I had hoped education would be the antidote for tribalism but unfortunately I have learned that the educated Somalis are the worst tribalists. Then I thought Islam would come to our rescue until I realised that Somalis have mastered the art abusing the religion for their own ugly agenda. Then I gave democracy a chance until I found out that Somaliland defiled this system beyond redemption. I gave up on Somalis.

Anyone who believes Somaliland is a normal country is deluded. Somaliland is a place where tribalism is taken more seriously than religion. It is a place where the wife of a minister or a man with slightly more money than you can have you arrested without any questions asked. It is a place where the president claims credit for the investments made by charities. It is a place where the typical citizen is a clan fanatic like Saalax or a relilgious zealot like CiidanSultan. It is a place where people build for themselves large gated villas but then dump their rubbish in the empty plot of land next door. It is a place where the opposition leaders' election campaign is nothing more than a cry for clan loyalty. It is a place where if a citizen wanted to invest in a region other his clan stronghold, an ugly protest would greet him. It is a place where minority clans are treated as sub-humans. I think I should stop here or I will get depressed.

Somaliland should demand its share of the former republic's assets. Puntland should fight for its piece of the pie too.

Why blame Xabad for stating a basic observation? Any man who cannot distinguish between this: and this: should check himself for a serious neurological disorder.

Mr CidanSultan, if you haven't already left Britain to join the barbarians in the Middle East we would appreciate your views regarding this photo: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/boy-7-holds-aloft-severed-4034498 Apparently these are the sort of people who make up the "Islamic State" you are so fond of.

<cite> @DoctorKenney said:</cite> Well if this Japanese Researcher took this "scientific finding" to it's logical conclusion, then we can also conclude that Asian men are the least attractive men (since they have the least testosterone), and that Black men are the most attractive (since they have the most testosterone). But will this Japanese Researcher admit that? After all, if testosterone is what makes a man far more attractive, then having less of it logically means you're less attractive. So will this Japanese Researcher admit that he just shot himself in the foot, and admitted that he (along with Chinese, Vietnamese and Filipino men) are the least attractive? Let's see what he says about this... You are right Dr K :-D The theory also explains why east Asian women date white men and the white women date black men leaving both the east Asian men and the black women out in the cold.

Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.

I don't even know why Somaliland is holding on to these people. They should be given a referendum to decide their future. I prefer a country with loyal united citizens which is not what we have at the moment. A more peaceful Somaliland without the Dhulos and the Maakhirites would be ideal in my opinion. I hope these people join Puntland or wherever they want sooner rather than later.

<cite> @DoctorKenney said:</cite> Or, maybe....just maybe we can abandon this whole idea of clans dominating each other and treat each other like countrymen? Maybe that might be a good idea? I know it sounds crazy, but give it a try!! Most Somalis are not as sophisticated as you are Dr K, so they need to belong to a gang.

This is the reason why Somaliland needs to bring in the much talked about oil protection unit.

<cite> @Holac said:</cite> I like Tallaabo. I hope that what DrKenny is saying is not true. Did he actually promote gay marriage or was he just asking questions and being the devil's advocate? Tallaabo comes across as a good Muslim. I must have missed what he said. I don't know where the good doctor saw me promote gay marriage but I did question the logic of homophobia given that the position of the LGBT community within Islam is unclear as far as I know.

<cite> @DoctorKenney said:</cite> As I said before, if the young woman is physically mature, mentally mature, and consents to a marriage with another person, as long as she's not harmed by this marriage, and she's fully capable of handling the responsibilities of marriage and she's mature enough, then yeah I see nothing wrong with it. And neither should you. And you have no moral justification for saying otherwise. The age of marriage in Mexico is like 13. And it varies from culture to culture. But I'd much prefer that the young woman marries a man close to her own age, with a small age gap. But if she wants to marry a man twice or thrice her own age, then that's up to her. Who are you to say she can't do it? The legal age here in America is 18, but if this 18 year old woman decides to marry a 60 year old man, who are you to complain about it? And would you complain the same way, if it was an 18 year old young man marrying a 70 year old woman? You're full of emotion and lack rationality. You're very dishonest here, as the way you phrased the question was more trolling and playing into the hands of the atheists on this thread such as Xabad. Why are you blaming me for starting a worthy discussion Mr Kenney? Why is discussing marriage any different to discussing hajj, jihad, or ramadan? Are you embarrassed about what is in fact a long established Islamic custom, something practised by our own beloved prophet (scw) and his companions? Indeed I believe the Somalis religious fanatics who are obsessed with emulating Arab culture should instead practise child marriage which is part and parcel of our religion. In my opinion Somalis are missing an important Islamic tradition.

<cite> @DoctorKenney said:</cite> But Tallaabo, they can be engaged or betrothed to be married through her father. But once she reaches the age of puberty, it becomes her decision to marry the fiance whether she likes him or not. The Quran in Surah 4:19 prohibits forced marriages, and there are several Hadiths which outline the fact that it's forbidden in Islam for a woman to married to someone she doesn't like. She can be engaged sure, but when it comes to actually signing the marriage contract and consummating the marriage, she has to be 1. Mentally and Physically Mature 2. Consenting to the actual marriage, with no coercion involved. So if a girl reaches the age of puberty at 10 years and consents to consummate a pre-arranged marriage to a 35 years old man, isn't that ok with you?

<cite> @DoctorKenney said:</cite> Yes marriage in Islam is a valid topic to be discussed. But there are appropriate times and places to discuss such things. Discussing this thing here, on SomaliaOnline, when this topic has already been recycled millions of times on the internet, and in books, isn't going to accomplish anything. And furthermore, discussing this amongst atheists who are only interested in trolling is very questionable as well. This thread you created is insulting and malicious. And you are malicious Mr Kenney I created this thread after I read a book about women in my local mosque. In that book there is a chapter about marriage and it clearly says "girls who are under the age of puberty can be married without their consent". It is their father who has the right to give them away for marriage.

Mr Malistar, I don't think an Awdalite has any change in Koonfuria. The gentleman is just there to make some quick cash and will soon make a dash for the exit :-D

<cite> @Holac said:</cite> In Xabad's trolling universe, there are no nuances, no time sensitive traditions, no spiritual journeys. He doesn't see beyond today's TV sound bites and the loud voice of the extreme right. His world is very black and white. Trying to debate him on matters of religion, is like debating with a waxed face idiot yelling "God doesn't exit, if he does, show me" all day. It is pointless. Xabad, put aside your anti-Islamic views for a minute and tell us, What issues do you find important or debate worthy on a Somali forum? I'd love to see you take a break from this obsession with bashing Islam and challenge us on irreligious topics we may disagree. By "time sensitive traditions" do you mean what was practised by the prophet and the Sahaba can be ditched and made illegal in the 21st century?

<cite> @DoctorKenney said:</cite> I completely agree with you. Tallaabo has some very questionable logic when he posted this thread. He bought into their narrative and actually went along with it, without even questioning it himself. I actually expected better of him. Xabad isn't even Somali, he admitted it before on this forum. And his arguments/behavior/blatant lies shows that he's not worth having a discussion with either. Brother Kenny, isn't marriage a very important and valid topic to be discussed by Muslims?

<cite> @Khayr said:</cite> You have already manipulated things with that wildly provactive title. It is like saying your carpet stinks, now let us discuss why it could smell good. For any outsider, the image of a stinky carpet becomes embedded. With that image, all logical arguments immediately cease and the logical fallacy of appeal to association and appeal to emotion wins. I mean Tallabo and Xabad are just two sides to the same crooked coin. A bunch of con artists posing as sincere nomads. What is wrong with the title and how is it provocative? And how did you come to the conclusion that I am a con artist? Apart from his malicious language I don't even see anything wrong with the citations Xabad used in his arguments.

Mr Ciidan, why do you want a blood thirsty terrorist group to destroy Kurdistan which is a peaceful Sunni part of Iraq? Is your campaign now to aid Arab nationalists and has nothing to do with Sunni Islam?

With all the witch hunt and court trials of "paedophiles" which have become a fixture on our news channels here in the west these days, I thought this topic will be of interest to some of the nomads. Here is an old National Geographic Magazine article about this issue: http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2011/06/child-brides/gorney-text

Any man who cannot bring up his children well and turn them into useful citizens is a failed parent and should not be trusted with the leadership of any public office.

It must be very humiliating to find out your "caliph" is after all a Mosad secret agent :-D Sorry lad this is what usually happens to the seeflabood simpletons.

I suspected this terrorist group was bankrolled by the enemies of Islam. It is very sad the simpletons within the Muslim society as usual did not have the capacity to see through the mask of the Zionist secret agents.

^ This is sad.

<cite> @Barwaaqo said:</cite> Intii madax madow iyo...........ayaa simani way beenoowday. Dadku tiro yaraa. :-D we should wait for Ditoore Osman to explain this discrepancy. Happy anniversary to our troublesome neighbours.