"A nation of Christians and Muslims The Inaugural Speech was thankfully sober and unsoaring, but it contained one phrase that disturbs. That phrase is this: "The United States is a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus and non-believers." The traditional formulation has always paired "Christians" with "Jews" -- "Christians and Jews." Such a blatant change, then, in that traditional formulation is sure to attract notice. It invites inspection. It disturbs. The order in which these adherents of different faiths are named, and which is paired with the obviously, and rightly, dominant “Christians” (this country was both founded on Christian or, to include the Old Testament, Judeo-Christian principles, and owes its development right up to the present day to those same ideas, enshrined in our political and legal institutions which are, after all, the best thing America has to offer) both count. Now it may be that the written version of his speech reveals commas unrevealed by the text when spoken: a comma after "Christians," for example, which would yield “nation of Christians, and Muslims,” and then, presumably, another after “Jews,” so that the same list, each set of believers set off by commas, would continue: “Jews, and Hindus, and unbelievers.” But on what basis did Obama make the decision to move up “Muslims” in the ranking, right after, or even possibly paired with, Christians, leaving the Jews demoted, in a sense? It cannot be on the basis of population, for there are twice as many Jews in the United States as there are Muslims (and of the approximately 3 million Muslims, 2 million are unorthodox Black Muslims). And if he did not wish, after the word “Christians,” to give any pride of place, why not mix it up still more: “Christians, and Buddhists, and Jews, and Hindus, and people of other faiths, and people of no faith at all, nonbelievers of every level of doubt”? Was this one more attempt to impress on the public the notion that we must appease Muslims, we must make of them something they are not in this country, in order to hold onto their loyalty that otherwise is in danger of being lost? What exactly is the justification for putting "Muslims" right after, or even paired with, “Christians”? " http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/024513.php

Ilaahay ha u naxariisto "Wiilkaan Dhalinyaradda ah ayaa markii hore waxaa soo gaaray dhaawac aad u fool xun ka dib markii ay kooxaha Jirida Reer Malaysia ay Faas iyo Baangado la dhaceen , isla markaana ay soo daadatay Maskaxdii ka dibna markii la geeyay Isbitaal ku yaal Malaysia uu u geeriyooday Dhaawicii arxan dara ahaa ee soo gaaray." - Horseed Media Kooxo dilka gaystay ayaa la tilmaamay inay ahaayeen Tamil(Srilanka) laga tirada baddan yahay. Dhinaca kalayto dadka Malay-ga ah ee u dhashay dalka Malaysia ayaa ayaguna ahaa kuwo aad uga naxsanaa marxuumka geeryooday, ayagoona alaabaa aad u tixgaliyo Soomaalida, waxaana ay tilmaameen inay booliiska ka caawinayaan sidii gacanta loogu soo dhigi lahaa Burcadii ka dambaysay falkaas argagaxa leh ee lagu lakacay arday Heer Jaamacadeed ku jiray. - Afnugaal

Somali coast is gold. It is interesting the European fishing companies have a whole fleet in Seychelles where they coordinate their fishing activity off the Somali coast. Naxdin ma jirto. They will grab whatever they can inside our 200 mile area or just outside Somali territorial waters. A while back, Canada took action against some of these Europeans

Scotsman - Tuna catches in the southwestern Indian Ocean fell by as much as 30 per cent last year as pirates blocked access to some of the world's richest waters, off Somalia, fisheries experts have said. European fleets say the Somali pirates, who are better known for their hijackings of commercial vessels including the Saudi supertanker, Sirius Star, threaten an industry worth up to £4.3 billion across the Indian Ocean region. France and Spain, which both base fleets in the Seychelles, would expect to haul in nearly two-thirds of the year's catch off Somalia between August and November, Alejandro Anganuzzi, head of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission, said. "Instead they had to look further east and probably caught 50 per cent of what they would usually catch," he said. Some 50 trawlers use the capital Victoria's port, through which up to 350,000 tonnes of tuna are handled each year. Somalia has said piracy was merely a symptom of rampant illegal fishing by vessels from Europe and Asia in its waters after the country's central government collapsed in 1991. Pirates attacked tuna boats at least three times last year, leading to one ransom of more than £725,000.

Meles and Mefsin are sleeping sad today. Used and abused by Uncle Sam, the Habashis were discarded and told to get lost. Qoloba qolay u qayishay. Rag is guraye.

Originally posted by Kool_Kat: ^The only criminals here are AlShabaabulXayawaaniin... Qooleey, Al-Shabaab maxaa lagaa siiyaa beryahan. Nimanka aad video ku aragtay waa Amxaaro afka soo dabboolatay. Ma ku dhaaranee ineey iyaga ahaayeen kuwii qoorta ka jaray maskiinkii Muqtaaroow?

^ If I see the damn arabs and iranians trowing their filthy shoes or stamping on the new Black president like they they always do. I will personally donate to the Israeli army to finish their job. Peacenow, did you see this article

Acuudu Bilaah. Numberkani innaba caadi ma aha. This reminds me of the "Somali 1977 War Veterans Help Center" I was told to exist. I don't know if it was a cruel joke, but I laughed when I heard about this one.

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Their faces and darker skins make them look different. They are routinely called "slave" by the majority, whatever their profession. But Iraq's black population hopes that Barack Obama's rise to the White House will mark a turning point for minorities not just in the United States, but also in their country. Jalal Thiyab Thijeel quotes Barack Obama, saying it is time for "change." Jalal Thiyab Thijeel, general secretary of the "Movement of Free Iraqis," followed every detail of Obama's election campaign. "Inspiring," he calls it. Inspiring politically, and personally. Like Obama, Thijeel has family roots in Africa. "We told our people, Inshalla, God willing, Obama is going to win, and if he wins, it will be a victory for all black people in the world," he recalls. "We're going to make him a model to follow. Even our old women were praying for him to win." When news broke that Obama had won the election, it was early in the morning of November 5 in Basra -- but Thijeel excitedly called a fellow member of his political party. It was a moment, he tells me as we talk on a street in Baghdad, that he'll never forget. "Now we, the dark-skinned people, feel even closer to the American people because Obama is one of us." Thijeel's organization estimates there are approximately 2 million black Iraqis. The country's total population is more than 28 million, most of them ethnic Arabs. It's impossible to verify Thijeel's estimate, since the government does not keep statistics on race, but there is no denying there are many black Iraqis in the southern city of Basra. Their history goes back 1,000 years to the time when Africans were brought as slaves to the south of Iraq to drain marshes and build Basra. Many Iraqis still call blacks "abed," an Arabic word that means "slave." Thijeel grimaces when he pronounces it. It's demeaning, he says, and he wants the government to forbid its use. Many white Iraqis claim the word isn't meant to offend, but Thijeel says they have no idea how hurtful it is. "I never want my son to go through this," he says. He also wants his son -- and his daughters -- to have access to good jobs, something that is not the case now, he says. In Basra, many black Iraqis have menial jobs. Although no one can point to any official discrimination, there are no black members of the Iraqi parliament. The Movement of Free Iraqis was founded two years ago and on January 31 it will run the first slate of black candidates in Iraq's modern history. Thijeel hands me the party's documents that spell out its demands. Foremost is that the government recognize blacks as an official minority in Iraq. This is key, because power in Iraq is apportioned along ethnic, religious and even tribal lines. The party also wants an apology for slavery, although it is not asking for financial reparations. The movement also wants laws to combat racial discrimination. The party has found some nonblack political allies. Awad Al-Abdan of the National Dialogue Front says, "There's been social oppression for a long time. We have a tribal-based society and, according to traditions and customs, the black man is considered to have lower status." Some white Iraqis say that founding a political party on racial lines is divisive, especially when Iraqis of different communities need to pull together. But Thijeel, quoting Barack Obama, says it's time for change. Although he's speaking in Arabic, he uses the English word "change." "There's a change in international politics," he tells me. "Obama won, and not that long ago, in his country, black people were marginalized, so this event has shattered all barriers."

Nigeria ranks second in world piracy with 40 reported incidents last year, including five hijackings and 39 crew members kidnapped. While 2008 appeared to be a bad year for piracy, the report noted declines in other areas of the world, especially in Indonesia. Mukundan said sustained anti-piracy efforts by Indonesian authorities have resulted in declines every year. More than 121 attacks were reported there in 2003 but only 28 were reported last year, most of which were opportunistic, low-level attacks, Mukundan said. Only two attacks happened last year in the Malacca Straits, which lie between Indonesia and Malaysia, compared to seven the year before, the report said. Farther south, the Singapore Straits saw a slight rise in incidents, going from three to six, the report said. "This welcome reduction has been the cumulative result of increased vigilance and patrolling by the littoral states and the continued precautionary measures on board ships," the report said. "With the world economy in its present uncertain condition, there is a possibility of piracy increasing. Navies and coast guards must continue therefore to maintain their efforts against pirates." http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/01/16/pir ates.year/

More pictures from the Somalis in Lewiston, Maine FASHION SHOW LEWISTON - To show the difference between a hijab (head covering) and a jilbab (coat) and why they wear them, a group of Edward Little and Lewiston high school students are hosting a Somali fashion show. The show is to help bridge community cultures with something everyone, especially females, can relate to - fashion. The show is titled "Fashions from the Horn of Africa" and will be held May 16 at the Great Falls Performing Arts Center in Auburn. Helping the girls put the show together is Cara Gaumont, outreach coordinator with the Center for the Prevention of Hate Violence. The teens will model and explain what they wear, which ranges from traditional to modern to ultrafeminine special occasion outfits. During an editorial board meeting with the Sun Journal, nine high school students said their style of dress reflects their individuality, religion and pride in being a Muslim. "We wear it because it's part of our religion. It's also who we are," said Muna Hussein, 17. "It shows us as individual persons." Some assume Somali girls and women are forced to cover up in a male-dominated culture. "It's not like that," Hussein insisted. Some wear hijabs, some don't. It's an individual choice, she said. "The ones who do, it's part of their religion." Wearing an olive green hijab that matched her stylish sweater, Naimo Abdirahman, 17, said she dresses the way she does "because I want to. My mom is not forcing me. ... It makes me happy. I can look at myself and say I'm a Muslim girl." The style is tradition, said Mulki Yoni, 18. "It's something we grew up wearing, basically. You cover your hair, you wear a skirt." She agreed it's up to individual females to decide what to wear. The girls pointed out they wear hijabs in different ways that give them unique looks. With some, necks and hair are completely covered, others partially. Some completely cover their arms, others wear short sleeves. Their outfits represented a mix of the modern and traditional: hijabs with collegiate sweatshirts over skirts, pretty tops in blue and prints with matching skirts, hijabs over fashionable shirts and blue jeans. Some people don't understand their dress "and have problems with it," said Kaltuma Janay, 16. At her high school recently, another girl was ordered to take her bandanna off her head. That girl asked why Janay could wear a hijab in school while she had to take off her bandanna. "She asked how it was different," Janay said. "We explained this is part of our religion. She understood it later on, but there's a lot of people who don't come up to you and make assumptions," Janay said. "Hopefully by doing this fashion show they will know why we wear it." The girls explained their Somali culture and Muslim religion are connected, that they literally wear some of their religious beliefs. While western girls show off their figures with today's fashion, Muslim women believe in modesty, the girls said. The most conservative dress allows only hands and faces to be exposed. Their outer beauty remains hidden so when interacting with people, what others focus on is not their looks, but them as individuals. The Muslim belief is that a woman's neck and hair "is part of your beauty. Nobody's allowed to see your beauty besides our husband," Janay said. "It's something that's yours." Skirts are musts for Somali females, she said. The culture teaches that "women should look different than a man." Many Somali parents are strict and insist on a certain conduct and dress until a certain age. Once a girl reaches 15 or 16, what to wear is typically her call, the girls said. "There's no point if someone's making you," Janay said. "We believe that God knows how you're thinking. He knows if you're wearing it for yourself or someone else," she said. It's important to understand and want to wear the style, she added. Walking in a crowd, a Somali female will be automatically picked out. How they look gives them a sense of ethnic pride, said Shamis Yonis, 16. "Everyone can tell you're a Muslim." Suggested donations to attend the May 16 show will be $2 to $5. Proceeds will benefit the United Somali Women of Maine, a local nonprofit organization that helps immigrant women in the community. For more information, e-mail culturalfashionshow@gmail, or phone Cara Gaumont at 753-6676. Those who want to learn what the Center for Prevention of Hate Violence does are invited to a presentation at the Androscoggin Chamber of Commerce at 5 p.m. Tuesday, April 8, at 415 Lisbon St., Lewiston.

Nuune, dhibka jooji. Atleast this time we are not "ruining" towns. Somalis in Lewiston, Maine Members of Lewiston's Somali community gathered last summer for the opening of the Red Sea Restaurant. Photo by Keith Ludden. Jose Leiva/Sun Journal A group of teens from the Somali Community in Lewiston will participating in a Somali fashion show featuring some of their traditional dress pictured from left front, Hawo Abdille 18, Muna Hussein 16 back from left Kaltuma Janay 16 ,Hibaq Mohamed 16, Shamis Yonis 16 and Mulki Yonis 18.

Keep that NewsWeek article handy just incase some loox tells you "Somalis are a problem" everywhere.

The Refugees Who Saved Lewiston A dying Maine mill town gets a fresh burst of energy. Barely a decade ago, Lewiston, Maine, was dying. The once bustling mill town's population had been shrinking since the 1970s; most jobs had vanished long before, and residents (those who hadn't already fled) called the decaying center of town "the combat zone." That was before a family of Somali refugees discovered Lewiston in 2001 and began spreading the word to immigrant friends and relatives that housing was cheap and it looked like a good place to build new lives and raise children in peace. Since then, the place has been transformed. Per capita income has soared, and crime rates have dropped. In 2004, Inc. magazine named Lewiston one of the best places to do business in America, and in 2007, it was named an "All-America City" by the National Civic League, the first time any town in Maine had received that honor in roughly 40 years. "No one could have dreamed this," says Chip Morrison, the local Chamber of Commerce president. "Not even me, and I'm an optimist." READ MORE ...

5-Beeshu waxay la socodsiinaysaa Masuuliyiinta DGPL in lagu darsaday, Hanti iyo Ciidan DFKS, kuwaasoo dhammaantood ay gaar u leedahay DGPL, Gaadiidkasi sidaas darteed waxaan Madaxda MGPL ka codsanaynaa inay arrimaha Hubkan iyo Ciidankanba kala hadlaan Madaxda Amisom iyo Africa Peace and Security Commission (Ambasador Lamanana) oo u dhashay Aljeeriya,taasoo aan ula jeedno haddii la dhiso Ciidan Qaranna Hubka iyo Ciidankuba waxay ka mid yihiin agabka DFKS,haddii ay suurtoobi weydona waxaa laga doonayaa Madaxdaas inay keenaan tubtii lagu furdaamin lahaa Hubka iyo Ciidankaba,waana inaad Go'aan kala gaartaan arrinta oo leh khatarteeda. I am hearing Faroole has already been pushing this issue with AMISOM and IGAD.

"War cawdibilaysta, Jinni baa nagu dhex jiree" -- Xildhibaan Casharo

Originally posted by Emperor: Inaa lilaahi wa inaa Ilayhi Rajicuun... Althought, I disagree with Barre Hiiraale's advance and attack on Kimsayo, and those who support him, however this kind of action is unjustified and unislamic to say the least. Ilaahay ha u naxariisto, dambigiisana ha dhaafo. Emperor, it is better for the society as whole that an Islamic process finds one guilty, rather than being murdered by a gang of thugs as used to be the case in Kismayo. We all know how many well-known Kismayo businessmen/Culamaa who lost their lives in that city one by one. No one knew who the murderers were in the past and nobody cared. Relatives would bury their dead and that was it. At least in this case, as we are told, few Shabaab judges listened to his recorded conversation with the Ethiopians who are planning to attack Kismayo, examined the evidence before them and carried out a punishment they thought was fit for that specific crime according to their understanding of Islam. Maybe we have been misled and this was not an Islamic process, and the man wasn't guilty of anything. Please update us adigaa Reer Kismayo ahe. Perhabs something more sinister is at play here.

Geelle, the new book is written by the legendary writer Aw Jaamac Cumar Ciise who is not related to Haji Ali. Maxamed Farax Idaajaa, the famous broadcaster, has also been collecting a great deal of information about the Sheikh and has been a good source of information for researchers looking for information I was told. Haji Ali was a facinating individual and perhabs the father of today's ICU/Al-Shabaab purist ideology. But he was a peaceful scholar. I am expecting some information soon so I will pass it along. PS: Geelle, I met plenty of the good Sheikh's decendants here in the west.

S.O.S and Xiin, if you find any more info about the Sheikh, please share it. Haji Ali Abdulrahman is, in all probability, the most erudite Islamic scholar the Somali nation has ever produced. He is the son of Abdulrahman Fiqi Kheyre, another well-known academic who was the founder of Sin-u-jiif Study Circle in the Nogal Valley. Both his father and grandfather Fiqi Khayre were highly regarded scholars. Haji Ali has written 13 manuscripts in Arabic and was the pioneer of "purist Islam" in much of Somalia at a time when “Sufism and Qadiriya” were the prevailing sects. Later in his life, he had a fundamental disagreement with the King of Puntland over political reform, and when the King refused to implement reform, the good Sheik migrated to the South and settled in Mercca in the late 1800s or early 1900 to avoid being part of that "fitna". A devout Scholar, Haji Ali was also a prolific Somali/Arabic poet and his words carried a great amount of influence among the populace. Sensing a backlash because he had incensed the popular Sheik, the King pledged to reform the system if Haji Ali comes back to Puntland. Haji Ali rejected the offer because doing so entailed he abandons his new students in the South. He later died in Mercca and was buried in Cagaaran (suburb of Mercca). His burial ground has now become a mecca for thousands of visitors. Ironically, blind adulation of the dead was the very thing Haji Ali was fighting against. Here is what I. M. Lewis said about him in his book Saints and Somalis: Popular Islam in a Clan-based Society I. M. Lewis Red Sea Press - 1998

Ilaahay ha u naxariisto. Sad to see the bodies of bearded brothers being paraded like this. It seems warlord Abdiwaal is enjoying his moment.

Thanks for posting this. Great stuff. Sheikh Godane has made great sacrifices for his people, religion and country.

Thanks for posting this. Great stuff. Sheikh Godane has made great sacrifices for his people, religion and country.

Thanks for posting this. Great stuff. Sheikh Godane has made great sacrifices for his people, religion and country.

I hope he does. He is a good man.

Well if Somalipride said this news is "rubbish", then I don't believe Adde will stop his campaign anytime soon.