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Well let me explain...this questionaire was originally written for a particular man I met at Starbucks. he however was unable to answer my questions. So I thought I'd try here. However, I can see this is not the way to go. I appreciate all your help and your mockery of my naivete. If one does not ask question, stupid as they may seem to you, how can we learn about each other and then ultimately help one another. I realize I can Google most of this, but I wanted an intimate one on one conversation in which I am unable to find here. So I apologize if I have offended anyone and will take my questions elsewhere.
1. What was life like for you in Africa? What is your culture like?
Life was good in the beggining. My father owned a plantation and exported fruits to europe. But after the war, it was shit cos there was no longer any place to work and the old had been in a terrible car accident that almost killed him
2. What was it like for you when you first arrived in America? What did you think?
It was tough. I did not speak the languages and there were hardly any somalis in my town. Or any black people for that matter.
3. What prompted you to come to America? What do you think makes other people come?
We were seeking a better life. Same reason for other people too.
4. What do you think of America since you have been here for awhile I am assuming?
It is good in some days and it is terrible in many other ways. I am plan on leaving America for good.
5. Who is your country fighting with and why? How long has this been going on? My country men are fighting amongst each other and some are using foriegners to do the fighting for them. It is a power struggle between the greedy opportunists and they are using the tribal name to get support.
6. Do you experience prejudice and racism? If so, how often?
Alot, especially when I was younger. I used to experience racism, almost always from white adults, when I was younger but now if anyone talks to me the wrong way, I will open their face up.
7. What are your relations like with existing African-Americans? Do you get along or is there tension, if so why?
There are no African americans in where i live at the moment. I usually don't any problem with African Americans. Just like any other group, they got bad and good people among them.
8. What do you think about the politics of this country?
I don't really pay attention to much of it. It does not interest me at all.
9. What do you think about the war we are fighting in the Middle East right now?
Stupid war.......I don't like to discuss it.
10. Are you Muslim, if so, have you experienced any prejudice around your religious beliefs?
Yes I am a muslim and no I have no experienced any personal prejudice around my religious beliefs.
11. What role do women play in a Somalian man’s life while in Somalia and how has their role changed in your eyes since coming to America? How has it stayed the same?
I don't really know.
12. What do you think of American men? American Women?
Nothing. I don't think of them.
13. What are the job prospects like for you here in the States?
It is really good. I am usually able to land a job as soon as I want it.
14. What do you think of the America education system? The judicial system?
It is terrible but then again it gives everyone a chance. No one feels too stupid and even retards can graduate from a University.
15. What are your personal core values and morals?
Skip.......
16. What are your dreams and goals in life?
Get rich.....or die trying. Not really.
17. When I go to Starbucks and I see all the men gathered and talking so passionately, what are you discussing?
I never go to starbucks.
18. In your opinion, what is the best Somali restaurant in the Twin Cities?
I have never been to a restaurent in the twin cities.
19. As far as you know, is there a Somali homosexual sub-culture? Is homosexuality frowned upon in your culture?
[quote="gntsol"]I am a female student attending MEtropolitan State University in St. Paul, MN.
I am taking a class called the American Male. Part of the class is writing a paper called Minority Men in America. I have chosen to focus on Somali men. So I have about 20 questions that I am hoping some of you wouldn't mind answering. I will post them here but also if you feel like emailing me, that would be great too!
1.What was life like for you in Africa? What is your culture like?
can't remember my hometown. my culture is family and community oriented. 90% of somalis are nomads, but we are not nomads, we are urban, metropolitan people who live along the coast in the capital and marka. the main 3 somali tribes culture revolves arround camels, ours about family, humans, development of the mind and the physical world.
2.What was it like for you when you first arrived in America? What did you think?
when i arrived america, my feeling was like coming to heaven. no more civil wars, respect and rights for the individual and the family. i think it is the best country in the world. god bless america.
3.What prompted you to come to America? What do you think makes other people come?
my uncles and cousins were americans for over 30 years and sponsored my family and other relatives. america is the land of opportunity for all the prosecuted people in the world.
4.What do you think of America since you have been here for awhile I am assuming?
god bless america. best country in the world.
5.Who is your country fighting with and why? How long has this been going on?
the 3 main nomadic somali tribes always fought over water wells and grazing lands. they are hawiye, darod and isak's. it is been going on since they met each other over 1300 years. now each one of them wants to rule and steal the camels and water wells of others. nomadic mind set in a modern world.
6.Do you experience prejudice and racism? If so, how often?
without prejudice, no human will exist. yes, i was called stupid names by white kids, and at the sametime i was called stupid names by blacks too. we are light skinned somalis. it always happened in the school playground.
7.What are your relations like with existing African-Americans? Do you get along or is there tension, if so why?
i get along with many different groups of people, it is the character of the person. no tensions.
8.What do you think about the politics of this country?
politics is always bad, most young people don't understand and don't care. i hate george bush, but if you compare american politics to somali politics, then george bush becomes a stateman. 4 out of 10. pelussi for president.
9.What do you think about the war we are fighting in the Middle East right now?
all wars sok. this is the worst war for america, and there is no way out, unless george bush nukes the whole middle east before they start killing each other in the streets of saudi arabia, egypt, syria, jordan and others.
10.Are you Muslim, if so, have you experienced any prejudice around your religious beliefs?
am a muslim. and i dont listen or give thoughts to haters of my religion. americans mock and make jokes more about christianity than islam.
11.What role do women play in a Somalian man’s life while in Somalia and how has their role changed in your eyes since coming to America? How has it stayed the same?
i dont know about somalia, but here in america girls and bois do similar amount of work, study and work. somali nomads treat their women subhumanly, not us.
12.What do you think of American men? American Women?
just like mexicans, afro americans and asian men and women.
13.What are the job prospects like for you here in the States?
excellent. my destination is to own my company and make it global.
14.What do you think of the America education system? The judicial system?
better and fairer than somalia and most other countries.
15.What are your personal core values and morals?
muslim values. respect to others. differences is a bliss.
16.What are your dreams and goals in life?
to own my bussiness and to have the best wife and children.
17.When I go to Starbucks and I see all the men gathered and talking so passionately, what are you discussing?
if am not studying or playing basketball, am working at the family business, no time to waste in starbucks. bois like my age talk about girls, girls, girls and sport.
18.In your opinion, what is the best Somali restaurant in the Twin Cities?
pass. i will like 2 try a somalli restraunt serving camel meat, if u find a somali restraunt serving camel meat, holla. i can take you 2.
19.As far as you know, is there a Somali homosexual sub-culture? Is homosexuality frowned upon in your culture?
90% of somalis are from a nomadic culture. there are homosexuals in every culture, all live in bigger towns and cities. somalis are macho nomadic people who don't accept homosexuality. it mabe acceptable for the nomads to have s.ex with a female camel than 2 men or 2 women having s.ex.
20.What do you think of the youth today?[/quote]
tomorrow's future. smarter, well informed and better organized than any generation.
Thank you, thank you, thank you...for some thoughtful answers! I appreciate your time and effort and now I can write my paper. Your information combined with what I have read in our books will help me immmensly. I know much more now than I did 20 minutes ago. Thank you again for being mature and intelligent. I wish you well in your endeavors and if you ever need anything that I can help with...please just ask. You never know when you might need help with something.
[quote="gntsol"]Thank you, thank you, thank you...for some thoughtful answers! I appreciate your time and effort and now I can write my paper. Your information combined with what I have read in our books will help me immmensly. I know much more now than I did 20 minutes ago. Thank you again for being mature and intelligent. I wish you well in your endeavors and if you ever need anything that I can help with...please just ask. You never know when you might need help with something.
Lisa[/quote]
lisa, any possibility for a date with a somali guy? are you afro-american? how old?
[quote="musika man"][quote="gntsol"]Thank you, thank you, thank you...for some thoughtful answers! I appreciate your time and effort and now I can write my paper. Your information combined with what I have read in our books will help me immmensly. I know much more now than I did 20 minutes ago. Thank you again for being mature and intelligent. I wish you well in your endeavors and if you ever need anything that I can help with...please just ask. You never know when you might need help with something.
Lisa[/quote]
lisa, any possibility for a date with a somali guy? are you afro-american? how old?[/quote]
In a different time in my life I would have said yes in a heartbeat! But I am old and settled with child. But that was a very nice idea, makes me feel a tad bit younger.
Look at this Idiot called Musika man --referring to Somalis as nomads and he thinks he is urban! last time Somalis were called nomads was back in the 60s. sister don't listen to idiot shaanshi boy! Shaanshi's are a minority tribe in Somalia and they hold no important power in Somalia, its all BS he is talking about. referring to america as "heaven" --not all Somalis hold that idealogy!
--Listen! don't write your paper untill I answer your questions --the probelm is you have to many questions and when I finished answering the questions -I was logout and I had to login again and lost all the answers--Phuck this site --they didn't change the most important thing yet!