Somali Stand on Trusteeship ( To the Editor of the New York Times ): An editorial dealing with the question of the former Italian colonies appeared in your paper of November 12, 1949. In this editorial you stated that the Russians, after being defeated in the United Nations, “have had their little triumph in winning over the Somali Youth to communism.” Although you intentionally omitted the word “League” it is obvious that you are referring to the “Somali Youth League”, which I have the honor to represent here. First of all, may I ask on what grounds you base the assertion that the Russians have won over the Somali Youth League to communism? Is this only because the U.S.S.R. together with the other Communist States (including the federal Peoples’ Republic of Yugoslavia) and others, have strongly supported our just and legitimate cause both during the last and the current sessions of the General Assembly of the United Nations? If so, may I remind you that they equally supported the legitimate cause of the people of Libya, and, at least, part of those of Eritrea. Libyan Demonstration May I be permitted also to point out that in May of this year (during the course of the last session of the Assembly) the Libyans organized open demonstrations in Tripoli and other centers, displaying the flags of Communist states and the portrait of Stalin. In these demonstrations they destroyed the British and the United States flags, stoned British and American citizens and violently attacked the Italian community in Tripolitania. Yet you do not consider the Libyans Communists because of their open expression of appreciation for the role the Communist states played in defeating the plans of the Imperialist Powers. While the Somalis have also demonstrated against the return of the Italians as administrators of Somaliland, they have not done so under the banners of any Communist state, nor have they attacked foreigners. These demonstrations were peaceful until broken up by British police. Indeed, the Somalis have done nothing to justify your accusation that they have been won over communism. You did not in your editorial – nor can you now – submit any evidence to sustain your charge. Stand of League It is a known fact that the Somali Youth League, as leader of the nationalist movement for the independence of Somaliland, unalterably opposes the restoration of the hated Italian rule under any form whatsoever in our land. Also the League strongly opposes any foreign domination of Somaliland. In pursuing the struggle for the liberation of the country, the League has submitted to the General Assembly and various committees of the United Nations several memoranda, petitions, documents, etc., containing certain relevant data. Today the confusion of nationalism with communism in colonial areas is common error. Fortunately, the world knows the methods practiced by colonial Powers to suppress nationalist movements and at the same time label them as subversive and pursuant of Communist ideology. All classes of the inhabitants of Somaliland are united in a common front and they are now concerned only with the immediate problem facing them: the national struggle for the freedom of their country from foreign subjugation. While maintaining our militant and purely nationalistic character, we refuse to be trapped in the conflict between the red communism of the East and the white supremacy “democracy” of the West. We retain deep sympathy and respect for all those nations – Communists and non-Communists alike – who strongly supported the just and legitimate aspirations of our people . ( I loooooof this .) The unjust solution proposed fro Somaliland is entirely contrary to the wishes and welfare of the inhabitants. That the majority of the Political Committee reached this unfortunate conclusion after considerable bargaining and political expediency at the sole expense of the weak and defenseless Somali nation is a fact well known to the whole world. It is as clear as the light of day that, in order to do something for the Italians, it is proposed to sacrifice the Somalis and offer Somaliland to Italy as a bribe. C/llaahi Ciise Max'uud November 19, 1949 This letter can also fit the current situation. How so it applies to our current predicament by just substituting a few terms and nouns. Rabiyoow, Eebboow, janadaada Fardowso ka waraabi marxuumkaan -- aamiin, aamiin.

Aaden Cadde iyo C/llaahi Ciise waa gartay, sadexda kale taloow yee ahaayeen? Eebba ha u raxmado halyeeydii geeriyootay. Wax kale kula yaabay Soomaalidii hore and sidee sharp dressers u ahaan jireen, siiba Marxuum C/llaahi Ciise Max'uud. Sawiradiisa dhan, he was sharp. He was a sharp thinker, too. I just remembered an article he once penned. Let me post it now.

Originally posted by Cawaale: Kan ajnabiga fiiri aid, farxad ma u dhinno, meel aan sharci iyo shareeco ka jirin oo dadka ku shukulooyaa. wax loo yeeli lee ahaa. Gacantiisa weyn ayaaba la yaabanaa markaa sawirka koowdiis kor ku arkay. In uu Soomaali ahayn isla markiiba waaba ka gartay, not because gacanta caddaanteeda but because of weynaanteeda. Soomaali xiito xiito, xayeesi, caato saas ma u gacmo weynee, kuwa dalkeena joogo dhalinta dhuub dhuuban waliba. Gacantaas gacan basal ka dharagtay u egtahay.

Saas ayee ahaan jirtay iyo ka daran. Sodon kiilomitir wax aad ugu yar ayee intaas oo isbaaro taali jirtay. Waxa kaliya ee Barbaarta la dhihi karo wey ku roonyihiin inkastoo qashinkooda iyagana buuxo.

Does NPR still broadcast Frontline docus? I loved the Frontline investigations and reports.

The tribe I beong -- Soomaali ina Sumaal yaa Soomaalo kasii ah Samaale.

Xuu ku hadlooyaa? Waxaas waa Nigerian accent, I think.

Maanta, maanta, maanta, waa maalin weynee maanta...

Ismalura, wax badan ayaa kaa dambeeye. If it was rare then, it is not that rare xiligaan, sadly.

Cambodiankaan wali arrimaha Soomaalida muu ka waramooyaa. Qoraaladiisa inta yar aan ka aqriyo waaba ku lablaboodaa. Maxaa ugu toban iyo shan ah Soomaaliya kala go'do ama kala go'in, which is always his intention, never gets tired of inserting Soomaaliya gala go'ideeda regardless what article he pens. How blatant isku ogeyn in kistoo loo soo taabtay laga arkaa. Anyway waxaaba ka waalan qofka aqriyo xaardooro qashin he spews online.

Ciil qaboow cadaabta...

Originally posted by Jacpher: Speaking of memory, I remember visiting this place in my childhood. Dhulbaraha Jilib muu u dhawaa mise Jamaame? Waa isku qaldooyaa meeshee u dhawayd.

My life as a German in Somalia I arrived with my family in Mogadishu, November 1984, I was 15 years old and was looking forward to all the experiences that awaited me in Somalia, my father was sent as an engineer from the West German government as part of West Germany's aid to Somalia . We got a nice house in the Hodan neighborhood in Mogadishu, Mogadishu was so peaceful that one could walk at night without fearing anything, the women’s were modern and well dressed, Mogadishu was one of the world's most beautiful cities, the city also had world-class universities, and there was no garbage on the streets. I was sent on "American School of Mogadishu," which was an international school for foreign children, after school, we all used to go to the Lido beach, it was a paradise! Our Somali neighbors in Hodan was incredible friendly and tolerant, they made it easier for us to get used to Somalia, I became friends with many of the children in the Hodan area, I never learned to speak Somali, although my Somali friends tried hard. On weekend’s we visited Hotel Al-Uruba who had a good nightclub, Mogadishu had generally a dynamic nightlife. Often my family went with our neighbors to go to the farms between Mogadishu and Kismayio, it was a paradise! My family was Catholic and every Sunday we used to go to the largest Catholic Church in Africa which was in Mogadishu, right next to a mosque. Every Wednesday the European boys were selling cookies around Mogadishu, our cake was bad, but the Somalis used to buy them not to hurt us. But when the European club members ran marathon race through Mogadishu, the Somalis though that we were crazy! And at night! Mogadishu was a safe city…. In December 1990 we were evacuated by the U.S. Army after a rebel group called the United Somali Congress attacked Mogadishu, I came to Somalia in 1984, a beautiful peaceful country, and I fled from a burning Somalia in 1990. I thank the great Somali people for having me and my family as guests in their beautiful country for so many years, and I pray they get peace and prosperity. Peter Bern PeterBernG@hotmail.com

Originally posted by NinaNC: I had to post video here. Ma ogi sababta, waa ka soo fikiraa. Xirtii Timoweynta wali ma joogaan, maashallaah. Shaneemo Kaasabalbalaare kasoo horjeedkeeda ayee taag taagnaan jireen meeshaas xarun u ahayd. They had the weirdest fashion sense -- kabo kooyo with iskaalsho iyo macawiis suun ku xiran la isku gishan jiray. Macawiista kor loo sii qaadaa waliba, si iskaalshada oo jilbaha imaaneyso loo arko. And not only that, bakoorad iyo shaalna waa lagu sii xaragoon jiray. Not done yet, timiha dhexdooda jid weyn laga bixinaa, timahana waala sii deynaa markaas shanlo ama rumeey la dhex gilinaa. Oh, xasuustooda.

Xasan Aaden Samatar sida Nayroobi loogu soo dhaweeye. Ninkaan aadaa loo jecelyahay ileen.

Kuma arkin Reer Koronto qambri cabaayo, runtii. Dad aan waxba isku faleynin oo isnacay ka ahayn, still saas ma ugu arkin dad cabaayo.

Originally posted by Ismalura: The Farax comes back here and continues chasing after everything in a skirt and blouse as he waits for his wife. 200 boqol haduu diro bishi xisaabtan kale ma jiro yaaba ka fiican ninkaas. I have to add that sometimes the Xaliimo starts sheekoyin yadana and spends the money on other guys (this is rare) It is not that rare, really. Dad ayaa ku kor nool, indhaheyga ayaana kusoo arkay. While the poor jaamac xamaalinimo ku jiro and never misses sending his monthly boqolaal doolar for masruuf, qofta uu u diraayo xaga joogto oo 'xaaskiisa' uu moodo dad kale ayee sii korisaa, oo u xareysan, la baashaalo. Indhaheyga ku arkay. She lived in the same apartment my parents lived in. Xaajigeeda Mareykanka ayuu jiraa sida la yiri, laakiin wax badan ayaan arkay iyadoo irida horteeda fadhiso, oo wiilal la kaftameyso, la shukaansaneyso, markee mid dabacdana xareysan jirtay. I don't know waxaas lonelynimo u keentay or wax kale. And poor jaamac in Mareykanka wax uu ka ogaa iska yar, $$$$ soo dhiib luu ogaa. Aaliya, igaarkaan saan muu Kanada ku joogaa? Mala hubaa horta in uu Kanada joogo. He seems like he is Reer Columbus iyo meelahaas, not Reer Kanada, especially Reer Koronto.

Wax Muriidi ka qosolsiiye, that made him for a second forget his deliberately projected SOL persona, wax ayaa ku jirto.

Aniba waa isweydiiye taas, odeygaas waalan maxaa dhex giliye barbaartaas. And that silsilad gacmeedka inta qof, wiil bilaa gabar, i weydiisatay, iga codsato inaa siiyo maba rumeysan kartid. In the end, my favourite niece soo siiye. And it wasn't light blue, kaamirada ka dhigtay saas. Same colour as my shirt ahayd.

Yaa isneceb? Teeda kalena kee i moodaa inaa ahay? You are wrong, mana ihi kaa u maleeyo inaa ii maleysid. Kan dhexda ku jiro aan ahay. Magaceygana waa Jiniboqor. Bidaar qaris beel. I look tired in that picture, though; maalintaas dhan waa wareegaaye. I posted the picture because Max'ed Cabdi Yuusufka uu afxumeynaaye u adkeysan waaye and I remembered meeting with him. He is a wonderful person, especially since we were sitting a table in front of them, those two gentlemen in the picture. Waxaa isla fadhinay laba qofood Reer Waqooyi ah, gabadha aan isnaqaano had a soft spot for secessionism (we knew one another for years, our political differences aan isku naqaan) and wiilka kale ee meesha ku aragtay asagana Reer Waqooyi ahaa was pro-union and was also a member of Hanoolaato party. She invited him to sit down. They had an interesting debate and I was bemused, observing and I particularly didn't want two to one inay the debate ahaato, especially two men against a girl. Those two gentlemen at back table heard us all. Max'ed Cabdi Yuusuf midka ah, he is the one on the right, nala hadlay, noona wacay, asagoo leh "Adeeryaal, iga raadi ahaada laakiinse inta soo fadhiista..." Gabadhii ayuu lecture u galay, muhiimada ee wadanimada leedahay, taariiqda loo soo maray, tiisa qaas ahaan, aad iyo aad. Long story short, iyadoo Soomaaliweyn aaminsan lagu kala tagay, though she still had her soft spot for goosasho. Markaa kasoo tagnay ayee i weydiineysaaba, iyadoo leh yee ahaayeen labadaas nin. She had no idea who they were. Waa ogaa aniga dadkee ahaayeen iyaga.

Ooh, la la. Ka naxoo nafta...

Originally posted by Naxar Nugaaleed: I have yet to come across a Somali who has yet to condemn this formula because its unethical to divide the nation into a clan formula but they all seem to be against this formula which leads me to believe that the reason they oppose this apportionment is that they are happy not with the formula itself but the share they get within that formula. Lets be honest, this formula was based on bringing equilibrium, veering from it will only give certain actors a reason to not only cry foul but to oppose any government not based on such a formula. if we have attained some truths from this endless conflict, its that the way forward must include Federalism or regional autonomy, equatable share of resources and 4.5. Am baffled by those who oppose these well thought panacea without offering any credible alternatives. if not 4.5, what should it be? 4.5 waa la iskaga dulqaadan karay, especially xaalka hadda lagu jiro, if it were only 5.0 and not 4.5. Dad dhan dalkooda u halgamay, dad dhan kusoo jiray gobonnimodoonkii in la yiraahdo qof 'barkiis' ayaa tihiin, it is not only ethically wrong, it is beyond morally and political correction. It is waa wax aad loogu yax yaxo, downright slanderous.

Originally posted by Abwaan: I thought in warlordism laga tegey Soomaaliya. Xaaraan ku naax ma quusto, siiba meel uu ab iyo isir uu u dhalan, oo been been badar sanadooyin ugu cunay until laga soo ceyriye. Most other dagaalooge wey quusteen, not this dude. Wuxuu isleeyahay Barbaarta wey kala qeybsanyihiin ee ka faa'ideyso, what a poor judgement. Ciyaalka masaakiinta ah uu ku leeynaayaa meeshaas for his power hungriness. He knows meel inuunan gaareynin and if uu gaaro beri same way u cararaayo as he did countless times. Maquuste seenbari maquuste.

Max'ed Cabdi Yuusuf faraha ka qaad. Kuwa kaale meesha aad kusoo dhajisay haddii la isku wada daro ma gaaraan halyeygaas. I have met him, conversed with him for hours -- he is a wonderful person dalkiisa aad iyo aad u jecel, oo habeen dhan noogu sheekeynaaye sheekooyinkiisa.