My Somalia....

[FatB]

if everybody is chauffeur driven.... wat about the chauffeurs? who will chauffeur them?

[Bokero]

Adam

 

Great... you have to dream first.... I am glad some of us have moved away from discussions that further lodge us in the abyss...

 

On women leadership having worked in Liberia for many years i can tell the woman President there is doing a much better job than any of her predecessors....

 

For many here i gather are not used to dream for better Somalia....must be difficult for them having been schooled for generations to hate and tear country down… Those of us who are not interested in fighting fake war of words … will not be stopped from dreaming for better Somalia…

[Malika]

^Its all good to dream,but one should also be mindful of what is realistic,possilbe and achievable.What is uttermost important right NOW is finding a workable solution to enable us to move from where we are to where you and Adam are dreaming about.

 

The question should be, How do we move forward? We have seen the devostation of our actions,we continue to see the devostating actions of those whom lead us,we see the division among ourselves even here in SOL,so this dream of a beautiful,wonderful Somalia is just a dream for NOW,we got a long way to go...

 

ps.Insha'allah,with change of mindsets,cleansed hearts,it might,it might be possible..BUT!

 

pss.I have a dream by Martin Luther King comes to mind huh? yaa Bokero

[STOIC]

My Somalia

 

Why do you stammer at me?

Why do you fill me with ire and shame?

I’m pining for that time when it is safe and sane to walk on your soil

When will the little Samatar kick and elbow in joy?

Why do you always pull away when I want to hug you everyday?

Why do you stay stationary on the pavement of anarchy?

Who got the whammy on you?

Could you scarcely muster the courage to speak to me?

I can’t cross you, erase you or file you away

Deep down inside you might be great

I still have these grief-filled dreams even though I have never set foot on your soil

Every time I think about you I venture into perils that inch very closely

I often see arguments and demoralizing discussions on these boards about you

Mistrust and acrimony clouds my brain when I see them talking about you

Many times they threaten to dislodge me, but I’m unmoved by them

I pick their argument, reject it and proceed before they take me up with them

I know you are not the dark-footed hairy monster

Why do you skid into their turmoil?

[dhulQarnayn]

NGONGE,

Tsk tsk, such a pessimist(note, I did not say realist).

 

Guns will be banned and the police service will only be supplied with feather dusters.

All,

 

Have any of you read(read mind you not seen) Starship Troopers? A Federation with common laws is in effect. Citizens earn political rights through service(military service), while non-citizens play a lesser societal role(having little power to effect real change in the world).

 

Now before everyone loses their minds, I am not completely advocating this stance (although the concepts in the book do pose interesting philosophical questions).

 

I do think a Somali national government is possible. However, it would have to be federation-like. A collective hegemony, with common laws (SIMPLE common laws), but local administration of said laws within the framework of a "federal mindset". Punishment for beaking the laws MUST be swift and severe- (I'm not advocating the death penalty (or maiming) for everything, but punishment of a physical nature works quite well I can assure you).

 

That being said, there is no way (currently) that Somalis will agree on common laws. Those laws must be EXTREMELY simple (simplicity IMO reduces loopholes by allowing for a more general interpretation of the law). Also, as Saudi Arabia shows, having Shariah law does not necessarily equate to more justice.

 

Aristotle said..."Legislation may have a specious appearance of benevolence; men readily listen to it, and are easily induced to believe that in some wonderful manner everybody will become everybody's friend, especially when some one is heard denouncing the evils now existing in states, suits about contracts, convictions for perjury, flatteries of rich men and the like, which are said to arise out of the possession of private property. These evils, however, are due to a very different cause -- the wickedness of human nature."

 

Somalis, like most people are inherently evil with the potential to do some good. Thus, concentrating civil, political, and military power in fewer people will INCREASE the degree of injustice in our country. A loose federation is the only thing (IMO) that stands any chance of keeping Somalis united.

 

Setting up the laws that will govern Somalia will be a sticky issue. Laws supposedly reflect the morals of a culture. Well for Somalis all across the country and abroad, it begs to ask "whos morals?" should we adhere to. The wonderfully diverse points of view we have; bring with them vastly different moral structures (taking me back to extremely simple law statements).

 

Last point. Law enforcement. Each piece of the federation must have a policing/military body for enforcement and defense. The military body must be integrated with the national defense structure to prevent rogue provinces from ceding from the national arena(I know this is going to boil some people over but oh well).

 

Is it possible? Conceptually yes, practically.....well......

 

Would it work? Yes (with considerable pain on conception and delivery)

 

As our civil conflict advances and continues to be converted into something deleterious and malignant, I believe that our nation will fracture even further. However; like Adam-Zayla said,"we have nothing to lose, everything to gain".

 

Thank you for your time and attention.

 

-dhulQarnayn

[Ashkiro]

Great topic walaal! 20 years maybe too soon, but nevertheless I will share my vision for OUR SOMALIA (not structured).

I believe in Democracy, Liberty, and Justice for all. Now this may sound very familiar, and may seem to be borrowing from the American Constitution, however I share these same ideals as well (Although one would note these principles have not been realized even after 400 years). But with an Islamic Environment (nurturing) rather than Capitalistic Setting, these principles can be achieved fully and agree with those whom say, these principles are Islamic, borrowed by Western thinkers. Further, I don’t share any extremist views whatsoever-the far right and far left and believe these views are detrimental to the nations well being. For example, secularism (far left ), or Saudi Style Sharia (far right).

 

 

The United States of Somalia

Capital: Mogadishu

 

Flag-Blue with theFive Stars

 

Official Language of the Republic will be Somali.

 

 

Official Religion-The Islamic Religion.

 

Calendar- The Islamic Calendar. The solar Calendar will also be recognized.

 

Constitution- Will be based on the Quran and Sunnah. The state will protect the interests of the Deen and the affairs of the people. The Dignity, life, property, rights, integrity of the individual is integral.

 

The Rights of the People:

All the Citizens of the Republic, Regardless of Ethnicity, Clan, Gender, Religion, Class, Language will enjoy equal rights, equal protection under the law, and equal access to services/employment/facilities, no privilege shall be given to any group. All Citizens of the Country are free to vote in National and local elections, but are not compelled to do so. Freedom of the Press, No censorship in the arts unless contrary to Islam. Freedom to dissent/protest, to form parties political or religious, any citizen may run for office granted he/or she must be university educated.

 

Every individual has the free right to choose his/her occupation, if not contrary to Islam (ie Prostitution, selling alcohol, casino/gambling). Every individual has the free right to purchase property and to live anywhere within the Republic, without fear and extortion. The government should provide employment opportunities, services, and housing to its citizens.

 

Education:

By Law, each Child under the age of 18 should be enrolled in school. Free Secondary School (Upto 12th Grade). For all Muslim Students-Islamic Studies is mandatory in Secondary Education.

Somali/Arabic/English/ Languages along with other primary subjects s are also mandatory in Secondary Education. Other Languages and Religions maybe taken as Electives. Higher Learning should be made affordable to Students. Teachers Must be highly trained. The Government should invest in education/higher learning, research, technology, ect to develop a highly skilled labor. (Similar to the States).

 

Healthcare/Social Services:

The provision of basic necessities for all citizens: housing, food, clothing, medical treatment, education, The Government Must Provide Free Healthcare, unemployment benefits, social security, retirement benefits the whole nine.

 

Economy:

Generating jobs to keep skilled personnel within the country, ensuring the equal opportunities of employment for everyone, absolute prohibition of Riba and exploitation of labor. Regional Trade/International Trade which is in the interest of the Citizens of the Republic. Utilization of technology, investing in agriculture, tourism, livestock, factories/industrial development and production, exploring natural resources, becoming a state producer rather than consumer., ensuring that every region has access to the Republics revenues and facilities, and they are developed. A MODERNIZED USS.

 

Military

 

Environment

 

Weee I am tired now.

 

God Bless

[Bokero]

Thanks everybody who contributed to this visioning process...i also extent my thanks to pessimist may Allah give them hope.... I don’t blame them 18 yrs of chaos has robbed them of DREAMS... If nations like the Asian tigers are able to recover from the darkness of war and despair to build great nations so can we!!! i am confident in the ability of the Somali nomad to conquer hopelessness and turn it to prosperity for all!!!

 

I am a believer... FOR if you can’t believe you can’t do.

[Baashi]

Maa shaa Allah. Maryan's world view is shax shax. I want Ruun to live in our neighborhood. Leave ur contact info with SOL doorman so when Qurbaawis break ground in Jasiira beach front the organizer could give you a ring. That would be the year 2015.