Nomads, Admin. is working on it and Nur's satirical columns will appear in his syndicated columns Insha'Allah. Not only will he contribute to the e-Magazine with essays in his archives but we hope Nur will contribute to the Islamic prespective, Current affairs sections too. I'm sure there are many nomads with new ideas in this forum who would like to share with the rest of us. If u have suggestion plz do share. If u are willing to contribute plz let us know soon. If you are a contributor this is what we would like to know: 1. the title of the article. 2. how many words (250- 300 is our preference - is difficult but talented folks can manage that.) 3. date 4. how often would u like to contribute (every issue or when u have time). The format of the this SOL e-Magazine will be announced once Admins. aprproves it.

MMA, u meant 'dameer fardo la daaqaa faras buu is moodaa'... I know. Horta maxaa loogu hadliwaayey af Somali waa rune..waxaa laga yaabaa in dadki qaarkii uu dhib ku yahay malaha. It is pity some of our nomad friends get irritated easily when challenged or engaged. It seems as if labels come handy whenever things got little bit heated. Since I’ve asked the question: what does “westernized” do really mean? I should start giving my opinion on this. To me it means assimilation and by that I mean to convert to the ways or to the customs of Western countries. Or get absorbed by its prevailing culture. What’s wrong with “getting assimilated” one may ask. Well it depends, nothing really if you don’t have religious precepts of your own that is markedly different than the Western customs. If you happen to be someone who acts in conformity with his principle – let say practicing Muslim – then “westernization” (the process of getting assimilated) has a lot of things that just doesn’t reconcile with said principles. Gender is irrelevant here. Some distinguished members in this forum have made the link between the desirable values/virtues/attributes and westernization. For instance, assertiveness, personal independence, being self-reliant, and being educated and “westernization”, in their opinion, go hand in hand. In other words the two are mutually inclusive. Can one have all these attributes without getting “westernized”? To some, posing this question alone amounts insult. To others, only haters who are warriors in the gender “war” ask these types of questions! I guess there is some kind of “baggage” attached to the ‘westernized’ word otherwise it would not have evoked this passion in some nomads. Those of us who get their schooling through western institutions are aware the secular assertion that ‘social conformity’ and ‘individual liberty’ are in permanent conflict. I must say I concur that assertion if religion and “social conformity” are defined as two different realms – that is. If you are conservative ‘reer baadiye’ Somali like me, the “westernization” is not only unnecessary but also degrading.

What does "being western" really mean? Does anyone here know?

^ What a hero! Ijabo's frustration is evident in that long post...once she defines this term "westernization" that arouses this kind of passion then and only then we would be in a position to understand where she is going with this. There is no haters in this site Hate is strong word to use. There is difference of opinions...and I trust there is room for that in this site. Plz don't sideline my little tiny insignificant inquiry all the ladies who share ijabo's sentiment r wlc to enlighten me on this one.

H.I., Col. Yusuf is no angel and no one can deny he rules with fist iron - his dictatorial style speaks volumes...Nevertheless I support Puntland State in which he is the absolute king; the alternative is not pretty considering his insistence to hold on to power by any means necessary. Let me also agree with you that PL is a political creation of its constituents, which happen to be members of the same tribe. Support and consent of its residents is what makes the area a “recovery zone” - still there is room for improvement. They are not threat to their neighbors for one thing. They choose to move on with their lives yet they are absolutely and unequivocally for united, inclusive, and peaceful Somalia when and if the consent of all concerned participants materializes. What is it that you object about the route PLers had taken considering the anarchic reality of the Somalia that once existed? How would you go about if you faced the dilemma faced by the PL elites? Dilemma : let the warlords and their mafia do what they do best or embrace any workable political solution available? Finally, my position is Somalia would be better place if its polity can unite behind other political policies other than clan platforms. In reality and on the ground that is not the case.

Ijabo, Westernized! what does that mean? Do u think Hijab is an option for Muslim women?

Jaalle-Qaxooti, I think we are on the same page except you are going further into the detail aspect of genealogy. Let’s take look at the two questions: the first one deals with family tree and the second one deals with Somali social system - patriarchy aspect of it. Patriarchal traditions and lineage record keeping (family tree) are as old as human civilization. Even today if you go to Best Buy stores in US, genealogy software packages cost $99 on average - indication of its demand. How can tradition that is universal defy logic. What makes you Somali or Black? Perhaps geography? What does being Jewish, Arab, or Irish mean anyway? Have you noticed what the citizenship concept means to Germans for instance. What is the point? The point is the root cause of Tribalism, at least the way I see it, is the fact that too much pride has been attached to clan identity and our politics is driven by clan interests. Therefore you have a polity organized, mobilized, and directed by clan activists (vocal minority). The “silent majority” are either complacent or resigned in letting few control their destiny - they could get organized on the basis of political platforms other than clan interests. Tell me whether what I said is myth or facts on the ground. We have agreed on one thing: negative Tribalism is destructive and If I can quote the great poet Timacade: “Dugsi ma leh Qabyaaladi, waxey dumiso mooyaane.” To me it is not myth but an invisible force that is wreaking havoc in Somali polity.

^^As they say "Blessed is the man who, having nothing to say, abstains from giving us wordy evidence of the fact" It is not over till the fat lady sings...she is just warming up for round one. BTW, where does Sooyaal comes in all of this?

^^Do I hear u say folks (all of them) with IT degree are in need of an orientation? Why IT professionals ...come again Suufi! Jaale-Qaxooti, I have been asked what clan I belong to and where I?m from many many times. Perhaps you got better company than I have or perhaps you socialize with educated and enlightened nomads than I do. In any event, it is admirable that you disdain Tribalism and what it stands for. Being a member of a particular clan or awareness of your place in the tribal matrix is not the problem here. Denying your ancestors won?t make you disease-free individual. The problem is the fact that some folks concluded they are entitled something more (respect, leadership) than others because they are members of reer Qanjir or reer Qurac are superior than reer Qansax or because past mistakes committed by public figures, millions of nomads who have clan affiliation with these figures are liable and should be hated because of what few did. To me, that is negative Tribalism at its best. Like you I too disdain ?negative? Tribalism but unlike you I?ve accepted its existence - it is not a myth. I?ve contributed to funds in the past collected by my kinsmen to feed orphans, built schools, and erect new wells. I have to tell you friends I have learnt that folks who find necessary to make repetitive public pronouncement about how clean their heart is from this disease are the ones I?m suspicious of.

Nur, How about if we make this as group effort and have u lead the way in realizing this dream of yours to reach a "critical" mass so your noble cause can be heard. Plz join me in appealing SOL owners publicly(remember this is their backyard) to allow us bring new ideas to this blessed site of theirs. I would let you do the talking I will be mobolizing the talented nomads who congregate here into this direction. It can be done!

Creativity and Focus is what comes to mind when one reads ur posts Nur. Keep it up sage...i got the sublimal message there...awesome! By the way, ever thought of contributing to a Somali Magazine? I've helped found E-Magazine on Somalinet (Somalinet Magazine). It worked only one year and then dissappeared it...I think I know why!

^^very interesting question: what they do contribute? How about they propogate Islamic curriculum/literature and they finance Islamic institutions, publishing powerhouses, construction of Mosques in the West. It might not be important to Kilroy and his sympathizers but the dissemination of Islamic literature is very important to 1 billion people on this planet. Add that the "brain drain" where Arab intellectuals are contributing to the success and the progress West is enjoying. US compases are full of Arab prof.

Originally posted by Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiyaar: Salaan... Maxaa tiri waa shaabaal aah??? Ahahaahahahah, ar baashaalka ku jirtid ar amuus sugunto maano noqdaa lee??? Da'iga ramkaa najadaas ku rijtid na'agana najada dotobaad aa raasanahay la soco hee. Caramel, walaashiis waa lagaa qabanaa odeygaan gaboobay , asagoo baashaal ku jiro xataa wali iimaankiis ma dagin . Odeey Cabdulle waa dhaafay Sangubna ma gaarin, ma ogi meel uu maraayo . Magaciisba baashi bilaash maloo dhihin. With that my mask is gone Ahem! Do I have to make u run diving in the trenches a la defense posture or are we still in kaftan mood? let me know cuz a lot of dhanglaaso is coming to ur way...and it won’t be as gentle touch as was the case in the past when I used to play soccer @ trabuunka and u were my boy holding stuff for me . ****Baashi leaves the thread asagoo tukabaayo oo sadex lugood ku socda...wondering what become of his boy and why would he flirt girls @ his expense...scratching his head! :confused: ****

^^look who is here...hovering over us like a hummingbird...joining with the crowd as a heathen...outch! Raxmah, if u don’t mind would you plz give us an example of the things that you have done in the past that ‘culture police’ found to be un-Somali. Bulo I concur with what happens in the countryside is little bit off the line...they are minority though and that type of tradition u mentioned is dying out.

Sophist sxb xawuu ramayaa leem xedhe oo al raganyaawey; xaway hadhaan "Baaba suufi" dahii ak xibiweydana xawaa ku cadheysaa "Baxar baxuur". Diwaagey MMA aa si ciifan fa'kaan u sakaayo.

Northerner & Bee, Taking responsibility is the best route to take when confronted this kind of situations. Moral ethics aside, I would rather fess up than wait the genetic test to confirm who the father of the baby is. Once the test is done then child support crusaders will wreak havoc on your portfolio. Fence-mending is in order before these actions are implemented..don't u think so? Sometimes honest is the best policy it is not selfless rather it is "covering all your basis" kinda move.

MMA, Capo di capi seniore Mashalaaye-Maxruug Awoowe qudkan shaabaal uu ku rijaa. Been-guur aa widaay meesha ku heysaa ee waxaa shukuleysid ma leh ee ikhyaarta ha ka waalin. Darman, Thanks for the info. CK, Ballan waaye inaan kaa ganbisado so shukul can proceed.

Dawaco, I hear you! don't be disappionted...these sort of things are challenges we face in life. I disagree with Bulo on the woman status point. I agree that we shouldn’t follow tradition blindly; it is not a religion. To be honest I never thought women as second class-citizens neither my colleagues nor my relatives thought of them that way. I went school and Dugsi Qur’an with them, I had women teachers, and I have women Doctors and Engineers as cousins who grew up in Somalia. This accomplishment would have been difficult milestone for second-class citizens to achieve it. Women were and still are equal, in every sense of the word, to men in here and in back home. There is always a room for improvement and they share that with women all over the world. Westernization and assimilation are different sides of the same coin. Let me point out that gender is irrelevant when it comes to the assimilation. West are known to be a ‘melting pot’ that strips diverse cultures within its jurisdiction their values and offers them its Anglo-Saxon heritage as the norm instead. Its entertainment machine (Hollywood, sports) and the freedom it offers its citizens make the West a cultural powerhouse. This is the big picture. Now the sub-cultures like Somalis are in trouble and could be ‘out of business’ in the future. Somali culture is very flexible culture - one that is part of worldwide Islamic culture - despite what some SOL nomads say about it. It is not perfect and it has some backward features in it. It is wrong to police and enforce it - that is counter-productive. In the some token, it is equally wrong to badmouth it and belittle it. Lets expect different views on this in the forums where issues like this come up. There are self-hating Somalis. I have seen them. They are ashamed of who they really are. It is unfortunate. They see upholding their ‘Somalinimo’ as constraint to realize their potential. It is their call but I think they are mistaken! Thanks to civil rights struggle, we are not in the fifties when mimicking Anglo-Saxons was a prerequisite for upward mobility. You can be educated, continue to have ambition and become enlightened without being assimilated. As others have already pointed out, embrace the best of both worlds but don’t you make other cultures your own - diversity is allowed today. Straighten up your shoulders, keep your chin up, and be the best you can be. Believe me Somali culture won’t get in your way. To the contrary, Somali culture instills its adherents perseverance, self-confidence, and can-do will-do attitude.

Where are you from? What clan do you belong to? These questions are merely trivial ones. After all, we all come from somewhere and we indeed do all belong to a particular clan. That is a fact. What the enquirer does with this info and what his/her intentions are in asking these questions is a different matter. The necessity of knowing one?s clan is also debatable. Is the enquirer looking for that lost classmate who is from Campo-Amxaaro and happens to belong reer Qurac or does he want to know what basket you belong to so he can decide whether you are foe or friend. The former is legit inquiry and the latter is loaded with good dose of tribalism and the enquirer is a simply bigot who don?t know better. Negative tribalism is real. It exists and it is a problem. It should be discussed constructively, dissected like an organ, looked at with passion, and exposed. The information about its pitfalls should be disseminated. The notion that says it should be ignored or swept under the carpet is wrong. Perhaps those who get agitated by it without partaking in it have some soul searching to do for themselves. As to your question of if this generation r taken over by it...I am not sure. I have a hunch though that this generation is a clan conscious than any other generation in our history. Using their own histories as a reference point, they have already formed an opinion about Somalia and Somalis. Their histories include painful memory of fleeing, loss of relatives, loss of property, etc all done in the name of tribalism under the cover of ?civil war?. I agree we oughtta call spade a spade but at the sametimes we oughtta acknowledge its existence and somehow we oughtta allow discussing it constructively in the forums and in real life. The alternative is to deny it. Don?t partake it and join the quest of finding what is it that makes tick. Talk about incoherent ramblings Yasmine ?u can?t beat this^

@ Mobby - that is good one. Although peace is no panacea for many challenges facing Somalia, its success is essential for the long-term stability. For that reason we ought to support it and wish them luck even though we know deep down that we don't have the right leadership. Kheyr Allaha ka dhigo.

Che sxb sane folks will prevail I hope. Allow sahal amuuraha bal ducada Aamiin dheh.

Darman sxb looks do matter I know that much…at least from distance. Up and close, what you find below the surface of that pretty face and physique is another matter, however. Deep down some of us know that looks, as pleasing to our eyes as it might be, is not what hold the relationships together. Couples don’t grow old together because they look pretty. When the novelty is worn off and the thrill is gone, something more solid than the looks - the inner beauty, the mutual understanding, the mutual commitment, the mutual conviction in the faith, the love, etc - is what keeps the ship going. Why do the looks matter? The physique, that symmetry of the body, is pleasing to our eyes and that alone attracts us and arouses our interest. This urge, I think, is inborn to us. What constitutes a good look is, as they say, in the eye of the beholder. To answer your question, I would say being humble maximizes your chances of meeting people of different background and looks. You can still be selective yet you have the pool of prospects to choose from – by the virtue of being approachable and likable person. As to the fact that prospect reveal their positive side and present themselves as angels, well that is okay. As a good interviewer you should get acclimated with intricacies of the interview in this case the “Shukaansi” and use your moral compass and instinct as your guiding light. Fake is fake nothing more to it. Also the old axiom: one can make more friends in no time by becoming genuinely interested in other people then one can in years by trying get other people interested in him applies here as you are open to almost all regardless their looks. Arrogance does not help in this endeavor. Liked ur signature my friend – very true…and to the prayer I say Amin!

What a man would do? Oh! It is wild world and sh*t happens right! How you react to it is what is important. A responsible man do what has to be done when it needs to be done. In this case there is a child and two women and the culprit - you. These are in order for win-win solution. 1. Repent. 2. Take the responsibility: for cheating your loved one, for impregnating a women (who probably get seduced by your charm and your womanizing skills), and for fathering a beautifull baby - baby in need of a lot of caring. 3. Consult with your loved one (the women u r in love with) and fess up and ask advice of what to do - and tell her clearly and unequivocally that you intend to own up your child - the question is how. 4. Talk to the innocent girl that u messed her life up and explain to her that the most important thing to do is to forget how this came about and whose fault it is. Give her assurances that this baby will have a caring father and extended family and the whole world would know it. 5. Talk to her family. They would probably suggest to marry her. Listen humbly and let them know that you are engaged and if the consent is there you will think about having two wives. The ball is in there court. The mission is accomplished...the mother can now mingle with her family, neighbors with a baby that has father: ina Hebel - you. 6. Inform your family about this. 7. Never separate the baby ftom the mother even if you have the power. This is pretty much how a responsible man would approach the situation. How the two women react your approach and their particular situation is what determines the final outcome of the problem. There are always other ways to resolve this. One of them is to marry both of them if the consent is there...or marry the mother...or marry the good women who trusted you and waited this long and still willing to overlook this blunder you have made but always give the care the child is in need of. My heart goes out to the child and the mother. There you have it sis...one opinion among many!

^^Hehehe 2 thumps up! awesome! Semantics of Bush’s Big Brother police state is simple: Evil is inherent in Islam and its ways. Evil should be crushed and put to rest down six feet under. Within the homeland Evil sympathizers and the “terrorist” should be searched, profiled, intimidated, fingerprinted, and watched over with the help all modern technology can offer. In this line of reasoning evil and Islam are inseparable. Who are they? They are not White supremacists, malcontents, gangs, or illegal Hispanics nooooooooooo they are those who have national affiliations with Islamic countries. Where to find them? In Mosques, Muslim charities and Muslim communities midst in America, Britain, etc. Intelligence institutions should be reformed and its employee should be indoctrinated so that they can have the awareness of the terror posed by these fundamentalists – the Salafis, the Wahabis, the ones that have ambitions to institute Islamic state. If above-mentioned line of reasoning is true then we should cease complaining about the Police Terror for they are patriotic men who are defending their homeland against this heinous Islamic terror. Why should they trust this important task of weeding out the bad seeds within Muslim community for those whose faith is same as the terrorists? If they are in search of Muslims who use terrorism as a tool for change or as a venue to present their grievances, they might as well use some brutality to an evil enemy capable to repeat the New York tragedy. I personally don’t buy the opinion that few malcontents among us are worst than the ones who would like to crush and humiliate us all because their existence. I am mindful that because IRA or Aryan Nation or Macveighs exist Christians or Irish don’t suffer as a result. Having said that, there are real issues in Islamic world in general and Muslim community in the Diaspora in particular. Illiteracy, poverty, ignorance, and all that living abroad and being new to the block entails. I fail to see how one connects our problems to terrorism in our midst under ‘Police Terror” thread. Are we suffering because ‘terrorist’ live among us under the banner of the good name of Islam? Who is the villain here? Drawing sufficient conclusions from insufficient premises is what makes the world round. No one is immune from this…it is part of life. Giving the benefit of the doubt, asking clarification, abstaining infinite regression, acting as grown ups, and putting a check on the exercise of premature judgment is a good advice…and I thought I’ve done that except I have formed my opinion without insulting or stepping anybody’s toes. Speaking of expectations...well expect more of this

double post