Well then, now you've elaborated a bit on where u coming from in posing the question, I stand corrected. For the sake of the discussion though, tell me why would you wanna generalize Somalis and their collective intelligence. I mean what is it that compels us or should I say some of us to diss all Somalis with these sweeping statements. I'm very concerned too! I've noticed this trend lately. Is it a genuine self-examination (what went wrong back home) or this is psychological damage because of what we've been through in the way of violence and what not. Or is this a self-doubt and low self-esteem? Is it the civil war, the poverty, the lack of thriving, emerging, and successful community in the West? I gotta tell you it does not look good both back in home (the way we handled that conflict) and in abroad (the language barrier, the lack of skills, and our inability to integrate into the larger society without losing our distinct identity and religion...) but, and I'm not being argumentative here, these problems are not solely unique to Somalis. Civil wars had arisen all over the world with much much more devastating consequences. And here in abroad give them 30 more years, I'm confident based on the positive signs that I've seen in our community here in America, we will be successful and I dare say at par with Indo-Chinese and Indian communities. It will come with prize: few more will end up in jail, hordes of men and women will end up in addiction house (qaat), and some youth will embrace all that is bad in this culture e.g. gangsters. All in all, as new arrivals, we are not doing that bad; not bad at all. Aah! It feels good now I vented a bit don't mind me ranting cuz I needed...thanks for being such a good listeners and thanks for putting up with my "opinionated" view about Somalis and where they stand...

Originally posted by J11: Are we really an entirely stup!d community? No we r not. Now I don't live in UK and I've never seen this show...let me get that right off the bat. According to the article I don't see anything wrong with Ahmed. He prays right? he doesn't like faggots right? He found out that sometimes it is hard to relate to the gaaloos and thier ways right? After all he went there, according to the article, to potray Muslims as descent and dignified folks who are willing to get along with thier hosts - good cause. Kudos to him for not obliging their petty rules. He made the right decision if he's refused to bow down. Who said you have to entertain thier whims and wishes to fit in. On the other hand, the cast are zenophobic, conspiring bunch who r ganging up on him. Look at the producers' and their ill-intentioned plot! snakes in the grass that is what they are. Who cares the gaaloos approval. Let the man stand tall for this agonizing fix he is in and pray he got his wish to get out that now he knows what it is really all about. I'm reading this article very differenly bro Jamal. I would've been disappointed if he had potrayed Islam in a bad way. Tell me he has not done that.

Politics and American Muslims 7/15/2004 - Political Opinion - Article Ref: IV0407-2384 Number of comments: 6 Opinion Summary: Agree:1 Disagree:1 Neutral:4 By: Dr. Nazir Khaja Iviews* - The American Muslim community has yet to develop a focus or strategy that will help it gain a voice within the American political system. 9/11 and a rapidly changing America has created an enormous challenge for which the community is not prepared. Its institutions are in disarray; its leadership is uninformed and most of the community comprising of immigrants is culture bound and confused. As presidential elections approach, the community once again faces the question: which candidate to vote for? In the last presidential elections, the American Muslim leadership and major Muslim organizations - much to the annoyance of the Afro-America Muslim community - urged their community to vote for President Bush. A recent poll conducted by CAIR, a Muslim watchdog group, indicates that Senator John Kerry is the preferred choice this time. He seems to have the endorsement of most major American Muslim organizations and individuals. Most American Muslims, specially the immigrants among them who constitute a majority of the 6-7 million Muslims in this country, view the entire political spectrum through the prism of the Middle East conflict. Candidate Bush was favored during last elections because he did not return checks from the Arab American supporters and gave lip service to the Palestinians in one of the pre-election statements. The Democrat candidate kept clear of Arab-Americans and American Muslims. It is interesting that even though Senator John Kerry's position on the Israeli-Palestinian issue is similar to that of the present administration, American Muslims prefer John Kerry. An explanation could be that the present administration's involvement in Afghanistan and Iraq, besides the Palestinian issue, must weigh heavily against Republicans. The American Muslim communityÕs inclination to go for John Kerry illustrates the reactive, polarized state that forms the basis of American Muslim decisions. It also reflects the state of confusion in the community caused by a failure in the development of leadership and institutions which are not able to see beyond the events of the Middle East. The problems that America and the global community face in a post 9/11 world have neither been analyzed outside the perspective of the Middle East, nor are they understood properly at the institutional level. The processes of building strong institutions that could serve the greater interest of the community besides contributing to the benefit of the society at large remain unattended. These processes are not within the realm of experience of most of the American Muslim leadership; consequently the formulation and framing of ideas and discourse remains fragmented, rudimentary, and reactive. In the broad perspective of what is good for American Muslims, America and the world, American Muslims may be right in voting against President Bush. However, they must spell out what they stand for and make what they stand for the basis of their decisions, not what they are against. In the wake of the Patriot act and other initiatives of the present administration that are insidiously and steadily encroaching on the civil liberties of all Americans including themselves, it should not be difficult for American Muslims to recognize that four more years of Bush will change the delicate balance within the Supreme Court. If there is any reason to vote for the democratic candidate, this must surely be the one. It is time that American Muslims direct their efforts toward processes of analysis, consensus building, and working for common cause instead of just reacting. Dr. Nazir Khaja is a Pakistani American. He is Chairman of Islamic Information Service that produces weekly Islamic programs for television. He practices and teaches Medicine. He is also active in inter-faith dialogues and activities related to Peace, Justice and Mutual Tolerance.

Originally posted by SHOOBARO: XAAAJI BAASHI maxaa ina dhexmaray aniga iyo adiga oo aad sidaas iigu aflagaadey naysaa walaaloow, meeshaad iigu yeertay SHAXAARI NUMERO UNO waxaan ka jeclaan lahaa adigoo iigu yeera AFMIINSHAAR NUMERO UNO. maxaa yeelay meeshaan ka imi(Qoryooleey) shaxaari waa ceey maqdac ah.... asxantu Dude u r sensitive like... Aight pretty boy! I'm gonna take it back Af-Miinshaaryahow What amkes u think Raula dhuubo-dhex yar is easy like that...if u ever win this fight you might as well make an advanced arrangement with the doc cuz there will be some casualties...just look at Sujui-1's face...do u hear the Chinese Mandarin talk he is doing now with Liberean girl melody u would think he's confused but...he gets like that when he is furious Btw wuu ku caayey :mad: it is not diro-diro...I can translate it for you if u don't believe me.

May Allah grant us the strength to recover from this qasaawatul qalbi that we've been suffering so we can make to this grand party as well as the strength to fight off the worldly gratification. Samacnaa wa adhacnaa. Nur waxaa tahay nin duceysan oo nasiib badan Walaal Ilaaheey ha kuu siyaadiyo innagana hana garansiiyo towfiiqda. Bal inoo ducee sheekh in qasaawatul qalbi Allah naga daweeyo.

Raula, Now you mentioned...ahem, would you mind...? Salt Lake City is just on the corner u know my buddies the Mormons know one or two thang about this business and they will bend backwards for this one to see it through...here goes the legal issue! gone . There won’t be ulluulus allaas it will be secretive and all the expenses is on your behind...do we have deal? But wait I’m so fuley even though this one is so tempting the Libaaxad in my house will whip my behind plus I don’t like the competition u know this SHoobaro guy is helluva shaxaari numero uno and as you can see he is very interested in waking up from ur crib not to mention the real smooth operator that NGONGE is, I don’t stand a chance man! talk about skills. Now If I have to bet my money on anyone I will bet on Sujui-1 the single guy whose eyes have been following you for ages not to mention his secret WMD - the kiswahili lingo. :cool: Seven of Nine, Part-time husband = Qudbo-siro..Now that is an indecent proposal . **Leylaa lurmo ma iigu heysee, Laakiin Luulaa I laab kicisee;**

Em, right on! Naah! Hey sujui ignore all the clowns above and pay attention to what this wise lady said. Right or wrong your tribe and your ancestral family name is your birth certificate provided that few distant adeero confirm that indeed u Sujui ina hebel hebel Kikuyo r not the Masai Kenyati we thought you were but you are reer Qansax Af-gaja’gaja’ . That is your ticket you will fit right in and anyone who says you are not Somali they will hear from all the souls that belong to reer Qansax. Oh boy will they regret they questioned your Somaliness! Seriously though, if anyone questions your Somaliness question thiers in return and call it even. Don't give these folks the power to validate your ethnicity/nationality. I see in u someone who is comfortable with his own skin right on buddy! As far as I am concerned you are Somali if you say so.

Viking, I don’t understand some of the natural phenomena (His creations) around us let alone His essence. I’ve accepted my limited capacity to understand, explain, and make sense of many things. I read books to advance my knowledge of the things that interest me but then again I realize that what I’m reading is only the thoughts of another fallible human being perhaps smarter but nevertheless fallible who had jotted down his take on that subject matter. I made habit of putting the mysterious and unexplainable things such us the one you've pondered on into the basket of the Unknowns. The essence of Allah - His beginning, His image - is Unknown. The little we know is what he revealed about Himself in the sura you yourself quoted. The danger is when you try to get answers on everything that crosses your mind.

DA this nail is a soothing natural object! hang in there it won’t hurt . We are making progress here. You are not married right and I assume you work thus making money. The point is whatever you have before the contract is yours alone whereas men have the financial burden to provide all his female relatives as well as his wife. We can't saty home even if we want. To do so is nothing short of being irresponsible. It is a hefty responsibility! We will be accountable on this account in hereafter. The brilliant person that you are you can deduct from this that the men must work to fulfill this obligation - it is not an optional. On the other hand, women don’t have to work her butt off and if she wants to work, it is not out of obligation at all except in few isolated cases (widows, etc). You guys are off the hook. why don’t you sit back and reap the fruits we bring home...come on I can’t explicitly quote the Koran to validate the assertion that the sole purpose of your existence is to be housewife. I’m not sure I even made that kind of assertion. We are all here for one purpose and that is to worship Allah.

I’m bored and since there is little else to do I might as well get my hammer out and drive this nail through DA’s head . Here it comes...starting the first two questions. From my understanding and may Allah forgive me if I am wrong Islam regards women’s role in society as a mother and a wife as her most sacred and essential one. From this it follows that women’s financial security must be assured. That is why they are entitled to receive marital gifts and to keep their income/property for their own security. The responsibility to provide is on the shoulders of the husbands/fathers not on wives/mothers. What is the reason behind having healthy man stay home, attend house chores, and have instead the wife go out to earn income for the family. Or you just want to deviate from the Divine directives. The point that both can go out and have nanny do the mother’s role is okay I guess as long as the need is there. Maids and nannies can be employed out of necessity but no one and I repeat no can take the mother’s place “as the educator of an upright, complex-free, and carefully reared child”. I just don’t see why one would want to go out and work for somebody else if there is no pressing financial necessity - for instance if the husband has the financial means to cover all the basis. As the idea of taking turns doing the housework...I guess that’s not a big deal the loved ones can work that out.

Perhaps u didn't saw me nodding head in agreement while I was reading the topic I swear I did! Real life scenarios and situations that relate to the article are good for the discussion. Why would you wanna limit what we can discuss under this thread? Btw, these r posts on the screen and nomads don’t mind reading different views. U need some Shaah 2day...get 2 of them it is a treat and it is on me .

Shimbirba shimbirkiisuu la duulaa! U r right we r inclined to call friends with the ones we can relate to and with whom we have something in common. But brother don't cut anyone u know off call them colleagues, acquaintances, or "qof aan is naqaano" instead. Remember we are in the age of Networking and References As for me I don’t pay that much attention to the subject. I have old friends back in the days but unfortunately they don’t live in my neck of the wood. And even if they did I would not have seen them as often as I would like to as life is getting busier by the day with so many things to do and so much to accomplish. But I would love to sit down with them in a biibito and talk things over...sipping my fav cadeys shaahi.

Ameenah, No one is getting on the defensive here and I don’t see any drama being created in the thread. All I see is discussion on the subject in hand being weighed in from different perspectives. True the article was not promoting “role swapping” and no one said it did. No one is against the idea of a working wife and no one is making unlawful what Allah permitted Macaatha-Allah! Easy there sis! it is just different view from men’s perspective. Yes, fathers/husbands have to take care for their children and yes they should share the responsibilities with their wives. That much is agreed.

^Waxaa tidhiba lagu yidhi

Shoobaro, How many Somalis were there? Have they all taken part of the booing exercise? What were you doing..booing? Few bad apples, few bad apples brother. Somalis this Somalis that! when this will end?

1. The guidance of Allah 2. The light of reason 3. The testimony of sense These three will set you free!

Foqba nadh u dabi. Daha ak bid fa'niji aa ggi'u gotahey. Xamaa ii neekteen!

I am coming...with high expectation. It will be here Islam section, SOL on new post right?

SS, I guess u haven't noticed but the same topic is posted in the Politics section. Any way, I've seen it and I was not impressed as the movie is riddled with a factual errors. Nevertheless, it is both comedy and tragedy...the high point of the movie (for me at least)is the last scene where Dubya tries to be wise and uses the proverb "fool me once.." it is just hillarious. The low point is the nuassiating clip where Wolfwitz licks his comp to get his kinky hair straighten for the TV appearance!

CM, thanx for the article. It is a good read. Have you cleaned the house? Is dinner ready? Have you fed the kids? Did you wash my clothes? The house is to be cleaned, dinner made, and surely kids are to be fed. If you can't afford a maid to do these chores for you who else is supposed to perform them chores? Can u imagine the maid who is doing these chores for other people all the while she refuses to be the house wife for her own kids and her husband who can provide all she needs and more...imagine that. What you make of it? Do we understand what motherhood is all about? Mothers do clean, cook, and feed kids! same with the fathers but not as much as the mothers. Is swapping roles necessary if the husband makes enough? career vs. motherhood? u don't have to choose between them if u marry right yet at the end of the day I don't think, with good conscience, u would wanna leave ur kids with a maid...it just doesn't feel right especially when it is not necessary to do so.

Lets out circles, one puff at a time, as it curls up in distance just like SNOOP does it when he smokes D***-Aaah! the sweet scented caramel flavor in the air!) Do it agian I can smell the virtual scent

" Nin Ilaaheey heysto, iddeydiisa ma maqashid" very wise Xamarawi saying. Nur, Power is awesome tool to have...remember how military junta used to do whatever they want with impunity...these pros want to replicate that era with just different hat. And they are almost there if they could only eliminate the little obstacles in their way...other ambitious uncompromising camel boys who pops up every other year. These warlords are primitive in their approach but very much inline with the historical trend of nomadic anarchism. Their careers are “piracy pure and simple, nothing but an orgy of power and plunder, made romantic by the character of the hero” - that memorable quote fits the description. The heroes as you know have many defenders who would give up their precious lives. But don’t worry they seem to realize they were at each other’s throat and now they may come up a new anarchic order rooted in the culture of nomadic anarchism. The way things are going now; they have developed a formula with the help of well-wishers - the sincere neighbors who are looking out for our interest. This formula is a fraction. It is a naked number. There are no unknowns! It is 9/2! The well-publicized 4.5 formula that will allocate the parliamentary seats for the anarchists. Absent in this gathering of talented anarchists are the Islamist, dignified secularist and the uncompromising nationalists. Will they resort extreme measures to counter this coup-de-etat orchestrated by the practical anarchist? That is an open question. Only you Nur can decipher the answer...enlighten us pal plz where do we stand?

My take on this word’s connotation is somewhat different from what’s is posted here. I don’t equate reasonableness with open-mindedness. You could be polite, reasonable, good listener, respectful, and the sometime stand for the things you really believe in very strongly. Do that and you would be labeled an extremist - a closed-minded person. Should we be tolerant? Yes; Should we be open to new thinking and ideas? Yes; Should we be open to the ideas that negate our principles and things that we believe in? No!

Umh um um! am I slow or what? My good gracious! what have I done? Here take the stage…it is all for u sxb . How on earth could u entertain the idea that I’m running for another touch down in SOL stadium especially when u know too well this old miskiin has the brightest star that shines in his possession? How could u heh Rest assured I had retired to the arms of that special Qallanjo…u hear me I’m grounded :cool: . FYI, I am not a playa and certainly not from seventies nor am I a womanizer…where do u got from this idea any way? Btw, it is not wise to play the age/marital status card now I might be younger than you who knows! …now go for fishing and forget about this imaginary tooth comp nightmare you’ve been having lately. Sxb thanx a bunch for the red carpet...i'm glad we r on the same page yet again.

Belaayo idin la tagtey Hoheey dumarku, waa had iyo laayaan raggu ka hadhi waayee, hoheey dumarku!.