^ It wont do them any harm either! Xiin, there wasn’t a ‘little dig’ in my post Aha? What was this? I note that you are one of those few blessed Xaliimos who happen to be intact, anatomically You actually brought me into the realm and made an assumption about me… then proceeded to marginalize that perception as the exception, when it should be the norm. But you don’t need to apologize for I’m not offended or think you intended to 'damage my character', however, the comment came across as slightly tasteless (I'm sure to Sheh too). how do you miss the wisdom of opposing creating new perceptions, and negative one at that, on poor Xalimos in the name of bringing attention to the FGM? Two things. 1. I don’t see the wisdom, hence why I asked you to explain it. 2. I don’t blv this in anyway conveys a ‘negative’ perception about the women. If they blv it to be a negative practice, then it re-affirms their inner belief that this isn’t right and that most people recognize it and share it. A patient born with a deformity, would be relieved to see pictures of other sufferers and how their deformities compare. Just being told about it doesn’t help at all. If not, then they should be informed of its effects – in pictures if the need be. They would also benefit from as many people out there condemning it as possible – whether Somali, western or western-Somalis. It takes a village, as the cliché goes, to fight this bad culture of ours, you would agree, and parading the wounds of the affected sisters is a poor strategy to achieve that goal, me thinks. Parading? Refer to point (2). How do you expect to fight this bad practice if people aren’t allowed to see it fully – in bold pictures better? It really doesn’t matter who the consumers or target audience for the book are. If some1 wants to write about FGM, they have every right to stick pictures in there and get their message fully across. Like Sheh said, FGM is part of Somali culture and as shameful as it might be for some of you, the world knowing about it does more good than harm. Why hide it anyway? As the Somali maahmah goes ‘wixii la qariyo qudhun baa ku jira’. Besides, if I picked up a book to read about the bizarre practices of a country... I’d expect there to be full accurate information with pictures if possible.

^ Khayr, who appointed you the muttawa on these boards? Yaab badana ninku! An interesting excerpt from 'somewhere ' on who the muttawa are for those who dont know. The muttawa—or religious police—are a self-elected goon squad of fundamentalists who surveil the Magic Kingdom's inhabitants, particularly its expatriates. The purpose of their scrutiny is to ensure conformity to their own warped, narrow-minded interpretation of Islam. Their scrutiny is often asinine and always absurd, as the following mundane example illustrates. A woman and her female friend were sitting on a bench in the Kingdom Mall, eating ice cream cones, when along came a muttawa, accompanied by a police officer. (You can always spot a muttawa by his beard, his thobe—the white gown worn by local men—that is always four or five inches too short, and a mien of profound hatred of all things different.) The muttawa approached the women, pointed a menacing claw, and hissed, "Don't lick it that way!" Not being an authority on the subject, I can't with any confidence say there isn't a sura buried somewhere in the Qur'an covering the moral etiquette of licking ice cream. I suspect, though, the muttawa had wandered a bit beyond his moral jurisdiction. "We just looked at each other," the woman told me. "I mean, how else are you supposed to eat an ice cream cone? You have to use your tongue, right? We just sat there and watched our ice cream melt until he wandered off. ****** muttawa." When the muttawa are not busy harassing women, ensuring unmarried men and women don't mingle, or using camel crops to whip sluggish pedestrians into mosques during prayer time, they are up to more sinister activities.

Xiin, we aren’t discussing me… but I can see how I left myself open for that little dig. In anycase, I don’t know why it’s the boys who are all in arms about this. Are you ashamed? If so, good...we should all be. If drawing huge pictures of FGM would make our people recoil with shame, I'd advocate for it to be put on the billboard boards in NY central + every other paper, everyday. FGM is a shameful practice, and one of the reasons its still ongoing is that people are too ashamed to talk about it, much less draw pictures of it. I'm all for exposing the backward, ignorant, cruel and barbaric practices in our society for the whole world to see... rotten is as rotten does. p.s. Maybe you can explain the ‘wisdom’ behind ur objection good old xiin? ‘shame the innocent for scars that were inflicted upon them’ sounds vague, implausible, and unhelpful in the long journey to putting an end to this cultural disease. For those of you who like sticking their heads in the sand, please leave the rest who are spreading the word (and pictures ) alone.

Originally posted by xiinfaniin: Why else would he choose to shame the innocent for scars that were inflicted upon them? Is this specific to FGM or do you reckon all people with diseases or deformities are offended by pictures of the same? I c no problems with the drawing of large pictures for those who cant visualise it or understand the severity of it... like myself.

Waw.. this section might have a shot at regaining its past glory Ladies, why dont we vote on who else to ban from this section? I noticed a certain Rend/Flip character positively shyting all over the place. I cant even bring myself to read the topics some of the boys participate in. I say lets root them all out...one at a time

A controversial article by an academic argues that a new breed of 'elite women' is creating rifts in female ranks and fundamentally changing society. Anushka Asthana and Denis Campbell report Sunday March 26, 2006 The Observer Chiara Cargnel wants to have it all: a high-flying career and a successful marriage. So far she is halfway there. At 26, she is an investment banker in London working over 70 hours a week and earning more than £80,000 a year. Cargnel, like many other young women, is excelling in a world many thought governed not by their rules, but by rules set and enforced by men. For the first time in history these 'elite women' can succeed in any career they want. According to a remarkable thesis that has blown open the debate around feminism, sexism and the future role of women, a new generation of bright, rich professionals have broken through the glass ceiling and have nothing to fear from the men around them. They will be just as successful. The thesis was expounded in a highly controversial article for Prospect magazine by Alison Wolf, a professor at Kings College London and author of Does Education Matter? She argues that the meteoric rise of this new generation of 'go-getting women' who want high-powered, well-paid jobs has dire consequences for society. Wolf says it has diverted the most talented away from the caring professions such as teaching, stopped them volunteering, is in danger of ending the notion of 'female altruism', has turned many women off having children - and has effectively killed off feminism. '[it is] the death of the sisterhood,' Wolf writes. 'An end to the millennia during which women of all classes shared the same major life experiences to a far greater degree than men. 'In the past, women of all classes shared lives centred on explicitly female concerns. Now it makes little sense to discuss women in general. The statistics are clear: among young, educated, full-time professionals, being female is no longer a drag on earnings or progress.' The article argues that the most educated women will now earn as much as men over a lifetime if they have no children. Even with children, the gap will be small. The desire to be successful acts as a major disincentive to women starting a family, Wolf argues. 'Families remain central to the care of the old and sick, as well as raising the next generation, and yet our economy and society steer ever more educated women away from marriage or childbearing,' she writes. 'The repercussions for our future are enormous, and we should at least recognise the fact.' The growth, Wolf argues, of the 'because I'm worth it' generation has led to the end of 'female altruism', where women would see the caring part of their life as normal. 'If you give 100 per cent to the job - if you behave like a man - the fact that you are a woman will not stop you,' Wolf told The Observer Wolf insisted her argument was not that the workplace revolution had been a 'terrible mistake' and admitted she had gained from it herself: 'I am not saying we should be driven back into the homes and not be allowed to work. I am not suggesting we reintroduce the marriage bar [which required female teachers and civil servants to stay single or resign in favour of male workers]. I am just saying there have been consequences.' Wolf's views will ignite fierce debate. It is a topic that is discussed at breakfast and dinner tables, and in restaurants and pubs across the country. Many women face the difficult decision of how to strike a balance between pursuing ambitious careers and focusing on motherhood. In that setting, Wolf's two main arguments will be met both with empathy and anger. She is wrong on one point, according to Katherine Rake, director of women's equality group the Fawcett Society. Rake argues that 'the sisterhood' is very much alive and rejects Wolf's thesis that women of all classes no longer share the same major life experiences. 'Women are not a homogeneous group, but we never have been,' said Rake. 'We are a diverse group, but we still share experiences.' Rake dismissed as 'an unfair portrayal' the idea that feminism focused overly on getting women into employment. She argued: 'The most interesting and radical strands of feminism value a whole variety of roles. It is about working on a balance between men and women and valuing unpaid work such as looking after the children.' She said women did not have a true choice about whether to take the larger burden of childcare because the pay gap meant it was often more economical for the woman to do it. She highlighted the fact that part-time work was often not available in the professions chosen by 'elite women'. Others argued that there was still a glass ceiling blocking the path of young professionals. Jenny Watson, chair of the Equal Opportunities Commission, accused Wolf of 'painting a rosier view than exists of the realities of women's lives' and ignoring the difficulties many women face when trying to resume their careers after a break to give birth. 'Wolf completely misses the point on several key issues,' said Watson. 'She does not reflect the fact that this whole debate about work and family is no longer only about women and these days involves, for example, fathers' increasing desire to be more involved at home. Women experience a thin veneer of equality, but that veneer often cracks once they take on a caring role.' Watson said many women with children faced difficulties finding flexible work and often ended up with poor pay, reduced promotion prospects and a lack of senior posts available on a job-share basis. It was the archaic rules on parental leave, she argued, rather than some high-flying women's desire to have a successful career, that were responsible for the declining birth rate. More leave for new fathers could address the imbalance. The decline in child birth rates is one of the 'grave consequences' of the rise of career-focused women that Wolf highlights. She points to a report by the Institute for Public Policy Research that tracks the trend. But Julia Margo, co-author of the report, said that 'elite women' who wanted to have more children were forced not to because they would lose too much income. Margo said the pay gap would be closed only if women could have children early on and still maintain their income. '[The present system] is deeply unfair for women,' she said. 'We will not close the pay gap until men take time out to look after children. Then employers will not think they cannot employ a woman in her late twenties or early thirties because they cannot afford maternity leave. As a society we have not caught up yet with the consequences of women in the labour market. Women manage by holding off one thing or another; they sacrifice children or they sacrifice their career.' It is a decision that is already haunting Cargnel, an archetypal 'elite woman'. From a young age she knew she wanted to go far in her career and until recently had no desire for children - but that is changing. 'I want to have a child eventually, but I will postpone the decision until the hours become more manageable as I advance in my career. You can't work from 8.30am till 11pm and look after a child.' She admitted that the ideal would be a husband in a more flexible job who would be prepared to take on above average responsibilities. 'But does such a man exist?' she said. Finding and keeping a partner is difficult because of her long hours. She is seeing a man who lives 200 miles away and admits that makes life easier. 'It would not last if he lived here. What man in the same city is happy to see you four days a month, and then when he sees you, you are tired?' It is a high price for success - Cargnel works six days a week and always faces being called in. Once she was called back from a holiday in Italy after just one day. Nevertheless, she finds time for charity and dismisses the idea that women like her fail to show their altruistic side by doing things like volunteering. Cargnel takes disadvantaged young people on week-long trips out of London. Being an 'elite woman' was not about acting like a man, she said, but about being a 'more complete individual' who no longer worries about finding a partner with enough money to look after her. 'I can choose a partner on affinity and love rather than money,' she said. Brought up to believe her sex did not matter, she was no longer sure. 'I always thought that gender would not matter if I was good at what I did. But I wanted to be in the diplomatic service back home in Italy and I went to see them and a senior diplomatic officer said to me - "You are a woman, why don't you just marry a diplomat?" ' Cargnel said in principle she would do as well as any man if she stayed single and childless. But she said a woman was still expected to be the main carer, and if she had children she would have to work harder than a father to get ahead. As such, she did believe society discriminated against elite women. 'There is a conception shared by women and men alike that you can be a good professional and have a career or a good woman and have a family. My ex-boyfriend had a mother who was educated but stayed at home and thought I was inappropriate because I wanted to travel the world and study at Cambridge.' But men, she argued, were allowed to have careers and families. 'Women are given up to a year off in maternity leave and men are given two weeks - that is intrinsically discriminatory, and an assumption that women should stay at home. I believe it should say men and women can take the same leave, so it is a true choice that we face.' Source

Are SOL Girls Losing Their Xishood? AU, what exactly is 'xishood'? How does it benefit me? Please answer. And while you're at it, give me a good reason aan kaaga xishoodo... . . . . Then I might...

Check, I never lived in India..unless a month's holiday counts. I went to an Indian School though. LOL@we shall overcome.... and countless others. I just remembered this song we used to sing in scouting and guiding camps called a thousand legged worm.. I still hum it to myself when I'm bored. Its funny and goes: Said the thousand legged worm, as he began to squirm, "Has anybody seen a leg of mine? If it can’t be found then I’ll have to hop around, on the other nine hundred, ninety-nine." Hop around, hop around, On the other nine hundred ninety nine, If it can’t be found then I’ll have to hop around, On the other nine hundred, ninety-nine. (then redo for nine hundred, ninety-eight,... until time is up...) Oh how I miss guide camps! They were the best part of school for me.. 3-4 days of just learning to tie knots and singing silly songs.

No1 could have possibly had a more memorable 22nd March than me. I didnt sleep all night, checking and rechecking my FYP... 11am- Left home to print two copies in high street shop. Paid 17 quid for each copy :mad: and I'll prolly get no xtra marks for doing it in colour. 12:10 - at reception to hand in only to realize page 9 has a reference thats in red text!! 12:25 - ran to computer centre and reprinted page 9. 12:35 - ran back to reception and they were closed for lunch. Waited an hour. 1:45 - handed it in. 3pm - home and in bed. NO MORE COURSEWORK - EVER! YIPPIEEEEEEEEEEE!

Originally posted by checkmate: Saareh Jahasei achaih Hindustan hamarah hamarah, I still remember the national anthem from singing it every morning for six long years. Are you sure you were awake those mornings? The national anthem of India is 'Jana Gana Mana'.. I know it 'cause I used to sing it every mornign for 7 longs years.

Congrats Khayr, may your newborn have a long and healthy life.

Amelia, Damn you! You just wasted precious 5 seconds of my time. Go to hell! ^^ and 3 seconds of my (night ) time. but Naden´s laughter compensated me I'm sorry. It was late late last nite. Some1 please delete this 'waste of time' topic.

Here's a one question IQ Test to help you decide how you should spend the rest of your day...... There is a mute who wants to buy a toothbrush. By imitating the action of brushing one's teeth, he successfully expresses himself to the shopkeeper and the purchase is done. Now if there is a blind man who wishes to buy a pair of sunglasses,how should he express himself? Think about it first before looking down for the answer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Scroll Down . . . . . . . . . . He opens his mouth and says. "I would like to buy a pair of sunglasses" If you got this wrong -- please turn off your computer and call it a day. I've got mine shutting down right now....

Vid on famine

Khadir, Those were excellent points. I've been toying with the idea of posting a topic on polygamy and its abuse and as the eureka effect goes, you took it right out of my mind. You might be interested to read this post on the same topic.

oh Xiin, I saw this and thought about you . Enjoy. isniger.

Hi Baashi, Here is another clip (783) from the 'tough cookie'.

Bro Nur , Excellent topic. Thanks from me as well. I hope the sisters take the time to reply to this topic. p.s. Even Baashi has changed his tone. Nur, you're something. Kolba dhinac baad noo kaxaysaa..

An agreement on polygamy? That might hurt my reputation. Last night before sleeping, I thought about the different scenarios I would find polygamy acceptable or even an agreeable solution, after all, it’s a provision provided by Allah. I come up with a dime a dozen cases. Polygamy isn’t something I’m actually exposed to in my immediate families (just opposed to for some weird reason ) and positively in the few cases I’ve come across. So its hard for me to see the positive as opposed to the negative consequences of such. This might need a bit research and time to put together objectively. I’m in the process of finishing my last project for this year in school… so I’A I’ll reply next week.

Ah, nice a$$..erm.. I mean...pic. Pics.

Xiin, But the real winner in this debate is eNuri Soft Wano. The looser is the reactionary lot who habitually dwell in past grievances.I have a third eye, so to speak, that sees what you can’t see. I see the efforts of eNuri and its intent to educate, and raise awareness about certain issues. Though I don’t expect this site to be an amen-corner for Nur’s message I still like people to competently disagree and pen their difference without lowering the bar of the debate. And yes I am one of those who really appreciate these efforts. I deeply believe that Nur is doing a work that we all neglected to do. When most of us come to this medium to debate trivial issues or simply have a chat, the good brother brings a much needed dimension in to our discourse. He brings dacwah. He addresses and tackles issues that are very sensitive and controversial. And more importantly he reminds us our maker in a very creative way. While some of us are appreciative, some are not. That’s fine too. But some immaturely decided to stalk the good sheikh and, in effect, interrupt his message in an uncivilized manner. Grades, winners, losers…Yaa kaa dhigey the arbitrator of this thread? It seems to me, you and the other self-appointed guardians of Nur are the ones who ‘habitually dwell in past grievances’ without giving each topic its own merit and pointing out the obvious negative aspects of his dacwah (if we can loosely use that term to describe this post). 90% of Nur’s topics (mainly in the Islamic section) run smooth with enough JZK and thank yous... so he can hardly complain about being tailed by an Anti-Nur-Alliance (ANA ). However, when Nur approaches women-specific issues, he tends to be one-dimensional or unduly hard on the sisters. As a result, he expectedly gets like/harsh responses. Bro Nur, All that is wrong with your perspective on the issue and these constant re-runs of polygamy have been said. I hope you take them all into consideration before the next big idea of how to sing the same song and probably in the same tune, hits you. But if you want my suggestions on how you can turn things around, here goes some ‘nice’ topics you can choose to write on next: 1) Monogamy – The ideal family lifestyle. 2) Polygamy – How Somalis abuse it. 3) Sacrificing for your family’s well being - The male perspective. G’luck. AbdulNoor, . Nah, I still fancy myself an indhayar man. Heh.

Xiin, stop patronizing me with your grades and get to work on the ‘nice comeback’. It is you who I’m addressing (and slightly hoping to save from the e-nuri ship wreck). Make sure its not titled ‘it’s a girl’ and if you must, appropriately title it ‘look, another one to cook bariis’. Thanks.

^ Stop grinning. Jawariya, you cant spare him then. Infact, you need him more. At 45 and over, kids are grown up, plenty of more spare time for you, you’re going through a lot of hormonal changes thus deducting from sense of worth, there is lack of venues of over 50ties to socialize etc. You need company more.

This is how I feel about the underground.

^ Double Ouuc. I saw the pic and thought 'Galkacyo, here I come!' Whats wrong with Capitalism? Whats wrong with making money? Lets get real ppl.. No incentive = No investment. Altruism is good, but cannot be the only driver.