Faarax-Brawn;951653 wrote: Somalis tend to over count themselves in every where, In Minnesota, we claim to be close to 150k, the census figures were disappointing: This despite the fact that the government recruited dozens of Somalis to count Somalis. (Calaashan qolo walba dhowr dhalinyaro ayaa shaqa laga siiye,lol). Seriously though, what benefit does the government of a particular country get by reducing numbers? it beats the whole purpose of planning, "nkt" Unless Somalis have been ducking the mandatory censuses, I'd say your correct. Also, how else could groups like the Canadian Somali Congress justify the $1.4 million dollar funding for Somali at-risk youth in Alberta without fudging the statistics. The oldest reference I could find for these 100,000+ numbers in Canada was during an interview with a professor in Calgary

Safferz;951633 wrote: Update -- my brother spoke to the Toronto Star's public editor today, and she and the editor in chief agree that the article went too far, and they've made the reporters and the rest of the newsroom aware that the unnecessary use of "Somali" is insensitive and socially irresponsible. She's considering putting out a column this weekend about it, so will keep you guys posted if that appears. Wouldn't it be better if they just refrained from constantly referring to the alleged ethnicities of those involved? If the optics are an issue, having a related column mentioning Somalis would only serve to further ingrain the drug dealer's ethnicities in to the readers' minds.

I only know of his references to East Asians as 'Orientals' and his statements about the number of immigrants settling in Toronto every year. Besides his poor choice of words and insensitivity to the butt-hurt of chronic complainants, there was nothing overtly racist about his statements. In fact, the issue of 70% of new Canadians settling in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver and in turn stressing the social programs of those 3 cities is not something that should be brushed aside because some choose to be trigger-happy with theirs screams of racism. Strange how he gained a considerable portion of his support in the inner 'burbs, where many of Toronto's visible minorities live. It's seems to be the more gentrified and less immigrant friendly neighbourhoods of central Toronto that are the most outspoken against him.

Why can't his some of his detractors seem to understand that regardless of his embarrassing theatrics, he's an elected official with one year left on his term? I've never liked the guy's politics, especially when considering his terrible transit policies. Also Safferz, if you'd known of his rapport with the Etobicoke-North community (specifically Rexdale) you would not have accused him of being a racist for saying something that many Torontonians, of all ethnicities, have voiced their concerns over. He's a terrible orator and lacks to ability to think before speaking, but a racist he is not.

Excellent! Their shipbuilding industry is in a league of it's own along with their port infrastructure.

Woopsie! Wrong Thread! Wrong forum actually.

I'm for the legalization and regulation of all drugs. No good comes out prohibition unless it is pursued in homogeneous societies such as Japan and South Korea, where shame culture and strict cultural upbringing do more to prevent drug usage than any feel-good law.

I was a heavy pot smoker and binge drinker for several years in my late teens, but I would not have been considered an addict. If all goes well, I'll be going cold turkey on cigarettes as well, starting tomorrow. That said, while I don't know of anyone who is addicted to hard drugs (not including recreational use of cocaine/heroin). I have seen a few Somali guys get carried away with weed and have it play central role in their daily activities. They're always fried and irritating to talk to.

DoctorKenney;946919 wrote: I've heard that as well initially, but I'm having serious doubts because this deceased young man was an exemplary straight-A student with no criminal record, an entrepreneur, and a model for the Somali community. It seems to me that this isn't the real story as he was not the type of kid to conduct a home invasion. Really out of character If the kid and the homeowner were known to each other isn't that something that the deceased's family and friends would point out to the press? I can't think of anything to explain how a straight A student could be found shot to death in a stranger's basement, burglar or not.

Timur;946778 wrote: Europeans have symbols because they have pagan tendencies. Somalis are inclined toward Islam, and we don't need pretentious symbols. If you want to lower yourself to the primitive tendencies of Europeans, that's fine. But don't bring that garbage to other Somalis. We are content with the truth. Paganism refers simply to the traditional religions of any region/ethnic group before the spread of the Abrahamic faiths. I don't know how you've managed to attribute two of the oldest human practices (paganism and symbolism) to Europeans.

DoctorKenney;946872 wrote: Blackflash was there not an incident in December of a young Somali man killed in a home invasion in Mississauga or Brampton? Are there any updates on that case? I vaguely remember hearing about it through some friends, but all of this is tragic nonetheless Yes. It is still being considered a case of self defence on the homeowners part. They still haven't found the other alleged burglars either. Strange case nonetheless.

Only one Somali homicide victim in Canada so far this year. Perhaps things are looking up.

Wadani;945859 wrote: Yes ur right, there are ethnic Somalis who look like him in terms of facial features but u can tell in aanu dhiig Soomaaliyeed lahayn. It's a subtle marking of ajanibiness only discernible to a Somali. The strong jawline is the one thing that stood out to me. Although I've seen other ethnic Somalis with that feature, it's rather rare.

I'm sure some will attempt to romanticize it, but I suspect that like the rest of East Africa, being able to strengthen business ties with neighbouring traders was a significant factor.

Mad_Mullah;945756 wrote: War Cajeeeb! Somalis now begging to be the descendants of slaves so they can interact with their brethren on World Star Hip Hop. Where is your pride saaxib? Somalis kidnapped/captured Bantus/Habashis and sold them on to the Middle East/Asia. Who said anything about being descendants of slaves? I'm pretty sure the all of this thread's participants are one or two generations removed from Somalia making that case unlikely. Why are some of you confusing the likelihood of the slave trade having some adverse effect on Somalis, with mass enslavement?

DoctorKenney;945493 wrote: "Out of any region in the GTA" Bro, Toronto has the type of crime rate that would make the Mayor of any American city absolutely ecstatic. Brampton has "2-3 deaths" in an entire YEAR. Toronto has roughly 80 homicides, whereas Chicago has over 500 homicides even though both cities are the same size. You don't live in the United States, you haven't seen the types of people that exist here. The types of crime we have here. Any visit to a city like Chicago or Detroit would totally flip your entire opinion and you'll realize that most of these violent crimes are committed by these types of men. Young black men who feel like they have something to prove. This is a fact, and I'm honest enough to admit it even though I myself am a young Black man. My apologies. I misunderstood the context of your post. The motivation behind that reply was to show that Brampton has similar if not higher rates of crime in comparison to Toronto and how forthcoming/trusting their respective constituents are during investigations. I know about the vast disparities between American and Canadian crime rates. I remember conducting research on homicide rates of major North American cities for a high school project and being shocked at the war-zone-like figures of cities like Detroit and Chicago. Even your safer cities (Seattle, San Diego, Boston etc.) would be considered hell-holes in Canada. P.S Toronto had 54 homicides last year, not roughly 80:p

Wadani;945440 wrote: And u do know y right? Are you inferring that Brampton having the most significant West-Indies population of any Canadian municipality is the reason behind the crime trends?

DoctorKenney;945425 wrote: Maybe it's because Brampton and Mississauga have extremely low crime rates? For once sir, put yourself in the position of living in a large American city with a high crime rate, and you'll see what we're talking about. Nope. Brampton has by far the highest petty crime rates out of any city in the GTA. Also, the neighborhood I live in has 6-7 shootings in an average year with 2-3 resulting in deaths. Heck, my little brother and several dozen teens had to witness a homicide at the rec centre two years ago. Don't let the relative low crime rate of Peel region fool you. I'll look for an article I read in the past which had the disaggregated crime rates all 3 Peel Municipalities. If I remember correctly, Brampton accounted for a disproportionate amount of crime in the region.

I guess not looking away in fear is classified as 'furtive movement'. Peel police seems to be the most professional police force I've encountered yet. The residents of Peel region seem to trust them, which could explain why they typically have 90+% closure rates on homicides.

Safferz;940183 wrote: (I am going to cite OKC, Aurora, Sandy Hook and other white male crimes though...) I can't say I've ever seen denial in the way you've described it. But I can certainly understand the frustration with the discourse surrounding terrorism -- how it's seen as something acted out by foreigners (read: Muslims) against "us" (read: Americans/Westerners), and how every attack - even when we know very little about it - is always narrated in those terms. Even what counts as terrorism is deeply shaped by these ideas. What do we know about the Boston suspects' motives? Why are we so quick to assume that their Islam or their ethnic background had anything to do with their criminal acts? The issue here is that when you are a Muslim, or any other minority for that matter, your crime becomes representative in the eyes of the majority as an example of your group's pathology. A white criminal, on the other hand, is one "bad apple" and a troubled individual. It's not the issue of unfair generalizations I'm failing to understand, my problem lies with the reaction to any criticism I or anyone else gives. Even when discussing the potential case of a Canadian-Somali student playing a role in a Mogadishu attack the other day, a friend of mine immediately deflected the blame on to the Canadian government, and their supposed inability to 'understand' the Somali community. Why can't one discuss endemic problems, of course taking in to account any perceived obstacles (discrimination, prejudice etc.), rather than wait until said obstacles dissipate?

I have an honest question that stems from the denial of the validity of these events by every Muslim on my Facebook feed. Why are they so easily offended by the idea of two Muslims killing in the name of Islam? Whether it's the Illuminati or baby-eating Jews, they'll claim someone else is behind these 'blatant false-flag operations', and choose instead to ignore what's happened in London, Madrid, Toulouse and now Boston. Please refrain from citing the OKC bombing, Sandy hook and Aurora shootings. This isn't about the events themselves, but the butt-hurt that ensues afterwards.

Mad_Mullah;940122 wrote: Good point. They have rich in resources and they used it to: 1. Build their country. 2. Spread the wealth to all the Saudis. As for African countries, who are also VERY RICH in resources, they: 1. Keep the money for themselves (governments and some rich families) 2. Don't build their country 3. Come on internet forums and call Saudis backward Wahhabis. Not feeling it. To give you a simple example, it's like someone from the south calling Somaliland backwards. lol. There are African countries commenting on this forum?

Those are the two most racially generic guys I've ever seen. They look like they could have had their roots in the Southern Europe, Latin America, the Levant or somewhere in the Iranian plateau. Although the latter two are more likely.

xabad;939377 wrote: I don't need to elaborate, your living in a developed country and enjoying the opportunities it affords and at the same you wanna bad mouth the same country's people. ungrateful much. I try to the grateful to the country itself and it's ideals, not the individuals themselves. Barring seniors and their contributions, I consider everyone else to be my equal in that I'm just as dedicated in furthering myself and in the process contributing to the success of the nation. I won't kiss the *** of someone based on what their ancestors did, nor will I denigrate them.

Safferz;939364 wrote: Unhelpful semantics. The point is to talk about race because it's central to the society we live in. White privilege is also a well studied and heavily theorized concept, Tim Wise is not the first to name it. It's not a phenomenon that is unique to the United States, or the west for that matter, so why should it be discussed as if it is a unique issue? Minorities tend to be disproportionately ostracized when a negative act is attributed to a member of their community. One example is the high profile nature of crimes committed by U.S military personnel in Japan. I never said it didn't exist, just that I don't consider it to be something unique enough to warrant such a specific name.