Crying for Help: We next on the List! Congratulations to Liberian people, finally, the dictator, Charles Taylor, is out . However, success is never guaranteed. Nigerian peace keepers received warm welcome from the public, as UN Blue Hamlets troops once did in Somalia. The odds are optimistic about long lasting peace in Liberia. Let us wish them the best. Let us all pledge to West African leaders. Hey i say, here we are, and we sure have all the symptoms. Selfish warlords, killing of innocent people everyday, internally displaced people, refugees, diseases, malnutrition, and much more. We (Somalis) have been in civil war at same years as they (Liberians) were. Only problem with us, we have plenty of Charles Taylor and rebel groups. Give it another shot. The UN had learned a lesson from their past failure in Somalia; therefore, corrected some mistakes. Bosnia, Cambodia, Rwanda, Seri Leon, and Liberia now got help, but why not us. Is it we Muslims? Is it we are beasts who killed peacekeepers? What is it, please tell me why we have been ignored? Sure they (world community, mainly Europeans and USA pay some money to support conferences, but to the wrong people). Don’t you wonders how non democratic underdeveloped regime who represses his people might build a democratic government to his enemy? :confused: Hey, it reminds me the school back yard fights that never settle. Oops, I am outline here, but I can help to be patient anymore. Come to our aid, Put some your words into actions, Save some lives, and hear our cries.

Thank you both for your comments. Thanks again for the warm wlc. Mizz it is great that you ask for clarification about Ina Hebel. I mean Tribal sense not fatherhood. We all by our fathers than Somalis. But we all by our nations before our tribe. True, Allah said, "Yaa ayhuhanaasu inaa khlaqnaakum min dakaran wa unthaa Wajacalnaakum Shucuuban Waqabaa ilan litacaarafuu..." suurat xujaraat. Therefore, it is not wrong to identify with who you are, but it is wrong to believe you are better than someone because of your tribe. the second half of Ayah say, "Ina akramakum cinda lahi atqaakum ina laha caliimun khabiir." To believe tribe x is better than tribe Y, will be to contrary to Aayah.

Stand up comedy Silly weed makes you as silly questions like: "Can a teacher give a homeless child a home work?"

Who is Your True Leader and Why? Through out history the world has seen change of leadership. From Confucius to Plato to Machiavelli, many of the world’s most famous thinkers have theorized about how humans lead one another,” writes Michael Z. Hackman and Craig E. Johnson in their book, Leadership A Communication Perspective. Leadership exist wherever society exist, and it is corner stone of every society. However, the question is who is a great leader? First, Let us look back in time, great leaders usually emerge in the time of crises. Abraham Lincoln, a former American president, was one of the great leaders in US history. Education or wealthy did not make him great but his persistency to unite American states. Hackman and Johnson quote, Donald Mcgannon: “Leadership is action, not position.” Still, in the US, Franklin Roosevelt brought his country back from brink of recession and won the war for her. In Europe, there was Winston Churchill, a great statesman, who helped his country to survive the Germans. Further, Charles de Gaulle became one of the most influential leaders of 20th century because he saved his country after four Republics failed to function probably. Next, let us look at contemporary leaders. In Europe, Tony Blair British Prime Minster, won landslide victory for his Labour party after of decade loosing to Conservatives. In South America, Vincent Fox has won the presidency for the first time in more than 70 years of single party rule. In Asia, the maverick Koizumi Junichiro, Japanese Prime Minster, saved his country and become Japan’s tenth prime minister in ten years. last to mention is American President, George W. Bush, who stood tirelessly to boost the publics morale after horrors of 9/11, he won his party both houses in midterm election first time in history, and now trying to boost economy. All these leaders have understood the need of their people and took proper action to meet that need. They are charismatic and have vision, mission, and ethics, and they put their words into action. Micheal Useem said, “I take leadership so signify the act of making a difference,” they, sure, made differences in their countries at critical times. Machiavelli writes leader must realize the necessity (things presented to you by chance which you have no influence on) fortune (the ability to realize the necessity) and skill (the ability to take that opportunity and to fit it into your needs). Do these characteristics missing in Somali leadership today? Is there any one who is capable of making difference and taking actions instead of position? Are Somali leaders really far from the people? Will Somalia have a true leader and who do you think that will be?

Who Are You: A Somali or Ina Hebel? The question about Identity is as old as the universe. Throughout history, communities, nations, and regions, alike, have identified themselves according to language, religion, culture, or territory, and our group and the other group were defined accordingly. For example, when you are minority in White society, you identify your self with Blacks. When you are minority in religious group, you identify yourself with Muslims. When you are a minority in other nationalities, you identify with Somalis. While the first two remain rigid, the identification with Somalis does not. When you live abroad, all you need to know is that the person is Somali, and you are as happy as you found your mother. However, you feel uneasy and have natural distrust for all Somalis except those in your inner circle (your tribe or clan). Do not be surprised! “I can not date you because you are not from our tribe, and my family told me if I date boys from other tribes, it will be disrespect to our people,” can you believe those where the words of 19 years old Somali girl. Indeed, it is unfortunate to create hate in innocent hearts, so it can be an infectious disease that spreads from one generation to the next. Despite the fact, Somali people share common religion, language (different dialect), culture, and territory, we lost our identity and nationalism. We put tribalism before patriotism, and we deny ourselves the right to be proud of who we are. Many of us living outside the country, feel that we cannot share our culture with our school mates. In the eyes of the world, Somalia is identified with malnutrition, starvation, dangerous among many others. In the movie, Final Destination Two, the girl tells her dad: “We are not going to Somalia....” She was just pointing out how unsafe Somalia is. An Egyptian actor was once sued by Somali people after he said, “Somalis are majaaca (hungry people).” The actor, however, said he did not meant to disrespect, but to bring world attention to Somalis. These are not only examples if you search around, you will find even worse. Unfortunately, no one is even concerned about lost and disrespected identity. I have no plan to redeem our Identity or to bring our pride back, but do you have a plan? Is it a problem? Do you really care? Who are you? Are you Somali first, or ina hebel?