Ramadan Karim to u all.

From Islamicity Every year in the month of Ramadan, all Muslims fast from first light until sundown, abstaining from food, drink, and sexual relations. Those who are sick, elderly, or on a journey, and women who are pregnant or nursing are permitted to break the fast and make up an equal number of days later in the year. If they are physically unable to do this, they must feed a needy person for every day missed. Children begin to fast (and to observe the prayer) from puberty, although many start earlier. Although the fast is most beneficial to the health, it is regarded principally as a method of self purification. By cutting oneself off from worldly comforts, even for a short time, a fasting person gains true sympathy with those who go hungry as well as growth in one's spiritual life. Verses in the Quran About Fasting Al-Baqara (The Cow) (Arabic) 2:183 O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint,- Al-Baqara (The Cow) (Arabic) 2:184 (Fasting) for a fixed number of days; but if any of you is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed number (Should be made up) from days later. For those who can do it (With hardship), is a ransom, the feeding of one that is indigent. But he that will give more, of his own free will,- it is better for him. And it is better for you that ye fast, if ye only knew. Al-Baqara (The Cow) (Arabic) 2:185 Ramadhan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur'an, as a guide to mankind, also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (Between right and wrong). So every one of you who is present (at his home) during that month should spend it in fasting, but if any one is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed period (Should be made up) by days later. Allah intends every facility for you; He does not want to put to difficulties. (He wants you) to complete the prescribed period, and to glorify Him in that He has guided you; and perchance ye shall be grateful. Al-Baqara (The Cow) (Arabic) 2:187 Permitted to you, on the night of the fasts, is the approach to your wives. They are your garments and ye are their garments. Allah knoweth what ye used to do secretly among yourselves; but He turned to you and forgave you; so now associate with them, and seek what Allah Hath ordained for you, and eat and drink, until the white thread of dawn appear to you distinct from its black thread; then complete your fast Till the night appears; but do not associate with your wives while ye are in retreat in the mosques. Those are Limits (set by) Allah. Approach not nigh thereto. Thus doth Allah make clear His Signs to men: that they may learn self-restraint. Al-Baqara (The Cow) (Arabic) 2:196 And complete the Hajj or 'umra in the service of Allah. But if ye are prevented (From completing it), send an offering for sacrifice, such as ye may find, and do not shave your heads until the offering reaches the place of sacrifice. And if any of you is ill, or has an ailment in his scalp, (Necessitating shaving), (He should) in compensation either fast, or feed the poor, or offer sacrifice; and when ye are in peaceful conditions (again), if any one wishes to continue the 'umra on to the hajj, He must make an offering, such as he can afford, but if he cannot afford it, He should fast three days during the hajj and seven days on his return, Making ten days in all. This is for those whose household is not in (the precincts of) the Sacred Mosque. And fear Allah, and know that Allah Is strict in punishment.

The good senator from West Virginia is a loner. This old and eloquent man is right on the mark. I gotta share this with u. Ramadanu al Karim. ------------------- In 1837, Danish author, Hans Christian Andersen, wrote a wonderful fairy tale which he titled The Emperor's New Clothes. It may be the very first example of the power of political correctness. It is the story of the Ruler of a distant land who was so enamored of his appearance and his clothing that he had a different suit for every hour of the day. One day two rogues arrived in town, claiming to be gifted weavers. They convinced the Emperor that they could weave the most wonderful cloth, which had a magical property. The clothes were only visible to those who were completely pure in heart and spirit. The Emperor was impressed and ordered the weavers to begin work immediately. The rogues, who had a deep understanding of human nature, began to feign work on empty looms. Minister after minister went to view the new clothes and all came back exhorting the beauty of the cloth on the looms even though none of them could see a thing. Finally a grand procession was planned for the Emperor to display his new finery. The Emperor went to view his clothes and was shocked to see absolutely nothing, but he pretended to admire the fabulous cloth, inspect the clothes with awe, and, after disrobing, go through the motions of carefully putting on a suit of the new garments. Under a royal canopy the Emperor appeared to the admiring throng of his people - - all of whom cheered and clapped because they all knew the rogue weavers' tale and did not want to be seen as less than pure of heart. But, the bubble burst when an innocent child loudly exclaimed, for the whole kingdom to hear, that the Emperor had nothing on at all. He had no clothes. That tale seems to me very like the way this nation was led to war. We were told that we were threatened by weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, but they have not been seen. . . . continue

Many thanks pearl_shyte for posting English translation of Cilmi's poems.

“ … the first ring being autonomous regions and the second being viable central authority. In this form of government, regional governments recognize the sovereignty of a central authority while retaining certain residual powers of government ” This unless my memory fails me is the true textbook definition of what federalism entails, thus my bringing the topic back for discussion. And is not this what the adopted federal systems of government in accordance with the transitional charter advocate for? A federal government (the principal authority) with its executive, judicial and legislature branches with autonomous regions/states (the secondary authority). Do we seem to be opposing something which we actually truly embrace, which is common amongst many of us? Or I am reading your thoughts incorrectly? Samurai, no your memory is not failing you pal and yes the quote is exactly synonymous with the textbook definition of federalism. And yes this is what the transitional charter advocates for. Nonetheless, you are reading my take on the subject incorrectly, I’m afraid. The actualities on the ground and the existence of regional autonomy (Puntland) and the self-declared republic (Somaliland) in Somalia necessitate the adoption of federalism for Somalia. That is what compels me to realign my thinking. What is right and just, and what political sensibilities of the day permits are not necessarily same. Is this a change of heart? Possibly! As a realist, a pro-unity, and as well as a Greater Somalia dreamer, federalism is not in line with my vision. Deep down, I oppose federalism, as it will be an impediment to the unification of Somalis and reconstitution of strong Somali state in the region. But if we are going to adopt federalism, out of political necessity to reclaim our statehood, we can do better than what is contrived in Nairobi. I’m holding on every bit of hope it will succeed. Assuming you are aware of the different types of federalism, the point I was trying to propose was: to adopt cooperative federalism (Germany) as opposed to competitive federalism (USA). In cooperative type, central government prescribes policy for federal states to apply resulting in uniform policy. Still there are two tier system but ultimate authority rests with the center. Whereas the competitive model has clear separation of powers and allows for exclusive policy domains for each level and there is no uniformity of policy across regions. Above all, lets insist the district to be the office guarantor instead of clans. There you have it. Hope this clarifies where I’m at a bit. Keep them coming sage.

MMA, I hear u sxb. Conquest we're on the same page bro. I thought I was a loner but look who I share this view...Mansha'Allah. Mr Samurai Warrior, To begin with, I’m in favor of ending our predicament by any means necessary. The type of the future government of Somalia is a secondary issue – at least from my vantage point. Having said that, if I were in the conference, I would have proposed something to this effect: Two layer system. The first ring being autonomous regions and the second being viable central authority. In this form of government, regional governments recognize the sovereignty of a central authority while retaining certain residual powers of government. Note that regions, not tribes, are the basic building blocks in this type of federalism. Given the former military junta, their authoritarian nature, and its terrible legacy, it is understandable that most Somalis will be very suspicious to centralized system of governance. Couple that with the fierce opposition to this idea by the relatively successful recovery zones, my proposition has no or little chance, if any, to be considered. Secondly, accepting the inevitability of clan influence in our political discourse is one thing; advocating tribalism as the only viable political platform in which our future Somali state should be founded on is quite different thing. The former is merely acknowledging the fact we are a nation comprising several tribal communities. The later is promoting a culture of entitlement that in turn breeds nepotism, injustice, and corruption. How one could expect meritocracy to take hold (an important prerequisite for good governance) in a political atmosphere where clan loyalty is the winning ticket? Implicit in your last paragraph is the need of indigenous approach. I concur. But if the participants of the Nairobi conference were in mood of embracing traditional way of settling disputes, they would have given a serious consideration to the Garowe and Burco/Boorame gatherings. With no institutional capacity, the adjudication and assessment by the elders’ aka “isimo” who were considered to be impartial resulted a workable political solution. The prevailing wisdom was and still is once the peace and the rule of law takes hold, these two zones will transition from clans merely coexisting and willing to nullify all previous grievances to modern provincial governments with laws on the books. Finally, I’m a mere spectator looking in from outside hence my knowledge about how things are proceeding behind doors is limited. As principled individual, however, I’m of the opinion that union of tribes concocted as type of federalism and then presented as breakthrough is bound to fail. ‘Negative’ tribalism and bad leadership are the two main reasons all previous conferences failed and Allah forbid this last one seems to be heading the same direction.

Very interesting! The author of this test thinks I'm inclined to agree with Pope John, Stalin, Arafat, Sadam, and Jaques Chirac on these six pages questionere. He lumped all these leaders in the same political spectrum..very interesting indeed!

Read if u got time to spare...it is worth reading article. An FAF Publication (The Washington Times, April 20, 1998; p.A17. --------------------- In 1986, President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda declared that: "No African head of state should be in power for more than 10 years." This proclamation was enthusiastically hailed by pro-democracy activists across the African continent. Since 1960, more than 180 African heads of state have held power but less than 20 relinquished it or retired voluntarily. Such countries as Angola, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea, Kenya, Libya, Malawi, Mozambique, and Togo have had only two heads of state since independence in the 1960s. After ten years in office, African leaders treat their countries as their own personal fiefdoms and are more preoccupied with developing their pockets -- to the detriment of the national economy. If President Clinton had rigorously adhered to Museveni's dictum on his trip to Africa, he would have skipped Ghana (Fte./Lte Jerry Rawlings in power for 17 years); Senegal (Abdou Diouf for 14 years); Botswana (Quett Masire for 17 years); and even Uganda, where President Museveni himself has ruled for 12 years. Alas, the rules are made for others but not for them -- like President Sam Nujoma of Namibia, who wants to amend his country's constitution in order to serve a third term but all future Namibian presidents must obey the two-term limit. Of this lot, Quett Masire of Botswana and Nelson Mandela of South Africa have been the refreshing exceptions: Masire retired on March 31, a day after President Clinton left Botswana and Mandela will also retire when his term expires in 1999. One word, power, explains why Africa is in the grip of a never-ending cycle of wanton chaos, horrific carnage, senseless civil wars and collapsing economies: The struggle for power, its monopolization by one individual or group, and the subsequent refusal to relinquish or share it. Since politics constitutes the gateway to fabulous wealth in Africa, the competition for political power has always been ferocious. The "winner takes all" so competitors must fight to "their very last man" -- even if it means destroying the country. Political defeat could mean exile, jail or starvation. Those who win power, capture the state and proceed to transform it into their own personal property. State institutions, such as the military, the judiciary, the media, the civil service, police and the banking system, are taken over and debauched. Key positions in these institutions are handed over to the president's tribesmen, cronies and loyal supporters -- to serve their interests and not those of the people or the nation. Meritocracy, rule of law, property rights, transparency and administrative capacity vanish. Said Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Erskine (rtd), former commander of the United Nations Forces in Lebanon in an address to the Rotary International in Accra in 1991: "The fact that some African leaders get themselves emotionally identified with their country which they consider their personal property and that they and their minority ethnic clientele should lead the country and that they should rule until death is the single major phenomenon creating serious political crisis on the continent. Not even bulldozers can dislodge some of these leaders from office" (West Africa, May 6-12, 1991; p. 722). Thus, "government," as it is understood in the West does not exist in many African countries. What exists is a "mafia state" -- a government hijacked by a phalanx of gangsters, crooks and scoundrels. This cabal of criminals use government machinery, edicts, taxes and controls to extract resources from the poor peasantry to enrich themselves, their cronies, relatives and tribesmen. All others are excluded in this politics of exclusion. The richest persons in Africa are heads of state and ministers. Often, the chief bandit is the head of state himself. Foreign aid is not spared from the looting. Eventually, this "mafia African state" implodes, sucking the country into a vortex of savage carnage and heinous destruction: Liberia, Rwanda, Somalia, Sudan, and Zaire. The process varies but its onset follows two predictable reponse patterns. First, those exploited by the vampire state are eventually driven to exercise the "exit option": Leave or reduce their exposure to the formal economy by smuggling and taking their activities to the underground economy or the black market. This deprives the state of tax revenue and foreign exchange. Over time, the formal economy progressively shrinks and the state finds it increasingly difficult to raise revenue as taxes are massively evaded, leading the ruling vampire elites to resort to printing money and inflate the economy. Second, those excluded from the spoils of political power eventually rise up in a rebel insurgency or secede (Biafra in 1967). And it takes only a small band of determined rag-tag malcontents to plunge the country into mayhem. Back in 1981, Yoweri Museveni, the current President of Uganda, started out with only 27 men in a guerrilla campaign against Milton Obote. Charles Taylor, now the President of Liberia, set out with 150 rebels; the late Mohamed Farah Aidid of Somalia began with 200 rebels; and Paul Kagame of Rwanda set out with less than 250. And no African government in the post-colonial era has been able to crush a rebel insurgency. Unwilling to relinquish or share political power, the ruling vampire elites block, sabotage or manipulate the electoral process to keep themselves in power. The blockage of the democratic process or the refusal to hold elections plunged Angola, Chad, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Somalia, and Sudan into civil war. The manipulation of the electoral process by hardliners destroyed Rwanda (1993), and Sierra Leone (1992). The subversion of the electoral process in Liberia (1985) eventually set off a civil war in 1989 and instigated civil strife in Cameroon (1991), Congo (1992), Togo (1992) and Kenya (1992). Finally, the annulment of electoral results by the military started Algeria's civil war (1992) and plunged Nigeria into political turmoil (1993). And more African countries are destined to implode in the near future: Angola, Cameroon, Kenya, Nigeria, Togo, Uganda and even Zimbabwe. No program -- domestic or foreign -- will help Africa unless it addresses the power equation. It is the central issue which has created so much instability and rendered Africa a wilderness to even domestic investors and stunted economic growth. But because of political correctness, white Americans are unwilling to speak candidly about this issue for fear of being labelled "racist." Nor would black American civil rights leaders, who feel obligated to express "racial solidarity" with some of Africa's most ruthless despots. And the Clinton administration, treading ever so gently in order not to offend anymore, proclaims its desire to "form partnerships" with (gasp!) "mafia African states." The cacophony of platitudes, pontifications and apologies that emanated from President Clinton's 1,000 plus entourage to Africa came nowhere near addressing the power equation. Nor does the Africa Growth and Investment Opportunity Act (or Trade Bill), which was passed by the House on March 11. In fact, there is something fundamentally insincere about that Africa Trade Bill, which has been hailed as the cornerstone of a new post-Cold War relationship with Africa: "Trade not Aid." Under the old system, the U.S. conditioned its aid upon progress on market and democratic reform. But this approach failed miserably. Wily African despots performed acrobatic renditions of the "Babangida boogie" -- one step forward, three steps back, a side-kick and a flip to land on a fat Swiss bank account. Unwilling to call a spade a spade and walk away from this arrant chicanery for fear of offending the Black Congressional Caucus and black American civil rights leaders, the administration crafted a nebulous Trade Bill. The U.S. will open up its markets to those African countries which show "a strong commitment to reform." Problem is, that "commitment" was lacking under the old system. So what makes the admnistration think it would magically emerge under the new system? Currently, only 6 African countries (Botswana Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, South Africa and Uganda) meet the eligibility requirements. Even then, President Nelson Mandela is opposed to the Bill because of Third World country restrictions it imposes on participating African countries: That they should severe trade relations with such countries as Iraq, Libya, Iran, and Cuba. U.S. imports from Africa constitute less than 1 percent of the total and there is room for trade expansion. And there is nothing wrong with President Clinton and his entourage seeking to open up markets for U.S. companies. After all, the Japanese or the Chinese don't go to Africa because they love black people. But let Africans themselves determine what is good for them.

"Iraqis are the world's best dodgers and thieves - they are descended from a direct line of Ali Babas," says Corporal Kevin Harnley of the Royal Engineers, bemoaning the black market in British-issue police uniforms. The irony, that he himself has been an accomplice to one of the most audacious smash-and-grab enterprises in the history of thievery, seems to have been lost on him. Right there...he hit the nail on the head! Good one Smithy.

^^Right on! Gediid. more... Kolba aniga oo sahashaday oo saari ka ahaaday Ayuunbaa siraab midabkileey lay sawirayaaye Sidrigay ku daabacan tahee uma sakhraameene Sidii saacaddiibay qalbiga iiga socotaaye Habeenkii markaan seexdo way ila safaaddaaye Salaadii horay iga tagtaa ooy siigo noqotaaye. ________________________________________ Maryama Xaashi iyo tuu Gahayr Madar ka sheegaayo Iyo marantiduu Cige Baraar meel fog kaga boodey Muran maleh Ducaalow inay muunad dheer tahaye Maankaba ka jaray naago kale muhindiskoodiiye Haddii qaaddi ii meheriyoo midigta lay saaro Ka mabsuuday dunidaba illeen maalintaa qudhahe.

...i wonder da guy is thinking. Feeling misplaced or having fun. Heheheeeeeeeeeeee! Misplaced! I guess. I know I would...

Culminating this newly formed alliance is Somalia's reenergized al-Itihad al-Islamiya - A/Qassim Salat Hassan's ARTA supporters and financiers. Chief among them are known individuals suspected of sustaining close ties with Middle East terror organizations, and which in Somalia are often associated with kidnapping and assassinations of foreign aid workers. They include Mr. Ahmed Ali Jim’aale, the recently deported from Dubai, UAE, and the chairman of the shutdown Al-Barakat Corporation (now operating as "Golis Red Sea" in Puntland, "TelSom" in Somaliland, and "Hormuud" in Mogadishu and the rest of southern Somalia); also included are al-Qaeda's Horn operators and some 'most wanted men,' chief among them Col. Hassan Dahir Aways, Mohamed Daylaaf (Mogadishu), Abbas Ali Abdi (Mogadishu), Abdullahi Warsame Yare (now operating in Dubai and is the Middle East and UAE al-Itihad group representaive), Mohamed Sheik Osman of Dalsan Hawala, Abdullahi Hussein Kaahiye "Asbaro," Ismail Hassan Kutubaweyne and Abdilatif Yusuf Barre, who all have now began fundraising and militia recruiting campaign for the new alliance. Its totally wrong to go down this path. Labelling decent, low abiding Muslims as terrorist to score political points against your tribal rivals is sign of weakness. The individual who wrote this paragraph is trying to discredit legitimate businesses that employe many many Somalis. He is a "useful ***** " for Ethiopians and other Western powers who are capitalizing this civil war.

Provided, that you do that night all the good you can afford, including a ducaa for your parents, brothers and sisters in faith, and in case I reminded you a valuable lesson, a prayer for my poor soul. Jazaka Allahu kheyran. Allah willing, I will make ducaa for you and other Muslims who do good deeds for the sake of Allah.

I am very concerned too walaal. Scanning through the “Is Hijab compulsory?” thread by rudy, I’m convinced more than ever that Islamic thread needs learned ‘mufti’ moderator. It is natural to have questions about your religion - those who want to know their religion do ask questions - but one has to be careful of where he gets answers or whom answers he accepts. It’s not about ‘freedom of speech’ nor it’s about whether we can post difficult and challenging questions about Islam. It is about whether these questions can be best answered by screen characters in SOL. It is about whether Moderators save no effort to follow through and make sure these questions are correctly answered; or refer the inquirer to someone (or book) who will and can satisfy their quest for knowledge. Illaahow na cafi.

Aamiin nasteexada. Jazaka Allahu kheyran Thunder.

Originally posted by Entrepreneur: 1: Who decides what is "mature""rationale" "substance""logic argumentation" "knowledge" etc? No one. The referee (Admin/Mod) can call foul posts what they really are "inapropriate" as far as the rules of the 'game' are concerned. Originally posted by Entrepreneur: 2: Does it mean that those who can't excercise the above guidlines shouldn't participate in discussions? Not at all. Now, Entre sxb, I thought Sumarai has posted an instructive delineation of how best can intense debate be discussed without hitting ‘below the belt’ so to speak. It is not a definition of terms nor it serves as authoratative or formal pronouncement that we all should abide but rather a reminder of the finer points of civil discussions. If one is interested in discussing a particular topic beyond its naive and nascent stage, one has to feel comfortable in coming to this forum and posting his take on the subject without being insulted, subjected on character assassination, misquoted or misrepresented his viewpoints. I think we ought all to bear in mind that there are many members on the SOL forum who read and think about many of the posts, but who do not themselves contribute to it. Some of those have more extreme views about the need in discussing politics in general, and Somali politics in particular. These folks tend to see themselves as mere spectators in events with political context and once a while appluad abusive comments against nomads who have contributed to this section. Some of those might resent having a topic effectively suppressed by people who, for whatever reasons are more anxious to move on to other matters. Others might afraid of being personally attacked by some all the while their view on the subject is completely ignored. All in all, I think this reminder is worth reading before we conveniently, in the heat of the moment, discharge our biases. Waa sidey tahey!

Many thanks Samurai Warrior. The piece is very informative one. It would be nice if moderators/ Admin consider to lock this post as a reminder.

What is culture? Culture: the behavior patterns, beliefs, institutions and all other products of human work and thought especially as expressed in a particular community or period. How our DHAQAN corresponds the definition stated above? Our culture shares many traits with Arab and African cultures we are part of and yet is unique and diverse in many ways: Behavior patterns - the way we dress, greet, grieve, host guests, treat women/men, etc. No grey area worldview, everything is black and white. Beliefs: deep down Muslims but Somalis give much credence to omens, magic, etc. Institutions: clan institution, xeer (traditional jurisprudence) institution, village institution (agricultural), etc. Somalis of yesteryears are different from Somalis of today. Decades ago we didn’t have concept of governance outside of our village or within our clan. Today we are integrated and forced to deal with each other. Seven decades ago, some of us were wearing goatskin as clothes (before mareykaan, boqor iyo dhacle, etc). Today we wear from thongs to Hijab. Decades ago we didn’t have a sizable community in the Diasporas exposed to new cultures. Today we hear news about Somali lesbians, gays, and murtadiin. Decades ago poetry was a means of communicating news and way of preserving history and hence we accorded much societal value. Not any more. In that sense, culture is a function of time. One thing is certain, as ever before - and that is the Islamic religion is a catalyst agent of our culture. Without it, we would not do these: pay dowry, marry four wife, circumcise females, pay zakat without government enforcing it, sacrifice goat for new born babies, etc. Now, let me say that we are in an after shock period! Our culture (^) is being threatened (good or bad), and there are no think tanks or cultural institution formed to preserve our heritage (language, for instance), if there is anything, there are few commercial driven, ad-hoc publishers. The retreat-ist apparently baffled by the complexity of the new culture, retreated into the sanctity of their traditional world. Conformists are like sunflower (gabal-daye), not only they mimicked the surrogate culture but also they also sincerely become advocate for embracing the new ways. Malcontents are fuming they can’t effect changes nor they can persuade the converts to come back - they are inaptitude and effective intolerants. The only group with strategy at hand and succeeding so far is Ikhwaan. However, the secret is they are not preoccupied with culture - they are spreading the word of Allah; incidentally they are subconsciously and effectively preserving the Somali language, community values and other traits of our culture. Raali ahaada waa ila tagtey e, Farah, why don't u enlighten us with answers!

This man is guilty as charged. The women are guilty of zinna nothing more, nothing less. It depends on how we look at this case. If we look at it as to whether these women were imprudent and in the end they reaped what they saw. Yes! they were careless. If we look at different angle and ask whether they were wronged. Absolutely, they were wronged and in that sense they are victims of injurious act by wicked man with loose morals. I wonder how many Somalis had been infected unknowingly by these women and men who prey on them. Knowing my fellow men, I can see them recycling undesirables when they r thru with them...waraa bajaqdaan anaa ka tirtirey ee u raaxee! This could be a domino reaction...Londoners take a note.

GarYaQaaN, The U.S. could play a role in the Somali peace process. They are an expert of the arm-twisting business. They have dealt with leaders far more powerfull than current political actors in Somali politics. In that regard, U.S. should throw its weight behind the reconciliation effort and engage back-door arm-twisting with the the stubborn warlords. My only concern would be the current administration limited understanding in the issues and their willingness to listen Zenawi. Apart of that, I really would like to see even-handed American involvement in the peace conference.

How many of you have a bad temper,dhaqsi iska xanaaqo...what triggers it and how do you deal with it... well aniga...i have no idea what triggers it ...the reason that made me start this topic was when i got mad and hit a very close person to me with a saxan on the head...alxamdullilaah that person didnt get serious injuries...and i cant seem to find a way to deal with it....so maybe we can exchange tips..soo daaaya dee I'm not a "camalooow" . Most of us can't handle when conversation goes from casual to crucial especially when: 1. Opinions Vary -You know you are right and someone else thinks your wrong. 2. Stakes are High -You are in a meeting with 10 other nomads and you are trying to get them to see ur strategy. They have to do something different or there could be a major cost. 3. Emotions run Strong - You are in the middle of a casual discussion with some1 and he or she brings up an ugly incident at last night's Aroos. When this happens we are often in trouble. The reason is emotions don’t exactly prepare us to converse effectively. Countless generations of genetic shaping drive humans to handle problems with flying fists and fleet feet, not intelligent persuasion and gentle attentiveness. When faced these three situations typically this is what happens: "The hair stands up on the back of your neck. Two tiny organs seated neatly atop your kidneys pump adrenaline into your bloodstream. Screaming Emergency. This isn’t your choice. Your adrenal glands do it, and then you have to live with it. Now your brain diverts blood from activities it deems nonessential to high-priority tasks such as fight or flight. As your muscles in the arms and legs get more blood, the higher-level reasoning sections of your brain get less. You end up facing crucial conversation with the mental power of a rhesus monkey. Your under pressure." If u wanna maintain ur coolness/composure, these are some of things u can do when irritated or angered: Sit down, listen carefully and then try to put urself in other person's shoes and see the issue at hand from their prespective and where he/she is coming from. Or u can avoid him/her/them, or face them and handle it poorly and even throw saxan at them...what the heck! Note: I got an email while ago that talks about crucial communication. I can post it if it helps.

Oh! Mr. Oodweyne, spare me the grim litany of the chauvinist. On the one hand u seem to say Ogadenia and NFD r gone cuz their fate were sealed when UN and International Community recognized them, unjustly, as a part of Ethiopia and Kenya respectively. On the other hand Somalia is divisible despite the UN, Ethiopia, former colonial power (Britain/Italy) and IC's affirmation of its territorial integrity. Your logic has more holes than my window's bug screen. Yours is a mind-set that assumes or hopes that today's realities will continue tomorrow in a tidy, linear and predictable fashion. In that scenerio, yes Ogadenia and NFD are gone for good so is British Somaliland. If u wanna be optimist and dream about new Somaliland then don't rule out our brother's aspirations for self-rule. As of ur dream of truck-loading people out of their homes to realize ****reer hebel**** free clannish "Bantustan"...that is pure fantasy! Perhaps it is fantasy that keeps u going but it is an overactive imagination or poetic hallunication Wallahi. Nin baa waxa laga sheegay: "Waxa leyga qaban la'yahay oo qar-qarsiga ku joogaa ma ina-Qowsacleey baa." Hadda ninka salka dhulka dhigi la' oo dhaarta iyo fara baxsiga isku darahayaa waa kuma? Cuqdad iyo ruuxii ciil qabaa looma caal helo e, Cudur Qalbiga kaaga raagaa caaluq kugu reebye, Halkaas buu la maray Shaacirkii. [ October 06, 2003, 06:58 PM: Message edited by: Admin ]

Inaa Lilaahi wa inaa Ileyhi raajicuun. Samir iyo iimaan Allaha kaa siiyo Shyhem.

Angry African voices "Half-starved people are being daily admonished to tighten their belts, members of the Ghanaian aristocracy and their hangers-on who tell them to do this, are fast, developing pot bellies and paunches and their wives and sweet-hearts double their chins in direct proportion to the rate at which people tighten their belts." -- Victor Owusu in 1961. _______________________________________________________ "The trouble with Nigeria is simply and squarely a failure of leadership. There is nothing basically wrong with the Nigerian character. There is nothing wrong with the Nigerian land or climate or water or air or anything else. The Nigerian problem is the unwillingness or inability of its leaders to rise to the responsibility, to the challenge of personal example which are the hallmarks of true leadership . . . We have lost the twentieth century; are we bent on seeing that our children also lose the twenty-first? God forbid!" -- Chinua Achebe (in The Trouble With Nigeria. Enugu: Fourth Dimension Press, 1985; p.3). _______________________________________________________ "It is true God's children in Africa suffer because there is less freedom in their countries than during the colonial times. African leaders need to be reminded that there is totalitarianism and despotism nearly everywhere in Africa. When your people are free, you can also walk freely and you will not need huge security to protect you." -- Bishop Desmond Tutu (The Daily Nation, Nairobi, March 26, 1990). _______________________________________________________ "African dictators are some of the most hypocritical leaders anywhere. They condemn oppression of black people by apartheid, yet they organize widespread massacres of their own black people. More than 2,000 Kenyans were killed in cold blood by Moi's security forces at the Wajir massacre in Kenya." -- Koigi wa Wamwere, former member of parliament in Kenya and now in jail (Index on Censorship, July 1990; p.22). _______________________________________________________ "It has become trendy for enlightened writers on Africa to put all the blame for Africa's backwardness on the West. I think the West should not be blamed anymore for Africa's predicament... I may ask, what is our goal as Africans? It sounds funny that a country like Nigeria cannot boast of any significant supply of good drinking water even after 30 years of independence. One is tempted to think that the goal for Africans is to drive a flashy car, and own a house in Britain, US or France. This is very common among our leaders, some of who think it is a mistake not to have a Swiss bank account or a castle in France. It is not a shame to admit our failures, set our priorities right and forget about blaming the West always for our woes. In fact it is a lazy society which puts all the blame for its troubles on its neighbors. Let our leaders set clear-cut goals for our countries, and not Swiss bank accounts. I don't think George Bush would set himself a goal of owning a bank account in Ghana or Nigeria." -- Osa Kingsley in New African, August, 1990; p.45). ________________________________________________________ "Three decades of dictatorships, phoney and misunderstood political ideologies have left a legacy of fear, poverty, refugees, outright political thuggery and theft. The systems which have been in place for the last three decades in Africa have produced the likes of Amin, Bokassa, Nguema and the remaining political sphinx which strangle the African continent and its people. Since assuming political power in their countries, these leaders have held their citizens hostage, have run national economies like private chicken-runs and created a national mentality of siege and a state of hopelessness" -- George Sono (New African, Jan 1991; p. 41). ________________________________________________________ If you steal, do not steal too much at a time. You may be arrested. Steal cleverly (yiba na mayele), little by little." -- President Mobutu Sese Seko of Zaire in an address to party regulars in 1991.________________________________________________________ "Crisis, chaos, famine, diseases, civil wars, coups, dictatorships, social disorder, corruption and legitimising military regimes seem to be the most outstanding elements of post-independence Africa. The mood of optimism, hope and high expectation has today been overtaken by frustration and pessimism." -- Kofi Adusei-Poku (West Africa, March 1-7, 1993; p. 320). _________________________________________________________ One of the most urgent matters for Nigerians to address when they settle down to debate the National Question is the issue of collaboration by professionals and technocrats with corrupt and repressive regimes. We must devise effective sanctions against our lawyers and judges and doctors and university professors who debase their professions in their zealotry to serve as tyranny's errand-boys, thus contributing in large measure to the general decay of honesty and integrity in our national life. Chinua Achebe in African News Weekly (1 October 1993, 32). _________________________________________________________ "I believe the worst form of civilian government is better that the most benevolent military regime." -- Chuba Okadigbo, former chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of Nigeria's dissolved Senate (The New York Times, Dec 2, 1993; p.A3). ________________________________________________________ "We have incessantly been hounded and harassed. What have we not seen? Grenades, tear-gas, bullets -- you name it! But if anytime the regime intimidates me and I get scared, then we can as well say goodbye to democracy! Even though death is a daily reality, I can't be subdued by the fear of death. The reason why I am not afraid of death is simple: since 1990, we swore to hand power to the people, and until that goal is achieved, no grenades, bullets, assassination plots can deter us from that noble goal. Take this message from me: We're not afraid of death because with the people's support, prayers and solidarity nothing -- I repeat nothing -- can dampen our unflinching resolve to bring veritable democracy to Cameroon." -- Fru Ndi, Chairman of Social Democratic Front (Cameroon Life, Jan 1994; p.10). ________________________________________________________ "Africa's biggest problem today lies with the leadership. They are so removed from the people that they are looked upon as foreigners. They are driven by self-interest, so excessive that their peoples' interests are forgotten -- hardly different from the colonial masters" -- John Hayford (New African, April, 1994; p.7). ________________________________________________________ "The problem in Africa is precisely that there is no state to speak of. What exists are ramshackle gangs, presided over by political thugs and military adventurists, generals who have never been to war, and rickety old men who lack vision, who simply pretend to be governing, talk less of ruling, a society. In no African social formation has this body, by whatever name it goes, been able to operate as a state." From "Pan-Africanism: Agenda for African Unity in the 1990s" by Nigerian scholar, Julius O. Ihonvbere, now at Ford Foundation, in a Keynote address at The All-African Student's Conference, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada, May 27, 1994. ________________________________________________________ "In my view, Ghana's economic malaise is not the result of lack of opportunities or of resource. Ghana, like the rest of Africa, with the possible exception of South Africa and a few others, suffers from the affliction of dishonest leadership . . . I have put the emphasis on bad and corrupt leadership as the root cause of our economic woes. I make no apologies for this because we all know what is going on. On my part, I am quite disappointed that we in Parliament have not been courageous to say nay when this way is necessary" -- Hon. Hawa Yakubu-Ogede, former MP, Bawku (The Ghanaian Voice, Feb 12, 1995; p.8). ________________________________________________________ "Nigerians must realize that colonialism has nothing to do with the color of the colonizer and the colonized. Any group of people that uses the advantage of power -- military or material -- to oppress, exploit, and inferiorize another group of people can be justifiably described as a colonizing group." -- Ropo Sekoni (The Isokan News, Spring, 1995; p.19). ________________________________________________________ "Three decades after independence, uncertainty and fear still rule the African continent. The freedom and justice that many people sacrificed their lives for have been replaced by tyranny and oppression. And the promises of a decent living has been betrayed by misgovernance and corruption. Most Africans fought so hard to liberate themselves from colonial rule only to be used and abused and their nations ruined by their own leaders. Today Africa has very little to show for its independence because of inhumane and incompetent leadership" -- Steve Mallory, publisher (The African Observer, May 2-15, 1995; p.3). ________________________________________________________ "Nigeria, the comatose giant of Africa, may go down in history as the biggest country ever to go directly from colonial subjugation to complete collapse, without an intervening period of successful self-rule. So much promise, so much waste; such a disappointment. Such a shame. Makes you sick" -- Linus U.J. Thomas-Ogboji (The African News Weekly (May 26, 1995; p.6). ________________________________________________________ "Apart from the corruption, the army under Captain Valentine Strasser government (of Sierra Leone) has become totally incompetent, and is conducting a war against the people. The countryside is nothing but destruction, upon destruction. Whole towns and villages have been destroyed" -- Ibrahim Ibn Ibrahim, a Sierra Leonian journalist in Akasanoma, July 31-Aug 6, 1995; p.38). ________________________________________________________ A critical look at contemporary African military would bring one's eye closer to tears, and one's mind nearer to insanity. The caliber of people found in the military is an obloquy to the belated institution. Today, soldiers of most African countries are known as brutes, bullies and buffoons. Soldiers are always supposed to be in the barracks, either training or doing something profitable. But in Africa, the case is totally different and appalling. Come to Accra and you will see soldiers moving about, wielding guns, pistols, harassing citizens and causing needless trouble. Go to Lome and you will see them. Go to Burkina Faso. To Lagos. To Kinshasa. O! what a degradation of the military! Ghana has seen varied types of uncouth and indisplined soliders" -- Prince Oduro (Free Press, Aug 4-10, 1995; p.4).