Dignity is in peace, not in cowardly murder

Bashir Goth

All Somaliland communities were shocked by the gruesome and cold-blooded murder of innocent people sleeping peacefully in their own homes in Seemaal area on December 5, 2011; a horrific reminder of the slaughter of innocent travelers on the highway near Kalabaydh area on July 11, 2009.

As a relative of the victims, I can understand that the first thing that comes to the afflicted community’s mind is to take things into their own hand and revenge. In the absence of an effective government, revenge and retaliation were once the only nuclear deterrents that the Somalis knew. Not to retaliate for your dead ones was and can still be considered as a sign of weakness if not sheer cowardice in the Somali context. Men of peace, particularly at times of heightened tensions are looked down as wimps, while belligerent men who rally the clan behind the Tollaayeey and Aabbahay Goblan banners are seen as heroes.

It is not easy to control one’s emotions in the face of such calamity, and the easiest, most emotionally immature choice is to take the gun and revenge; because anyone, even a child or idiot, can grab a gun and kill people, but not everyone can take the most difficult route and snatch peace out of the jaws of death.

The gun-toting war hero can win a battle at the cost of dozens even thousands of lives lost but the peace hero wins victory by sparing equally as many lives from imminent death. Aggressive violence and war come easy but at a high cost. One should look at what is at stake in a war; death and destruction.Yes, one might believe they are living in dignity and some can argue that death is sometimes better than living in indignity, but in cases like that of Kalabadydh and Seemal it is the murderer who lives with indignity and not the living relatives of the victims.

Cowardly terrorists who sneak in under the cover of darkness and cold-bloodedly murder innocent sleeping people and travelers are devoid of all dignity. They are indeed a shame on the community they hail from and it’s the duty of their community and the families they came from to do what’s right, allow and support our police department to thoroughly investigate this act of violence and hand over any suspected parties for judicial judgment. But to answer their heinous act by killing other innocent people is equally abhorring no matter how honorable it might look in tribal traditions.

My intention of writing this short piece is therefore to commend the Gadabursi Community for trading the empty pride one feels in taking revenge and killing to the real pride and dignity that comes with being peace heroes rather than war heroes in dealing with the Kalabadydh daylight murder. I would also like to call upon them again this time to resort to their renowned wisdom and tradition of taking the dignified but difficult route to peace in dealing with the Seemaal killings. It is quoted of Somaliland’s former President Rayaale to have said: “Dagaal Ducaan Ka Doortay…” ( I rather choose prayers over war…) As despicable and wimpy as that might look to the bellicose psyche of the Somalis, it indeed reflects a moral high ground and the epitome of wisdom and intellectual maturity.

I say this while demanding justice for the victims slaughtered in Seemaal. We all demand justice for him and those before them. The Sultans of Awdal have unequivocally said this. The Sultans of Gabiley and Hargeisa have said it. The opposition and government political leaders have said it. The wise men and women of Somaliland have said it.

Justice should be done and done quickly and the government should keep its promises to apprehend the murderers and bring them before a court of law. Safeguarding the security of its citizens is one of the fundamental and national responsibilities of the government. These recurring, cowardly and terrorist acts are a threat not only to the national security but will also destroy the bond and cohesion between the community and will in turn cause a great damage to the reputation and image that Somaliland has built over the years as a peaceful oasis.

The steps the government has taken so far and the unanimous condemnation and shock expressed by the different quarters of the Somaliland community are all welcome and highly reassuring, but it is the sole responsibility of the government to turn its words into action and bring the criminals of the Kalabaydh and Seemaal to justice. This should be a matter of national priority for the government and it should devote all its resources to that cause instead of using live ammunition on peaceful demonstrators and arresting and imprisoning community leaders for exercising their right for free speech.

Heestan soo socota “Qaaddirow Allow” waxan tiriyey maalmihii ugu horreeyey ee ay qaylo dhaanta abaarta iyo macaluushu ka soo yeedhay Soomaaliya bishii July bilowgeedii. Haddaba markii aan waayey cid muusig raacisa ayey ila noqotay in aan shucuurta ay wadato la wadaago dadka Soomaaliyeed.

Qaaddirow Allow

Miyaan qulbaa
Maan qayliyaa
Ma qudhaan jaraa
Mise waa qaddare
Lama quusto ee
Wixii lay qoraan
Qaadirka baryaa

Qaaddirow Allow
Qaaddirow Allow
Qayrkay dunida
Aan la qaybsadee
Quudaraynta iyo
Qaxarka iga saar
****
Waxa qaaradaha
Qabno aasan iyo
Qoom walba intii
Loo qoofalee
Loox loogu qoray
**
Ani qaawaniyo
Ciid quusatiyo
Dheri iyo quddaa
Qayb iigu hadhay
Aan quud ku jirin
**
Tani waa qisee
Maxaa lay qadshee
Qirinqiirka iyo
Dadyow qoomamiyo
Qiilqiil i baday
****
Miyaan qulbaa
Maan qayliyaa
Ma qudhaan jaraa
Mise waa qaddare
Lama quusto ee
Wixii lay qoraan
Qaadirka baryaa

Qaaddirow Allow
Qaaddirow Allow
Qayrkay dunida
Aan la qaybsadee
Quudaraynta iyo
Qaxarka iga saar
****
Cirku wuu qirtoo
Wuu qaawan yahay
Ciiddu waa qallayl
Geed qaadhay iyo
Qori baa ku yaal
**
Qorrax iyo dabayl
Dhagaxaan qotoma
Yaa la ii qoroo
Nolol quudashiyo
Qormo la iiga dhigay
**
Tani waa qisee
Qiiq iyo dagaal
Xumo soo qutura
Maxaa igu qodbee
Qoobad iigu xidhay
****
Miyaan qulbaa
Maan qayliyaa
Ma qudhaan jaraa
Mise waa qaddare
Lama quusto ee
Wixii lay qoraan
Qaadirka baryaa

Qaaddirow Allow
Qaaddirow Allow
Qayrkay dunida
Aan la qaybsadee
Quudaraynta iyo
Qaxarka iga saar

- Bashir Sh. Omar Goth, July 12, 2011.

Other lyrics on the plight of Somali mothers by the author:http://www.blohttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifggerhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif.com/img/blank.gif
1. Eyes Frozen to Sky
2. Spare A Moment
3. Ha Iga Ooyine Aamu

The following haiku poem grieves the unending plight of the Somali people. Life is however stronger than any misery, and the poem had to end with a note of defiance, embracing the resilience and strength of the human spirit.

Eyes Frozen To Sky*

War in my country
No rain to wash the blood
- weeping in winter

***
Bang, bang, bang
Bullets, bullets and bullets
No one hears the wind

***
Peace is far away
Blinking stars in the night
- dark clouds gather in spring
***
Mother holds dead child
Husband under her feet
- eyes frozen to sky
***
Bare bones everywhere
Carcass smell in summer
- lonely bird above
***
Last whistle not blown
Buds sprouting everywhere
- bees out in spring.

-Bashir Goth,

*I wrote the first four stanzas of the poem on October 8, 2007 and I ended it with the last two stanzas on Aug. 18, 2011. It seems time is frozen in Somalia.

Somaliland finally comes out of its shameful silence

By Bashir Goth

Somaliland has finally spoken. It says it is ready to participate in the international efforts aimed at easing the suffering of the starving Somali people who are experiencing what the UN has described as the worst humanitarian disaster.

As welcome as this step may be, many conscientious Somalilanders, and other Somalis as well, may see it as too little too late.

As the world, moved by the unimaginable extent of human suffering caused by drought and war in Somalia, rushed to secure shelter, food, medicine and comfort for the tens of thousands of barely walking human skeletons arriving Mogadishu and Somalia’s neighboring countries, Somaliland decided to watch the unfolding catastrophe of its kin and kith with shameless indifference.

For almost a month since the UN officially declared famine in the regions of Bakool and Lower Shabelle of Southern Somalia on July 20, 2011, starving Somalis trekked to neighboring Kenya and Ethiopia while tens of thousands were internally displaced in Mogadishu and elsewhere.

All this time Somaliland authorities stayed silent. They even failed to issue a statement expressing their grief for the pain and suffering of the Somali people. No one expected Somaliland to airlift relief supplies to Somalia but everyone expected and wished if they could show some sort of solidarity with their brethren such as expressing their readiness to receive starving Somalis fleeing from war and drought to the peaceful land.

In a situation where the UN says one child dies every six minutes, Somaliland should have been the first to be shocked by the tragedy of the Somali mothers burying their emaciated children one after the other as the walk to seek help. It should have been the first to mobilize the world, the first to open its ports and airports for international aid, the first to share their meager resources with their famished fellow Somalis.

But the Somaliland administration waited for Ambassador Augustine Mahiga, The UN Special Representative for Somalia, to visit them in Hargeisa and appeal to them to help their Somali brethren.

And now after the entire world has rushed to the rescue of the Somali people, and after the entertainment and sports celebrities launched the Bob Marley campaign under the title ‘I’m Gonna Be Your Friend’ which is expected to reach a global audience of over 700 million in Facebook and Twitter, Somaliland authorities saw the opportunity to jump on the bandwagon and get their share of the limelight and international focus.

Somaliland has missed a golden opportunity to reach out to their fellow Somalis, to heal the wounds of the past and to build bridges of future cooperation and brotherhood, an opportunity to pause and reflect on the realities around them; and above all Somaliland has missed an opportunity to prove to the Somali people and to the world at large that the peace and stability of Somaliland is more boon than bane for the Horn of Africa.


For further reflections:
1) A Somali mother’s sad lullabay to her child: Ha iga ooyine aamu
2) Spare a Moment

The following poem marks the terrorist attack that shocked the Norwegian people on July 22nd, 2011.

Why Norway, why in this way?
By Bashir Goth

Why Norway, why in this way?
Why? A question with no answer
As no answer fills the void
No answer rises to decipher
Why Norway, why in this way?

Why terror strikes without a thought
Why it devastates, demolishes, devours
Why it raises hell that ends in naught?
But why Norway, why in this way?

Oslo is mourning, Utoeya is bleeding
Innocence is defiled, paradise betrayed
Common sense is for answers pleading
Why Norway, why in this way?

Flower after flower, beauty after beauty
The murderer chose with ill intent
To ambush life with heinous duty
But why Norway, why in this way?

With every cry, he chose to pry
No tear should live, to tell the tale
No young elite, no one to sigh
But why Norway, why in this way?

Small and tender as be they may
Adept Norwegians astounded all
As Vikings and Black Death they kept at bay
And never will they; another dismay,
Make them sway, not in this way

A home of democracy, a resort of peace,
Norway will remain, for all to breathe
No color to bar, no creed to cease
And never will they; another dismay
Make them sway, not in this way.

---July 24th, 2011.

Col Iyo Abaar - War & Drought
By Bashir Goth

Col iyo Abaar, war and drought, were the historical enemies of the Somali people; the two disasters that played havoc with their nomadic life.

The fear of these combined calamities was so engraved in the Somali psyche that it manifests itself in their prayers; Ilaahow Col Iyo Abaarba Naga Hay (O’ God spare us from both war and drought). There was also no ills worse to invoke when cursing an enemy than to curse them with war and drought; Col iyo Abaari ku Qaadday or Col iyo Abaari Kula Tagtay are both curses that bid you to be taken away or snatched away by the twin terrors.

Nabad iyo Caano (Peace and Milk) was the antidote to Col iyo Abaar. And if the rainy season was exceptionally good and the pasture was abundant, then it was a time of Bashbash iyo Barwaaqo”; a time of splash and abundance or prosperity”.

For Somali nomads, therefore, Nabad iyo Caano was their best time, it was for them a time of Nimco Ilaah (God’s bounty). It was when both people and their livestock and in fact all plants and creatures on earth had Biyo iyo Baad (water and food). Without rain, Somalis live on dead earth.

When I met my wife for the first time many years ago, all she knew about Somalia other than a story she heard as a child about the Mad Mullah was that: “It was a dry land that came to life after rain.” Surprisingly, this was the first time in my life that I took note of my country described in such a graphic and indeed a realistic way. Sometimes, we need to see ourselves through the eyes of others.

It is no wonder that fatalism holds sway over the Somali people as their life hangs on the forces of nature and the Will of God, for who else but: “Allah sends down water from the sky and by it brings the dead earth back to life. (Surat an-Nahl, 65).

The Somali farmer can throw seeds to the ground, but he knows that without rain he should not expect to harvest them. If rain fails to come, then there is nothing he can do but look to the sky and pray. It was at a moment like this that a Somali farmer expressed his plight in the following biting lines:

“Illayn laguma doog dhabo hadhuud
Roob an kugu daadan
Cirka meel dushaada ah illayn
Dooxid lama gaadhid…”

Today, the Somali people, as in many times in the past, face the apocalyptic double hit of Col iyo Abaar.

Of the two, however, it is the Abaar that devastates the lives of the nomad. It is referred to as Abaar iyo Oodo Lulul, drought and tree shaking, as Somali nomads shake trees with their traditional hangools – a kind of a stick with a hook- to fall dry leaves for their livestock). One can run away from an enemy and avoid the areas of hostilities, but one cannot escape drought, particularly when it hits across traditional grazing areas. This is why the collective memory of the Somali people records the worst droughts that devastated the people through history.

Known by their telltale names that give graphic description of their catastrophic impacts on people’s lives and livelihood, some of the best memorized droughts include: Abaalees, the one that overran everyone and everywhere; Liqa iyo Qutura, the one that swallowed and stayed unyielding; Arbacadii, the one that started on the year that began on Wednesday; Xaaraamo Cune, the one during which people were forced to eat the inedible or legally prohibited food; Hawa Rida, the one that humiliated every proud person; and Jaahweyn, the one that stared at people in the face for a long time.

Also remembered are Maadh Gambiya, the one that devoured all wealth; Hayaan Dheer, the one that forced people to travel long distances; Siigacase the one with red sandstorms; Jaan Ma Reeba, the one that didn’t spare a single shoe as even shoes were boiled and eaten for food; Haarriya, the slow moving and grinding one; Bariis Guradkii, when the people were forced to eat rice which was an alien grain to the Somali people at the time; Sima, the equalizer as it made all people equal in misery and penury; Dooryaanle, the one that was characterized by the enormous quantity of worms it produced due to the enormous number of carcasses of dead animals around; and Daba Dheer, the long tailed – the never ending one.

When droughts last long and people and livestock perish, the only option the surviving people have is to seek refuge in a place which is mostly far and alien. In the old days the name for this torturous journey was Daaduun (escaping from famine and poverty). The word Qaxooti which is today’s parlance for refugees was used in the old days for people running from war and hostility but not from famine. Just like we see them doing today, the people on Daaduun would travel as far as their weak legs could take them, as far as their last drop of water could last them, and as far as the famished, haggard and malnourished children could make to the nearest graveyard or the nearest help whichever came first. But today, Somalis are running for Qax iyo Daaduun -both running from war and from drought’s famine).

Watching the news with my son and hearing that each day around 1500 people arrive in Kenya, he quipped: “Aabbo, if the Somalis leave the country in this rate and I know your population is small, I wonder, if anyone will remain in it.” He is a college student now and I remember addressing him in a poem I wrote when he was yet unborn telling him about the misery of the Somali people:

“…Insha Allaahu dhib yari iyo caafimaad
Waad ku soo dhalane
Ilmayohow la wada dhawraya
Bal an war kuu dhiibo
*
Hadday adiga nabadi kuu dhantahay
Dheregna aad hayso
Ood caalamkaba dhexdaa hooyadaa
Moodday dhummucdiisa
Adduunyada dhib baa joogta iyo
Dhiilo iyo ciile
Dhawrtay isku laayeen tolkay
Dhiigna loo qubaye
Waxa dhagarta loo galay anaan
Dhiilka la ii shubine
Gobannimadii loo dhaxay runtii
Gaalka lagu dhoofshay
Haweenkiiba kama dhaashadaan
Dhiilahaan lulaye
Dhul aan kuugu faaniyo ma lihi
Dhoobo iyo ciide
Dhagax buu Ilaahay ka dhigay
Ani dhankaygiiye
Dhawrkii bilood buu habeen
Dhibic ku tiixaaye
Dhuuni baan ka raadcaynayaa
Qooddi dhabarkiiye
Awr baaban weli dhaansadaa
Dhererka jiilaale
Dhallaankii harraad bay dhugteen
Dhabarka saarraaye
Ceelkii dhicirta weynaa beryahan
Looma dhaadhicine
Dadkaygii dhammaayo ma hadhin
Ruux ad dhugataaye
Iskadaa qabiil nin u dhintuu
Loogay dhirifkiiye
Dhilmaanyaaba weli laysa iyo
Dhaxanta dayreede…” (Laba Dhuux, 1989)

Since then the world has changed beyond recognition. The Berlin Wall fell, the Soviet Union had collapsed the cold war had come to an end; the information technology has made the world a global village. But even after two decades, just like the many decades before, the conditions remain the same for Africa. Nothing changes in Africa. It is either war, brother killing a brother, or drought, or both of them. Daaduun and Qaxooti all along. It is as if time stands still as I referred to it in the following stanzs:

“…Afrikay dhagax dixeed
Miyaad sidii dheri jajabay
Duleedka u dhooban tahay
Dharaartii soo baxdiyo
Habeenkii loo dhaxaba
Waqtigu ku dul dhereran yahay?
*
Waa kani dhiigii qulqulay
Haraha dhacadiida ee
Sidii durdur loo dhurtee
Miyaan ciiduba dhergeyn?
*
Miyaanuu ubad dhallaan
Dhirif li’i seexanayan?
*
Awrtani dhoomaha sidee
Jiilaallada dheelidiyo
Miyaan dhaankuba degayn?
*
Samada aan dheehdayeen
Quraanka u dheelmiyiyo
Miyaan ducaduba dhalayn?… (Dhuxusha Ka Madoobiyaa, 1999)

Even long before that I was, like many of my country people, lamenting the centuries old misfortune of my country and Africa; a misfortune that has become an everlasting viscous circle where the agony and distress expressed in a poem stands vividly valid over nearly 30 years as the day it was penned down. It gives me no comfort to read the following poem Qiiro that I wrote in December 1984 and was listened by many people back then in audio cassettes to be shocked that the conditions stand the same.

QIIRO
Qab-qabta waddankeena
Qalaanqalka taagan
Wanaagga la qoomay
Qiyaama jooga
Rasaasta qarxaysa
Qaxootiga daadsan
Abaarta la qiiqay
*
Hooyada qaxarkeega
Ilmaha ka qandhaysan
Qareena u weyday
Ilmada ku qubaysa
*
Odayga qulubkiisa
Dhulkuu qodanaayey
Hashuu u quminaayey
Abaari ka qaaday
*
Carruurta qadoodi
Caloosha qarraadhay
Qorraxda duhurkiiya
Ku beer qadhqadhaysa
*
Intuu qalbigoodu
Ka qoonsan lahaa
Miyuu shir qabiilo
Qalqaashay dadkaygu
*
Qolaba dhinaceega
Miyey qaradeeda
Ku muujisey qaylo
Miyuu qasku oogmay
Qaraabo is weyday
Nin walba qolqolkiisa
Xumaani ka qooqday
*
Qarddoofa nacaybka
Qabiilo is dooxa
Ninkii qabta taagan
Ka food qabsanaayey
Qalaanqalka diiday
Wanaagga qiraayey
Miyuu nin qaloocday
Qaradle ku tilmaamay
*
Muxuu qab-qab dhaafay
Hoostana ka qalaalan
Intuu qacda foolka
Dibnaha ku qaniinay
Qadaadkana taagay
U qoystay waxyeelo
*
Tollaayda qabiilku
Maxay dad qareena
Xumaan qabadsiisay
*
Nin walba qorigiisa
Intuu qacda waaga
Qorfaha kula hoyday
Miyuu qummuciisa
Walaal ku qiyaasay
*
Reerkii u qabneeyey
Carruuro u qaaday
Ninkii dab u quudhay
Miyaan qudha waaye
Dammiir qabayaynin
*
Qarniga la dhaqaaqay
La qaybsaday uunka
Wixii qurux yaalay
Qorraxda lagu dooday
Miyuu kas qabiilo
Qamaanshay dadkayga
*
Quluufan qallaafan
Waraabe qarjeexan
Walaal is qarddoofay
Dhulkoo wax la quuto
Qadhaab laga waayey
Dadkoo qoqobaysan
Ummadda qirinqiirka
Cumaha la qaniinay
Ku neef qabatowday
Simbiidhada qoobka
Qodaxda igu taagan
Qarooma xumaanta
Qormada degi weyday
Miyaan gulub qaylo
Xornimo u qalqaashay
*
Hashaan qummisteeda
Shallaad ugu qaaday
Miyaa qaran weyday
*
Halkay shalay qiiro
Qiyaas li’i daaqday
Dhulkii qoyanaaye
Qaboojiyey beerka
Miyaa qalal dhaafay
*
Beertayda qardowday
Cirkiina ka qaaday
Carrada laga quustay
Qarraadhay habaaska
Miyaa qalalaase
Ku beertay qabkayga
*
Qaxarka hiyigaygu
Afrika qulubkeega
Miyuu ku qalooday
*
Qooqaanida dooga
Barwaaqo qorshaynta
Waxaan ku qarwaayey
Sowtaa laga quustay
*
Afrika qirinqiirka
Sowtaa qaldhabaysa
Qiyaama haleelay
*
Qadaadaha weelka
Sowtaa qolqol meerka
La quuddaro oyday
Qaxooti wax mooday
*
Intaan qaaradayda
Qarsoomin dadkeedu
Qabuurta dushooda
Quruumo kaleeto
Hudheelo ka qaydan
Gabdhaa kula qooqin
Rabbow cirka qaadhay
Wanaag bal ka soo qub
Qabooji dadkaaga
Adaan qudradaada
Ka qiil suganaaye.(Qiiro,December 10, 1984)

So is this the destiny of the Somali people, one may ask? To which I could give a resounding NO; simply because as Somalis we are not less than other human beings in the world. In fact the Somali people are a very industrious race with great resilience. Their survival skills and entrepreneurship are proverbial. We are not also less patriotic than any other race in the world. On the contrary, one can argue that the root cause of the current debacle of the Somali people is patriotism went awry. They are the victims of their own nationhood and their legitimate dream and struggle to unite their race in one state and under one flag. An unlucky nation in hostile surroundings, they found themselves like a lone wolf in an unfriendly environment and a world dumb to their cries for justice.

As frustration breeds desperation and helplessness, it is natural in such a situation for brothers-in-arms to turn against one another and descend into a macabre condition of absurd proportions. The situation turns hellish also when the nature itself plays its hand.

No one can doubt also the hospitality and the generosity of the Somali people, a character that is deep-rooted in their nomadic culture. One thing we Somalis lack however is a sense of community and cultural cohesiveness. Just like our nomadic life when families moved together, settled together, fought together, died together and survived together in bloodlines, we still do the same and segregate ourselves in bloodlines even when we migrated to distant lands.

Visit any metropolitan in the world such as Nairobi, Dubai, Riyadh, London, Amsterdam, Melbourne, Ottawa, Minneapolis and Washington D.C and it will take you no time to find where your clan members gather. You may stay as long as you wish and unless you deliberately go out of your way to search for old classmates and old friends who may not be related to you by blood, you may end up not seeing any Somali per se but your own clan members. We do this while we see other African brothers such as Ethiopians, Sudanese, Kenyans and others making their own communities despite their differences in ethnicity, culture, religion and language.

If our brothers from the Horn of Africa can do, there is no reason why we cannot also do it. But only if we learn that our short term political differences and interests should not impede our long term goals to prosper and work together as a community. Only then we will be able to feel our collective pain, we will be able to lean on each other, and by pooling the few bucks that each one of us can afford we can make a difference. One can easily fall, but to rise needs an effort and sometimes a help and I am sure as Somalis in the Diaspora, we have the capacity and I am sure the desire to do it, if we appeal to our sense of community and put our political differences aside.

Being in every corner of the world, I am sure as Somalis we are today stronger and more resourceful than we have been at earlier times. All we need is an organized effort to lift the misery of our people back home with the help of the international community. The misery is not eternal and the day will come when the media of the world will talk about our fortunes to the world instead of our misfortunes. And as I sang about the suffering of our nation, I also sang about my dreams of good days to come. And come they will if we all adopt and internalize the passion and optimism that exudes from the following stanzas of the following poem Walbahaarku Wuu Tegi( the misery will go).

“…Dalkaygow wallaahiye
Warwarkiyo waxyeeladu
Cidna lama walaaloo
Qofna weerka dhiilada
Wehel looma siiyoo
Kuma waaro ciilkee
Waxad wayda haysaba
Waagii dhowaayoo
Walaacani ku haystiyo
Walbahaarku wuu tegi.
*
Wallee maalin dhow waqal
Weelka loo dareershiyo
War caloosha deeqoo
Gaajada badh wiiqoo
Wadnaha ii qaboojiyo
Weedh aan ku diirsado
London waayirkeegani
Waxyigii ilaahiyo
Wada dhalashadeeniyo
Waayaha ka weyneen
Weligii go’ayn iyo
Waadaantan gaaladu
Waddankii ku dhaafteen
Galabtii wadaagniyo
Waayeelka hirarkiyo
Ababshaha wardoonkiyo
BBCiisdu way werin…” (Walbahaarku Wuu Tegi, 1999)

N/B At times like this it may also be healing to listen to the sad mother’s lullaby “Ha iga ooyine aamu”

Bin Laden’s death may end a painful era for the Muslim world
By Bashir Goth

Bin Laden is gone. He died as he wished to die, a martyr to some but to many others an evil incarnate who chose to live by the gun and surely died by the gun.

But the nagging question is will the world be any different? Not so soon. As the Somalis say: Ayax teg, eelna reeb (gone is the locust, but it has left behind a lasting breed). Bin Laden has left behind a proliferating breed of Al Qaeda affiliates in many parts of the world. Indeed the world may experience nasty reminders in the near future as his followers try to demonstrate their ability to avenge their leader’s death.

One may hope, however, that Bin Laden’s departure closes a dark and painful era of division and hostility between the west and the Muslim world. No one can deny that Bin Laden and his extremist ideology were responsible for the killing of tens of thousands of innocent people around the world. Bin Laden adherents killed thousands of Muslims in mosques, in shopping centers, in schools and orphanages, in hotels and in their own homes while sleeping or meeting around their dining tables. The U.S invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq might never have happened and tens of thousands of lives as well as the material wealth and cultural heritage of old civilizations might never have been destroyed without the existence of Bin Laden. Muslim communities in the West might never have experienced such unprecedented alienation and Islamophobia and Muslim youth born and bred in Western capitals might never have sought deliverance and martyrdom in mass killing and suicide bombings. Thousands of spin doctors, spontaneous pundits and security experts might never have earned big bucks in the industry of terrorism and the Arab news satellite Al Jazeera might never have grown into such an iconic yet idiosyncratic news channel without propagating Bin Laden’s poisonous messages.

It is arguably true that it might have been ideal to capture Bin Laden alive and bring him to face justice in a court of law, but did Bin Laden himself believe in an ideal world? Did he allowed justice for the thousands of people killed by his supporters and sympathizers or did he ever express any sympathy to the victims of his terrorist marauders?

There is no doubt that Bin Laden’s Rambo type killing by Americans would turn him into a martyr, but it is also true it would be very difficult for Al Qaeda to survive very long without the deep pockets and outreach of Bin Laden and without his charisma as a Buddha-like figure who was born into wealth and luxury and chose to lead a harsh life among the poor. Al Qaeda was a house built on sand and stood only due to the ingenuity of its engineer and with the departure of the engineer, it will eventually fall. Granted that the debris and the fall out will cause a lot of damage here and there, but once the dust settles down there would be no Bin Laden to erect it again.

It is also worth to remember that Bin Ladenism has long been buried by Arab youth inspired revolutions before the death of Bin Laden himself. And we hope that Al Shabab, the Al Qaeda offshoot in Somalia, would take heed, disband and ask forgiveness from the Somali people for the heinous atrocities they committed before it is too late.