^^ Notice how two thirds of those that replied to this thread are not here anymore. It's threads like these that make me think I overstayed my welcome. ps Thanks Cadaan. Your new name is much better than the one you came in with. Pps I know only of one Nomad that changed (quite a bit too if I may add). He used to saunter around London and is now in Dubai getting excited at the tiniest drops of rain. I don't really mind about his excitement, if only he wouldn't send me happy text messages about it when I'm standing at a shelter-less bus stop and it is pouring down with rain.

Originally posted by Khalaf: quote: Originally posted by NGONGE: LX, Do you believe you have the RIGHT to make the WRONG choices? Do you think someone else should decide what's right and what's wrong for you? I know this was directed as LX, and i didn't follow the discussion or watch the video, but to answer this question in another form, absoutly yes. Why are laws made? Where do laws come from? they dont come from thin air. If your choices as an individual are harmful to the majority (society), then people concerned citizens lobby and get legislations passed to change current policies. Who decides if your choices are harmful? Well the majority does. (speaking from a non-religious prespective) ps: as for teens drinking/and smoking weed, that is an entirly different topic. the khat industry is an international business, and would/should concern governments/law ect. Laws are there to protect the rights of the individual, saaxib. You have a right to indulge in whatever private acts you choose, as long as they do not harm society at large. In the case of Khat (in the UK at least) the harm argument is yet to be proven.

Aaah! I was so young back then.

^^^ I pay attention from time to time.

Baashi, Point of order there. This thread is one of speculation, as the title indicates. The waxa la yedhi approach could hardly apply to someone enquiring about an issue and clearly making obvious that their words are only put along the lines of speculation. Moreover, there is an element of truth to what Juje says, as most news sources have informed us already. The president is sick and the cabinet has been chosen. Juje's questions are valid. Why announce the cabinet at the same time it is announced that the president was taken to hospital in another country? Can one read anything into this? Does this reinforce the rumour about his opposition to said cabinet? Is it a sort of coup? What next? All valid questions that really should not be scoffed at. As Juje said, what is YOUR take?

LX, Not the same, is it? UD is challenging the man's argument whilst Marc wants to limit UD's choices (by calling for a ban). Do you believe you have the RIGHT to make the WRONG choices? Do you think someone else should decide what's right and what's wrong for you? (looks like we're going down a different and more interesting path now).

Heh. Marc, see the two arrows pointing up in my last post? Take the shades off for a minute and try to guess why they're there. ps (that's post script, just in case it confuses you again) If you're from Mali why are you wasting your time on Somali affairs? Besides, all your vids give a strong impression of your pride in being a Brit (is that your THIRD nationality)?

^^ Utter rubbish. If he beats her black and blue she will not dare give him the black bag. It's weak, idiotic men married to silly knee-jerk women that get their black bags thrown at them. The whole issue is vulgar and tasteless.

^^ You are from Awdal and according to Duke and others, you people are only part of Somaliland because you're scared.

^^ Of the 90% only I confessed to chewing every now and then. Are you sure you don't chew? I think Underdog does you know. Baashi is a bit coy about it all and Marc, well, you only have to wonder why he's wearing those shades after all.

^^ Goody Two-Shoes....

^^ It's only Iowa. Mrs C will trounce him the states that matter.

^^ I love you too. Did you take the day off? ps Is that a crush on Marc you're wearing there? Hmmmm..nice shades

It was just me then.

^^ As if you have eyelashes in real life.

Now I know what he looks like without his shades. Ps It's our very own Theo van Gogh (for those that didn't get it).

^^ Heh. You admit that you're in a love with a Bengali boy? Sell out

Get yourself a guard dog. If you die, he'll bark the neighbourhood down the minute he gets hungry.

^^ They just say that. But I bet most of them would marry an infrequent chewer.

Warar lagu kalsoon yahay oo naga soo gaaraya magaalada Baydhaba ayaa sheegaya in maantay xanuun degdeg ah uu kusoo booday madaxweynaha dowladdda kumeelgaarka ee Soomaaliya Mudane Cabdullaahi Yuusuf isla markaana loola cararay isbitaal ku yaal magaalada Addis Aababa ee dalka Itoobiya. What a priceless paragraph. What beautiful imagery. What delicious nonsense. Can just imagine the president sitting down and having himself a cup of tea as he watches Obama's win in Iowa. Suddenly! Boom! BAM! KABOOM! A hasty disease (possibly one of the Shabab) appears out of nowhere and leaps at the president, leaving him sprawled unconscious on the ground.

^^^ It is not a case of setting up any organisation or attempting to help and educate. Khat, for better or worse, is an integral part of Somali society. Other than amongst gossiping women, angry students or Internet Forums, Khat seems to be welcomed and accepted by all. If you have a wedding, half the guests will expect you to provide them with free Khat. In fact, some daring souls even expect you to provide the free Khat in funerals too! For many, it has become as socially accepted as Tea or Coffee. We can ask for it to be banned, and that will probably mean many new chewers will not have any access to it. However, it is unlikely to change the way people view it. Of course, there are many people that despise Khat and regard those that chew it as socially inferior. However, for most Somalis, it is such uptight people who are regarded as social outsiders. Countless numbers of those that used to frequent the various mafrashes in the UK have now given up chewing. For the most part, the reason that got them to ditch the habit was religious. I am not talking about Haram or Halal here but rather, about the practicalities of worship when one is a Khat addict. These people found it difficult to stick to strict prayer times when they were chewing. They wanted to mix with likeminded people and avoid socialising with scallywags, criminals or people with no morals (Khat after all does not discriminate; the doctor chews it and the burglar does too). The example above shows that a change of attitude and social norms does help to eradicate certain problems within society. Now the Mullah community (pardon the label) can boast of hardly having any Khat addicts. I don't think a ban alone is enough. Drink driving has been banned over twenty years ago in the UK, yet people still do it (not as regularly as they did in the past). However, the message (for most) has been received loud and clear. Don't drink and drive. Twenty years ago, smoking around young children was no big deal and as of yet it has not been banned. Yet rarely do you see anyone smoking when young children are about. In fact, not even (most of) the biggest Khat addicts would smoke around a child. It is just not the done thing. You want Khat to lose its appeal amongst Somalis? Make it 'not the done thing'. An example that involves Khat can be found in the Yamani community. With them, chewing is not considered a great social harm. But, amongst the elite chewers, sitting and chewing Khat beyond Magrib prayer is a sign of inferior upbringing. Hence, even the lowborn avoid doing it (in their attempt to keep up with the Jones's, as it were). It's all about what is deemed acceptable by the society as a whole and what is not. A man that marries a khat-chewing woman will cause eyebrows to be raised (it's not the done thing). A woman that marries a Khat chewing man will not (it is no big deal). Ps I didn't comment on it earlier because I seriously do not believe it to be one of the biggest social ills in our society. باشل حبك معي بالقيه زادي ومرافقي في السفر وباتلذذ بذكرك في بلادي في مقيلي والسمر

It's dull without the trolls.

One of many definitions below: In short though, it's anyone mainstream society looks down on.

Did you not hear the news then? Ghanima has gone to Burco and it is unlikely that she's coming back again. It all happened when a distant old relative of hers saw her talking to a Bengali boy on a bus. The old relative told his wife, the wife told some other relatives and they in turn told her family. Her ticket to Burco was booked in record time. But she really wants to stay in Hargeisa near that bus driver she fancied.....

^^ Don't abuse it. This is a toy worth keeping. Heh.