I don't understand Positive. Toosiye scale? What does that mean? LOL! You have to translate for me Interesting. So this only a model of what any guiding principles would be like. Hmmmm! Not bad I just wanted to address that point. And also what is coming to SOL, for the first time? I hope I do love it. Thanks once again!

1.Guiding principles. It is better to have guiding principles regardless of what solution type we choose; it is my opinion that it is paramount thus that the following guiding principles which are basic for our existence as a national state should not be diluted, changed or in any other way modified. The principles are: • Somalia is a state with its own flag, with its defined land, ocean and sea, and people. • Somalis are the people who inhabit Somalia and as people they alone have undisputed right to determine their fate. • Islam is the religion of the Somali State and Somali people. • The highest national body that has highest authority of the nation is its people, the Somali people, or their representatives who are elected through a lawful process. • Somalia is a country where human rights are respected, which lives in peace with itself, with its neighbors and world in general. Positive this thread has been quite informative and I have gained a lot of insight and knowledge into where the situation in Somalia could go. And for that I wholeheartedly thank you! As for the Guiding Principles you have proposed, there is a problem. I agree with all of them except the thrid bullet, in which were you suggest that Islam is the religion of Somalia and the Somali people. Are you suggesting a form of theocracy? I don't understand how religion or rather how Islam could be incorporated into the State without it being a theocracy. Isn't it exactly what Islamist group Al-Shabaab and recently dissolved Hizbul Islam group are advocating for albeit violently? And you say the Somali people How about the people who are more traditional than religious? How about the people who are not religious? How about other Somali people who find faith in other religions? How about those who do not care for religion? What happenes to them? Does that mean they must accept Islam against their will and abide by all Islamic laws? Don't get me wrong I understand that an overwhelming percentage of the Somali population is religious and are God-abding people but I'd think I'd rest alittle better at night if I knew that Somalia was a secualr nation that respected everyone's beliefs! A nation in which any Somali national could practice any faith. Maybe there are reasons you identified Islam with the Somali state and the Somali people. Could you explain why that is so and how Islam would find its place within a Somali society with a functioning powerful state. Why does Islam have to be a guiding principle(excluding the obvious reason that majority of Somalis are Muslims and follow Islam)? (Although I understand the Islamic elite must appeased, as the other two, in order to achieve peace in Somalia) Disclamier: I am in no way Islamaphobic or hating on Islam. I merely expressing legitmate concerns regrading seperation of church(or in this case mosque) and state or the amalgamation of them. Issues that will undoubtly come up later down in the road. Peace (cause you know we really need it!)

Well after painstakinly reading all previous posts I have a couple of things to say. First off excellent work Positive, mind boggling information you have presented in this thread. I think that it is imperative that anyone wanting to understand the Somali situation first must understand about three types of elites and their roles in Somali history. That Islam came to the Horn and is not ours but something that Somalis adopted is a fact that must be spread to all Somali muslims, so that they understand that we believed in something before Islam. Anyways I want to know: if using force will not solve anything then how does one achieve peace? How does one bargain with extermeists who use force to terriorize populations to do what they want? How does one come to the discussion/negotation table with men whom have soiled their hands with their brothers blood? How do we negotiate with people who will settle for nothing less than absolute power? I don't see anyway to deal with these blood thirsty extremeist wackos. I just don't. As for the Somali population as a whole, well that's where the problem comes in. Which elist do we side with? For me, I think we should not give up on our traditional culture. It should define us. I do not think that we can revert to our traditional culture entirely and just ignore the world (although it would be nice in some aspects) but that we should have a combination of our traditional culture with the western way of life. I think that if worked out that this would be a most amicable situation. The Western ideas would advocate and speak on behalf of Somalis. While the traditional culture would be incorporated into our justice system, a bit like a restorative practices, so that we not only marginalize our elders but give them status in society. I think that tinkered with properly an amicable setup could be made my the these two elites. We should never ever let the traditional culture erode but uphold it, remember its history, and apply it today. As for the third elite, well it is the one that has gotten us into this mess with Islamists returning to Somalia and demanding their way or the highway. I think that this elist group should not have any say in how the nation is governed. This is not Islam bashing. People are free to worship and believe whatever they see fit, it is just not right for them to dictate how and who others should believe in. So those are my two cents about the issue. Open to constructive crticism. But this just specualtion, what matters most is that the Somali people unite together as one and from there we can bring change. Peace (Cause you know we need some!)

Hey guys I am new here and I'd like to give my two cents on this topic. As someone already mentioned the real root of the Somali problem is based on culture rather than politics. I think there are many many many real problems that must be solved within the Somali culture in order to solve the mess "we" have become but there must be communication, which sometimes (if not always) is missing. There is too much saving face in the Somali community, and so problems aren't discussed and battled out but instead become the elephant(s) in the room. I think that if Somalis opened up forums and discussed why there is much self-hatred, why there is disunity among Somalis, why there is the slow slip of the Somali language, and how we can bring constructive solutions to these real problems we would be far ahead of our current situation. Rather we enjoy disunity amongst ourselves. I think that with the increase in communication we would end up with interesting discussions and real solutions to the various diseases that have been plaguing us for two decades this month. Thanks for reading and hopefully this leads us somewhere. Peace (Cause you know we really need some!)