^looool...

and why would the muslims all over the world give money to muslim charities working in haiti if they knew their charity was going straight into the pockets of people doing shirk and sixir? Because they're human beings first and foremost, regardless of what the believe. If one is a "true Muslim", then their priority is to help a suffering person and not succumb to the BS of self-righteousness. I see Bint has mixed priorities here.

Conspiracy theories are amusing and entertaining. That link states "Haiti is a threat to american imperialism"... fact is that before this earthquake it was one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere, now it's probably the poorest. "Earthquakes are caused by plate tectonics shifting, impossible giving the geographical location of port-u- prince"... another false statement, see here for more info into the tectonics of the earthquake: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=122531261

I realized that my emotions got the better of me and sunk to the level of Eng.Cadde... I think I developed a severe allergy to BS

Your naked hatred There are a lot of hateful people in this forum A.Z., Peacenow has his prejudices the same as everyone else here. So why single him out?

Thanks for this thread, I hadn't heard about Un prophète

^^Oh and by the way Eng.Cadde your little piece about gene theory of homosexuality could also be applied to skin color, eye shape and eye color... so which is normal? the answer would be none because everyone is unique in their own way, the sooner your get that into your thick head the better it would be for you to appreciate all the different variations in human beings and stop being a grump old man.

Originally posted by Eng.Cadde: [qb] So please leave the homosexuals alone, they are as Somali (and as 'normal') as any one of you whether you like it or not Isnt it AMAZING how this Thread had been hijacked by Homos.!! :eek: I dont Know where you are man or women but Realistically Speaking,Homosexuality is not NORMAL it is a disease that must be cured.To say faggotry is Normal is a plain ignorance and shows your lack of understanding of the issue here. hahahaha... it seems like I pinched a nerve there... here we go again with the simplistic and utterly ridiculous comments... this is hilarious, you really want to go that path engineer boy? I don't understand the issue? are you out of your mind? Did you got your engineering degree from one of those useless online universities while you write your inflammatory and sadistic notes against anyone that doesnt share your view of a holistic society? Give me a break. I suggest you go read some book and enlighten yourself, then come to me and we'll have an intelligent conversation not based of ridiculous assumptions. Call me a Predatory hairy beast but the simple truth is that if homosexuality was normal and acceptable then there wouldnt have been such stigmation associated with this kind of condition.The Simplest anology to Homosexuality is HIV,there is no Cure for it unless the person changes his lifestyle for the better. your ignorance is astounding... it makes me further doubt your credentials as an engineer.... if you haven't realized HIV infects both men and women and it is a mutated virus that first originated in simians (chimpanzees if you didnt know mr. engineer) and then transferred to humans probably in central Africa... now if you want to start with estupido generalizations then you should start by saying what the White man says that "Black have sex with monkeys and brought this disease upon humanity"... so please just stop, you're embarrassing yourself... Please, go read some books, and earn your degree, seriously. There have been many pro-GAY studies in the medical field that recognize khasiisnimo as GENE DEFECT however,Scientists which are free from Gay pressure Groups Deny the Scientific existance of such a gene. Doctors that are as bigoted as you I bet, that probably forgot their hippocratic oath Furthermore,We must keep in mind that no one is forcing homosexuals to indulge themselves in such kind of devient and risk behavior.It is Shocking To see how some People simply Throw their precious lives away like that. you forget about a whole flock of STDs that cause death in humans, it's easier for your intellect to say that engaging with multiple sexual partners is a bad thing. MOst Homosexuals are irresponsible men and we have been cases where GAYS leave their wives and children on the pretext that they have always been in the closet. yet another generalization that doesnt require an response. It doesnt take a rocket scientist to figure out the abnormality of this lifestyle.I am amazed at how some people in here try to act civilized by tolerating such filthy.Wake up people and be real. you think it's abnormal, they think it's normal... it's just a difference in opinion... just because you say it's abnormal doesnt make it so. So please get over it.

Complicated: Geel_Jire: apparently he was drunk. The peril of alcohol soo ma aha waxa keena "the Gaal sickness of killing just for killings sake". Calling it "the Gaal sickness of killing just for killing's sake" is a generalization that isn't just confined to the gaalada, a quick look at our country proves otherwise. I feel there must've been another motive besides being a drunk, as not al drunks would go around raping young boys, maybe he was a chronic molester and this time he got caught? If this guy came from an influential family he would've gotten away scot-free, which is the case everywhere. Have you forgotten about this: Abu Dhabi Royal Acquitted in Torture Trial http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/11/abu-dhabi-royal-acquitted-in-torture-trial/ And here is the video: Abu Dhabi Royal Family's Secret Torture Tape http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=7407186 Hey Nor, what did the UAE media say about this story?

if you're Islamically talking then both issues are identical... otherwise they're far apart.

I was a bit bored at work

Originally posted by *Ibtisam: Aliamos: The Kurdish take their culture and particularly marriage very seriously. It has nothing to do with Islam. Even here they kill their daughters who marry or date people they don't approve of. I guess they don't know their religion very well...

Since we're on the subject of homosexuality: http://www.boston.com/news/globe/ideas/articles/2004/07/11/open_secrets/

Sherban, please don't get worked up over this, your contribution to the Somali dialogue is greatly appreciated. What some people have said is of pure intolerance and hatred. So give it a rest and ignore them. Keep contributing... You can take your garbage post and put it where it belongs. Word up!

Ibti... check this out: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/26/world/europe/26turkey.html

Aliamos as Muslims are guests in the west we cannot impose our laws into their society, but nevertheless from a Islamic prespective there is a lot wrong with it. No argument there.

Come to think of it, demonizing homosexuals sounds a lot like the demonization of Blacks, Jews, and Muslims by the mainstream. Or the social stratification in the Indian caste system. Or our own tribal caste system where we push aside the *******, the ********* or the Bantus. There always has to be an 'other' in society, - if they're different then they must be evil, - if they're different then they must be against us, - if they're different they must be condemned for their lifestyle. Interesting parallels...

^ Well said Ibti... although I think lumping gay Somalis, or Christian or Atheist Somalis, or warlord Somalis, thieves, murders and rapists all together is not fair, I do acknowledge your religious standpoint for grouping them together as they're all engage in acts/lifestyles that are contrary to Islam. Society is not a constant thing and it's dynamic, this matter of homosexuality has been present in humanity since the time of the ancient Greeks and possibly before that. It's always been swept under the rug but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Demonizing the matter will only push it underground and will not 'cure' society of it. I don't think violence against anyone solves the matter and if you people are so into their religion you should leave it to your higher authority. Killing another human being is worse than homosexuality. After all if you believe God created everything, then He created them too. Personally, I have homosexual friends, we work in the same office, go on lunch breaks... they're not different from you or me except their sexual preference and that is their private matter. My colleagues are just like any other stand-up citizen, they work hard, earn a living and don't commit crimes. So, what's wrong with that?

I just came across an interesting story: Somali photographer given fellowship Photographer Abdi Roble has been awarded the first Raymond J. Hanley Fellowship, a $10,000 prize in memory of the former Greater Columbus Arts Council president. Roble is an acclaimed photographer who founded the Somali Documentary Project, which uses photography to produce an archive of the Somali diaspora. Through the project, Roble, who was born in Somalia, has exhibited work in the Ohio Arts Council's Riffe Gallery, Intermedia Arts in Minneapolis, the Columbus Museum of Art and other venues. Last year, Roble and author Doug Rutledge published works from the project in the book The Somali Diaspora: A Journey Away. "For me, this has been the work I believe in," said Roble, 44. "If I'm rewarded for work I believe I should be doing anyway, I'm very humble in accepting this recognition." Roble said he expects the fellowship money will help him buy equipment, pay rent and continue his work in photography. He is also the creator of the African American Photographers of North America and the Focus Group. His exhibitions include "One Month in Europe with Leica," "Leica Portrait of Cuba" and "Japan: A Leica Perspective." He has also won individual artist fellowships from the Ohio Arts Council and the Greater Columbus Arts Council. An anonymous panel of judges, along with the trustees of the Hanley Arts Fund of the Columbus Arts Endowment, chose Roble for the fellowship, an award for an individual artist who lives or works in the Columbus area and who has demonstrated an unusual level of achievement. The award honors Hanley, who led the arts council from 1985 until his death in 2006. "The fellowship is a way to memorialize Ray Hanley and his love of artists and arts organizations in the community," said Bryan Knicely, Greater Columbus Arts Council president. "Ray really appreciated Abdi's work, which exemplifies why the award was created. "Roble is not only a photographer but an artist who explores many timely social issues. His name kept rising to the top because of the excellent quality of his photographs and their social significance." So I started to search for other Somali photographers and also threw in artists, models and writers and I came up with this: Knaan http://knaanmusic.ning.com/ Abdi Roble http://www.somaliproject.org/ Hakim Abdi http://www.somalinomad.com/ Sada Mire http://www.somaliheritage.org/ Ayan Hirsi Ali http://www.theahafoundation.org/ Waris Dirie http://www.waris-dirie-foundation.com/en/ Iman http://www.imancosmetics.com/ Barlin Ali http://www.somaliteatreats.com/book.htm http://www.kayd.org/ http://www.somaliamericanartistsassociation.com/ http://www.somaliwriters.com/ More?

I see there are a lot of homophobes in this thread. There are homosexual Somalis... so what? what is the big deal? why do you consider it a stain on the Somali community? People must understand that there is no such universal term as a 'normal life'... normality is a relative. So please leave the homosexuals alone, they are as Somali (and as 'normal') as any one of you whether you like it or not. Sherban, good job on bringing this up, you've exposed the intolerance of many on this thread.

nice

Glad you brought that up Nor, having lived in the UAE, I would say yes... but the level of political correctness that's present in the West hasn't yet reached the (Middle) East. The lighter skinned South Asian call the darker ones and the Africans ("kaala" or the more derogatory "kaaliya"). The Arabs calls the darker one's "Aswad" which in itself isn't derogatory but you also hear "Abu/Umm Al Aswad"... other use the milder "Asmar" to refer to darker skinned people. What astonishes me, and Nor you can pitch in since you're there at the moment, is the racism pertaining to professional capabilities. The Arabs there value the input of a Western person than the input of a similarly qualified person of darker skin, whether or not they hold Western passport/education. I'm sure Peacenow has smelled this conversation and will pop in any moment now What do people think about racism amongst the Arab "brethren"?

A quick review of the book is also found here: http://mises.org/journals/jls/21_2/21_2_7.pdf

Has any of you read "The Law of the Somalis: A Stable Foundation for Economic Development in the Horn of Africa" by van Notten. I found it in a B&N and read about a quarter of it. The author bring interesting concepts to the table. Here is the introduction http://home.arcor.de/danneskjoeld/X/Som/Introduction.html Would love to know what everyone thinks.

^ Very good points Max. Have you read "The Law of the Somalis: A Stable Foundation for Economic Development in the Horn of Africa" by van Notten? If not, then have a read at the introduction here: http://home.arcor.de/danneskjoeld/X/Som/Introduction.html interesting stuff.