Salaan... Originally posted by Truth Seeker: The People that are saying that the jilbaab is not an obligation are failing to bring evidence for their view, i can understand this because none exists. I am not comfortable debating about Islaamic issues because I am not in a suitable position to do so. However, allow me to let you taste your own medicine--an aayad from one of your articles on above, which clarifies your quote above: "Let them draw their head-coverings (khumur) over their necks and chest" [TMQ An-Nur: 31]. Now, is there any contradiction between that aayad and how these sisters dress? What most seef-labood wadaado don't understand is that they are quick to jump to the interpretations and disregard the facts. Now back to your quote again, the point is not whether you wear jilbaab or garbasaar, the point is as long as what you wear is intended its primary purpose. Nothing else. Thus jilbaab does not have an exclusiveness to that regard. It just becomes same as garbasaar or another maro. So some of those ladies who wear jilbaab almost all the time have this attitude of holier-than-thou to other sisters who don't. There is hardly an evidence that supports their "superior dressing" save from their own personal interpretation. {P.S.: Why is jilbaab coloured? According to most interpretations, only the colour black--Sacuudiya iyo Iiraan comes to mind quickly--is allowed, but I don't know jilbaab-wearing sisters know this.} I note again. One further thing is that we Soomaalis are in a habit to be ashamed anything remotely considred Soomaali. This has to change. I personally don't care whether the hoos-gundi {macawiis} I wear is also wore by men from Bangladesh, or Malaysian men. I don't care, I do wear it too. Koofi Barawaani too. I don't care if another version of it is wore by Sinjibaari {Zansibari} men. I don't care. If my sisters use cilaan, I don't care if Hindis and Pakistanis or Carab ladies use it likewise. I don't give a... Most things are borrowed from one another and becomes universal domain, so whether or not they borrowed from us or vice versa, one thing is clear: All of those stuff is now part of Soomaali culture, period, just as it has had been in last centuries.

Salaan... this story is fictitious, no hospital in mogadishu has ever been shut becouse of a few gunmen's threats (siyaad bare would never allow such thing Saaxiib, where were you in the past month? This explosive story was covered by most Soomaali websites out there, plus international media, including Reuters, BBC, AP, and IRIN. Yes, it DID really happen. {And I thought Siyaad Barre left Muqdisho 14 years ago, no?}. Wax waxaas ka xun aa Soomaaliya maanta ka dhaco ee hala yaabin. And it wasn't the dhakhtarka who is seeking "wealth" or publicity, but the woman's family for some compensation. Even Aamiin Caamir was inspired by that story to illustrate in his latest editorial cartoon. Anyway, one of the Islaamic courts in Xamar settled the case, rewarding the family $2,000, and the doctor agreed to pay. He already performed a surgery the other day.

Salaan... Originally posted by Seven of Nine: Hijaab is the normal covering of female 'cawra'. Jalbaab is a specific type of hijaab...thats a little on the extreme end. Sax! Spot on, sister. Since most of our old sisters {and brothers too} do not read much, they automatically believe whatever uttered from the pulpit, including the jilbaab issue. Perhaps we've discovered the true meanings of our religion in the '80s since before that none of our sisters wore this imported version of garment. It all started in 1988, when few started wearing, possibly those who bought without questioning the Sacuudi version of Islam and nothing else. Now, all of sudden, it exploded, and some even going as far as considering those who opt not to wear jilbaab as not "proper" Muslims. To me, personally, jilbaab and garbasaar--or any other garment, or maro--is the same--they are covering the cawra parts of the body. That is what it is supposed to do. You sometimes are bewildered when you see our grandparents oo jilbaabo wato. Ma oga xataa dadka waayeelka ah oo da'da gaaray in diinta naxariista suuban ee Ilaahey subxaana watacaala ku dhibin dadka waayeelka eh iyo caruuta, oo naxariistii Ilaahey ugu fududeeye. Masaakiinta ayeeyaashiin waxaa laga dhaadhacsiiye jilbaab bas in uu yahay "proper" attire. Waa sharaf xumo dhaqankeena dhan completely disregard lagu sameeyo. As I said before, I truly feel those sisters who wear Soomaali-style garbasaaro than those jilbaab-wearing ones. Keep the dhaqan up. Men are not exempt too. They are those ultra, anti-everything that is Soomaali; those who are suspicious anything that is considered Soomaali culture, even going to the extent of wishing if the Soomaali language itself was Carabi. That is true, they are a lot of them out there who lament we are not completely Carabinized yet. Have you ever seen those Soomaali guys who wear Pakistani-style khamiis, thinking what they are wearing is Islamically correct? Alas, Ilaahey hanoo gargaaro.

Salaan... Shan iyo tobankii Meey saan maa u danbeysay? One reason the founders of SYL had the ultimate honour they receive from Soomaalis everywhere is the fact that very few people know their qabiil identity personally. They never mentioned their qabiil. I am proud of that simple fact. Laakiin waxaa sharafxumo badan the schools they were named after had been changed to suit and favour some obscure foreign NGOs who support the schools currently. Now Sakhaawadiin is called Saacid, shuut. Cismaan Geedi Raage is a garaash. Darn. Other schools too, like Sheekh Madar and Kowda Maajo had been changed to Al Shaafici-1 and 2. It is sad to witness this.

Salaan... Originally posted by PUNTMAN: My nick was Cabdulqaadir Quruxley Abaayo, iga raali noqo; wiil aa ku mooday jiray in aa tahay. Maanta wixii ka danbeeyo "quruxleey" aa kuugu wacaa. Nin xaniinyo leh oo "quruxleey" la dhahaayo, Soomaali maxee ku maah maahday horta? Cimrigaaga raagay, geel dhalaayo aas ku tusaa.

Salaan... No person is going to be congratulated. Ah, I'm sorry. However, Somaliaonline, its staff members and active participators are the ones who have done the job well. What am I talking about? The past year or so, every time I read a Soomaali news from bbc.co.uk site, its related Soomaali Internet links is always Somaliaonline.com It doesn't even link its own Soomaali-related site. And it rarely links the ubiquitous other Soomaali sites out there. This is what I am talking about Or this Further Look at the right side of your screen and under related Internet links. If the news is about Soomaaliya or Soomaali-related, bbc.co.uk links this indispensable site. So the question is, did the Somaliaonline.com induce BBC or it is solely as a result of...? Anyway, baraawo. It feels good to be recognized and chosen by, at least, a little but otherwise prestigious institution like BBC.co.uk

Salaan... Libaax, brother, I am not fond of Qaraami, however let me clear for myself: what is qaraami? People say it is usually involves with guiter, well Axmed Naaji usually uses guiters too and his songs aren't considered to be Qaraami. Qaraami is usually associated with Cumar Dhuule, Ilaahey ha u naxariistee iyo C/llaahi Qarshe, Ilaahey u danbi dhaafee. I like some of Magool's, Ilaah ha u raxmadee, songs, including anoo idileey aroos kuula gala...asluub badanoow udgoon badanoow...sidii ubaxii u udgoon badanoow... Also Onkod by Cabdi Tahliil Warsame. This song rules. Baxsanaa baxsanaa, Alla wiilka baxsanaa originally sung by Maryan Mursal. That song was so appealing that I used to think I was that "baxsan wiil." However and afterall, my taste is Sulfa. Sulfa. SULFAAAAAAA.

Salaan... Originally posted by sadeboi: the real thing is ahmed gurey was a somali and not only that he was SADE who grew up in west somalia! I suppose "sade" to denote a clan name. If so, I would rather without reservation accept an Axmed Gurey who is Oromo or Cafar than a clanized Soomaali one. Some people are even disputing whether he was Soomaali at all, and here we have a guy who dares to clanize him.

Salaan... 1) Name one festival celebrated in that country (not Islamic festival, a cultural festival) Istunka*. 2) When is it? Each year in July. 3) Describe what it is and what people do Two bands or groups of men--from one side against the other--beat the hell out of one another with soft twigs or sticks in several minutes or hours in one day. It is for the upcoming Soomaali new year. It is believed if they don't do that at the end of the year, then in the upcoming new year the farms couldn't be harvest successfully, or the farms wouldn't be cultivated well at all. Also as the result of not doing it, the rivers would dry up. 4) Describe any special foods or clothes For clothes, the participators usually wear white garments. Don't worry, they are not beating one another. Demonstrating only for symbolic reasons. 5)Name one major tourist attration in Somalia (had problems with this one) Tell your sister to tell her teacher if tourists can visit Soomaaliya, let alone any tourist attractions, she {your sister} would have witnessed the istunka safely in her own home back Soomaaliya. 1) Names of different denominations and their values Since there is not such a recognized central government, there aren't many denominations now. However, we used to have the following denominations. 1) Specail holiday foods (not rice, pasta, digir...please) Well, obviously xalwo, buskud and doolsho {the Soomaali-style delicious cake} are well-known, however they are other lesser knowns. Sisin, shushumoow, ninac loos, qumbe, bajiye and caano baraawe are such. ________________ * Note: Istunka is not celebrated universally in Soomaaliya. Each region have had its own caadooyin, but istunka and few others, including dabshidka, are the remaining ones still practiced. Istunka is only practiced by reer Afgooye and those who happen to be its vicinity.

Salaan... my dear nomads i jsut wanted ta mention that ahmed guray was not somali he was ethiopian. By our Soomaali standard, Axmed Gureey is a significant historical figure. Judging from our historical "sources," he was Soomaali, as was Sayidka. The vast majority soldiers of his were Soomaali people. He united them from being warring clanish factions into one army under his command. He also liberated for them the vast lands they reside now, from Diradhaba to Qalaafe to Doolloow of the other side. Hence, he wasn't an embroidered character conceived by Max'ed Siyaad Barre's kacaan. He wasn't an imbellished person from nowhere by Max'ed Siyaad Barre. His Soomaali wasn't an impostor Soomaalinized and titivated by Siyaad Barre either. He was there, and "our" history source says so. Not rubbish foreign sources convince us otherwise, and ironically, that same source uses the word "Ethiopia" in same sentence. Let them keep Abyssinia. And the topic at hand, Soomaali Galbeed will always be and remain Soomaali lands, regardless of poignant current occupation. The Soomaalis who live those lands are one of the most fierce Soomaali people in anywhere, and sooner it will be liberated once the bickering Soomaalis themselves unite since Itoobiya itself is a fragile, nursing country. Those who populate and are in fact a majority what is now known today Itoobiya are friends to Soomaali people. They are Oromo {sometimes even referred as Soomaali Aboow}. They are our closest cousins along with Cafaris. They even have their own jabhad to liberate their people from Tigre oppression and repression. One thing that made the issue less patronized for the other Soomaalis is the supposed name change ONLF jabhad started using. Soomaali Galbeed is lived by most other Soomaali clans and it is unfortunate to use a clan-based jabhad name if you want all Soomaalis supporting you and behind you. I don't know why they dropped the word "Soomaali" and put up a clan name instead. That was a bad strategic if you at least want support from the already, always skeptic Soomaali people.

Salaan... Bad news for the nomadic, venturing Soomaalis. Soon waxaa maqli doontaa Soomaali iska dhiibtay Slovenia iyo Estonia. And those who are going to use the eastern Europe enroute to the western side, won't be good news either. Even if they reach their original intended destination, like Scandinavia or England, they will be deported back to the first country in European Union they reached--hence if their finger-prints is found now in Malta or Latvia, they will be shipped back to there. P.S.: Do you know Marooko applied too in 1996, the same time most of the newly joined ones? Turkey is waiting for almost 40 years for its application process approved, but amazingly Malta or Slovakia who only applied in '96 are full-fledging members now. Tunisia too is soon going to apply, since it already applied for economical free trade agreements. What they don't understand is they don't want anything to do with Muslims. If they do, let them first extend membership to Bosnia, Albania and Kosovo. P.S.2: Do you also know the only country that left from EU? Greenland. Since Danmark joined it had to go along with it, however after gaining full independence, it left for its own reason. Waaaay to go, Greenland. P.S.3: Do you also know Qubrus {Cyprus} was added on the list because Greece threatened to veto the other nine's membership. P.S.4: Swizerland is the only European country that barks to EU. They need its membership, but Swiss don't. Just like it does to NATO. The government of Norway wants to be a member and even though its seat is reserved, Norwegian people don't, who turned down two referendums.

Mobb-Deep, can you baliis remove them? You can just link them by adding viewer discretion advised. It is too much to look at such revolting, sickening pictures.

Salaan... There are only few men who ever graced the game that have had such a deep admiration and reverence from me personally. Roberto Baggio is undoubtedly one of them. The few venerated men that ever wore the number-10 jersey to play football, Baggio is one of them. The few men I ever admired and still admire, off the field and on the field, most wore that well-regarded number--number 10. Roberto Baggio {Baajiyo} Gheorghe Hagi {Xaaji, with his elegance one-touch style, no doubt he's my all time favourite who ever played the game}, Lothar Matthäus {Matiyoos, my second favourite, if there wasn't xaaji...}, Michel Platini {Balaatiini, my third favourite, and ooh, my vague-boyish memory is affixed that missed penalty kick in 1986 World Cup quarter-final against Brazil and, oh, Zico missed too, that made me happy}, Hristo Stoichkov {the tempestuous guy who taught the world in '94 how to free kick a ball and any goalkeeper's nightmare} and of course Zinadine Zidane {Ze-Ze, quite quiet, a real man}. With these men, my fascination with Baggio was introduced. He played for the only franchise team I ever cheered in any sport, my Old Lady team--the beautiful Juventus, along with Gianluca Vialli, the good old bald guy and Fabrizio Ravanelli, the other grey-haired guy. With these three, back in early and middle '90s, each game Juve. played was elegant, exceptional. Baajiyo, we will miss you and your ponytail. And surely, we will and can forget that nerve-racking, disheartened penalty you missed against Brazil in '94.

Salaan... Originally posted by Sophist: I am taking a deserved one month break from here because of EXAMS. See you guys in the Summer I shall come back with vigour insha Allah. Duqa, maxaa qaaf u sheegee? U sheeg dadkaan waxaa on the telefoonka igu sheegtay. U sheeg hee ma cabsanee. Imtixaan aa laga dhiganaa excuse fiican yaah. Anaga hanoo been guurin. Macalinka, by the way, dariishada aa kusoo istaagaa anigoo jawaabta dhan wada wado, ee si fiican u qash imtaxaanka teeramka.

Salaan... The administration of the breakaway Somali republic of Puntland has ordered holders of Kenyan passports to leave within seven days. War cusub! Breakaway? Republic? Ar goormee Buntiland jamhuuriyad noqotay? I think BBC got that wrong.

Salaan... Read somewhere the Seattle area is the most liberal in the United States Nah! Bay Area is the most geographical liberal area in America. San Francisco is the hub of anarchists, leftists and the intellectual thought provokers who take refuge in Berkeley institution. Also not to mention the homos. Mad-Mullah, brother, Soomaali media iska iloow. I read them from as many sources and angles as possible, but some websites out there are worse and are filled with more misinformation and propaganda than the Xidigta Oktoobar used to publish by Kacaanka. And brother, CNN is nothing today since it started competing with Fox News for demographics, it is downright unwatchable. The last time I watched or visited its website was in '99. Yaasmiin, islamicity.com itself gets its news from those papers and other media outlets, so it is not a main source of news itself.

Salaan... What is the alternative then if you don't want our brothers to sit at their own Soomaali-oriented social places? Is there any other route since home no longer is an option because it is not the home we knew of, unlike the villas or open courts back in Soomaaliya where they used to gather each after salaatul casar or in casiriya time each day. Some of you are quick to criticize our humble brothers without considering the social backgrounds. We came from a place where men always socialized at casariya time since working day lasted until noon. Some used to visit other friends' houses at barando, sipping shaah and discussing about current events, politics iyo wixii cusub. Others, mostly youngers, used to go to biibato together playing turub, dublad, etc until maqrib. It was social and people did not eschew. That was our version of pubs, taverns, etc. So, the married ones are neglecting their families? It will take some time, a gradual stage to realize the friggin' place they live isn't Soomaaliya anymore and kids need father's presence at home. They need time for that and they also have a right to socialize without no canbaro dabada ka taagan oo qeylo ka daba wato. Meel anagoo ordeeno soo galnay oo dalal iyo dhaqan aanba kaseynin soo kor istaagnay. Ee marka kuligeena time aa u wada baahanahay saa ula qabsana, a balance wixii hore iyo waxa jiro meel u dhaxeyso. Dacaayada badan meelahaan aan ku heyno wax ee tareyso habayaraatee ayaa iska yar. And you sisters--especially those who keep scorning their brothers--aren't better either. They spend on the phone God-knows how long--at least four hours minimum a day, especially the married ones and the vast majority of that conversation is about xan, wax sheeg iyo wax kale sheeg. The only difference is that they don't go to cafes and biibato. And I personally know some particular women who spend at least six-to-eight hours {a working shift!}--sometimes consectuively--a day on the phone for nac-nac iyo niic-niic only. Ninba tiisa ama teeda aa qumanaha ugu jirto. Ilaahey ha naga bixiyo dhibaatada, aamiin.

Salaan... Most of you who complain about "naayaa" might not know where the word waraa originated from? Waraa is for WARYAA. But we faaraxis are ingenious since we realized some faaraxis might mind to be called "waryaa," we then astutely dropped a letter from it--and hence waraa. "Waraa kaalay inta imoow" instead of "waryaa kaalay inta imoow." See the difference! No faarax minds to be addressed waraa now. The logic behind that is you girls need to find a way to circumvent that word. Perhaps naay would do since still "naa" didn't help.

Salaan... I am a fan of papers--the newspapers. My peers couldn't--and still can't--understand why I read the papers as much as I grasp, but not enjoying the fun lifestyles associated with young men. However, personally, reading the papers to me was and is "fun" and entertaining. Anyway, if you read the papers as fervent and as avid as I am, then this topic is for both of us--you and me. And you will understand why. I will try to label major newspapers published in English-speaking countries according to their ideological editorial point of view--based on my personal understandings and analysis of how they reflect and cover Islam, Muslims, refugees and immigrant-related issues. Why would I waste time with that and care that much? Good question. Because, first, I had seen some Soomaalis buying, subscribing and reading seriously some outright right-wing papers. I didn't know whether they knew the papers' stance or its editorial viewpoints. And to top of that, I was flabbergasted when I heard some Soomaalis defending Fox News. However, this is only for print media, how scary and humourous Fox is for another story. The English-speaking countries' published major papers falls in three categories. They might seem to intertwine one another once a while, still they all fall in one way or other to one of three categories: Liberal, Moderate and Conservative. Liberal: Leftwing. Moderate: Centre-to-left-or-to-right. Conservative: Rightwing. There are two kinds of conservatism, though. Fiscal conservative and social conservative. Fiscal is for financial reasons, for example supporting tax cuts, hands-off government approaching to its citizens, et cetera. The papers I had read from time immemorial {some from online editions only} either falls or stands one of these three labels, and they are content with pleasure when they are labeled. And even though the papers seem, to us Muslims, to be not that boldly different, but they are different in some aspects, and we’ve to, if we have to read them, read the least anti-Islamic ones. Now, the papers. In Canada, they are five to seven major newspapers. I however would only label five of them. The Toronto Star: Pro-liberal. Unabashed left-leaning paper and Canada's favourite paper {and mine too} The Globe and Mail: Moderate, sometimes small-c conservative, sometimes big-L liberal. National Post: Launched in '98, Neo-conservative, brazen anti-Islam and anti-Palestinian articles, it is fortunately Canada's least profitable paper. And it is owned by a guy named "Israel" Asper. No surprises there. Toronto Sun: A big-c Conservative tabloid, read by mostly the rednecks and splashed with their favourite subject--anti-immigrant {including Muslims} news. Montreal Gazette: Recently bought by the same company that owns National Post, it is a small-c conservative paper, sometimes being in moderate. I don't know that much about this paper, so Montrealers out there, give us some more insight. American ones: The New York Times: The darlings of the left. A famous big-L liberal paper. Washington Post: Another well-known for only left and more left, and the very sole competitor of New York Times. USA Today: America’s colourful favourite. Devouted to sports, I cannot for certain label it for now. However, it seems to be a right-to-centre or moderate. Chicago Sun-Times: Owned by the same company that owns The Telegraph of London and Jerusalem Post, don’t be surprised if it turns out to be a Neo-conservative, pro-Israel, pro-Bush. New York Post: America’s version of Daily Mail. Nothing more to say about it. Folks in England would know why. It is owned by Rupert Murdoch. Lost Angeles Times: A wanna-be Washington Post, and of course a leftwing. Wall Street Journal: Right’s mouthpiece, especially being known as a more fiscal conservatism than social. Boston Globe: Owned by New York Times Company, it is no wonder a leftist-leaning paper. The Minneapolis Star Tribune: Seems like a rightwing paper. I have yet to figure it out. Seattle Post-Intelligencer: Seems moderate, slightly toward to left. Washington Times: Neo-neo-neo conservative. No wonder it lost $1 billion since its inception in 1982, demonstrating the rednecks are tired of it too. The British papers: Guardian: A fine liberal paper and my favourite of all papers I’ve mentioned combined. I love this paper, at least its online version. The Independent: Robert Fisk’s paper. 'Nuff said. The Telegraph: A nonsense rightwing paper, foremost being an Islamophic. It is owned by same company that owns Jerusalem Post, a paper even the Zionists are ashamed of. The Times of London: I will give you a hint to know where it belongs: it is also owned by Rupert Murdoch. Yep, the same guy who owns Fox News. The Daily Mirror: Amazingly, it is a moderate tabloid. The Daily Mail: An ultra-conservative far rightwing, creepy paper. What it reports have even broken the slim boundaries of tabloid-based papers. The Sun: Yep, a member of Murdoch empire and... Australian newspapers: The Age: Centre-to-right and small-l liberal. Sydney Morning Herald: Moderate, sometimes small-l liberal. The Australian: Even though it is owned by that wacky Rupert Murdoch, it is sometimes moderate, especially being liberal to social issues, but small-c conservative to real politics. The Daily Telegraph: Like its counterpart, it is big, big time rightwing tabloid. The Herald Sun: Owned by Murdoch, should I say more? ______________ So if you ever decide to buy, read or just glance a paper, consider first its editorial standpoints and don't act surprised when you discover some of them daily rituals are feeding anti-Islamic sentiments to their readers.

Salaan... Originally posted by Tuujiye: latiliyaheega waxeey aheed Nakruumo..loool...people from falstaff in T.o would get this loooooooooooooool....checkmate ya feel me.....single mothers aa ku go go'ay xagaas sidee xaanshi dhamaad ah.... Falstaff??? Kikikikikiki Macalinka, Falstaff waa ku dabaalan jiray oo waaba daganaa. Laakiin rumourka maqli jiray ileen waxaa ka jiray on the Building 30 nooh, floorka 12 waxaa ka dhici jiray lee Ilaahaa og. Rumour lee u maleyn jiray. Lakiin midoo floorkaas daganayd aa wiishka markaa raacaba soo raaci jirtay iyadoo waji kaakineyso, aniga waaba ka shakin jiray if it was a sheer coincidence everyday nooh. Haa same floor aa daganeen kuwaas caanka eh oo wax laga sheeg sheego. Kac-kac, mise Qac Qaac waaye, waligaa horta ma cuntay kac kac? Madax xanuun maxaa ka qaaday kac kac iyo macarash cunoowgiisa. Fiiri laakiin Bashiir Lugeey wixii ka kala danbeeye kistoo waa aqanaa, qaas ahaan dhanka midigtiis. Meeshaas Masaajid maku xasuusti. Hadaa dhanka Siigaale aadid ma ogi, dhankaas dhif dhif lee tagay ma u badneen. Laakiin Masaajid weyn aa ku yaalay Bashiir Lugeey gadashiis inta la gaarina jidka kala gooyo Hawl Wadaag iyo Hodan. Masaajidka sheegooyo waxaa u dhawaa hoteel, oo waana weynaa dadka xaafadeena aa u badnaa, laakiin magaciis ma xasuusto inkastoo maalin walba ku tukan jiray.

Salaan... Safist, awguuriyo saaxiib. Arooskiina ha waaro, arooskiinana aamiin, keenana aamiin. *I will give you a call on the weekend.

Salaan... This Story made me laugh!!! it reminded of a guy who said "Sxb...Sigaarka gacanta Midig ku cab..shaydaanka/gaalada baa bidix wax ku caba" Dhiq dhiq dhiq... Waraa Gardheeriyaasha faraha ka qaad, at least waana uu bixiye. Back to the original Kenyan woman. One thing the vast majority of you overlooked is that some tribal groups in Kenya don't marry at all before they have children. It was not uncommon to see a two-year old attending his own parents' wedding reception, running there. From what I gathtered there while living, some tribes' belief was a woman must be capable of having children before she is considered to be a wife or into marriage. It is now a modern day version; no need to wait until she gives birth, ultrasound is sufficient.

Salaan... When C/laahi Xaaji was at the helm of BBC, deriding Siyaad Barre's regime, day in and out, those same people were cheering. When BBC was giving a greater voice to dissenters of the late regime, again these same folks were jubilant. I remember the day Ismaaciil Jimcaale passed away and BBC devoted the entire day's clip to him. Max'ed Siyaad Barre was so maddaned and infuriated that he even tried to ban the marxuum's body to be buried in Soomaaliya. Remember, that is the same BBC Soomaali service. I had read three or four articles disparaging the BBC Soomaali service on the net the past couple months and those articles were from different, clan-based groups. What does that tell you? It tells us that either BBC got it all wrong or is supposedly neutral and fair. In order to be impartial and objective, it cannot upset at the same time each advocacy Soomaali group as clanish as they seem. What people don't understand is that each media group has its own biased editorials or principles--be it a liberal or conservative views. Or to the extrems. So no exception the Soomaali media having its own clan-based principles, including the BBC. Every Soomaali media outlet needs to overcome the expected clanish conspiracies. No surprises there.

Salaan... Marax Qaca eh, adiga meel sheeg nooh. Dabka waa sheegoysaa. Barxadii Bashiir Lugeey wa sheegoysaa. Masaajidka Sheekh Cali Suufi waa sheegoysaa. Meel ku ekoow hee, wah. Ar barxada Bashiir Lugeey maxaa banooni ku tumi jiray. Aboow aboow, barxadaas ciyaal badan aa kusoo koray. Walaahi saa u jeclaa lee, bacaad istareex ee lahayd. Markii danbe markii la isku batay barxadaas Tarbuunka aa u wareegnay anaga asxaabteena in aa ku ciyaarno banooniga, laakiin mar mar Bashiir Lugeey waa usoo noqon jirnay. Adiga dhankee ka ahayd? Dhanka marka shaleemada loo socdaa mise waa ka danbeyseen Bashiir Lugeey? Ama dhanka Siigaale markii loo dhaa dhaco miyaa? Mise waxaaba ahayd dhanka guryaha Bangaariyada aa aadee? Hadaa ka danbeysay Bashiir Lugeey, Eey Mugdi waa kasi kartaa. Hadaa ka horeysay Laanta Hodan waa taqanaa. Hadaa tahayna dhanka markii la aado Isgoyska Kaasa Balbalaare, bankiga meesha ku yaalay waa taqanaa markaas. Caramel, aniga makuu sheeginoo, ciyaal Isgoyska Bakaaraha aa ahay. Ciyaal Bakaaro ma'ihi, laakiin isgoyska lee wada share gareynaa. Nuune, adiga bootadaa waa horaa la qabtay. Hargeyso waa tagay kulahaa. Baydhabo waa joogay kulahaa. Kismaayo waa soo jacbursaday kulahaa. Gaarisana waa dagnanaan jiray aa la dhahay. Xamarna ciyaal Huriwaa aa ahaa kulahaa. Bootadaas minishiibiyada ugu sheekeey, anaga mana mareyso.

Salaan... For instance, as a Muslim society Islam directs us and told us that we should eat with our hands. “Educated” Somalis when they see this, automatically get the impression that this person is from “baadiye”. I sometimes deliberately do that at Soomaali maqaayado. I eat with my fingers, sab-wise, especially when I am eating with another person and most do eat with fingers too. I eat with spoons and forks at home, but I intentionally do the finger-eating at public places just to irritate those "western" wanna-bes, who can't stand that. While they struggle with their knives, forks, my bariis is gone. And since I don't let my finger nails grow a semi-cm, it is all healthy then. _______________ P.S.: This reminds an event a year ago in Xamar. I was invited to Hoteel Saxaafi to have a lunch with those "professors" from Jaamacada Muqdisho and an American NGO-worker gaal from Nairobi. Alas, I came late, when most finished and they were late to go, so I hadn't had a meal, only drinks. I was deliberately going to eat with my fingers. Still I saw those two struggling with their knives and altogether left their meats untouched.