FIRST OF ALL WE HAVE TO TALK LIKE CIVILISED MEN. My philosophy is to call every somali or muslim as walal. XAAJI XUUNJUF i don't know how you analyze history but let me show you in another view (LINGUISTIC). The somali language is one of the richest of all languages in Africa with different dialects and rich vocabulary, such language couldn't just come from thin air and the most scholars of the world say that the somali language is on of the main factors that tell us the somali men have same history. CIDANSULTAN i don't know how you can call yourself a name that the coloniser gave you, and man please do respect history and dn't lie about it so that you may defend your ideologi. On the issue of somalidid all somalis are somalidid it's not a matter that a certian group are somalidid but all somalis are somalidid. Do not blame each other.

CIDAN SULTAN walal On the issue of history as i know it was all of the somali people who wanted to unite under one flag and it wasn't one part who wanted it,,and the history hasn't began from 1960s .......the bigger picture here is somalis and not a matter of Somaliland Or Somalia and let's forget about the five star. If you don't want to unite with Somalia then insha allah we will change the name to something else that you prefer. THANKS

burahadeer walal i'm not focusing only on Somaliland but generally all somalis. WHat you said is true that the government disguises with nationalism and that is the lack of sincerity and corruption is in there hearts. The Government is the people and the people are the government, the government shall always be what it's citizens are, so the somalis people are all corrupted and insincere. DONT JUST BlAME THE GOVERNMENT.

Xaaji Xuunjuf. Walal good points i agree with you the most points but when it comes to history i have to say all somalis share the same history. We know all of this from folk tales and poetry and even written documents from the Adal/Ifat sultanate and Ajuuran Empire, somalis used to be united when it comes to war and defending their strong holders,like the CONQUEST OF HABASHA, THE WARS OF GAALO MADOOW, THE DEFEND OF BARAWE, THE RECONQUEST OF DAKKAR etc, all of these historical moments tell us we have the same history. But the biggest problem as i see is the lack of historical knowledge which may have made nationalism a part of the somali identity.

Somalis: The Trouble with This Homogenous Society By Mohamed M. Bakayr Homogeneity cannot salvage and bind a helpless society together when tribalism, lack of nationalism and dictatorship attitudes undermine every effort aimed at reviving a society whose map is seemingly disappearing from the globe. Somalis are said to be a homogenous nation, yet their homogeneity has not helped them overcome their prolonged woe. A society is considered to be a homogenous society when it is tightly-knit and its members have many things in common. Undeniably, the Somali people have many things in common: They are all Sunni-Muslims, they all speak the same language (Somali), and they all share the same culture and customs. However, all these components have not helped the Somali people strive toward one common goal. Consequently, their knot has not been binding, simply because they prefer clannish ideologies, personal interests and dictatorship attitudes to national aims and cohesive aspirations. Tribalism has plunged the Somali society into this catastrophic situation that it is going through today. The society’ tribalism has thus far defied all kinds of norms and logic; it is a tribalism that knows no boundaries, has no limits and shies away from nothing. The embedded, infinite tribalism has prevented the Somali people from agreeing on anything or collaborating on any important issue. Moreover, and because of tribalism, they have been unable to agree upon any iconic figure (nowadays it is believed that there isn’t an agreed upon iconic figure among the Somali people), whether that iconic figure is a religious leader, a seasoned politician, a highly educated person or a traditional leader. Apparently, the Somali logic only knows one thing and one thing alone: my clan, my clan’s interest, my clan’s politician, my clan’s warlord, and perhaps my clan’s spiritual leader. Unfortunately, clannish ideologies have blinded a large bulk of this ill-fated society whose problems have proven to be beyond repair. Nationalism is an unvalued term by many Somalis at this time in history. One can be called a nationalist when one prefers the integrity, interest and identity of his nation to everything else. Unlike current generations, Somalis’ forefathers valued nationalism, longed for independence and put their unity above everything else. In his book “Somali Nationalism: International politics and the drive for unity in the Horn of Africa” published in 1963, Saadia Touval writes: “Thus Somali nationalism springs not from any influence of or reaction to colonial rule, nor is it due to any absorption of the political outlook and ideas of the west; rather, it arises from essentially homegrown nature of the Somali people.” The nationalism that the author is writing about is not in sight today, but what is in sight is a tribal society whose aims and interests are traveling in different directions. And it is needless here to revisit those once valued dreams and aspirations treasured by Somalis’ forefathers and freedom fighters. Unfortunately, the terms “Somalism, nationalism and unity” have already become laughable issues, and one might only resurrect these terms when one desires to be frowned at. In addition, a flag that once was a symbol of an identity, hope and inspiration has now lost its effect and become a controversial issue. Rather, terms such as Somaliland, Puntland, Jubbaland and Banadirland are more valued than the terms “Somalism, nationalism and unity”, terms mortified by continual hostilities, brutality and a lack of vision. Instead of coming together and trying to reinstate their lost integrity and position that they once had in the world, the Somali people pride themselves on individualistic interests and opt for spending too many efforts and too much time in disunity and clan based politics. Loss of an identity and pride are two themes that run deep in Somalis’ lives, whether they are in their homeland or overseas. Somalis’ unity has been dissolved, their hearts have been driven apart and their differences have remained unbridgeable. When one pays close attention to the condition of current Somalis, one withdraws into a gruesome situation, unable to dissect how the people’s condition has reached to this terrible point. Most Somalis are imbued with superficial, self-important attitudes, and each group is proud of their own. Disrespectful manners and dictatorship attitudes are prevailing characteristics among many Somalis. Listening to someone and disagreeing with their standpoint is one thing, but muzzling others and ignoring their opinions is another thing. It is said that Somalis are oratos, but not good listeners. In fact, listening and speaking are two inseparable skills that go hand in hand and complement one another. “Let us talk means let us reach a solution” is a Somali adage, whose meaning alludes to the fact that when human beings dialogue with one another and listen to each respectfully, they are likely to come up with a solution for some of their problems. The Somali people can regain their integrity and lost position if they break free from their irrational tribalism, selfish interests and dictatorship attitudes. Let one hope that the Somali people will reel from their misery which they have been going through for many years by shunning many trivial things that have spoiled their lines. If Somalis’ aspirations and goals are not united, how they can have a common enemy or a close friend? No solution can be reached when Somalis are enemies to each other and unable to mend their differences peacefully, but if the Somali people choose to collaborate on fundamental issues to reinstate their unity and integrity, they will hopefully reach a durable solution. Mohamed M. Bakayr Source: http://www.hiiraan.com/op2/2007/july/somalis_the_trouble_with_this_homogenous_society.aspx

Thanks Hawdian. You are definitely right we are stuck in the past and our politics is a poison. Most of the people have no clue about the true nature of politics but rather confuse politics with qabilism which is governed by emotions. All the political topics that i have seen in SOL for the last two month is based on emotions(qabyaalad). We have to change it no matter what so that we may have a pure political section whith great views that may one day help our own people. WE ARE CONFUSING POLITICS WITH EMOTIONS: XAAJI XUNJUF, mahadsanid walal

Assalamu Alaikum Greetings to every single member in somaliaonline.com. I have been a member in this online community for almost two years and didn't post anything, I refrained myself to write in this webside for the last two years for one reason and that was to get a general view about the topics created by the members and really i was shocked to see how somali mind is messed up. What i noticed is that most of the members are educated people in different fields of education but you think like they have the same soul, body,mind, heart,visions etc, regardless what they stand for. The biggest thing that the members have in common is that the lack of fundamental principles. Fundamental principles are the rules that govern a person or a society, without them we are a body without a soul. It seems like every person is some how closed in a box of his own imagination or he/she is brainwashed just to further someone else's ideas while they are baseless. We are all baseless regardless if we are educated or ignorant, we don't have what defines us as a individual or as a people and that goes for every somali even if you are from somaliland, puntland, ogadenia, NFD, somali diaspora etc and the cause is our somali culture. “A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both.” --Dwight Eisenhower You all have the same belief system which is the same culture. Our culture didn't evolved from it's first phase(tribalism) or may i say we are still in our nomadic state. What shows us we are still in our nomadic state is the way the members politically think.If a tribe closed her own world and said we rule these lands why the heck do you defend or propagate about a certain tribe while you call them a state or nation? Why are you all short sighted? Why don't we learn from history which is the best of all teachers? Why did we forget the fallen men who fought for our existence i'm not talking about the mujahidin of the 90s? How come most of you are brainwashed by some war lords? Why the hell do we all think like the west or like the arabs while we have the power to form our own way of thinking? Seriously guys we lack the philosophy of somalinimo, life, government, future, history etc. We only focus on our tribes and write about them in every single forum while we hide them with the name of statehood. Somalis, they are the only people who imprison themselves in the name of tribe and they are hunted down by their enemies. It is too sad to see today that somalis are slaves or are being colonised from every corner. It is sad, shameful, dishonourable to see somalis under the control of their enemies. How shameful to see a somali man defending a clan while he hates his somali brother? How shameful to see a man who encourages division and still is proud of himself? How shameful it is to see a man who hates his brother's freedom and peace? This is almost what i have seen in this place and other places somalis meet. P.S. I haven't written this to harm anyone but to tell you that we are a dying people(somalis) regardless what you call yourself , whatever you are and whatever you stand for. I hope to get some answers from all of you in a honest way.