speed, and I stood behind my Arabian window drapes---the cold wind dashing in and flowing the white silk drapes in a ravishing nature. I felt like Cleopatra with an abgaal lineage, my fat thighs, my half way nappy hair not quite nappissh.My dark smooth brown skin indicating a mixture of bantu blood masquerading as Abgaaliish, a tinge step over or better genealogy than Bantu. Anyway, I digress: lets go back to the flowing cold wind that met my thighs, and that forceful kinetic energy causing my jet black hair of abgaaelish descent- flowing backward in a roars melody. Suddenly out of no where a feeling of want, deep dirty desire--engulfed me. Thoughts began racing within my simple majeerten brain concocting all sorts of crockery bullshi! My sassy habar yonis Nubian body, or should I say, bosoms began submitting to the chaos in my brain! The Mj brain that has Loose morals like they usually do, aaf mishaaari like they are, and that sense of spiciness that Isaaq Yuhuudness brings in with the east wind. I was lonely. I began imagining a time where fond memories delighted my heart, and flooded back hot nostalgic memories. The beaches of Somalia--howling wind, innocent malis beaching and holding hands without being mistaken for perverse intentions, honored with bright sun-light, free air or is it the pure African air? I could feel the drip of sweat descending down my long Somali forehead, bridging my aquiline Darood nose, and finally meeting my isaaq pure red lips. Before the drop of sweat went falling down my long, sublime neck, I felt a sudden large manly grab. It was as if I was in a verge of being chocked to death, but not entirely as it was gentle, and loving. It was noble, in its esteem, and passion. I looked behind me-slowly- and he quickly bit my neck, in a most superbly animalist- nature, that I did not completely turn my head to see who it was? I was defeated. Who was this stud????




.........Who was it futurist?

[PanSomaliNationalist]

A Romantic encounter: Lama-gor-wassa




I was stuck in my normal dreaming adventure la la land, in a midst of a crispy, almost chilly October Thursday night. Leaves changing into brown, and best of colors! The Evening came with a rapturous speed, and I stood behind my Arabian window drapes---the cold wind dashing in and flowing the white silk drapes in a ravishing nature. I felt like Cleopatra with an abgaal lineage, my fat thighs, my half way nappy hair not quite there.My dark smooth brown skin indicating a mixture of bantu blood masquerading as Abgaal, a tinge step over or better genealogy than Bantu. Anyway, I digress: lets go back to the flowing cold wind that met my thighs, and forcing kinetic energy cause my jet black hair of abgaaele flowing backward. Suddenly out of no where a feeling of want, deep dirty desire--engulfed me. Thoughts began racing within my simple majeerten brain concocting all sorts of crockery bullshi! My sassy habar yonis Nubian body submitting to the chaos in my brain! The Mj brain that has Loose morals like they usually do, aaf mishaaari like they are, and that sense of spiciness that Isaaq Yuhuud brings in with the east wind. I was lonely. I began imagining a time where fond memories delighted my heart, and flooded back hot nostalgic memories. The beaches of Somalia--howling wind, innocent malis beaching and hold hands without mistaken for perverse intentions, honored with bright sun-light, free air or is it the pure African air? I could feel the drip of sweat descending down my long Somali forehead, bridging my aquiline Darood nose, and finally meeting my isaaq pure red lips. Before the drop of sweat went falling down my long, sublime neck, I felt a sudden large manly grab. It was as if I was in a verge of being chocked to death, but not entirely as it was gentle and loving. It was noble, in its esteem, and passion. I looked behind me-- and he quickly bit my neck, in a most superbly animalist- nature, that I did not completely turn my head to see who it was?




.........Who was it futurist?

This is a hard one I might go with geeljire

[Basra-]

Pan---I don't think so! (but a good twist)

[Basra-]

no one is writing essays?

[Futurist]

no one is writing essays?

A short note, in light of the other thread.

Why do I believe in God?

My belief in God /Allah stems from my belief that this world we live in and all the things found within and without it are too complex, meticulous and perfect to be things that are just a haphazard amalgamation of matter, which suddenly came about from "nothing" and then caused, in and of itself intricate and complex development, differentiation and organisation. Another foundation for my belief in God is the incredible, superior and non-accidental capacities, capabilities, needs and psychological qualities of man. Our capacity for thought, development, feeling that has made us above and beyond all other living species in this world are IMO not accidental and would not be the case if we were mere haphazard amalgamations of unexplained matter. The fact that humans have a physical existence (i.e. body) AND a metaphysical existence soul/mind/life, superior psychological and emotional qualities and an un-matched mind/capacity for thought makes me believe that we are not just a haphazard amalgamation of matter.

The falsely propagated conflict between science v.s. religion/the belief in God...

I also want to comment on the oft propagated false idea that science is the antithesis of and to religion; that the belief, application and existence of both are mutually exclusive; that somehow science disproved and does away with the need for religion and the belief in God; that the religious and religions abhor, discourage and otherwise dislike science. Science is man's relative understanding and study of the physical properties and elements of the world around us - in other words, man's understanding of God's creation.

There are certain things the belief in which, need not be mutually exclusive with one's belief in the existence of God... Survival of the fittest through natural selection, the incredible human capacity for thought and development, biospheric and environmental change, adaptation/response to and affect of environment and activities, heck even the big bang and singularity. etc. I want to point out that the big bang theory, notwithstanding its huge theoretical gaps/'black holes', only suggests that our universe had a beginning. (The big bang theory, if watered down to its basic tenet, just suggests that their was a point in time when our universe began to exist... and it can tell us very little about before this point in time.) Furthermore, this theory does NOT disprove the existence of God.

What the believers [in God] and disbelievers differ about is not, per se, (at least in my case) the question of whether out world/universe came into being, but how, because of what and what proceeded it coming into existence. The disbelievers, when asked about what proceeded [their] idea of "singularity", they will say often one of two things: (a) that the existence of the universe began with "nothing"/singularity or (b) that they cannot explain yet/do not know. The believers will say that because there must have been a cause, that because this world we live in and all the things found within and without it are too complex, meticulous and perfect to be things that are just a haphazard amalgamation of matter, we believe in and choose to believe in the existence of God; particularly provided that the theory of the Big Bang does not, does not claim to and cannot disprove the existence of God.


The essence of religion and the excuse of the disbelievers.

This brings us to the essence of religion and the belief in God. Atheists tend to have an arrogant, although superficial, attitude that somehow have a belief that is more vested in fact and substantiated by physical evidence. They hold an either very misguided, or cunningly disingenuous belief that because there "was a big bang" (i.e. basically meaning that the universe began to exist at some point in time), therefore God does not exist. In reality, (a) this theory which they hold dear and near, high and above, theoretically only goes so far and only explain so much. In reality, it does not disprove the existance of God AND cannot provide an alternative explanation other than "there was a big bang and before that/what cause it, we have not idea". The belief in God is based on proofs, revelations and most importantly FAITH. Religion would not be religion if we could physically 'see', touch and hear God. The difference between believers and disbelievers is that the former choose to believe and the latter do not.

Islam =/= Arab culture, or Arabism

I think that the religion has been culturally appropriated by Arabs, it has been racialised and 'Arabised'. I have said this many times before: Arabs have appropriated Islam and have conflated their culture with the religion and, in my opinion, Muslims around the world shouldn't hold Arabs up on a high horse as the 'Muslim standard'. Nor should we ascribe the many oddities and shortcomings of Arab culture to the religion, because Islam is at its core a very simple, peaceful and harmless message. It is a remedy for the soul and the mind, and to those who follow its true teachings (not Arab cultural practices disguised as religious obligations) it offers a wondrous life guide and it curtails many of people's transgressions against themselves and against each other.

Somalis were among the first adopters of Islam, let's not forget that. Also, we were a people of monotheistic belief long before any Arab sheikh set foot on Somali soil, which is an important point. The religion is therefore ours as much as it is theirs.

We shouldn't pay too much attention to Saudi/Wahhabi propaganda and extreme interpretations, because it is are essentially a proxy for Saudi/Gulf Arab culture. Nor should you listen to those who seek to use the religion to empower themselves politically/economically. Muslims worldwide have naively consumed and internalised Saudi propaganda (that Saudies are the 'true' and epitomical Muslims). Muslims worldwide have put Arabs, Saudies and their Sheikhs on high horses as the ideal muslims, this is problematic and it needs to be undone. Though they (Saudies) claim to be a devout Muslim society, they are in fact very perverted and immoral. Sexual assault of minors (female & male), workers, maids is an everyday activity. So is domestic violence, racism, discrimination, unlawful imprisonment, enslavement etc. It's a vile society. But Diinta ayagu ma laha, loogamana tegayo. The deen has nothing to do with their abhorrent culture and societal practices. Having said that, we must be vigilant against Wahhabism, Saudi cultural practices/Saudi clothing disguised and promoted as religious obligations.

Various practical aspects of the religion are heavily influenced by Arab culture, of that there is no doubt and that is not a point im arguing with. This was to be expected, given that the current/latest iteration of Islam originated in an Arab environment. The principles and tenets of the religion, such as monotheism, predate and do not belong to Arab society as we know it and are very familiar to us Somalis, as we have been monotheistic for thousands of years (see Waaqism in the horn of Africa). In this sense Islam is very much the religion of Somalis, whether in past centuries we called it Islam or Waaqism is just semantics.

If anything the advent of Islam, in fact, brought many changes to how Arabs lived and to how they conducted themselves. It curtailed their abhorrent cultural norms, such as: worshipping of innumerable false and nonsensical deities... their violence, their aggressions, their oppression of women and minorities, their mistreatment of prisoners of war, their rape and abuse of women, their homosexuality and licentious sexual behaviours, their killing of girls (infanticide), their marrying of innumerable women per man etc.



There is no compulsion in religion

To anyone who has left Islam I would say, consider just delving into the basic principles of the religion, in particular the belief in the existence and the oneness of God and trying to embody benevolence, because these are rock solid (and completely harmless). The rest is really secondary, because Islam is, in my opinion about whether you believe in the oneness of God and whether you are benevolent to those around you. That is what it comes down to. If you still think that it isn't for you, I leave you with a simple message: "to you be your religion, and to me my religion".

[AgentOfChaos]

"lolwut"- Agent Of Chaos 2016

[Futurist]

"lolwut"- Agent Of Chaos 2016

You ought to trademark that phrase