Haweenka Soomaaliyeed Waa Dheemanka Dalku U Aayey
By Bashir Goth
Nin deeqba haweenle baan ahay
Haddana dafiraaya baan ahay
Dabeecado jaanle baan ahay
***
Darbaal nin ku seexda baan ahay
Haddana ka dillaalayaan ahay
Nin dayn lagu biiliyaan ahay
Dawaro ku xeraada baan ahay
Haddana duhur jiifa baan ahay
***
Duddada nin ka buuqa baan ahay
Darroorrina joojin baan ahay
Duqayda nin caaya baan ahay
Digriiyo ku faana baan ahay
Talana dooyeysan baan ahay
Qudhaan dabanaynin baan ahay
***
Daayeer maryo loo xidhaan ahay
Haddana wax dacaayadshaan ahay
***
Cutubkan oo ku jiray gabaygaygii Soomaali Dafuufan Baan Ahay (1999) ayaan xusuustay markaan arkay deeqda ku dayashada mudan ee ay haweenka ka soo jeeda Awdal/Salal ee deggan dalka Ingiiriisku ay ku taageereen dhismaha jidka Boorama-Dilla ee hormoodka u yahay ururka ASARDA.
Ma aha mid curad ah oo waan uga baranay in haweenku ay wanaagga iyo samafalka u dabacsan yihiin, in ay dhisaan wixii rag dumiyey, fuliyaan hawshii rag ka seexday, oo ay hawl u heelanaadaan inta raggu hadal iyo huuhaa ku foogan yihiin.
Waxa dhab ah in deeqda cududa leh ee haweenka Awdal/Salal ay ku bixiyeen saacdo yar gudahood ay ragga ku qaadan lahayd muddo aad u dheer haddiiba ay huraan in ay wax bixiyaan.
Balaayo kasta oo dhacdaa waxay is beddel ku keentaa aragtida qofka, waxay u dillaacisaa indho cusub oo uu wax ku qiimeeyo. Taasi waxay dhaxalsiisaa in uu barto qiimaha runta ah ee wax walba leeyahay. Waxa ka mid ah in wax uu qofku markii hore qiimayn jiray uu ogaado in aanu qiimo buuran lahayn, wax uu indhaha ka lalin jirayna uu arko in ay yihiin jawharad aan qiimaheeda la malayn karayn oo ka qarsoonayd.
Haddaba waxa hubaal ah in balaayada Soomaali ku habsatay waxyaabaha laga bartay ay tahay qiimaha iyo doorka udub dhexaadka ah ee ay haweenk ku leeyihiin bulshada dhexdeeda. Waxa jirtay maalin uu Abwaan Xasan Sheekh Muumin ka hadlayey madal qaadhaan loogu ururinayey Jaamacadda Camuud magaalada Boorama uu sheegay in dadku markii ay balaayo dhacdo ay ka naxaan iyaga oo eegaya dhinaca dhibtda iyo dhiiladda. “Aniguse maanta waxan leeyahay” ayuu yidhi: “Balaayoy Mahadsanid. Maxaa yeelay dadka reer Awdal maanta jaamacad kuma ay fikireen haddii aanay balaayo dhicin.”
Waxa kale oo isla maalmahaa hadal kaa la mid ah yidhi Suldaan Yuusuf Aw Muuse Gasle isaga oo la hadlaya weftigii taakulada Jaamacadda Camuud oo uu kula kulmay tuulada Jaarraa Horato. Markii uu jalleecay in xubnaha weftiga ay ka mid yihiin dhalliyaradii dalka wax u baratay oo intii ay dugsiyada ka baxeen dabadeed aan dib loo arag ee Xamar iyo dhul fog u qadhaabsi tegey, ayaa waxa hadaladii uu madashaa ka yidhi ka mid aha: “ Horta maanta Ilaahay baa mahad leh. Idinkase wax mahad ah oo aan idiin haynaa ma jirto. Maxaa yeelay ciiddii aad wax ku barateen ayaad ka dhoofteen oo aad dib u soo eegi weydeen. Ciiddii ayaad ma dhalays ka dhigteen. Haddaba maanta markii Xamar dhibaato ka dhacday ee aad soo guryo hoyateen ayaad wax qabanaysaan. Markaa waxan leehayay Ilaaha meelihii aad ku dhuumanayseen idina soo saaray ee ciiddii idinku soo celiyey ayaa Mahad leh.”
Labadaa hadal ee xikmadda lihi waxay la cudud yihiin hadal aad uga dambeeyey oo uu yidhi ninkii Madaxweyne Obama u ahaa Horjoogihiisa Aqalka Cad (The former White House Chief of Staff) Rahm Emanuel , hadalkaas oo ahaa: “You never want a serious crisis to go to waste, and what I mean by that is an opportunity to do things that you didn’t think you could do before.” (Qofna ma jecla in uu dhibaato xoogle oo soo martay khasaariyo, waxan uga jeedaa waa fursad aad u heshay in aad fuliso waxyaabo aad markii hore moodaysay in aanad fulin karayn.)
Hadaladaasi waxay inna tusayaan in macdanta fiican ee qofku soo bixi karto kolka uu balaayo la kulmo. Carabtu waxay tidhaahdaa marka cuudka la shido ayaa udgoonkiisa la ogaadaa.
Waxa hubaal ah in marka nabadda iyo barwaaqada lagu jiro ay dadku is dhigtaan oo aan wax badan la qabsan, balaayaduse ay dardar geliso qofka awooddiihiisa iyo rabitaankiisa si uu balaayada uga gudbo oo uu guryo samo u gaadho. Gabadhii Maraykanka ahayd ee la odhan jiray Helen Keller oo ahayd gabadh carruurnimo ku weyday aragga iyo maqalkaba dabadeedna rabitaankeeda iyo hadhiwaa la’aanteeda awgeed ku guulaystay in ay tacliin barato oo weliba ay buugag badan qorto waxay tidhi:
“Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.” (Dhaladka qofka laguma kobcin karo raaxo iyo degnaansho. Sida keliya ee lagu soofayn karo nafta, himiladana kor loogu qaadi karo, guulna lagu gaadhi karaa waa iyada oo qofku dhibaato ku laylyamo.”
Markaa hawsha uu qofku u galo sidii uu dhibaatada uga bixi lahaa ayaa keentaa in uu helo sirta horumarka nolosha sida aan ka dhuuxi karno hadalka uu yidhi Abwaankii reer Swistzerland ee la odhan jiray Henri-Frederic Amiel qarnigii 19aad: “You desire to know the heart of living, my friend? It is contained in one phrase: make use of suffering.”(Saaxiibkayow, miyaad rabtaa in aad ogaato sirta nolosha? Waxay ku ku jirtaa weedh keliya: ka faa’iidayso dhibaatada.”
Haddaba waxa runtii caddaadatay in dhibta iyo balaayooyinka ku habsaday Soomaali meel kastaba ha joogtee ay soo faqday oo banaanka soo dhigtay run in badan inaga maqnayd ama laga indhola’aa oo ah in haweenka Soomaaliyeed ay yihiin dheemanka dalka iyo dadkuba u aayey.
In kasta oo waxa maqaalkan igu dhaliyey ay ahayd kaalinta wacan ee haweenka Awdal/Salal ee deggan dalka Ingiriisku ay ka galeen dhismaha jidka Boorama-Dilla, waxan jecelahay in aan xuso in haweenka Soomaaliyeed ay yihiin kuwa ay dhibta ugu weyni ka soo gaadhay balaayooyinka dhacay, sidaa awgeed ay taasi keentay in ay ka gilgishaan oo inta ay raggu dilka iyo burburka wadaan ay iyagu geedka nolosha adkeeyaan oo ay carruurtooda tusaan in ay ay dhibta ka soo bixi karto nolol qurux badan sida foosha xanuunka kulul ee hooyada ay uga soo baxdo nolol qurux badan.
In aan xuso hawlaha haweenka Soomaaliyeed qabteen waxay u baahnaysaa qoraal intan ka dheer iyo waqti badan, laakiin waxa marag ma doon ah in ay laf-dhabar ka yihiin wax kasta oo horumar ah oo meel kasta laga sameeyey. Jaamacadaha, Cusbitaalada, xarumaha agoomaha, jidadka iyo gurmadka aafooyinka intaba waxa si cad uga muuqda doorka lama illoobaanka ah ee haweenku ku leeyihiin. Intaa waxa weliba u dheer in haweenka dalka jooga ay yihiin kuwa had iyo jeer u xaydan sidii ay u soo kasban lahaayeen quud maalmeedka ubadkooga, kuwa dibadda joogaana intooda badani ay keligood carruutooda koriyaan.
Iyadoo ay sidaa tahay ayaa waxa la yaab leh in kuwa xaaraan quutayaalka ah ee qoriga la cararaya meelaha dagaalku ka socodo waxa ugu horreeya ee ay noloshooda iyo xuquuqdooda ku tuntaan ay tahay haweenka. Ujeedadooduna waxa weeyi iyaga oo og sida keliya ee ay nolosha dadka ku joojin karaan oo dadku isku dhiibi karaa in ay tahay in ay haweenka jidhkooga googooyaan, banaanada ku toogtaan, inta nolol ku hadhana hawada iyo qoraxda u diidaan oo iyaga iyo ubadkoogaba neefta ku dhejiyaan.
Waxa kale oo xusid mudan oo dad badani aanu aad u ogeyn in gabdhaha Soomaaliyeed ee ku nool wadamada Gacanka Carabta ay yihiin kuwa keliya ee ay ku tiirsantahay nolosha reerahoodu. Gabdhahaa oo u badan kalkaaliyeyaal cusbitaalada ka shaqeeya ayaa noloshoodii iyo mustaqbalkoodii u huray sidii ay waalidkood iyo walaahood u daryeeli lahaayeen iyaga oo weliba ku jira duruufo adag oo aad uga duwan kuwa ay ku nool yihiin haweenka jooga dalalka reer galbeedku.
Waxan qormadan ku soo xidhayaa in aan sida odayaasha aan hadalkooda cuskaday aan u hadlo oo aan idhaahdo: Balaayooy mahadsanid mar haddii aad na bartay qiimaha haweenkayaga. Waxase arrinkan iiga horreeyey oo waa hore arkay Jaamac Ducaale oo ahaa gabayaa caan ku ahaa degmooyinka Wajaale iyo Dilla oo gabadh uu dhalay oo la odhan jiray Bidhiidho ay wiilashiisii oo dhan uga fiicanaatay. Jaamac arrinkaa hadalhayn buu ka reebay oo wuxu yidhi: “Maalin baan goblami gaadhay, oo waa maalinta inanta Bidhiidho wiil iga noqon gaadhay”. Markaa aniguna waxan leeyahay Soomaalidu maalinta ay goblami doontaa waa maalinta haween Soomaaliyeed la waayo.
Nin deeqba haweenle baan ahay
Haddana dafiraaya baan ahay
Dabeecado jaanle baan ahay…
By Bashir Goth, Email: bsogoth@yahoo.com
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Saturday, October 09, 2010
Suspending Universal TV turns more light on Somaliland
By Bashir Goth
The suspension of the popular Universal TV by Somaliland Minister of Information is a classic example of an outsider eagerly yearning to close the door behind him once he entered his coveted palace. Abdillahi Geeljire was barking loud a long time from the outside of the government palace, dreaming one day that his barking would be rewarded. Now, that his dream has come true and that his thirst for power has been satisfied, he wants to close the door behind him. How can he allow anyone else snarl at him or at his government?
It is an irony of sorts that Abdillahi Geeljire has been given his cabinet post as a reward for the caustic and biased propaganda that he used to write against Rayale’s government. People say that he used to be close to former President Rayale and when things went awry between them, he decided to wage a smear campaign against the previous government under the guise of being an opposition.
But now he feels the heat and because he knows the power of the media as it served him well, he is panicking that the same weapon might be used to unseat him and his government. This is why he has no qualms about kicking the ladder that brought him to the top lest others use it for the same purpose.
His accusation of Universal TV that it was harming the national interest is also another cliché often used by dictators and chicken-hearted politicians who don’t like anyone turning the light on the little things they do in the dark.
One thing that Mr. Geeljire is not aware of or maybe he is but decides to ignore is that using the false cloak of defending the national interest in axing and silencing the media is laughable to say the least. This is the language of yesteryears when the innocent masses were doped and enslaved on empty slogans. In the age of the internet and 24/hour news, only an un-savvy stooge would marshal such a feeble justification to gag a media channel.
Another fact that Mr. Geeljire and his ilk have to know is that a voice suppressed is always more powerful than a voice expressed; simply because once emotions are expressed they are ventilated, easing up tensions, but once you suppress emotions and opinions, they build up until they explode. So if Universal TV says little unfavorable things about Somaliland and your government, let it go because that is the safety valve for the simmering anger of the people. It purifies the air, mitigates the swelling anger, and makes the government eyes even sharper to see a little bit of reality.
It was Thomas Jefferson who once said "The only security of all is in a free press. The force of public opinion cannot be resisted when permitted freely to be expressed. The agitation it produces must be submitted to. It is necessary, to keep the waters pure."
It is through this spirit that even the American President couldn’t do anything when some idiotic person announced that he would burn the holy Quran even to the disgust and derision of the government and the public at large and the grave damage that this person’s action would have done to the American national interest. But freedom of speech is enshrined in the American constitution as the First Amendment and no one even the president can stop anyone from exercising their right to express their opinion freely.
The First Amendment is a beautiful and powerful statement that guarantees citizens their inalienable rights to speak their mind. It is a piece that empowers the individual and humbles the president and the government; a piece that you need not only to read and reread, Mr. Minister, but one that you have to hang it up in your office to remind yourself and all your visitors how much you care about the freedom of speech and how much you aspire to see Somaliland to have such values enshrined in its constitution.
In my opinion and maybe many others, being hostile to the media never brings positive results. On the contrary it results only in damaging the country’s reputation and portraying its democracy as a joke. Remember, it was the tide of the media that brought your party to the government seat. We can therefore tolerate if you buy some reporters and broadcasters as your employees as you already did, but we cannot allow you to get away with a wholesale emasculation of the media. Remember even Queen Arrawelo couldn’t get away with such action and instead of one Oday Biiqe and one Ilyuub watching over her actions, we have today many Oday Biiqe’s and hundreds of Ilyuubs watching over your actions and that of your government. Therefore, suspending TV stations and banning newspapers will only heighten our watchful vigil and incite us more to turn many more lights on your impropriety.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Shunning extremism on both sides
Bashir Goth
Burning the Quran, what burning! As President Obama rightly said this is just “a stunt” and without the limelight given to it by the sensation-seeking, globalized media that makes a mountain out of a molehill, Pastor Terry Jones would have remained an unknown pastor holed up in his equally unknown Dove World Outreach Center.
His prime objective was to bring world attention to himself and to his church and he succeeded; as the media brouhaha that is following his antics has just given him that.
One cannot blame the media for sniffing the source of news but it is the Muslims who can either deny Pastor Jones the opportunity to further exploit his media stunt for more self-promotion or fall for his cheap clownish gimmick and reward him for his action by giving him undeserved and unnecessary attention.
Muslims need not go any further to know that no force in the world, let alone a man who claims to have no more than three dozen people as his followers can obliterate the Quran. Jones says that he is waiting a message from God as to whether he calls off his burning of the Quran or not, but Muslims know that the Almighty God has given them his word more than 15 centuries ago and had unequivocally promised them that He and no one else has sent down the Quran and that He alone shall preserve it:
“Indeed, it is We who sent down the Qur'an and indeed, We will be its guardian. (Al-Hijr 15:9)
It should be clear to anyone who believes and understands the power of this Ayah that no one can challenge the power of God and anyone who does that is just making an illusionary and futile attempt to deceive the world and to create a stunt to gain some transient and laughable worldly benefits for himself. With that in mind, it is expected of enlightened Muslims to take the moral high ground and act as the holy Quran enjoins them to behave in a situation like this:
“And not equal are the good deed and the bad. Repel [evil] by that [deed] which is better; and thereupon the one whom between you and him is enmity [will become] as though he was a devoted friend.” (Fussilat 41:34)
It is again the Quran that teaches Muslims not to reduce themselves to the level of the ignorant but rise above it and set a good example in civility and human decency when they receive ill treatment from an ignorant person:
“…And the servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk upon the earth easily, and when the ignorant address them [harshly], they say [words of] peace…” (Al Furqan 25:63)
It will indeed be unbecoming for any Muslim who knows the core message for which the prophet was sent to act any other way than to follow the Prophet’s footsteps and heed his words:
"The only reason I have been sent is to perfect good manners.”
So what manners one can imagine fits in this case than not to allow oneself to be dragged into the abyss by such a deviant person who has been disowned by his own church that he founded in Germany and condemned by and large by all religious denominations in America and the world and by the majority of the American political leaders regardless of their ideological orientations. It is, therefore, silence in this case that is more profound and more resounding than raising any commotion that could be counterproductive. It is not a silence of weakness but it is a silence that sends the most powerful message as the 9th century British Poet Martin Tupper said:
“Well-timed silence hath more eloquence than speech”.
In a situation like this, one may also take solace of the inspiring story of Abdul Muttalib and the Abyssinian King Abraha. Just as Pastor Jones wants to burn the Quran, Abraha brought with him a massive army, many of them mounted on elephants, to destroy the Ka’aba of Mecca, the place of worship of the Arabs at the time and the most venerated place for all Muslims now. The story goes that when Abraha’s army reached the vicinity of Mecca some of his army looted 200 camels that belonged to Abdul Muttalib, the grandfather of the Prophet Mohammad, who was also the most respected elder in Mecca and the custodian of the Ka’aba.
Abdul Muttalib came to the camp of Abraha and demanded the king to return his camels to him. Surprised to hear that all Abdul Muttalib wanted was a compensation for his camels and not to dissuade him to leave the Ka’aba, Abraha asked Abdul Muttalib why he didn’t talk about the Ka’aba instead of his camels. Abdul Muttalib’s answer was simple and clear:
"I am the master of the camels,” he said, “whereas the Ka’abah house of worship has its lord to defend it". And when Abraha indicated that no one could defend it from him, Abdul Muttalib told him that he was on his own. Finally, Abraha gave him the camels back, while the fate of his mission is well illustrated by Surat Al Fil (The Elephant).
Over 15,00 years ago and through his Bedouin wisdom, the Prophet’s grandfather realized that it was futile to hassle with a daring ignorant over something that was in the hands of a better defender than him and his clan.
Another striking lesson for Muslims in feeling pity for the actions of the ignorant is the story of how Prophet Mohammad reacted to the calamity he met in the hands of the people of the village of Taif when he went there to call them to Islam at the beginning of his mission. Instead of listening to him, the people of Taif ridiculed him and sent their children and the insane to chase him out of the village by throwing rocks at him. The story says that when Mohammad was out of the village he was soaked with blood from head to toe and his shoes were clogged to his feet.
Seeing him in this pathetic state, the Archangel Gabriel brought him a message from God telling him that if Mohammad wished God would order the Angel in charge of the mountains to move the two mountains on either side of the village to collide and crush the people to death. Mohammad’s reply which should stand as a glaring example of tolerance and rising above ignorance was:
“O Allah, guide these people, because they did not know what they were doing.”
One finds no better and no wiser example in dealing with a situation like that of Pastor Jones or any future misfit begging for media attention than that of the Prophet. Anything else will only be facing ignorance with ignorance and igniting a fire that will burn good people on both sides.
The best lesson that both Americans and Muslims can learn from this incident is that extremist people are a minority voice that don’t represent anyone one but their own deviant souls. Therefore, Americans should know that when a fiery Muslim cleric shouts death to America, he doesn’t talk on behalf of the millions of Muslims around the world who admire the good values of the American people and likewise Muslims should realize that when a person like Pastor Jones shouts burn the Quran, the majority of the Americans see him as a nut case who doesn’t represent the great American people.
Bashir Goth
Burning the Quran, what burning! As President Obama rightly said this is just “a stunt” and without the limelight given to it by the sensation-seeking, globalized media that makes a mountain out of a molehill, Pastor Terry Jones would have remained an unknown pastor holed up in his equally unknown Dove World Outreach Center.
His prime objective was to bring world attention to himself and to his church and he succeeded; as the media brouhaha that is following his antics has just given him that.
One cannot blame the media for sniffing the source of news but it is the Muslims who can either deny Pastor Jones the opportunity to further exploit his media stunt for more self-promotion or fall for his cheap clownish gimmick and reward him for his action by giving him undeserved and unnecessary attention.
Muslims need not go any further to know that no force in the world, let alone a man who claims to have no more than three dozen people as his followers can obliterate the Quran. Jones says that he is waiting a message from God as to whether he calls off his burning of the Quran or not, but Muslims know that the Almighty God has given them his word more than 15 centuries ago and had unequivocally promised them that He and no one else has sent down the Quran and that He alone shall preserve it:
“Indeed, it is We who sent down the Qur'an and indeed, We will be its guardian. (Al-Hijr 15:9)
It should be clear to anyone who believes and understands the power of this Ayah that no one can challenge the power of God and anyone who does that is just making an illusionary and futile attempt to deceive the world and to create a stunt to gain some transient and laughable worldly benefits for himself. With that in mind, it is expected of enlightened Muslims to take the moral high ground and act as the holy Quran enjoins them to behave in a situation like this:
“And not equal are the good deed and the bad. Repel [evil] by that [deed] which is better; and thereupon the one whom between you and him is enmity [will become] as though he was a devoted friend.” (Fussilat 41:34)
It is again the Quran that teaches Muslims not to reduce themselves to the level of the ignorant but rise above it and set a good example in civility and human decency when they receive ill treatment from an ignorant person:
“…And the servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk upon the earth easily, and when the ignorant address them [harshly], they say [words of] peace…” (Al Furqan 25:63)
It will indeed be unbecoming for any Muslim who knows the core message for which the prophet was sent to act any other way than to follow the Prophet’s footsteps and heed his words:
"The only reason I have been sent is to perfect good manners.”
So what manners one can imagine fits in this case than not to allow oneself to be dragged into the abyss by such a deviant person who has been disowned by his own church that he founded in Germany and condemned by and large by all religious denominations in America and the world and by the majority of the American political leaders regardless of their ideological orientations. It is, therefore, silence in this case that is more profound and more resounding than raising any commotion that could be counterproductive. It is not a silence of weakness but it is a silence that sends the most powerful message as the 9th century British Poet Martin Tupper said:
“Well-timed silence hath more eloquence than speech”.
In a situation like this, one may also take solace of the inspiring story of Abdul Muttalib and the Abyssinian King Abraha. Just as Pastor Jones wants to burn the Quran, Abraha brought with him a massive army, many of them mounted on elephants, to destroy the Ka’aba of Mecca, the place of worship of the Arabs at the time and the most venerated place for all Muslims now. The story goes that when Abraha’s army reached the vicinity of Mecca some of his army looted 200 camels that belonged to Abdul Muttalib, the grandfather of the Prophet Mohammad, who was also the most respected elder in Mecca and the custodian of the Ka’aba.
Abdul Muttalib came to the camp of Abraha and demanded the king to return his camels to him. Surprised to hear that all Abdul Muttalib wanted was a compensation for his camels and not to dissuade him to leave the Ka’aba, Abraha asked Abdul Muttalib why he didn’t talk about the Ka’aba instead of his camels. Abdul Muttalib’s answer was simple and clear:
"I am the master of the camels,” he said, “whereas the Ka’abah house of worship has its lord to defend it". And when Abraha indicated that no one could defend it from him, Abdul Muttalib told him that he was on his own. Finally, Abraha gave him the camels back, while the fate of his mission is well illustrated by Surat Al Fil (The Elephant).
Over 15,00 years ago and through his Bedouin wisdom, the Prophet’s grandfather realized that it was futile to hassle with a daring ignorant over something that was in the hands of a better defender than him and his clan.
Another striking lesson for Muslims in feeling pity for the actions of the ignorant is the story of how Prophet Mohammad reacted to the calamity he met in the hands of the people of the village of Taif when he went there to call them to Islam at the beginning of his mission. Instead of listening to him, the people of Taif ridiculed him and sent their children and the insane to chase him out of the village by throwing rocks at him. The story says that when Mohammad was out of the village he was soaked with blood from head to toe and his shoes were clogged to his feet.
Seeing him in this pathetic state, the Archangel Gabriel brought him a message from God telling him that if Mohammad wished God would order the Angel in charge of the mountains to move the two mountains on either side of the village to collide and crush the people to death. Mohammad’s reply which should stand as a glaring example of tolerance and rising above ignorance was:
“O Allah, guide these people, because they did not know what they were doing.”
One finds no better and no wiser example in dealing with a situation like that of Pastor Jones or any future misfit begging for media attention than that of the Prophet. Anything else will only be facing ignorance with ignorance and igniting a fire that will burn good people on both sides.
The best lesson that both Americans and Muslims can learn from this incident is that extremist people are a minority voice that don’t represent anyone one but their own deviant souls. Therefore, Americans should know that when a fiery Muslim cleric shouts death to America, he doesn’t talk on behalf of the millions of Muslims around the world who admire the good values of the American people and likewise Muslims should realize that when a person like Pastor Jones shouts burn the Quran, the majority of the Americans see him as a nut case who doesn’t represent the great American people.
Wednesday, September 08, 2010
Two roads, similar history – Awdal Road and Fairfax Country Road
Bashir Goth, Washington D.C, Sept. 07, 2010
It is more than 30 years since the people of Borama started their long journey for the building of the Borama-Dilla Road. They started their bidding in the early 1980s when the construction of the tarmac road coming from Hargeisa was abandoned at Dilla. Ever since, the elders of Awdal have tirelessly raised the issue with every government delegation and every NGO that came to the region. Now after almost 30-odd years, the people have realized that an external assistance was not forthcoming and the only way they could build the road was to rely on their community’s resources and effort.
Having that in mind, it was inspiring for me to read a similar story in the pages of the Washington Post where the community of Fairfax County, Virginia in the United States, had to wait for 50 years for the construction of a road. I just happened to open the pages of the paper’s Sunday edition on Sept. 6, 2010 to read the following title:
After 50 years, Fairfax County Parkway finally heads toward the finish line
As I delved deeper into the story with great interest I was amazed by the resemblance of the history of the two roads despite the difference between the two communities in terms of wealth and civilization. The Fairfax Country Parkway was built in pieces just like the Borama-Dilla Road is being built now, mile by mile.
"The funding has been so uneven over the years, and as a result it got built in pieces," said Rep. Gerry E. Connolly, who served as a Fairfax County commissioner for 14 years before being elected to Congress in 2008.
Just as the Awdal community found the government to be an unreliable financial supporter and had to rely instead on local money, the Fairfax County community also found the state to be a non-reliable funding partner and had to resort to local community for support.
"The state wasn't a reliable funding partner, and an unusual percentage of the project got funded by local dollars,” Connolly said.
The comparison, however, has a more bitter taste for the Fairfax County community as their County happens to be the most prosperous county in one of the most prosperous states in America, while the Borama-Dilla Road is located in one of the poorest regions in Africa. Therefore, while the progress of the Fairfax Country Road was hampered by government bureaucracy, the delay of the Borama-Dilla Road was partly due to lack of resources and partly due to lack of proper appropriation of the government’s meager resources.
"It has taken seven Virginia governors and the better part of four decades to complete a 35-mile roadway in the most prosperous county in one of the most prosperous states in the country," said Bob Chase, executive director of the Northern Virginia Transportation Alliance. "That's relevant in terms of how complicated and difficult it is to advance critically needed transportation projects in Northern Virginia."
As the Fairfax Road nears its end, the community there has already started dreaming of a brighter future where metro services should come to the area.
"Metro has got to be a part of our future," Connolly said. "It's got to come down I-66 to Gainesville, it's got to come down I-95 to Potomac Mills and we've got to have light rail down the Richmond highway corridor.
Maybe it is time for Awdal people as well to start planning for the post road period, a period where they have to dream of a new dawn of larger highways and even train or metro systems connecting the different parts of the region. But as Connolly urged the Fairfax County community for patience by saying:
"These things are critical projects for the future…but these things take time. You can't just do them overnight." I may also caution the people of Awdal that with patience and perseverance that you will prevail. So fellow Awdalites, stay the course and know that you are not alone in your struggle for development as you share history with one of the richest counties and states in America.
Bashir Goth, Washington D.C, Sept. 07, 2010
It is more than 30 years since the people of Borama started their long journey for the building of the Borama-Dilla Road. They started their bidding in the early 1980s when the construction of the tarmac road coming from Hargeisa was abandoned at Dilla. Ever since, the elders of Awdal have tirelessly raised the issue with every government delegation and every NGO that came to the region. Now after almost 30-odd years, the people have realized that an external assistance was not forthcoming and the only way they could build the road was to rely on their community’s resources and effort.
Having that in mind, it was inspiring for me to read a similar story in the pages of the Washington Post where the community of Fairfax County, Virginia in the United States, had to wait for 50 years for the construction of a road. I just happened to open the pages of the paper’s Sunday edition on Sept. 6, 2010 to read the following title:
After 50 years, Fairfax County Parkway finally heads toward the finish line
As I delved deeper into the story with great interest I was amazed by the resemblance of the history of the two roads despite the difference between the two communities in terms of wealth and civilization. The Fairfax Country Parkway was built in pieces just like the Borama-Dilla Road is being built now, mile by mile.
"The funding has been so uneven over the years, and as a result it got built in pieces," said Rep. Gerry E. Connolly, who served as a Fairfax County commissioner for 14 years before being elected to Congress in 2008.
Just as the Awdal community found the government to be an unreliable financial supporter and had to rely instead on local money, the Fairfax County community also found the state to be a non-reliable funding partner and had to resort to local community for support.
"The state wasn't a reliable funding partner, and an unusual percentage of the project got funded by local dollars,” Connolly said.
The comparison, however, has a more bitter taste for the Fairfax County community as their County happens to be the most prosperous county in one of the most prosperous states in America, while the Borama-Dilla Road is located in one of the poorest regions in Africa. Therefore, while the progress of the Fairfax Country Road was hampered by government bureaucracy, the delay of the Borama-Dilla Road was partly due to lack of resources and partly due to lack of proper appropriation of the government’s meager resources.
"It has taken seven Virginia governors and the better part of four decades to complete a 35-mile roadway in the most prosperous county in one of the most prosperous states in the country," said Bob Chase, executive director of the Northern Virginia Transportation Alliance. "That's relevant in terms of how complicated and difficult it is to advance critically needed transportation projects in Northern Virginia."
As the Fairfax Road nears its end, the community there has already started dreaming of a brighter future where metro services should come to the area.
"Metro has got to be a part of our future," Connolly said. "It's got to come down I-66 to Gainesville, it's got to come down I-95 to Potomac Mills and we've got to have light rail down the Richmond highway corridor.
Maybe it is time for Awdal people as well to start planning for the post road period, a period where they have to dream of a new dawn of larger highways and even train or metro systems connecting the different parts of the region. But as Connolly urged the Fairfax County community for patience by saying:
"These things are critical projects for the future…but these things take time. You can't just do them overnight." I may also caution the people of Awdal that with patience and perseverance that you will prevail. So fellow Awdalites, stay the course and know that you are not alone in your struggle for development as you share history with one of the richest counties and states in America.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Should Somaliland allow the formation of a unionist party?
Bashir Goth
Ludicrous idea, isn’t it? How can I suggest such a treacherous idea when I am known as an unflinching advocate for Somaliland’s independence and sovereignty? How could I dare even to utter the ugly U-word which I have denigrated so forcefully and irrevocably in many of my writings? I can see jaws dropping with bewilderment, devoted readers unbelievably double checking the source, and some of those already besotted with cynicism against the loyalty of clans on the fringes of Somaliland jumping to conclusion as soon as they see the title without reading any further and saying with a great sense of satisfaction: “Hey, gotcha? We knew all along that he was a unionist in disguise?” Likewise, I can see also unionist “Somalilanders” getting ecstatic about my rebellious approach.
Before anyone jumps to any conclusions, I would like to point out that Somaliland has chosen democracy as its system of government. And democracy entails equality and freedom for all citizens. Under the tree of freedom come its many branches such as freedom of speech, freedom of assembly and freedom of religion. Under the umbrella of this system of democracy and freedom comes also one’s right for dissent among many other rights. Any tax paying citizen should have the right to challenge the political system and be able to express his/her political opinion in a peaceful way. Democracy is not only about conformity, or herd mentality, or even about seeing only different shades of the existing system; but it is also about calling for dismantling the existing system and taking the nation’s destiny to a completely different direction if need be. It is therefore the right of every citizen to demand and promote the political system he/she sees as suitable for the country.
If the Kulmiye government opens the gate for the creation of many political parties as the party’s leadership promised during the election campaign, I can envisage many parties carrying different ideologies and diverse political orientations coming to the political scene. Other than the plethora of clan-based parties that will choke the party pipeline, one can anticipate the arrival of some ideology- based parties such an Islamic party, a secular party, a liberal party, a social-democratic party and most probably a communist party. With the onset of such unfettered democracy I don’t see why it should still be a taboo to create a unionist party, demanding Somaliland’s reunification with Somalia.
In Somaliland today there is a strange and unfounded fear of anyone expressing an opinion for union. Strange because Somaliland has adopted democracy as a political system and democracy is indivisible. You cannot deny citizens to demand their democratic rights to hold and express opposing views; and unfounded because the people of Somaliland have made their choice to abandon the union and reclaim their sovereignty with their own free will. Therefore to punish and criminalize people for calling or publicly advocating for the Somali union is an insult to the intelligence of the people of Somaliland. If anything, it shows insecurity and paranoia about the sustainability of the Somaliland project.
The absurdity is that any Somali from anywhere in the world, particularly Somalis from Ethiopia, Djibitouti, Kenya and even Somalia can enter, stay and do business in Somaliland, but Somalilanders who happened to have participated in the politics of Somalia cannot attend even the burial of their own relatives in Hargeisa, Borama, Buroa or any other place in Somaliland. Somalis who hold high political posts in Ethiopia, Kenya and Djibouti are welcomed in Somaliland even though they uphold their respective governments’ official position of rejecting the recognition of Somaliland, but Somalis who hail from Somaliland by birth are treated as criminals and thrown into prison if they step on the soil of their homeland and are not even allowed to visit their ailing mothers. Their only crime is that they oppose the secession of Somaliland. This makes Somaliland democracy and freedom a cruel joke, at least to the families of the victims of such an absurd reality.
And finally, here is the beef. Yes, I am a firm believer in Somaliland’s sovereignty and independence and will remain a staunch advocate for its recognition. The people of Somaliland underwent great suffering and yet still found the courage and willpower to invest a priceless amount of energy, time and wisdom in creating a country from scratch and establishing such an admirable model of democracy in Africa. And despite its lack of recognition, I want to see Somaliland determined to uphold its constitutional democracy and hopefully one day be a guiding light for African countries as well as others professing democracy yet denying their citizens basic rights. Obviously, neither I nor any sound human being would like to see Somaliland’s achievements go up in flames for someone’s fantasyland dreams, but I also strongly believe that Somaliland has attained a high degree of political maturity to democratically and peacefully challenge and defeat anyone that confronts its legal rights at the ballot box. Hence, I resent seeing my beautiful Somaliland that stands on unshakeable democratic pillars, behaving like a banana republic by incarcerating and denying its citizens the exercise of their political rights. And that includes allowing the minority unionist individuals to raise their voice and form their own party. We all know that such dissenters do not stand a chance of winning any votes, but giving them a political platform may contribute to deflating their argument and saving their lives from dying in the hellfire of Mogadishu.
28 August 2010.
Bashir Goth
Ludicrous idea, isn’t it? How can I suggest such a treacherous idea when I am known as an unflinching advocate for Somaliland’s independence and sovereignty? How could I dare even to utter the ugly U-word which I have denigrated so forcefully and irrevocably in many of my writings? I can see jaws dropping with bewilderment, devoted readers unbelievably double checking the source, and some of those already besotted with cynicism against the loyalty of clans on the fringes of Somaliland jumping to conclusion as soon as they see the title without reading any further and saying with a great sense of satisfaction: “Hey, gotcha? We knew all along that he was a unionist in disguise?” Likewise, I can see also unionist “Somalilanders” getting ecstatic about my rebellious approach.
Before anyone jumps to any conclusions, I would like to point out that Somaliland has chosen democracy as its system of government. And democracy entails equality and freedom for all citizens. Under the tree of freedom come its many branches such as freedom of speech, freedom of assembly and freedom of religion. Under the umbrella of this system of democracy and freedom comes also one’s right for dissent among many other rights. Any tax paying citizen should have the right to challenge the political system and be able to express his/her political opinion in a peaceful way. Democracy is not only about conformity, or herd mentality, or even about seeing only different shades of the existing system; but it is also about calling for dismantling the existing system and taking the nation’s destiny to a completely different direction if need be. It is therefore the right of every citizen to demand and promote the political system he/she sees as suitable for the country.
If the Kulmiye government opens the gate for the creation of many political parties as the party’s leadership promised during the election campaign, I can envisage many parties carrying different ideologies and diverse political orientations coming to the political scene. Other than the plethora of clan-based parties that will choke the party pipeline, one can anticipate the arrival of some ideology- based parties such an Islamic party, a secular party, a liberal party, a social-democratic party and most probably a communist party. With the onset of such unfettered democracy I don’t see why it should still be a taboo to create a unionist party, demanding Somaliland’s reunification with Somalia.
In Somaliland today there is a strange and unfounded fear of anyone expressing an opinion for union. Strange because Somaliland has adopted democracy as a political system and democracy is indivisible. You cannot deny citizens to demand their democratic rights to hold and express opposing views; and unfounded because the people of Somaliland have made their choice to abandon the union and reclaim their sovereignty with their own free will. Therefore to punish and criminalize people for calling or publicly advocating for the Somali union is an insult to the intelligence of the people of Somaliland. If anything, it shows insecurity and paranoia about the sustainability of the Somaliland project.
The absurdity is that any Somali from anywhere in the world, particularly Somalis from Ethiopia, Djibitouti, Kenya and even Somalia can enter, stay and do business in Somaliland, but Somalilanders who happened to have participated in the politics of Somalia cannot attend even the burial of their own relatives in Hargeisa, Borama, Buroa or any other place in Somaliland. Somalis who hold high political posts in Ethiopia, Kenya and Djibouti are welcomed in Somaliland even though they uphold their respective governments’ official position of rejecting the recognition of Somaliland, but Somalis who hail from Somaliland by birth are treated as criminals and thrown into prison if they step on the soil of their homeland and are not even allowed to visit their ailing mothers. Their only crime is that they oppose the secession of Somaliland. This makes Somaliland democracy and freedom a cruel joke, at least to the families of the victims of such an absurd reality.
And finally, here is the beef. Yes, I am a firm believer in Somaliland’s sovereignty and independence and will remain a staunch advocate for its recognition. The people of Somaliland underwent great suffering and yet still found the courage and willpower to invest a priceless amount of energy, time and wisdom in creating a country from scratch and establishing such an admirable model of democracy in Africa. And despite its lack of recognition, I want to see Somaliland determined to uphold its constitutional democracy and hopefully one day be a guiding light for African countries as well as others professing democracy yet denying their citizens basic rights. Obviously, neither I nor any sound human being would like to see Somaliland’s achievements go up in flames for someone’s fantasyland dreams, but I also strongly believe that Somaliland has attained a high degree of political maturity to democratically and peacefully challenge and defeat anyone that confronts its legal rights at the ballot box. Hence, I resent seeing my beautiful Somaliland that stands on unshakeable democratic pillars, behaving like a banana republic by incarcerating and denying its citizens the exercise of their political rights. And that includes allowing the minority unionist individuals to raise their voice and form their own party. We all know that such dissenters do not stand a chance of winning any votes, but giving them a political platform may contribute to deflating their argument and saving their lives from dying in the hellfire of Mogadishu.
28 August 2010.
Mr. Cukusow Wax La Qariyo Qudhun Baa Ku Jira
Bashir Goth
Sida aan ognahay waxa ay warbaahinta Somaliland fidisay digniin uu Afayeenka Madaxtooyada Somaliland Cabdillaahi Maxamed Daahir (Cukuse) uu u jeediyey saxaafadda isaga oo uga digay falanqaynta iyo faragalinta arrimaha Diinta iyo Qabiilooyinka.
Ma aha markii ugu horreysay ee Cukuse uu isticmaalo erayga “digniin”. Waxana la yaab leh nin sheeganaya Afhayeen Madaxweyne oo isticmaalaya erayga “digniin”. Haddaba, waxa habboon in uu Cukuse ogaado in aan erayga digniin aanay ku jirin xeeraka Afayeenada Madaxda. Saxaafadda digniin lama siiyo. Maxaa yeelay marka aad tidhaahdo “Waxan uga digayaa” waxa daba taalla ciqaab, waxana markaa ka dhan-dhamaya digtaatoornimo, waxana ay xambaarsan tahay “shaqo ayaan idinka qaban doonaa”, taasi oo la mid ah ul taagan. Waa car juuq haddii kale is jira. Digniini ma aha hadal ku habboon Afayeen dal dimoqraadi ah oo xaqdhawraya saxaafadda xorta ah ee aad adigu bahda ka ahaan jirtay.
Afhayeenka waxa looga fadhiya in uu erayada uu odhaanyo ka fiirsado, eray kastana eego miisaanka uu leeyahay iyo macnaha uu xambaarsan yahay. Waa in uu wax kasta magaciisa ugu yeedhaa. Taasina arrin fudud ma aha haddii ay isaga la dhib yar tahay.
Waxa jirta sheeko tidhaahda faylasuufkii Shiinaha ee la odhan jiray Konfushiyas (Confiucius) ayaa mar la weydiiyey waxa ugu horreeya ee uu qaban lahaa haddii dalka xukunkiisa loo dhiibo. In yar markuu fikiray ayuu ku jawaabay: “ Waxa ugu horreeya ee aan qaban lahaa waxa weeyi waxan sixi lahaa wax kasta magaciisa. ( I would rectify the names of things).” Ninkii su’aasha u soo jeediyey ayaa isaga oo yaaban weydiiyey: “oo arrintaasi siday xukun wanaag u keeni kartaa?” Markaas buu faylasuufkii ku jawaabay: “ Marka wax kasta magaciisu qaldan yahay, hadal caqliga gala laguma hadlo. Marka uu hadalku caqliga geli waayana waxna sida ugu habboon looma qabto. Marka waxna sida ugu habboon loo qaban waayana dhismaha bulshada ayaa dhaawacma. Marka dhismaha bulshadu dhaawacmana ciqaabta iyo dambiga ayaa is le’ekaan waaya. Marka ciqaabta iyo dambigu is le’ekaan waayaana dadku waxa ay garan waayaan wax ay sameeyaan. Ninka qummani wax kaleba ha sameeyee waa in aanu hadal aanu u meel dayin ku hadal.” Sidaas bay diinteenuna u tidhi: “ (ilaahay) Aadam wuxu baray magacda….Wa calama Aadama Al Asma’a…”
Haddaba, Cukusow waa inaad garataa in erayga kaa soo baxaa haddii aanad u meel dayin uu dhaawac gaadhsiin karo Madaxweynaha iyo dawladdaba. Hadhawna aanad Saxaafadda ku canaanan karin.
Haddaba waxa lagaaga fadhiyaa ma aha digniino aad bixiso ee waxa kuu banaan in aad beeniso wixii aan jirin ee saxaafaddu qorto oo aad bayaamiso waxay runtu tahay. Erayada aad adeegsan karto marka aad doonayso in aad saxaafadda toosiso waxa ka mid ah: “ Waxa habboonayd, runtu waxay tahay, waxa wanaagsan, ilama habboona, way fiicnaan lahayd, waxan talo ku bixin lahaa iwm…”. Markaa digniin maya.
Waxa kale oo aad saxaafadda uga DIGTAY in ay ka fogaato ka hadalka amuuraha Diinta iyo Qabiilka. Waxase hubaal ah in aanay saxaafaddu abuurin muranka diinta iyo hadal haynta qabiilka midna. Saxaafaddu waa dhuunmareen (medium) oo wixii dhaca ayuun bay werisaa. Qabyaaladda waxa baabi’isa caddaalad. Haddii ay xukuumadda jirtaa caddaalada baahiso qabyaaladda hadalhaynteedu wuu iska baaba’aa, laakiin ha ka hadlina kuma aasanto. Waxad ogsoon tahay in Diktaatoorkii Siyaad Barre uu yidhi qabyaaladdii waan aasnay ee qofna yaanu ku hadlin isaguna uu hoosta (Gosha)ku haystay. Markaa arrintiisu waxay ahayd aniga ayuun bay ii banaan tahay in aan ku shaqaysto qabiilka. Haddaba markaad amrayso saxaafadda in aanay qabyaalad ka hadlin miyaad illowday in ay saxaafaddu tahay ta looga baahan yahay in ay iftiimiso qaladaadka xukuumadda ee qabiilku ka mid noqon karo. Wuxu hadalkaagu u egyahay in aad leedahay indhaha naga weeciya(Laliya) waxbaan laaqanaynaaye. Ogsoonow saxaafaddu haddii ay u muuqan weydo qabyaalad xukuumaddu waddo wax aan jirin qori mayso.
Arrinta diinta waa laga hadli haddii xukuumaddu soo kala dhex gasho dadka iyo ilaahay. Dadkeenu Muslim buu ahaa 14 qarni iyo ka badan. Markaa haddii Wasiirka Diinta iyo Awqaaftu fidmo abuuro oo uu yidhaahdo wixii aad soo caabudayseen aniga hortay waa waxba kama jiraan ee anigaa dariiqa toosan idinku ridaya saxaafaddu xaq bay u leedahay in ay dadka weydiiso in ay raalli ka yihiin iyo in kale. Xaq bay u leedahay in ay farta ku fiiqdo in diin waageeni ahi ina soo gashay, xaq bay u leedahay in ay sidii dacawga ka daba cido ciddii ummadda soofdaran habaabinaysa. Haddii aad doonayso in aad sida gorayada madaxa aasato saxaafadda waxa ku waajib ah in ay dadka tusto in qarqarka dambe uuni ku muuqdo oo uu maduxu ku aasan yahay.
Hadalkaagu wuxu u egyahay in saxaafaddu damaqday boogo aad doonayso in ay qarsoonaato ama ajandha aad soo wadateen oo aydaan doonayn in dadku ogaado. Haddiise ay kaa daacad tahay waxa fiicnaan lahayd in aad faahfaahin ka bixiso hadalada laga argagaxay ee fidna diineedka inagu abuuri kara ee ka soo yeedhay wadaadka aad arrimaha diinta u dhiibteen. Mase illoobay wadaadku in Idaacaddu hoos timaaddo Wasiirka Warfaafinta oo aanu isagu shuqul ku lahayn. Miyuuse illoobay in dalka xornimo ka jirto oo aanu cidna ku dirqiyi Karin bucsharad uu dibadda kala yimid.
Ogsoonow Cukusoow saxaafaddu aamusi mayso weliba waxa u dambaysa in ay badka soo dhigto halka wadaadku ka damqanayo iyo cidda uu gacan hoosaadka la leeyahay. Haddaba inta aad saxaafadda u dig iyo damlaynayso bal horta xukuumadda aad Afhayeenka u tahay bar sida wax walba magaciisa loo yidhaahdo adiguna iska bilow, had iyo jeerna xusuuso in saxaafaddu mabda’eegu yahay: “wax la qariyo qudhun baa ku jiro.”.
Maqaalkan waxa lagu nashriyey baraha Internetka Somaalida 18 August 2010.
Bashir Goth
Sida aan ognahay waxa ay warbaahinta Somaliland fidisay digniin uu Afayeenka Madaxtooyada Somaliland Cabdillaahi Maxamed Daahir (Cukuse) uu u jeediyey saxaafadda isaga oo uga digay falanqaynta iyo faragalinta arrimaha Diinta iyo Qabiilooyinka.
Ma aha markii ugu horreysay ee Cukuse uu isticmaalo erayga “digniin”. Waxana la yaab leh nin sheeganaya Afhayeen Madaxweyne oo isticmaalaya erayga “digniin”. Haddaba, waxa habboon in uu Cukuse ogaado in aan erayga digniin aanay ku jirin xeeraka Afayeenada Madaxda. Saxaafadda digniin lama siiyo. Maxaa yeelay marka aad tidhaahdo “Waxan uga digayaa” waxa daba taalla ciqaab, waxana markaa ka dhan-dhamaya digtaatoornimo, waxana ay xambaarsan tahay “shaqo ayaan idinka qaban doonaa”, taasi oo la mid ah ul taagan. Waa car juuq haddii kale is jira. Digniini ma aha hadal ku habboon Afayeen dal dimoqraadi ah oo xaqdhawraya saxaafadda xorta ah ee aad adigu bahda ka ahaan jirtay.
Afhayeenka waxa looga fadhiya in uu erayada uu odhaanyo ka fiirsado, eray kastana eego miisaanka uu leeyahay iyo macnaha uu xambaarsan yahay. Waa in uu wax kasta magaciisa ugu yeedhaa. Taasina arrin fudud ma aha haddii ay isaga la dhib yar tahay.
Waxa jirta sheeko tidhaahda faylasuufkii Shiinaha ee la odhan jiray Konfushiyas (Confiucius) ayaa mar la weydiiyey waxa ugu horreeya ee uu qaban lahaa haddii dalka xukunkiisa loo dhiibo. In yar markuu fikiray ayuu ku jawaabay: “ Waxa ugu horreeya ee aan qaban lahaa waxa weeyi waxan sixi lahaa wax kasta magaciisa. ( I would rectify the names of things).” Ninkii su’aasha u soo jeediyey ayaa isaga oo yaaban weydiiyey: “oo arrintaasi siday xukun wanaag u keeni kartaa?” Markaas buu faylasuufkii ku jawaabay: “ Marka wax kasta magaciisu qaldan yahay, hadal caqliga gala laguma hadlo. Marka uu hadalku caqliga geli waayana waxna sida ugu habboon looma qabto. Marka waxna sida ugu habboon loo qaban waayana dhismaha bulshada ayaa dhaawacma. Marka dhismaha bulshadu dhaawacmana ciqaabta iyo dambiga ayaa is le’ekaan waaya. Marka ciqaabta iyo dambigu is le’ekaan waayaana dadku waxa ay garan waayaan wax ay sameeyaan. Ninka qummani wax kaleba ha sameeyee waa in aanu hadal aanu u meel dayin ku hadal.” Sidaas bay diinteenuna u tidhi: “ (ilaahay) Aadam wuxu baray magacda….Wa calama Aadama Al Asma’a…”
Haddaba, Cukusow waa inaad garataa in erayga kaa soo baxaa haddii aanad u meel dayin uu dhaawac gaadhsiin karo Madaxweynaha iyo dawladdaba. Hadhawna aanad Saxaafadda ku canaanan karin.
Haddaba waxa lagaaga fadhiyaa ma aha digniino aad bixiso ee waxa kuu banaan in aad beeniso wixii aan jirin ee saxaafaddu qorto oo aad bayaamiso waxay runtu tahay. Erayada aad adeegsan karto marka aad doonayso in aad saxaafadda toosiso waxa ka mid ah: “ Waxa habboonayd, runtu waxay tahay, waxa wanaagsan, ilama habboona, way fiicnaan lahayd, waxan talo ku bixin lahaa iwm…”. Markaa digniin maya.
Waxa kale oo aad saxaafadda uga DIGTAY in ay ka fogaato ka hadalka amuuraha Diinta iyo Qabiilka. Waxase hubaal ah in aanay saxaafaddu abuurin muranka diinta iyo hadal haynta qabiilka midna. Saxaafaddu waa dhuunmareen (medium) oo wixii dhaca ayuun bay werisaa. Qabyaaladda waxa baabi’isa caddaalad. Haddii ay xukuumadda jirtaa caddaalada baahiso qabyaaladda hadalhaynteedu wuu iska baaba’aa, laakiin ha ka hadlina kuma aasanto. Waxad ogsoon tahay in Diktaatoorkii Siyaad Barre uu yidhi qabyaaladdii waan aasnay ee qofna yaanu ku hadlin isaguna uu hoosta (Gosha)ku haystay. Markaa arrintiisu waxay ahayd aniga ayuun bay ii banaan tahay in aan ku shaqaysto qabiilka. Haddaba markaad amrayso saxaafadda in aanay qabyaalad ka hadlin miyaad illowday in ay saxaafaddu tahay ta looga baahan yahay in ay iftiimiso qaladaadka xukuumadda ee qabiilku ka mid noqon karo. Wuxu hadalkaagu u egyahay in aad leedahay indhaha naga weeciya(Laliya) waxbaan laaqanaynaaye. Ogsoonow saxaafaddu haddii ay u muuqan weydo qabyaalad xukuumaddu waddo wax aan jirin qori mayso.
Arrinta diinta waa laga hadli haddii xukuumaddu soo kala dhex gasho dadka iyo ilaahay. Dadkeenu Muslim buu ahaa 14 qarni iyo ka badan. Markaa haddii Wasiirka Diinta iyo Awqaaftu fidmo abuuro oo uu yidhaahdo wixii aad soo caabudayseen aniga hortay waa waxba kama jiraan ee anigaa dariiqa toosan idinku ridaya saxaafaddu xaq bay u leedahay in ay dadka weydiiso in ay raalli ka yihiin iyo in kale. Xaq bay u leedahay in ay farta ku fiiqdo in diin waageeni ahi ina soo gashay, xaq bay u leedahay in ay sidii dacawga ka daba cido ciddii ummadda soofdaran habaabinaysa. Haddii aad doonayso in aad sida gorayada madaxa aasato saxaafadda waxa ku waajib ah in ay dadka tusto in qarqarka dambe uuni ku muuqdo oo uu maduxu ku aasan yahay.
Hadalkaagu wuxu u egyahay in saxaafaddu damaqday boogo aad doonayso in ay qarsoonaato ama ajandha aad soo wadateen oo aydaan doonayn in dadku ogaado. Haddiise ay kaa daacad tahay waxa fiicnaan lahayd in aad faahfaahin ka bixiso hadalada laga argagaxay ee fidna diineedka inagu abuuri kara ee ka soo yeedhay wadaadka aad arrimaha diinta u dhiibteen. Mase illoobay wadaadku in Idaacaddu hoos timaaddo Wasiirka Warfaafinta oo aanu isagu shuqul ku lahayn. Miyuuse illoobay in dalka xornimo ka jirto oo aanu cidna ku dirqiyi Karin bucsharad uu dibadda kala yimid.
Ogsoonow Cukusoow saxaafaddu aamusi mayso weliba waxa u dambaysa in ay badka soo dhigto halka wadaadku ka damqanayo iyo cidda uu gacan hoosaadka la leeyahay. Haddaba inta aad saxaafadda u dig iyo damlaynayso bal horta xukuumadda aad Afhayeenka u tahay bar sida wax walba magaciisa loo yidhaahdo adiguna iska bilow, had iyo jeerna xusuuso in saxaafaddu mabda’eegu yahay: “wax la qariyo qudhun baa ku jiro.”.
Maqaalkan waxa lagu nashriyey baraha Internetka Somaalida 18 August 2010.
Thursday, July 01, 2010
An open letter to Somaliland’s President-elect: Congratulations but take heed
By Bashir Goth
July 01, 2010
Now that you have won the election; let me first congratulate you, Mr. Ahmed Mohamed Silanyo, on winning the long-awaited presidency. It has been indeed a long journey for you and you have shown the tenacity and the single-mindedness it takes to be focused on your goal. I have admired your abilities to rally different sectors of Somaliland’s people behind you.
I also extend my congratulations to the people of Somaliland for their wisdom, dignity and civility. By coming out peacefully in their thousands in huge rallies during the campaign and giving equal respect and hospitality to all the three parties, our people have demonstrated a high level of political maturity. I have no doubt that history will witness Somaliland people as being the real heroes of the 26 June 2010 presidential election. They made us all proud Somalilanders.
Mr. President-elect, with the election now behind you, it is time that you have to be reminded of the people’s expectations. There is no respite for you. We cannot afford to give you a honeymoon. Not because you don’t deserve it, but because you have urgent work to do. Your table is already full. Apart from the promises you made during the election campaign which were too many, there are pressing domestic, regional and international issues that you have to deal with. In addition you are aware that as a veteran politician your legacy starts from day one. A political novice can be allowed to make mistakes. But any mistake from a veteran politician like you will be fatal. Therefore, you have to make it good on your first move.
Domestic front
On the domestic front, the most urgent work waiting for you is to unite the people that have been fragmented by the election campaign. We expect you to reassure everyone that you are the President of all Somaliland and not of one segment of the community.
It is time to depart from your confrontational rhetoric and show the magnanimity of a statesman. It is time for humility in victory Mr. Silanyo and not time for bravado and vengefulness. Peace is the foundation on which Somaliland stands. And sustaining that peace needs conciliatory leadership, inclusive government and a healthy democratic debate.
We will not judge you by the gaffes you made on the campaign trail, but we will judge you by the actions you take as a president. We will judge you by the kind of government you form, the political approach you adopt and the peaceful overtures you make to your political opponents. We will judge you by how hard you work towards delivering the promises you made during the election campaign. It is, therefore, up to you to decide whether you rise above local politics and see the bigger picture or immerse yourself deeper and deeper into the domestic bickering and tribal quagmire. Remember Mr. President-elect what is built by Tolay is destroyed by Tolay. So keep your distance from the Tolay mentality and lead the people towards nationhood.
You have come to the power on a message of change and hope; on transparency and good governance; on strengthening free enterprise; on building modern infrastructure; on the provision of good healthcare and quality education; on creating jobs for the youth and ushering in an era of economic prosperity; and on top of all on redoubling the government’s efforts to win international support for the legitimacy of our nationhood.
These are a tall order Mr. President-elect. But these are your promises and you are expected to deliver them. The clock is already ticking and people have started watching it. You accused the previous President by saying: “Riyaale wuxu sheegay in dhiishiisii u buuxsantay, anagu dhiil ka buuxsan mayno ee shacabka ayaan dhiisha u buuxinaynaa…”. (Rayale said he got his bowl full; we will not fill our bowls but we will make sure that we fill the people’s bowl). This is why many people have voted for you, Mr. President-elect; they believed in you and now they are dusting their bowls.
Mr. President-elect, we are a tribal society and as you know a tribal society is like a house of cards; if one card falls the whole house collapses. We have survived thus far by using our time-tested customary laws and wisdom in constantly mending our faults, constantly licking our wounds, constantly listening to the voice of reason, constantly yielding to reconciliation efforts and collectively acting to safeguard the greatest assets we have which is peace first, peace second and peace third. For only in peace we can dream and only in peace we can prosper. We expect you, Mr. President-elect, to nurture and sustain this peace at any cost.
Our women, Mr. President-elect, are the bedrock of our nation’s survival, the breadwinners of our families, the gatekeepers of our harmony, the goodwill ambassadors between our people at times of crisis and the strongest voting constituency. They need to be heard, to be well represented in your government and to be given the priority in all development projects.
Neighboring countries
Having friendly and mutually beneficial relations with our neighboring countries has been the basis of Somaliland’s peace and prosperity. Wisdom demands Mr. President-elect that you build on these good ties and take them to even higher levels. Ethiopia in particular has been a strong ally of Somaliland for a long a time. This is a strategic and mutually productive alliance for both countries; it is an alliance that has to be kept and handled with great care and diligence.
Somalia, Mr. President-elect, is totally another issue. Wisdom and experience have taught our people to stay away from it. Unlike Somaliland, Somalia has all the international community on its side. We cannot do a better job so let Somalia clean up its mess with the help of the international community. Somalia is our sisterly neighbor. We feel their pain, we pray for them and we hope that the opposing forces there would listen to the voice of reason and restore peace and stability for the people, but you have been elected to lead Somaliland to nationhood and it is obvious that Somaliand’s sovereignty and nationhood do not run through the blood soaked streets of Mogadishu. As I write this piece, Somaliland Election Commission is announcing the 2010 Presidential election results and I am sure you are excitedly following your victory and Somaliland people are jubilantly celebrating the occasion; but in Somalia, the President of the TFG is leading fierce battles against destructive and suicidal forces, tragically on the 50th anniversary of Somalia’s independence and it’s unification with Somaliland. The standing policy of Somaliland’s successive governments has been to avoid dragging ourselves into that quagmire.
Your duty, Mr. President, is to keep our borders tight and our people safe from the intolerant ideologies ravaging Somalia.
State institutions, political parties and The Election Commission
One final word, Mr. President-elect, democracy in Somaliland, though vibrant and glamorous, is still fragile. It thrives on herd mentality and lacks the acceptance of dissent voices. As a veteran politician we expect you to bring a more accommodative political environment where citizens can freely debate their opinions without fear of political repression and physical incarceration; where people can enjoy equal rights; where freedom of speech, freedom of association and freedom of worship are respected as basic human rights and where the rule of law takes precedence over tribal allegiance.
Creating state institutions where staffing is based on qualifications, integrity and competence and not on clan affiliations and nepotism could be a memorable hallmark of your term of office. You can make a good start by forming a lean and professional cabinet of ministers with a clear mission to bring a qualitative change of style in administration and to translate the message of hope and change that was your election platform into a tangible reality.
The three-party system we have, Mr. President-elect, has proved to be a protective shield against the fragmentation of our people into clan fiefdoms. I understand the temptation to open the door for the creation of more parties, but you know that would also be a recipe for disaster. The 1969 chaotic election in former Somalia where more than 60 clan-based parties made a mockery of the multiparty system should be a warning guide for you. Having lived through that ugly state, it was wise of our late President Mohamed Ibrahim Egal to have enshrined in our constitution that Somaliland’s national parties should not exceed three at presidential and parliamentary elections. It is my humble opinion that this should be maintained to save our people from falling apart like a fractured glass.
Finally, Mr. President-elect, the Somaliland Election Commission has proven to be a pillar of the country’s democracy. The Commission members executed their duties with a commendable professionalism. It will be highly expected of you to empower this institution and make it one of Somaliland’s enduring democracy gatekeepers.
Congratulations Mr. President-elect but take heed.
By Bashir Goth
July 01, 2010
Now that you have won the election; let me first congratulate you, Mr. Ahmed Mohamed Silanyo, on winning the long-awaited presidency. It has been indeed a long journey for you and you have shown the tenacity and the single-mindedness it takes to be focused on your goal. I have admired your abilities to rally different sectors of Somaliland’s people behind you.
I also extend my congratulations to the people of Somaliland for their wisdom, dignity and civility. By coming out peacefully in their thousands in huge rallies during the campaign and giving equal respect and hospitality to all the three parties, our people have demonstrated a high level of political maturity. I have no doubt that history will witness Somaliland people as being the real heroes of the 26 June 2010 presidential election. They made us all proud Somalilanders.
Mr. President-elect, with the election now behind you, it is time that you have to be reminded of the people’s expectations. There is no respite for you. We cannot afford to give you a honeymoon. Not because you don’t deserve it, but because you have urgent work to do. Your table is already full. Apart from the promises you made during the election campaign which were too many, there are pressing domestic, regional and international issues that you have to deal with. In addition you are aware that as a veteran politician your legacy starts from day one. A political novice can be allowed to make mistakes. But any mistake from a veteran politician like you will be fatal. Therefore, you have to make it good on your first move.
Domestic front
On the domestic front, the most urgent work waiting for you is to unite the people that have been fragmented by the election campaign. We expect you to reassure everyone that you are the President of all Somaliland and not of one segment of the community.
It is time to depart from your confrontational rhetoric and show the magnanimity of a statesman. It is time for humility in victory Mr. Silanyo and not time for bravado and vengefulness. Peace is the foundation on which Somaliland stands. And sustaining that peace needs conciliatory leadership, inclusive government and a healthy democratic debate.
We will not judge you by the gaffes you made on the campaign trail, but we will judge you by the actions you take as a president. We will judge you by the kind of government you form, the political approach you adopt and the peaceful overtures you make to your political opponents. We will judge you by how hard you work towards delivering the promises you made during the election campaign. It is, therefore, up to you to decide whether you rise above local politics and see the bigger picture or immerse yourself deeper and deeper into the domestic bickering and tribal quagmire. Remember Mr. President-elect what is built by Tolay is destroyed by Tolay. So keep your distance from the Tolay mentality and lead the people towards nationhood.
You have come to the power on a message of change and hope; on transparency and good governance; on strengthening free enterprise; on building modern infrastructure; on the provision of good healthcare and quality education; on creating jobs for the youth and ushering in an era of economic prosperity; and on top of all on redoubling the government’s efforts to win international support for the legitimacy of our nationhood.
These are a tall order Mr. President-elect. But these are your promises and you are expected to deliver them. The clock is already ticking and people have started watching it. You accused the previous President by saying: “Riyaale wuxu sheegay in dhiishiisii u buuxsantay, anagu dhiil ka buuxsan mayno ee shacabka ayaan dhiisha u buuxinaynaa…”. (Rayale said he got his bowl full; we will not fill our bowls but we will make sure that we fill the people’s bowl). This is why many people have voted for you, Mr. President-elect; they believed in you and now they are dusting their bowls.
Mr. President-elect, we are a tribal society and as you know a tribal society is like a house of cards; if one card falls the whole house collapses. We have survived thus far by using our time-tested customary laws and wisdom in constantly mending our faults, constantly licking our wounds, constantly listening to the voice of reason, constantly yielding to reconciliation efforts and collectively acting to safeguard the greatest assets we have which is peace first, peace second and peace third. For only in peace we can dream and only in peace we can prosper. We expect you, Mr. President-elect, to nurture and sustain this peace at any cost.
Our women, Mr. President-elect, are the bedrock of our nation’s survival, the breadwinners of our families, the gatekeepers of our harmony, the goodwill ambassadors between our people at times of crisis and the strongest voting constituency. They need to be heard, to be well represented in your government and to be given the priority in all development projects.
Neighboring countries
Having friendly and mutually beneficial relations with our neighboring countries has been the basis of Somaliland’s peace and prosperity. Wisdom demands Mr. President-elect that you build on these good ties and take them to even higher levels. Ethiopia in particular has been a strong ally of Somaliland for a long a time. This is a strategic and mutually productive alliance for both countries; it is an alliance that has to be kept and handled with great care and diligence.
Somalia, Mr. President-elect, is totally another issue. Wisdom and experience have taught our people to stay away from it. Unlike Somaliland, Somalia has all the international community on its side. We cannot do a better job so let Somalia clean up its mess with the help of the international community. Somalia is our sisterly neighbor. We feel their pain, we pray for them and we hope that the opposing forces there would listen to the voice of reason and restore peace and stability for the people, but you have been elected to lead Somaliland to nationhood and it is obvious that Somaliand’s sovereignty and nationhood do not run through the blood soaked streets of Mogadishu. As I write this piece, Somaliland Election Commission is announcing the 2010 Presidential election results and I am sure you are excitedly following your victory and Somaliland people are jubilantly celebrating the occasion; but in Somalia, the President of the TFG is leading fierce battles against destructive and suicidal forces, tragically on the 50th anniversary of Somalia’s independence and it’s unification with Somaliland. The standing policy of Somaliland’s successive governments has been to avoid dragging ourselves into that quagmire.
Your duty, Mr. President, is to keep our borders tight and our people safe from the intolerant ideologies ravaging Somalia.
State institutions, political parties and The Election Commission
One final word, Mr. President-elect, democracy in Somaliland, though vibrant and glamorous, is still fragile. It thrives on herd mentality and lacks the acceptance of dissent voices. As a veteran politician we expect you to bring a more accommodative political environment where citizens can freely debate their opinions without fear of political repression and physical incarceration; where people can enjoy equal rights; where freedom of speech, freedom of association and freedom of worship are respected as basic human rights and where the rule of law takes precedence over tribal allegiance.
Creating state institutions where staffing is based on qualifications, integrity and competence and not on clan affiliations and nepotism could be a memorable hallmark of your term of office. You can make a good start by forming a lean and professional cabinet of ministers with a clear mission to bring a qualitative change of style in administration and to translate the message of hope and change that was your election platform into a tangible reality.
The three-party system we have, Mr. President-elect, has proved to be a protective shield against the fragmentation of our people into clan fiefdoms. I understand the temptation to open the door for the creation of more parties, but you know that would also be a recipe for disaster. The 1969 chaotic election in former Somalia where more than 60 clan-based parties made a mockery of the multiparty system should be a warning guide for you. Having lived through that ugly state, it was wise of our late President Mohamed Ibrahim Egal to have enshrined in our constitution that Somaliland’s national parties should not exceed three at presidential and parliamentary elections. It is my humble opinion that this should be maintained to save our people from falling apart like a fractured glass.
Finally, Mr. President-elect, the Somaliland Election Commission has proven to be a pillar of the country’s democracy. The Commission members executed their duties with a commendable professionalism. It will be highly expected of you to empower this institution and make it one of Somaliland’s enduring democracy gatekeepers.
Congratulations Mr. President-elect but take heed.
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