Most girls are "too modern" now days, atleast for me. I think girls should be more like their mothers, grandmothers, cuz women of old days had it. Girls can be 'Modern' and decent but it depends on how they carry themselves, attitudewise. I have seen girls who try to be 'modern' by bieng on your face, agrassive,confrontational, which I don't consider good traits. As long as I hold true to my ground, people will fallow Don't you think, its better to let others lead sometimes?..for the benefit of both parties, atleast sometimes.

I have a feeling the author has somewhat of a political motivation himself ^^I agree, African Rights got issues with Riyaale, wasn't the director of this orgination who wrote the damaging article about Riyaale's bad record right b4 the elections? they are bais.

kaalay, habar walba ma waxay u ordaysaa madaxtinimo :confused: Who is running for rest of the government offices? Are there any requirements for somali presidency? like must born in somalia, age limit etc.

Thanks for input nomads. I don't really have strong opinion on this. Since i hvn't seen bantu being refused access to education or employment because they were bantu. Also, hven't seen anyone who denies their claim. Opinionated: :lol: @ "somalis are becoming quite influencial minority in the U.S" ...huh? why wasn't I notified? .lol, u are being notified now, Minnifab is happening...we got this place on lock....why else would minor things about us make it to front page news?

Hebla Sis, your observation is just little off target, i don't know about london but in the U.S we have our share of J.lo aspirant girls Nonetheless,I think the problems with our youth are genderless. There are many possible causes, but most significant is the parent. The parents are to blame most of the time. They don't take full responsibility for their children anymore. I remember back home, parents use to be in the kids case 24/7, like where u at, did u do HW, dugsi, who u hanging with. All of this use to be important to parents. But now days, kids do what ever they wish and parents don't sweat it. Also, i think the greater number of single parents know days have something to do with it, cuz single parents are more likely to have problems with controlling their kids. Parents need to reclaim responsibility for their kids, and stop depending on school admin, counselors, etc. Hebla: they all want to be IT technicians I thought we had surplus of Political sceince, Inter.relations majors,lol maybe not.

sup fella...yeah man...am happy for them. they all in Maine...Innit Not really, they all over, like Denver,Atlanta et.

lets see... Q. Do you think it will attaract a cross-section of students? I think it has a lot of potentials. It will all depend on how they promote it. For example, somali university or puntlanlanders university. So far it looks like it will succeed in attracting cross section of students because the responce from somalis has been positive. I have been to a fundraising for this uni and all kinds of somalis were there, particularly non-puntlanders were there, that says something. I just hope admin and faculty don't change once they establish them selves. Q. Do think it will survive? Well, it will depend on how things play out next few years or so,political wise. Also, attemps are made for education in different parts of somalia, i think they should share resources and i think somalis abroad should do anything that is possible to aid these attempts. Q. What are its implications? What does it say about Somaaliya today and its future? I think it speaks volumes. After all it proves somalis are not savage animals. It says the future for somalis is getting little brighter. "maybe we could set up a partnership in the near future to get students in europe or america to help setup, teach, train or provide equipment there" ^^great suggestion. Here is another suggestion. The universities should set-up scholarship for student from different regions. For example, Mogadisho uni will offer scholarships to students who went to high school in different city like Bosasso, Hargaisa or kismaayo. Likewise, East Afr uni and Hamuud uni or Hargaisa uni, will over scholarship to students from different regions. I think this will make somali cities more diverse, so decades from now we don't have to deal with land claims or tribal territories. Adios

There have been a lot of news about somali bantu lately. Somalis coming to America is not news worthy issue. However this particular groups situation is different, atleast thats what we are told. There have been reports this group have been enslaved, beaten, tortured by somalis. Do you nomads think this is legitimate claim by the bantu or made up stories to get sympathetic ear from western society? Or do you think foreigners(white)are behind this to undermine somalis and give them negative image, because somalis are becoming quite influencial minority in some states in the U.S, also read the flowing article and please tell us your take. ---------------------------------------- By Helen Nyambura Nairobi - Fresh from a crash course in modern living, black Somalis fleeing war and prejudice leave this week for new lives in the United States, many swearing they will never go back to Africa. "We were poor, we were small (unimportant) in Somalia," said Hassan Musa Lamungu, among 70 impoverished Somali Bantu - black African - refugees flying from the Kenyan capital Nairobi in batches on Tuesday evening and Wednesday evening. "Whenever we took our children to school, they (Somalis) hit our heads and called us 'adon' (slave) and sent us back home with our children," added the 42-year-old father of nine. 'My children will go to school' "Now, I am at peace. My children will go to school". One of Africa's longest suffering peoples, the minority tribe of descendants of slaves from Mozambique and other parts of southern Africa has tended to be ostracised by Somalis, who are a fairer-skinned, Cushitic people, because of different physical, cultural and linguistic characteristics. Washington agreed in February to take the whole tribe of 11 800, who have been living in camps in north-eastern Kenya for most of the past decade because of the violence in Somalia. The Horn of Africa country degenerated into anarchy with the overthrow of military ruler Mohammed Siad Barre in 1991. A transitional government sits in Mogadishu but has no power over the rest of the country, divided between numerous warlords. The refugees have had security checks, medical examinations, literacy training and cultural orientation to ensure they integrate. Aid officials have also taught the tribe, denied formal education in Somalia, the nitty gritty of modernity. 'I will never, never come back to Africa' The refugees are taught how to switch on and change light bulbs, flush the toilet and turn on taps. "We tell them that once in America, women and men are considered equal and men should not even think of hitting their wives - and no spanking of children," an aid official said. At a transit centre in Nairobi, aid officials handed out bags containing diapers, underwear and snacks to nursing mothers dressed in blue ankle-length dresses. Amina Dadiri will head a household of six when she gets to Salt Lake City - two children of her own and three other youngsters. The 25-year-old has been abandoned by her husband. She speaks only a few words of English, but says that will not be a deterrent to her success in the land of opportunity. "Me and my children, we will all go to school. I will cultivate land if that is all there is for me to do. Nobody will take away my crop by force," she smiled. Somali Bantus say that their farm produce was usually taken away from them at gunpoint by their Cushitic countrymen. In October, the United States threatened to exclude families that were circumcising their daughters from the emigration list. The refugees rushed to circumcise their daughters while in the Kenyan camps when they learnt the practice was outlawed in the United States. But 60-year-old Khadija Abdi says they will abide by the law of their new country. "We will follow the law over there," Abdi says. "We don't want problems. I will never, never come back to Africa." Most of the tribe are conservative Muslims. But Nurto Omar, Lamungu's wife, says that if there are no Muslim or black people to marry her daughters, then any suitable suitor would do. "If they love one another, I have no problem with it."

Jazekelah ilhaam, very inspirational.

^^Ladies don't miss it, I have seen Q2 in mpls few wks ago its hilarious. The whole experience was like that of khayrs description. enjoy it

Those days were something else, werent they? fascinating wallahi. Thanks nomads

^^^^^^someone needs to empty their pm!

Lakkad wallahi shaqo la'an.com ,,what happen to u these days?too bussy? anyway Ilhaan + Tamina (this 2 sisters Are just like twinns in my eyes) ^^^u right about this, they do resemble each other. Both of em sweet.

I just wish we stop catogorizing each other, how hard is it to be just SOMALI?

I just wish we stop catogorizing each other, how hard is it to be just SOMALI?

I just wish we stop catogorizing each other, how hard is it to be just SOMALI?

I just wish we stop catogorizing each other, how hard is it to be just SOMALI?

even if you're the richest person on earth, when your time comes your money won't leave with you but your camal will Well put.....

Greater somalia is a live after all? i been hearing a lot of encouraging news about somalia lately walahi, this is good. My dream is to go for a road trip once in my life from kismaayo to hargaysa, swing by dhagaxbuur and camp out in between. What? you can't blame me for dreaming.lol

My condollences to Mohamed's Family and Friends. Samir iyo imaan, Janada illahay ha ka waraabiyo mohamedna.

ameenah i agree, she is a spoof after all, lol but do u think she is telling the truth about her family, like her mom being somali and killed?...check the bold part in the middle. I really doubt her whole identity, also why would she want to pose nude on the backside of her books being from muslim family as she claims, strange.

Muja Good argument, but this hardly qualifies as a revolution. Because since i can remember some somalis were doing this. Although is up to us to choose what ever route we want. I would not encourage arrange marriage. Because i think its extremely of importance to know what you getting your self into before marriage and whether you think its non-starter is not really the point. Also, there is no statistical data on how successful arrange marriages are in western society. I understand arrange marriages may have been successful back home because there were other factors that kept the husband and wife together. However, here in the west, the situation is very different. for example, women are not dependant on their husband. She can basicly drop him as soon as she feel like it. But back home, divorce was a taboo, and no one wanted to be in that situation. So families worked hard to keep it together. Further, some couples may end up in divorce because they weren't compatible to bagin, it has nothing to do with arrange or not. Lastly, Getting to know each other before marriage works only if both people are honest with each other and don't commit sinna. .forgive me if am not making sense, its too early for me. peace

'Anti-Islam' books spark fatwa Author speaks out despite warning from bin Laden By Art Moore © 2002 WorldNetDaily.com To say that Kola Boof is the target of a fatwa sentencing her to death for blaspheming Islam only begins to tell the story of this controversial Sudanese-born author. Sudanese-born author Kola Boof Boof, who is now under the protection of U.S. government agents, told WorldNetDaily that her first book about women who live under Islam prompted a phone call from Osama bin Laden, with whom she had become acquainted in Marrakesh, Morocco. "If I had the time, I would come there and slit your throat myself," she recalls bin Laden saying in February 1998. Along with bin Laden, Boof's poetry collection in 1997 angered many Muslims in North Africa, but her writing did not meet the full wrath of militant Muslims until Sept. 26, when Sudanese diplomat Gamal Ibrahim issued the fatwa. The decree, calling for her to be beheaded, was given after a Shariah court in London's Islamic community declared her guilty of "deliberately and maliciously bearing false witness against religious sentiment and of willing treason against her Arab Muslim father's people and against her nation, the Sudan." Supporters of Boof maintain her real offense is to speak out against oppression of women by Muslims and to cast a spotlight on the slavery and genocide carried out by Sudan's Islamist regime. 'I don't believe bin Laden's behind the fatwa,' she said. 'But I have no doubt that he would support it. He would be saying, 'They should have killed her years ago.'" Intimidation On Thursday, a handful of demonstrators gathered on Boof's behalf in front of the Sudanese Embassy in Washington, D.C., and outside the United Nations building in New York City. Publicists for the event included Sudan activist Maria Sliwa, who said only about a dozen showed up. Intimidation by the Sudanese Embassy and by people claiming to be members of Louis Farrakhan's Nation of Islam scared away others who wanted to protest, organizers insist. One week ago, the vice president of the Washington, D.C., chapter of the United Negro Improvement Association was told by a representative of the Sudan Embassy to not participate in the demonstration. The UNIA said it urged the embassy to issue a statement rescinding the fatwa, but was refused Another demonstration, in Los Angeles, had to be canceled, Boof said, because the organizer was so terrified about Farrakhan's people calling her that she pulled out." The author also said people claiming to represent Jesse Jackson called her, insisting that she cancel an appearance at Loveland Baptist Church in Fontana, Calif., pastored by Sudan activist Chuck Singleton. They were saying "don't move on this, just shut up and be quiet for a minute and let things be ironed out," she said. Boof noted, however, that when a fatwa is put on one's life, there is no sense in being quiet. "If I'm going to be dead soon, I might as well just go and scream," she told WND. Jihad and genocide Boof says that since February, she has personally received warnings from Sudanese government officials to be silent. Sudan's National Islamic Front leader Hasan Turabi, who ostensibly is under house arrest, called Boof on Sept. 26, after the fatwa was issued. "He said, 'Kola, you're dead,'" she recounted. "He told me point blank, 'You re going to be killed, we can't do anything with you; you don't want to shut up.'" Some observers of the NIF government say the house arrest is mostly a show for the U.N., and that Turabi still is giving orders to the front lines of Sudan's war with the south. Boof said she had become acquainted with Turabi, who told her, "Kola, I tried to go to bat for you, I've been warning you for almost a year now that you are causing a lot of trouble by being flamboyant." The Khartoum regime has declared a jihad against the mostly Christian and animist south that has resulted in more than 2 million deaths and 4.5 million displaced people in the past two decades. The U.S. Congress has termed the government's actions genocide and recently passed a bill, the Sudan Peace Act, that punishes the Islamist regime for its atrocities. Secretary of State Colin Powell called the kidnappings, killings, rape and enslavement "the worst human rights nightmare on the planet." "As a black African woman, I cannot and will not be silent as black men in Arab nations are chained up like dogs to the back doors of Muslim households and fed, literally, from doggie bowls," Boof said in a statement she issued regarding the fatwa. "I will not be silent as African women are raped, mutilated and mentally demeaned by sadistic human beings calling themselves children of Allah. I will not be silent as the number of little black boys who are sodomized by their Arab masters continues to soar, while even worse atrocities attend the lives of little black girls." Atrocities too close to home Boof said she was about 10 to 12 years of age – there are no records of her birth – when her Egyptian father and Somali mother were slaughtered in their backyard in 1978 by Arab Murahleen bandits for speaking out too openly about the coming Arab regime. She was then put up for adoption by her Egyptian grandmother, who felt that because Kola was "too dark," she would not fit into the family and only be subject to ridicule. Through UNICEF, she went to London and was adopted by an Ethiopian family, who eventually gave her up. The family thought she might be a witch, according to Boof, because she was "so talkative and intelligent for a girl child." UNICEF eventually placed her in a black family in Washington, D.C., in 1980.. In an interview yesterday on Pacifica radio, Boof was challenged by a representative of the Sudan Embassy in Washington, who insisted that she was not Sudanese. Boof says, however, that she was born in Omdurman, which is part of north Khartoum, a fact that has been substantiated by many members of the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement, who knew her father, including leader John Garang. Boof said she remembers being in Garang's home as a girl. She said she is familiar with the kind of atrocities recounted by ex-slave Frances Bok, who stood with President Bush as he signed the Sudan Peace Act on Oct. 21. "I witnessed the kind of raids he's talking about, where Arab men will come in on horses in the little villages, and they'll shoot all the men in the head, and then they'll kidnap the children and women, and you never see those people again." The Khartoum government is paying for these militia she maintains, "no matter what they say. Everybody there knows." As a child, she said she witnessed a woman with six daughters who could not bear a son be rolled up in her dowry carpet and burned alive after gasoline was poured on her. Critics charge Boof is not qualified to speak about Sudan's current situation because she has not lived there for 20 years, and her most recent visit was in the mid-1990s. "I'm saying, Sudan was just declared a terrorist nation [by the U.S.], so why should I have to have been there lately?" she asked. "It's the same thing going on." Anti-Islam tone Boof said she writes about black women's lives, but quotes that are negative toward Islam invariably appear throughout her work. " I can't deny it, there is a definite anti-Islam tone to all my books," she said. "And, in fact there is an anti-Arab [tone]. That, I can't deny." The end of her latest book includes an interview in which she confesses her prejudice against Arab people. "I've admitted I need to work on getting over some of these traumas," she said, "But what else am I to think when Arabs have only murdered my father and mother and harassed people, burned up women in carpets? I mean, that's my view of Arab people." She said she recognizes that there are many peace-loving Arabs who are trapped under the Khartoum regime, which she calls a "mafia government." Though Boof considers herself a "pagan rebel" who would not vote for George W. Bush, she admires the president's stand against Iraq and warns Americans to not trust Arab nations. "I love this country; I think this is the best country on earth, " she said, noting that while she cannot give details of the U.S. protection she is under, "they're treating me like a queen." Selling some books Boof admits that some of the controversy surrounding her work has to do with a contract that requires her to appear topless on the back of her books. This is a representation of her animist African beliefs, she said. "Even many Africans complain, [saying], 'Kola, we could use you so much better if you weren't doing that.'" Her previous books have never sold more than 8,000 copies, but amid the current controversy, her latest title, "Long Train to the Redeeming Sin: Stories About African Women," is rocketing up the Amazon.com sales chart. She notes that this has given some cheer to her publisher in Rabat, Morocco, which suffered the firebombing of its building because of her work. "They're like, 'Well at least she's selling some books for a change.'" Boof insists that she did not want to make public her acquaintance with bin Laden, but was forced to reply to recent claims in the Spanish press by a former roommate, Lourdes Harris, that she had an affair with bin Laden in Marrakesh. That claim was picked up by a "diary" column in the London Guardian on Oct. 24. The Sudanese writer denies the story, but admits that bin Laden tried to pick up on her at a restaurant and later came to her hotel room. "I can't deny he was in the room," she said. "He was only there because I was trying to get out of being around him without getting hurt." Bin Laden is known to have lived in Sudan for several years after being expelled from Saudi Arabia in 1991. Boof said she came across bin Laden in North Africa while trying to establish a career as an actress. ----------------- Anti-Islam: Somali Lady Sparks 'FATWA' Never heard of her, I doubt her story, what do you nomads think?

Nomads, glad u found the article usefull whether u agreed with or not. couple of points.. There is a tone that the non-muslim places of worship are better than ours! Professionalism wise, they are better, and the author is contant with being muslim, simply pointing out the flaws. Put aside for a moment the faulty theology and mistaken notions that were taught in those places. refering to church and synagogues. I'm quite happy being Muslim no matter what the strengths or weaknesses of my community are. above 2 quotes are from the article. the only thing in my opinion that the imaam needs is the knowledge of islam, Yes, if the imaan is only leading salat or teaching the quran, but when it comes to running a western muslim community, imaams could use training on other subjects, atleast good english would be usefull. I'm not going to the masajid because it doesn't have food, singing, and more singing, no! Ha..who asked you to go masjid for food or singing? the author was encouraging us to go to the masjid for more than just salat, to seek the help of the imaan in every aspect of our life, counseling,advice etc. What's wrong with that? I think we should examine our own masjids and make sure these problems don't exist. As Tamina testified there is lack of professionalism in a lot of masjids, whether we want to admit it or not. The author may have been little harsh in getting his point across but still there is a problem and we need to corrected. Khayr made good points, but disagree with below quote In anycase, if you don't have an alternative solution, I suggest that then you should stay quiet and not try to cause fitnah in the masjids and muslim community. brother, i don't think point out problems is 'cause fitnah'. Actually the solution is there, simply training imaams to deal with contemporary issues or hiring competent imaams is the solution. About the author, he has written numerous articles about islam and contemporary issues, he is founder of Amirah publishing.

I found this article interesting, enjoy it. --------------- By Yahiya Emerick Where do you go if your son is rebelling? What do you do when your daughter wants to marry someone against your wishes? Your uncle is feeling depressed lately. Who can help him recover? Your spouse is too materialistic and is neglecting the spiritual life of your family? Who can help? If you have ever been faced with issues similar to these, then you have probably tried to get help in the one place where you would expect to get it: the Masjid. Perhaps you called or paid a visit to the Masjid office in the hopes of finding a sympathetic ear, or maybe you met with the Imam or director to discuss what's ailing your life. But if your experience is like most people in most places, you wound up having to look elsewhere for assistance. You just couldn't find the support you needed in your local house of worship. Maybe no one answered the phone; maybe your calls were never returned or, if you did manage to get a personal meeting, perhaps the Imam or director spoke little English or merely used the opportunity to lecture you on fiqh issues. Hardly a solution to real life problems! If we say the Masjid is the focal point of the community and open its doors five times a day for prayer, shouldn't the Masjid be open for other needs the believers have as well? But what I've seen all too often is that those who build and operate the Masajid have little expertise in organizing a life-giving institution. Just because someone can make a million dollars living off medical insurance billings doesn't mean he can run a spiritual and communal project! What I'm telling you is not the disgruntled ramblings of an emotional person. I'm quite happy being Muslim no matter what the strengths or weaknesses of my community are. After having visited countless Masajid across the country, I wish merely to call your attention to a most pressing issue; that of the need for professionalism in the Masajid. I don't know how many of you are "reverts," or, people who have accepted Islam, but if you are reading this, do you remember what going to church or the synagogue was like in earlier years? Put aside for a moment the faulty theology and mistaken notions that were taught in those places. Remember what the structure was like. If you needed counseling, the minister or rabbi was well qualified and available. If you had children there were fun and interesting youth activities throughout the week. If you were poor you may have received help. If you merely needed a good book on your religion, there was a wonderful, staffed library on premises. Do you see where I'm going? Nearly every single Masjid built and operated in North America has been built, funded and operated by immigrant Muslims. (With the exception of a large number of African American Masajid.) After extensive interviews with immigrant Muslims, it seems the perception of the Masjid "back home" is of a place to make salah, do janazah, 'Eid celebrations, etc... Family and personal matters are handled through other channels: relatives, friends, youth clubs, etc... After all, everyone's a Muslim so the Masjid is just a small feature in the spiritual and social life of the community. Enter the new world: the immigrant builds a Masjid with the good intention of having a place for the community to gather and make Salah and do Eid, etc... But when members of the community have needs that only a Muslim would know how to deal with, bingo! There are no Muslim relatives in great abundance. The few Muslim friends one may have are all busy making money and there are no Muslim youth clubs or community activities beyond dinners once a month or fundraising events. So where does the community member go? He or she seeks out non-Muslim help at best or leaves the problem unsolved at worst. The Masjid has no place in their life. Even if the Masjid has a few pitiful programs to enhance the life of its members, more often than not, they're staffed only sporadically by people who just came from a village back home. They are not professional in their manner according to Western standards- they may not even show up on time to anything- and they are not equipped to deal with the issues confronting the Muslim minority experience. I'm not saying all volunteers in the Masajid are similar to this description. Don't get me wrong. But in all my time as a frequenter of Masajid, I've only met about nine or ten truly competent people. Contrast the above scenario with the average church or synagogue. The institution is built to serve as a community center right from the start. Youth programs are a priority and are well-planned and fun. Women are represented on the board and on all committees. Volunteers are chosen for their trustworthiness and reliability. They are made to feel that their job means something and they are well-coordinated and friendly. The minister or rabbi speaks English fluently, even if they are an immigrant, and knows Greek, Hebrew or Latin on the side. In order to be the leader of the community, the minister or rabbi had to undergo extensive training which included, besides the religious subjects, counseling, administration, management, music and singing, public speaking, research, etc.... culminating in the award of a D.D. (Doctorate of Divinity). I'm sorry, but the little certificates from madrasahs all over the third world do not prepare an Imam for the task of leading the Muslim community in North America. Before you take offense at this statement, consider this: what is your definition of an Imam? Islamically, the Imam is supposed to have some authority over the community. He is to be elected by the Muslims and given respect and listened to. But in every Muslim community I've been in, the Imam has no authority, little respect and merely leads the prayers and recites some du'as. At the most he may teach some classes here and there on Qirah or Aqeedah. Even if he is a hafiz the situation is still pretty much the same. If this is your definition of what an Imam means, then you need to remember all the complaints we have about why the Muslim world has declined in the last five hundred years. Islam was relegated to the Masjid. Imams were prayer leaders and little more. Islam had little hold over a person's personal or social life. This is how Islam is viewed in Muslim countries; this is one reason why the immigrant Muslims had to leave their countries to begin with. Their homelands are, by and large, screwed up. So why do we want to set up our Masajid here on the same model that caused our destruction over there? I can't figure it out. Ministers and Rabbis are considered authority figures in their respective communities and generally have the allegiance of most members. Our Imams are usually under-educated and have no authority with little backing from anyone. Some wealthy patron, pretending he knows how to be a Nasjid director, is almost always the real power in the Baitullah. And it's real hard to tell such a director that his local Muslim community is drifting away from the faith when he lives in a mansion and drives a Mercedes. He'll say to himself, "I made a fortune, therefore, I know what's best for the local Muslim community." Meanwhile, all around him, the youth are becoming kuffar, the women are forgetting Islam, the elderly are being abandoned in homes, the people who want to convert are disillusioned and the men are 'Eid Muslims only, if that. Everyone turns to the non-Muslim society for support, help, entertainment, money and even spiritual meaning. Until and unless we inject professionalism in our Masajid, then our community will continue to shrink even though pundits cry about there being six million of us. We need trained staff, even if you have to pay them. We need Imams with professional training in many subjects related to human relations and we need a process of inclusion that would make women, the youth and the luke-warm Muslims feel a part of the over-all life of our Masjid. In short, the Masjid is not just a place of prayer that we can build to heal our guilty feelings of doing haram business dealings- it's a place for Muslims and their lives. By its very nature and what it must mean for the community, it must be run professionally, and not like a club. .. Do you agree with the article or Yahiya is out of line?