The Rageh Omaar Report : From Minneapolis to Mogadishu

[Chimera]

Disappointed with Rageh Omaar's report especially his excessive use of famine pornography that didn't really add to his story. There was also alot of misrepresentation and historical revisionism, the most important being his assertion that the International intervention is what curbed the famine in the 90s, when in reality the famine had already died down several months before their invasion.

 

The Somali males that went back, did this out of nationalistic feelings when their country was illegaly invaded, most of them really can't be considered 'terrorists' because as the report highlighted when they saw the resistance movement mutate into a Jihad-crap-circus and wanted out, they were assassinated by Al-Shabab.

 

He did a disservice to the Somali community there, and this report was in stark contrast to his

about this same community. A couple of dozen guys returning to Somalia can never undo all of the progress that has been made by that community in the realm of economics, education and politics, most of this was mentioned in a fast-forward fashion, hence you are left with the feeling that the 100k community there are all undercover-jihadists who want nothing to do with America.

 

The little Somali kids were adorable though.

[Gheelle.T]

It is possible to watch the program online? Link please!

[Archdemos]

you've managed to put it better than i could ever do. i agree with nameless poster 'Adam?'

 

the entire programme left one depressed.

[N.O.R.F]

I'm watching it now. It will be online as well.

[N.O.R.F]

Raageh and his Afro heh

[N.O.R.F]

Well, having just seen the programme, I really can't see what you're all complaining about.

 

It a was fair reflection of where Somalis in Mnpls are today regarding the SomaliaAS issue.

[Faarax-Brawn]

Originally posted by Norfsky:

Well, having just seen the programme, I really can't see what you're all complaining about.

 

It a was fair reflection of where Somalis in Mnpls are today regarding the SomaliaAS issue.

People see things differently. I thought he did a great job.

[Cawaale]

[Chimera]

Originally posted by Faarax-Brawn:

quote:Originally posted by Norfsky:

Well, having just seen the programme, I really can't see what you're all complaining about.

 

It a was fair reflection of where Somalis in Mnpls are today regarding the SomaliaAS issue.

People see things differently. I thought he did a great job.

You two might aswell tap this blogger on the shoulder for a job well done, and don't forget the non-biased commentators too!: Right truth

[Faarax-Brawn]

^Sheeq,I am not sure where you are going with this? You are giving me the link to a racist blogger?-What does that have to do with anything?

 

The Report is a report about the Somalis in MPLS. It paints the real picture of Somalis in the TCs. We have successes(which he highlighted) and failures(which he highlighted).

 

Could you help me out what your problem is with the report(besides your famine porn issue?)

[Chimera]

The successes clearly outweigh the failures, the latter is simply more tabloidy hence the mass dissemination and propaganda. Showing how Somali children go to charter schools is not painting a 'real picture' when you omit the fact that these same children are on a fast-track to a life in advanced education and eventually qualified members of society, something the community struggled with before these projects were realised. Secondly the distinct Somali flavor in Minnesota is no different to the Hispanic flavor, or the Hmong flavor of that city, yet he made it out as if the former community's traditional outlook was a negative thing.

 

Twenty confused and passionate men can't be used to depict a 100k community as one of undercover Jihadists, and that link i provided was an example of the type of people this documentary will serve very well.

[A_Khadar]

Currently watching it through 1/3, so far historical prospectives nothing new.

[Jacpher]

I thought he was a better reporter than those street reporters that report anything as news without factual checks. At least that's the impression I had of him. Somalis in Minneapolis aren't the largest Somali population in the world outside of Somalia. I could be wrong but that title goes to Nairobi. And Somalis in Minneapolis aren't the largest minority in the state. Maybe largest immigrants in the Twin Cities Metropolitan area but certainly not the largest minority.

 

I think the report itself was more about Al-Shabaab and its ripple affect with Somalis in Minneapolis. At least 65% of the report dedicated on Shabaab than any success or failure of Somali community in the Twin Cities. Come to think of it, he showed no success of Somalis than Karmel shopping mall. What else did I see? Oh yeah, Abu-bakar which he said has "direct link to information and contacts with the homeland." What does that supposed to mean? Ge, I am going to Abu-bakar to get the most news updates of Somalia.

 

Really nothing new or positive about Somalis. I think his assignment was to come to Minneapolis and do investigative report of that Hargeysa bomber but fall short of doing any investigative work. Interviewing Biixi and Sh. Cabdiraxman is the closest he got to finding out more about the missing men.

 

I am puzzled by his allegation that Somalis in growing numbers reject American values & culture and their young men/women look towards religion for identity, more than ever before. And he closes by arguing a new generation of home grown jihadi unless US re-evaluates its internal security. I don't think he could have painted any more negative brush than alleging them as potential home grown jihadists. That coming from a Somali reporter?

[Hawdgirl]

I am not the kind who likes to post things around Sol, but love reading interesting articles written by solers,

so with that said I couldn't help but have my say about this documentary

especifically to those who are criticizing the brother,

I have watched the documentary and I don't see anything wrong with it other than "telling the truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth"

 

so if you want to criticize to those who bad mouth and dimish the Somali name as a whole here in the twin cities are

Startribune, foxnews, etc

I have thought often of where Somalis are and when are we gonna tell these so called media to back off, seriously, coz they really try to crash the Somali community here in Utango barafleey to the fullest,

so hey lets write a letter to startribune and say leave the Somali name alone

if someone commits a crime, dont say a Somali say his name damn it

[NASSIR]

I believe Omaar's report is fair and objective--one that truly attends to the underlying social problems of the Somali community in general as they are split by the demands of two sources of identity that conflict, at times, with their core belief system.

But the most important thing to remember is that Mr. Rageh Omaar (though true to his journalistic ethics) has given us a voice and articulated well the genesis of the issues we daily encounter such as the gap that comes with maintaining a reasonable balance btw our ties to a home riddled with seemingly never-ending conflicts and our new home where we are at liberty to create a potentially successful goal-structured life, where we seek a non-discriminatory access to education, housing, employment, public services and opportunity, and where we have the right to build and maintain institutions of our inherited culture and religion. However, he can not paint a good picture of the minor success stories of Somali individuals in Minneapolis, for that would not accomplish any meaningful solution to our societal problems. In fact, it might derail what we seek from the host country as a small but highly influential community in need of help for both the issues we face in our adopted country and the country of our origin.