As A Somali I Truly Hate My People, But Out Of Dissapointment

[Sophisticate]

I don't feel anger, I just feel a sense of huge disappointment. Because I genuinely believe that Somalis can reach the stars with the right attitude, I may be completely wrong but I think it's true. I don't know what happened during the civil war bet every semblence of decency, pride and work ethic completely vanished from Somalis.

Just a few months back, two kids I knew got into Oxford and Cambridge to study Physics and Medicine respectively. One of them worked in the local Tesco another worked for the city council and were studying part-time. Another kid I know sells crack on the corner of the street despite getting a scholarship to go to Private school - which would automatically guarantee Oxbridge placement in the future. WTF? He was given a golden ticket and he decided to rip it up.

You reminded me of an interesting story LH. I read about this man that went to an ivy league institution and finished with a PhD. Then he ended up taking occupancy of a park bench, with a newspaper as his busto. He wanted the work to come to him, he didn't want to go to the work. Mind you, this story took place in the 1920s.

Also, how many children that come from money do you see which never match the success of their parents, or worse, get strung out on drugs? (I'm talking about the west.)

[Amira143]

Hate is a rather strong word and 90% is a little exaggerated, even though every issue you have highlighted above is problematic within the somali people. However I do believe we are making some progress in the terms of work ethic, mannerism etc. In all honesty we are a people who went and still are going through turmoil, famine, war and displacement. Not to have issues would be unnatural, and InshaAllah as we gain stability over time, those issues will diminsh.

[Murax]

Forgot to mention I live in the area with the biggest Ethiopian population in the US, and I know them very well. One thing I have definitely seen is Ethiopians genuinely for the most part like other Ethiopians and they take pride in other Ethiopians success. They pool their resources together, and attitude wise they kind of have a talk less do more attitude more or less. Ultimately again I think its our crab mentality that hurts us.

"Crab mentality, sometimes referred to as crabs in the bucket, is a phrase that describes a way of thinking best described by the phrase "if I can't have it, neither can you." hmm....sounds familiar? AMA WAAN KA CUNAA AMA WAA KAA CIIDA

[Sophisticate]

sophisticate,


Very compelling points You made. For starters I do agree that to go the complete opposite of having pride and dignity is a scary prospect. Its not about stifling that too much but simply letting our accomplishments start to warrant that kind of pride and now have it be so misplaced as it is now. The point that you made about Your Parents really even reminds Me of something else. How many times do You see Somalis legitimate accomplishments minimized as 'War Waxaas Waxne Maaha Simple waaye"

I actually believe in the antithesis of that. I have read about enough well-accomplished individuals that are self-diminishing (inside) to know that accolades or material acquisitions do not make one happy or self-assured. I think that Somalis need to keep their high-self esteem (but not to their detriment), however instead of being fatalistic they need to strengthen their internal locus of control. If they can take ownership and consistently work hard they are certain to be successful in their endeavors. I don't think financial or academic achievements alone should garner respect or admiration and I think it's unwise for Somalis to think they do.

I totally agree with your point. The crab mentality needs to end. Lift your brother or sister up don't tear them down. <-- That's my ethos.

[waryaa]

I think it is all about who you interact with - my Somalis are down to earth wonderful ppl

I have the highest respect for Somali ppl - that's me though.

1- The thing you don't understand is that about a hundred years ago most Somalis were peasants or outright in the wild chasing animals. Talk to any Somali and he'll tell you if his father is not originally from the bush or small hut-village, his grandfather was. We may have left the wilderness physically sometime ago but its culture and norms continue to dominate our way of life till today.

We never had a good transition from that life too:

2- Civilwar

3- Since we came to the west dead broke, we often end up high-crime neighborhoods.

Hating your people is basically hating yourself... You hate Somalis? simply change the environment around u - meet new Somalis

[Sophisticate]

Forgot to mention I live in the area with the biggest Ethiopian population in the US, and I know them very well. One thing I have definitely seen is Ethiopians genuinely for the most part like other Ethiopians and they take pride in other Ethiopians success. They pool their resources together, and attitude wise they kind of have a talk less do more attitude more or less. Ultimately again I think its our crab mentality that hurts us.

"Crab mentality, sometimes referred to as crabs in the bucket, is a phrase that describes a way of thinking best described by the phrase "if I can't have it, neither can you." hmm....sounds familiar? AMA WAAN KA CUNAA AMA WAA KAA CIIDA

I will drop the link for a blog entry I wrote a while ago, about this very topic. I think it speaks volumes about what you are saying. Plus, free publicity for me.


https://atypicalnomad.wordpress.com/201 ... li-issues/

[Thuganomics]

Why hate though,disappointed I could understand but hate.Also you make it sound like those traits are prevelant.They only manifest in some losers.In fact it has been my experience that hard work is encouraged by most decent Somali people I know sxb.Maybe your mixing with the wrong crowd

[BlackRain]

All valid points, specially the crab mentality part. If a Somali somehow open a booming business , the next very Somali will try to mimic and try to open the same business even in front of that business , if it's possible.

But I also like how they would help you in times of need.

[Murax]

Sophisticate,

I agree 100%. What happens if economically, status wise We improve dramatically but totally lose any self worth? There's no good in that. I guess it depends how You look at it. I believe if We look at our situation and How dire it is it will motivate us to a fanatical level to try to change it and the situation will change in a very short amount of time. However I see the flipside in the if We actually do look down to where We truly are We might get so disheartened and fatalistic that we'll just throw our hands up and just give in. Sometimes ignorance is bliss lol. Will def check out Your blog.


Warya,

I guess I've seen the Somalis in the West. I have heard many times Somalis in Somalia are actually different. But since You brought this up let Me ask You this question: In Somalia which has probably the highest unemployment rate in the world, can You explain to me How the in the world Oromos come there to work and take menial jobs as if the local population doesn't have people who are in need of work? Help Me understand this.

[LobsterUnit]

We hate you too.futada u sheeg.idiot.psychoanalysiska qudhunkaaaga u sheeg.war dadkani Waa imtixaan.go eat some donoughts.

[waryaa]

Bro Murax,

It is like asking why Somali refugees drive cabbies in Tennessee when that state has one of the highest unemployment rate?

You explain to me How the in the world Oromos come there to work and take menial jobs as if the local population doesn't have people who are in need of work?

That's not the case. Over 99 of those jobs are filled by Somalis. Besides, Somalia is arguably the most capitalist nation in the world today - zero gov involvement in business which means you hire the right ppl. If Oromos can do the job better than Somalis, why not, from business prespective.

[waryaa]

Murax, Somalis in the west are not as bad as you think.

[TheMailMan]

We Somalis don't know what's good for us, that's what is extremely frustrating to me. We fall easily for traps, we listen to the rhetoric of clan leaders, and we are divided amongst ourselves. We have Somalis running to Ethiopia to garner support against their fellow Somalis, and we have Somalis bragging that their "Adeer" is a Minister in the Government. Wallahi I actually believe we were inkaared by someone.

We make some of the worst decisions, and our leadership is the worst in the world. But I'm confident we can recover. There needs to be a few tweaks here and there, but I'm sure Somalis can get it right. It's just that the small-mindedness of the current crop of Somalis is what's holding us back. We're not a mature society yet, but I'm sure that once we reach our maturation phase...we will be a force to be reckoned with. We have all the prerequisites for greatness, we just need to have the will and the maturity. You could compare Somalia right now to a 15 year old boy, who's hot-headed and irrational. He may be difficult to deal with right now, but give him a few years and with maturation he will pick himself up and change.

[TheMailMan]

Sophisticate,

I agree 100%. What happens if economically, status wise We improve dramatically but totally lose any self worth? There's no good in that. I guess it depends how You look at it. I believe if We look at our situation and How dire it is it will motivate us to a fanatical level to try to change it and the situation will change in a very short amount of time. However I see the flipside in the if We actually do look down to where We truly are We might get so disheartened and fatalistic that we'll just throw our hands up and just give in. Sometimes ignorance is bliss lol. Will def check out Your blog.


Warya,

I guess I've seen the Somalis in the West. I have heard many times Somalis in Somalia are actually different. But since You brought this up let Me ask You this question: In Somalia which has probably the highest unemployment rate in the world, can You explain to me How the in the world Oromos come there to work and take menial jobs as if the local population doesn't have people who are in need of work? Help Me understand this.

Saaxib, our work ethic has been destroyed by xawalaads. These Somalis all have relatives in Western nations who send them money, while the Oromos have no one. This is what forces the Oromos to take menial jobs and work. The relatively few Somalis who work menial jobs (including that of fishermen) come from a poor family and have no connections to wealth.

I know plenty of Somalis in Hargeisa and Xamar who have family in America and Britain, and they always get a monthly cheque of a 100 dollars or so which they use to pay for their living costs. Why need to work when you can call your cousin? That's their mentality.

[AgentOfChaos]

Well look at that, its yet another "I Truly Hate My People" thread #87,230,1967,345. Apparently Snet needs more threads you, who knew.