Kashafa Good ideas there and not a bad speech, and yes those are all little things you can do to do your part.
Lily
I think we shouldn't forget that a huge chunk of the Somali population lives on the kindess and genorosity of their brethen abroad who send them money every month. It was only last year I read that in Minneapolis alone $75 million was sent to Somalia over a 5 year period
And what of the other junk, who is going to help them, it is true that those who have relatives abroad are able to survive and maybe even get away from the immediate conflict, but regardless of how hard people in the west work, we will never be able to sustain the whole population of the country, and their dependence could only continue for so long. Everyone deserves to make it on their own rather waiting on hand-outs. Often hand-out due to their dependency nature create the problem, as people just wait for their monthly bill rather than trying to think of innovative methods of earning a livelihood, or changing their life or becoming self sufficient even with the absence of conflict (Somaliland is a perfect example) with nearly 60% of the national income being remittance.
Nomadique-
I could not agree more
Cara thanks, but I’m a firm believer that everyone has it them, some just need to dig deeper than others, and lord knows I had to dig deep!.
Urban
I don’t know what I will find for you, but I am looking and I’m confident there is something that you can do within your ability, when I find it I will send it your way inshalllah
Lool @ Thierry
Caamir
Yes there is a significant difference. You have a problem with that? I’m not interested in your benefit of the doubt of anything.
Serenity
Ghamina, I think there comes a time when one has to evaluate their life and what they hope to get out of it. Unfortunately for some of us in the west, that path in life doesn't include spending humongous amount of time and energy in a country, where the daily reality doesn't effect us in the least, especially when one has to live their own life and have their own personal/family ambitions to fulfill,
and the people who live there do not wish to be their own vanguards.
when will you get my name right hortaa?
So basically what you are saying is that, “I have far too much to cope with as it is, the happenings of Somalia does not affect my daily life at all and I have my own life to live and my own ambitions to reach” That in itself I have not problem with, you can have your life, and aim high for your dreams and ambitions, doing something for them does not mean you have to stop doing your own thing, sometimes it can mean simply succeeding in your life and helping other Somalis to achieve better and bigger things. But I do have a problem with the last bit, please take a look at the current situation and tell me that those people have the opportunity to be their own anything let alone vanguards? Most are on survival mode, and cannot see pass today and tomorrow because of all the daily reality they have to deal with.
In most of the examples you cited, the people who the status quo effected directly became pioneers for change.
There are people who have been trying to achieve change, make things better, build and rebuild, they have the ideas, I promise you there is not a shortage of ideas. They understand their environment and conditions far better than us, and they know what it takes to survive. What they lack is, the means to fulfil those ideas and possible practicality.On occasions or for the most part, the masses lack the people who will turn those ideas into reality. The people who sustain the status quo are those who are currently benefiting, they may have made a decision to keep things this way, but the masses are always one step behind, living in a condition created to keep them trapped.
Its less motivating to do something for our people more than the monthly allowance we send back, simply because Somalis in the west have their own reality of life in the west to deal with.
Firstly our realities in the west are not as challenging or as life threatening as the ones they face, nor can we draw such a comparison, furthermore I never said you had to stop doing what you are doing. The change does not necessarily have to be in Somalia. The same failures that are keeping Somalia underdeveloped and backwards are the very same reasons that the Somali communities in the diaspora are under performing and falling apart. Take a look at the condition of our community in Britain, show me how we have influenced or integrated into our new society? I would not even mind if we had a future here or shined as a community and are succeeding. For the most part we are not, we live in ghetto areas and hang off the fringe of society. We are fast to point out the failure of the Somalis back home who are struggling with the worse conditions ever, but what about the communities we live in, what makes us better, more successful (even with all the opportunities available to us) Where is our vanguard to help us cope with our own realities? Perhaps we can most benefit them by helping ourselves.
What can one really do externally for people who don't buy humanity or reason? And whose greatest strength is reserved for bringing down all thats progressive? Come on! You know this is an inherent Somali quality.
Really, Now you are just ranting, it is not a Somali “quality" (if it can be called that) and factually flawed, nor can you make such mass generalization about their humanity and reason. It is very unfair of you and unsound.
Where Somalia is concerned, there is little Somalis in the west can do, unless they are willing to move lock stock and barrel and become part of reality on the ground. I've yet to see many volunteers on that front. But it seems a lot of people sleep better by convincing themselves they are ready to do something.
If Somalis abroad helped themselves and achieved something as a community it is good enough. People in Somalia have coped and will continue to cope with their realities with or without our help. In any case the essence of a vanguard is to fill the current vacuum with practical ideas or help turn those ideas into reality (for Somalia or individual Somali communities around the world), which you can do from the relative safety and comfort of your home and without putting your life on hold or move lock stock and barrel.
As for your last sentence, again seems like you are judging a pair of shoes with out trying them on,(you know they always look more comfortable than they actually are) for most, the thought keeps them awake in search for a solution or inspiration.
Jimcaale
That is a really good example actually. Thanks.
All good things said about Somalis; they fall short on Amr bil-macruuf Wa-nah canil Munkar. Regardless the circumstance or place, qabiil takes precedence over the common good & welfare of the society and deen. Allah doesn't change people until they do.
Some problems in Somalia, same divides in our host countries. We just imported all our differences and they are as prevalent as ever.
In any case I guess for some of us, we have families, mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters etc so it is very much a reality for some of us. :cool:
