Rayyan...Atleast you see that, but the rest of the world wants to shut its eyes and ears to it because it will not suit them, just as anyone with the upper hand would. All of that aside, this generation really needs to take the next step towards decolonisation, and we have it a little better in the sense that we are in the West, vote in the West and pay taxes in the West, we are a lot more influential than we think, if only we came together as a very loud collective. just think of how many people this troubles. Benson and Hedges - Im surprised you think that way. Do you have access to some sort of device that allows one to see what the world would have been like if it wasnt for XYandZ? Most of these technologies that you see arent originally Western, you know that, and people have been sailing and trading ideas for millenias, who says we wouldnt have advanced?

To those of you who believe that an apology amounts to little/nothing/an insult, I partially agree you with you. An isolated apology which is not followed on by pressure to mark it as a Holocaust, and then agree on defining the terms of reparation is a travesty. The issue of reparations themselves is currently contentious one for many people of African descent, but it really does boil down to fear of gaining little or nothing from negotiation. If France were allowed to take compensation from Haiti for 'freeing' the slaves there, how can people morally not fight for the losses of their now descendants? The same issue in the other African diasporas like the States and the Caribbean, they have lost out on perhaps trillions due to slavery (trade, land + interest being of prime concern). The question isnt whether it is right or wrong to correct the past, it is simply gaining a cohesive narrative going between all affected by it. Getting the West to admit to this is a very small part of a struggle for freedom. Recognition of the atrocities as just that; atrocities, is the very first step, without pushing for it to be recognised as such, you will forever be labelled an extremist and much worse. The struggle to liberate Africa of its current colonised status, begins with getting to grips with what preceded this situation. So yes, colonialsim and slavery still exist, but in order to tackle these, we have to start from the base it was built upon.

Originally posted by *Ibtisam: ^^I think that is how EVERYONE on SOL thinks of us. :eek: Lool, nice, at least one of us is thinking about it. I hate the place, last night I was having a nytmare of all these headshaking people chasing me and chanting :eek: Youre so funny

Tony Blair did not apologise for slavery, he paid it lip service, and not even very well, journalists had to ask whether or not it can even be classed as an official apology. Loosely expressing regret, but not doing anything about it is not an apology. Jaceylbaro - You are right, on its own an apology means nothing, but accepting that it was a 'holocaust' leads to people asking for reparations (not always financial ofcourse, perhaps structural) but that wont happen yet because that means losing power in Africa and its diaspora. Im angered as to why more isnt being done to hold the West accountable for the indignities of slavery and colonisation. It must be taken by force from them, and they must be held accountable. They are still reaping the rewards from slavery, heck, their entire ideology and economies (imperialism and capitalism) were in large part built (literally)on the backs of other people. Im disgusted, sickened and angered (Im not using hyperbole loosely here)that they are allowed to be so bloody selective in their morality. The issue of race is being twisted for electoral purposes, so that the smarter, more selective and yet still racist parties can win more seats from groups like the BNP in Britain and the One Nation party in Australia. This is the perfect time for questions to be asked if only people wernt stigmatised for using 'race' in an argument, when race is now part of the issue.

Gordon Brown has apologised for sending white child migrants for indentured labour to British colonies, but his predecessor has in the past outright refused to apologise for the African Holocaust (Trans Atlantic Slavery) and colonisation. What is wrong with this picture? Fanon was right when he asserted that the West is built on many things, but their ideology is narcissism as narcissism lies in the heart of dominance. What is more narcissistic than apologising only to those who look like you and have completed their intended role of creating the ultimate ideal settler colonies which the West are now freely able to claim? Where are the apologies for the Zimbabweans robbed of their land? The 'Aboriginal' Australians? The American 'Indians' etc? Moreover, where is the anger from colonised and enslaved peoples? http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/8531945.stm http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/feb/20/forced-migrant-australia-brown-apology

You guys should see him drunk...I dont know why, but drunk midgets are hilarious..he cant hold a cigarette properly either.

Sounds excellent from the trailer, an anti knife crime movie that actually looks exciting.

Although we should be celebrating the good fortune of having such a fruitful harvest, we should also be careful when examining the impact that Shabaabs policies are having on this issue as a whole. The artcle states that: "Populations in Hiran and other central Somali regions that have received less rainfall remain mired in crisis, with around 70 percent of the population still in need of aid, according to the FSNAU report." It would be wise to limit the amount of food aid in proportion to the needs of farmers, however Al Shabaab do not possess that level of bargaining power due to the West's violent oppostion to them, and the economic needs of the West to further perpetuate that dependency. This would make it very difficult to gain the balance we need in Somalia. One sure fire way of helping local farmers would also be easing the process of transporting produce because a lot of valuable crop goes to waste in transit through isbaaro, bad roads that lead to crashes etc.

LOL Soo ma'ahan? ceeb badanaa

Whats with all the credit card information...exactly which type of lady are you used to talking to :confused:

Ngonge, Ive been scheming a way to use that word all day. Ibtisam is just a stubborn one, you know she is just being facetious! Scarface....mmkaay.

Originally posted by *Ibtisam: Maxaatiri, I'm sure you will find out on your own that I WAS right all along and guys don not have the ability to be just friends. I will try and not say the "I told you so, too loudly" OK Ibti, this is a brick and wall situation, there is no way of convincing either person

NGONGE yes...and not all single people are perpetually frustrated...that would make life really hard!

What calaacal LOL! Ive had my fare share of chatting up bus drivers, but only when I forget to put money on my bus pass

LOL someone got touchy. BTW - I didnt mean any insult by that at all, so please dont take it personally.

You two sound sexually frustrated...you shouldnt confuse platonic feelings for sexual ones.

Originally posted by chocolate & honey: This is a very interesting, very touchy issue for women. There is a bit of stigma attached to being single at certain age. However, I can safely say the days where one stood out like a sore thump for being single is gone. Today’s women have far more choices than any other women in the history of mankind. Yet, this whole thing is so confusing because at the core of this issue is this need for companionship and offspring(if one is blessed to have some). It’s in our nature to have desires and to have those desires fulfilled there is only one option available to us Muslims and that option is marriage. I don’t believe Co-habitation is a good alternative(even for non Muslims)because like you mentioned, the women get the short end of the stick however you slice it. If a woman is not interested in marriage and kids, FINE! No one should shove that down her throat. But if a woman desires to get married and have kids, she should be realistic. For one thing, there is an expiration date. It would be nice if we didnt lose our ability to reproduce at a certain age. While I don’t advocate for lowering standards(God knows we have plenty of women who settled for men far less than them and woke up the nightmare that is a failed marriage) and building a home with any man, I think women need to be a bit realistic about certain choices. No one is perfect. There is certainly no Knight coming to your rescue. No one will have or be able to provide all that you want/desire. I feel like this culture has failed today’s women. They’re told they can have it ALL! The hot career, the handsome guy with money, looks, intelligence, nice background, education, personality, ambitious, manly yet sensitive, good listener, loyal, present in child rearing, a man who will hand write a beautifully love letter while ironing your underwear after he comes home from his office . Women are looking for the perfect illusion and men are too. Because of this expectation, many waited and waited only to find out there isnt such creature in sight. But the most important thing of all is CALAF. You will never miss anything that’s meant to be yours and you will never get anything that isn’t no matter how perfect the situation is. Thank you for the perfect response to my confusedly written babble...You are right, what lies at the heart of all of this is that regardless of societal pressure for change/no change...what remains is biology, and that is what determines things for some people in the end.

Originally posted by *Ibtisam: :eek: :eek: Cadubilah min shidaan raajiim, tuuf tuuf fatixa aan ku aqrin Maxaatiri, jiraad allah ha ka biyo. Men and women can never be JUST friends. Stop telling yourself lies and jokes. Maba dhici karato, regardless of if he is married or your with someone, forget about it if you are both single. You can however be social hello’s, bye, hi, how is the family, see ya type of friends anything more than one 15min call a month and running into them for 2mins once every three months is hazards. LOOOOL naa ha na habaarin! Me is only making jokey jokey Thats rubbish, I have male friends Ive known for years who would be sick at the thought of anything more, and theyd have knowingly jeopardised anything considering how they talk about women and behave around women in front of me. Ive introduced them to women they might like, hung out with their girlfriends, watched TV with them, gone out with them and have never felt a thing. Obviously there is a crossing of the line...but for me that is when you send obvious and innapropriate sexual messages (body language, flirty texts, certain touches etc). Everyone knows their boundary and knows they shouldnt cross it if they want to remain friends. I think its sad you think that way, its so limiting only befriending one sex.

Im sure she knows the difference between a joke and a *****y comment, she strikes me as very stable and funny herself. I dont care to promote either, whatever makes someone happy, just dont label and judge people based on what you think is right for everyone at any stage in their lives.

Resistance...its neither, waa pro choice un. Ibti is a closet lesbian and Im dont know any of the characters here well enough to want to woo them. It basically occurred after I had been pitied by unhappily married Somali elders for being single...basically there is nothing wrong with either condition and we should avoid stereotypes. Im hoping more people can be single if they want to be and friends with both sexes without fear of mixed feelings. LOL @ Juxa

LOL Ibti, you are hilarious! That is very rational dating..ofcourse anyone would hate games...but being careful about who you think you may or may not want to marry and if that is even important to you is not ilbax or a half. Being pragmatic in the choices you make in your life will help you live it better, we simply have differing opinions on what that pragmatism actually entails. And yes, people are a myriad of puzzles, but its a good thing to find one or two genuinely great things/things you like about a person before you commit...I use the same process when Im choosing friends too, because they are equally important to someone's wellbeing and whatnot.

Im sure many sex addicts would need 'a helping hand' Who dates to shop for marriage, sometimes its because you just want to get to know them! nd get to know them without such insane leaps of the imagination..its precisely that kind of pressure that ruins dates with Farah, Mahamed and Abdi. And who says these 'less manly' men are 'hanging around'? Maybe theyre just trying to figure you out? Figure out whether or not they even like your personality...so if theyve waited a long while before the marriage talk, its because they might know you better...its very, very weird to look at a woman you do not know and think of her as a potential wife and visa versa. PS- I must add that I do not view all Somali men a certain way, these very same attributes have also been relayed to me by friends from other marriage loving communities and are not symptomatic of the all Somalis either.

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Lol mimi si Mchanga, nilisoma Kiswahili kule Tanzania bara na Kenya, halafu sasa siwezi kuongea aina moja, mara kwa mara mimi ni mbaharia wa Amu, siku nyingine Mkunguru I agree its a matter of choice and for some it works..personally Faraxs and Mohameds lose all personality when they chat a girl up, or maybe I just feel that they do...as mates theyre awesome, but as a date they give you the Spanish inquisition and talk about marriage on the first date...anyone would be scared crapless and run away. And also spending enough time around male friends/cousins/colleagues...you care less for them, they become too normal and you know you can hold out for as long as forever and it wouldnt mean anything. Sex is also incredibly overrated, there are people who live happy lives and die virgins if that is what theyre like. If you have uncontrollable urges, its best to see a sex therapist no? Happiness is not exaggerated, but I think a lot of people confuse it with contentment, that is what people are actually looking for, noone is happy all the time, but contentment makes life that much more easier. Asante dadaangu 5 - You wont see one of those because its always the band-aid kids that make marriage life bearable...we all know theyre not really all that happy.

5 - Dont you wish you could read and write Persian, imagine how much better it would be reading them? Naxar - thanks a lot, really nicely put together video