Somalis are not belligerent, anti-government, pirates or terrorists, as they are often portrayed in the media. A number of you subconsciously or consciously believe this false depiction of a remarkable people. Somalis are simple people who desire to live in a peaceful environment with justice, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, just like the people of the United States. Somalia, as a country, now faces an uncertain future because Somali youths’ leadership qualities remain dormant. A courageous, capable, credible, and committed Somali leader is needed in order to unify the minds of the Somalis and cease the vicious cycle of violence. I believe that a “meeting of the minds” of the youth will become the foundation on which Somalia rises from the ruins of war, and becomes a respected country once again. This union of the minds includes mutual partnership with interested groups and nations. Consequently, the future of Somalis can be better than their past.
It is exciting to know that young Somalis are organizing and forming political organizations. Even though their objectives are remarkably similar, it appeared to me that each organization stands alone. As I thought about the problem of the youth’s divisiveness, the late President Abraham Lincoln’s quote comes to mind “A house divided against itself cannot stand”. Therefore, the youth of Somalia must become a team and focus on the solutions or the catastrophic situation in Somalia will remain unchanged.
Historians often note that it takes extraordinary crises in order for a society to produce a great leader. It is not a coincidence that Mohammed Abdullah Hassan, Somalia’s national hero, emerged out of the crisis of Somalia’s occupation by colonial powers.
So, why is it that the last nineteen years of civil unrest in Somalia has not produced a great leader?
A great leader who needs to be awakened from the long sleep is among the Somali youth. There is no silver bullet solution to Somalia’s problems and nobody has all the answers. But, I am confident that the youth will collaborate more and compete less on important national matters. This cooperation, coupled with consistent peace-making efforts, will yield tranquility and prosperity in Somalia. Moreover, Somalia needs visionary individuals in positions of authority who would be eager for progress and have the willingness to move the country forward.
Winston Churchill once said “If your past is in a quarrel with your present, the cost will be your future”. I believe that Somali leaders have merely focused on problems, rather than searching for a future-oriented solution. At every Somali meeting that I have been part of or heard in the Somali news services, people often talk about problems and engage in the blame game. We all know the problems. We need to stop the scapegoat-making, and focus first and foremost on finding or creating sustainable solutions. It is effortless and work-avoidance to blame clans or the international community as the sources of the conflict in Somalia. If this is the case, can we remove clan politics and the international interests out of Somalia? The answer is no.
Every country in the world has tribes or clans and they do not have the problems we have in Somalia. Thus, the problem is not the clan. It is both the lack of an effective, visionary leader and lack of unity between Somalis. The current generation has yet to lead, and take responsibilities in writing their own history. If they do not realize how indispensable they are in solving the crisis of their time, history will not be favorable to them. Each one of them must work diligently in perfecting the union and the wellbeing of the Somalis regardless of their little differences. Again, it is vital that they do not blame the people, but that they work with the decision-makers of the country. When this happens, the decision-makers will make the right-decision for the sake of the nation rather than their narrow and individualistic interest that would result in further ruins of the nation.
Every time I hear that Somalis are ungovernable people, Napoleon’s quote comes to my mind “There are no bad soldiers, only bad officers”. It is tragic that Somalis happened to have had bad leaders. Those backward leaders continue to make not merely poor judgments, but also strategic blunders which place our nation on the wrong path, and have claimed the lives of many innocent women, children and men.
Because of Somali youth’s divisiveness and the lack of understanding of the complexity of the situation, external interest groups continue to highlight their differences in order to frustrate and further divide to their own benefits.
As imperfect as the United States is, it welcomed many Somalis from the deplorable refugee camps from around the world and offered them a piece of the American dream, a peaceful life and an education in the United States. Therefore, many young Somalis have a favorable opinion of the United States. However, the United States’ current foreign policy toward Somalia will result in an undesirable outcome, a continuity of the status quo. If the international community, particularly the United States government, wants to see Somalia stabilize, they should encourage or incentivize an effective leader through diplomatic activities to the highest position in the country, the seat of the president.
Remember, Somalis’ differences are very miniscule. They have every reason to succeed. Somalia is a rare phenomenon in Africa because it has one religion, one language, and one culture. They are incredibly brilliant people, and the degrees of cultural closeness between them are unmatched. Their entrepreneurial skills are fantastic, as demonstrated by what is happening in Africa with respect to the businesses established by Somali refugees after the collapse of the country in 1991.
Essentially, there is a need for Somalia’s youths to unite their ranks and demonstrate that they can engage in a peaceful and intellectual inquiry about the forces behind the conflict. While they work on the objectives of regaining their country from corrupt officials, foreign or domestic, it is important that they remain strategic about their political realignment with other organizations and their interests. Hence, there should be a degree of equilibrium between the Somalis youths’ interests and the interested groups and nations.
As stated before, Somalia has a history of bad leaders accompanied by a political misunderstanding between Somalis, amplified by external interest groups. This political squabble is curable with the right leadership and the union of diverse and dynamic Somali youth groups worldwide. An increasing number of decision-makers in top ministerial positions should be coming from these groups. These individuals must engage in Somali politics, be highly educated and motivated to pursue change in the form of a forward-thinking course of actions. First, the Somali youth must unite their minds and hearts for the sole purposes of fixing what is broken in Somalia, thus, leaving a legacy of a stable Somalia with peace and prosperity.
There is an African proverb that says “In unity, there is strength”.
The Somali youths’ unity and purposeful actions, using the power of the pen and paper, are what is required of them in order to establish a new course for Somalia.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Somalia: President Sheikh Ahmed: The Man in the Mirror
Sheikh SHARIF Sheikh Ahmed, a former Commander in Chief of the Islamic Courts Union (ICU), became the 7th President of Somalia on Saturday, January 31, 2009. During his presidential campaign, he promised to bring much-needed reconciliation to Somalia’s warring tribal factions. The Somali people held a degree of trust for him because he came from the religious community, the most successful constituency within Somalia. Somalis from everywhere welcomed his election. Moreover, the international community applauded his victory, and even Secretary of State Hillary Clinton described him as the “best hope” for the war-torn nation of Somalia.
The U.S Government went further by embracing President Ahmed’s administration with diplomatic cover and financial backing. With this enormous political capital from the Somali people and the international community, the question is, what has President Ahmed done with this political capital?
He was elected a little over a year ago, and it is now apparent to everyone that his administration is on the verge of collapse. It is important to place President Ahmed’s policies up to the mirror, and learn from his missed opportunities in order to put this fractured nation back together.
In retrospect, the ICU was made up of various clans who reside in Mogadishu. They were tired of the conflict, and therefore went back to the one thing that unites them five times a day, the religion of Islam. People congregate in the Mosques to pray the five daily prayers, and those who are regular attendees develop a degree of trust. With this trust in hand, various tribal factions agreed to hand over the security of Mogadishu to the religious community. This was a wave, a political movement from the local people. He caught this wave at the right time, and became the leader of the ICU movement.
Upon his election, President Ahmed had ninety days not only to form a government, but to also start building trust and confidence within the stable and the unstable regions of the country. He could have flown to those regions, and learned what the locals do best, rather than his embarrassing trips to foreign countries.
His opponents are not foreigners or terrorists as he claims. They are largely made up of locals. They do not trust President Ahmed’s administration, as he has shown himself to be a politically naïve individual, judging by his reckless political moves which has further weakened his administration. President Ahmed’s government control small blocks in Mogadishu, and he is, in fact, under the protection of African Union peacekeeping troops.
In October of 2006, he declared a religious war against the TFG, and its then backer of Ethiopia. On June 22, 2009, he asked the neighboring countries including Kenya, Djibouti, Yemen, and even Ethiopian government to send troops to Somalia.
While Ahmed was fighting against the former President Yusuf’s administration, and the Ethiopian army, he organized many of liked minded fighters. As he used the nationalist card, and waved the religious flag, his strategy was to attract individuals with any inclination to fight against his opponents, regardless of their long-term political motive. The fighters did not need to have any special skills or subscribe to a nation building. They just needed to pick up the Kalashnikov, and fight against the intended target, the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and its main backer Ethiopian army in the capital, Mogadishu.
Once Ahmed was elected president, he continued to use the same strategy, and filled important government positions with those who do not possess credentials for their positions. He failed to realize that he needed to change strategy, and hire the country’s top experts who could engage the various regions within Somalia, including Puntland, and the self-declared autonomous Somaliland region.
There are two powerful constituencies in Somalia, the religious community, and the clan groups. He has failed them both. Furthermore, he has failed to engage with the local fighters in Mogadishu, as he constantly labels them “terrorist” or “foreign fighters”. He utters anything that is politically convenient, without considering his words’ long-term implications.
When Somali people placed their support behind him, they expected him to travel within the country, make peace deals and bridge gaps. The late Thomas P. O’Neill’s quote comes to mind “All politics is local.” It is essential that he travel, and build strong international partners. But, the Somalis will judge him upon things he has accomplished locally.
Clans are nothing more than a constituency with their own interests. Of course, in Somalia, there is a degree of mistrust between clans because of the civil unrest for the last 19 years. This mistrust is expected as a result of the conflict, and it is curable with the right leadership.
President Ahmed has yet to demonstrate the leadership courage, and the conviction necessary to put peace deals together between Somalis in order to move the nation forward. Somalis everywhere, as well as the international community, welcomed his election. But, he failed to deliver on his promises, and history will judge the legacy of his administration, if there is any. He has squandered his political capital and he will soon vanish into thin air.
However, important lessons have been learned, lessons that can help us move forward, save our country, our women, and children from the humiliation they are enduring in the refugee camps all over the world. Policies and decisions should be made keeping in mind the painful plight of our people everywhere
The U.S Government went further by embracing President Ahmed’s administration with diplomatic cover and financial backing. With this enormous political capital from the Somali people and the international community, the question is, what has President Ahmed done with this political capital?
He was elected a little over a year ago, and it is now apparent to everyone that his administration is on the verge of collapse. It is important to place President Ahmed’s policies up to the mirror, and learn from his missed opportunities in order to put this fractured nation back together.
In retrospect, the ICU was made up of various clans who reside in Mogadishu. They were tired of the conflict, and therefore went back to the one thing that unites them five times a day, the religion of Islam. People congregate in the Mosques to pray the five daily prayers, and those who are regular attendees develop a degree of trust. With this trust in hand, various tribal factions agreed to hand over the security of Mogadishu to the religious community. This was a wave, a political movement from the local people. He caught this wave at the right time, and became the leader of the ICU movement.
Upon his election, President Ahmed had ninety days not only to form a government, but to also start building trust and confidence within the stable and the unstable regions of the country. He could have flown to those regions, and learned what the locals do best, rather than his embarrassing trips to foreign countries.
His opponents are not foreigners or terrorists as he claims. They are largely made up of locals. They do not trust President Ahmed’s administration, as he has shown himself to be a politically naïve individual, judging by his reckless political moves which has further weakened his administration. President Ahmed’s government control small blocks in Mogadishu, and he is, in fact, under the protection of African Union peacekeeping troops.
In October of 2006, he declared a religious war against the TFG, and its then backer of Ethiopia. On June 22, 2009, he asked the neighboring countries including Kenya, Djibouti, Yemen, and even Ethiopian government to send troops to Somalia.
While Ahmed was fighting against the former President Yusuf’s administration, and the Ethiopian army, he organized many of liked minded fighters. As he used the nationalist card, and waved the religious flag, his strategy was to attract individuals with any inclination to fight against his opponents, regardless of their long-term political motive. The fighters did not need to have any special skills or subscribe to a nation building. They just needed to pick up the Kalashnikov, and fight against the intended target, the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and its main backer Ethiopian army in the capital, Mogadishu.
Once Ahmed was elected president, he continued to use the same strategy, and filled important government positions with those who do not possess credentials for their positions. He failed to realize that he needed to change strategy, and hire the country’s top experts who could engage the various regions within Somalia, including Puntland, and the self-declared autonomous Somaliland region.
There are two powerful constituencies in Somalia, the religious community, and the clan groups. He has failed them both. Furthermore, he has failed to engage with the local fighters in Mogadishu, as he constantly labels them “terrorist” or “foreign fighters”. He utters anything that is politically convenient, without considering his words’ long-term implications.
When Somali people placed their support behind him, they expected him to travel within the country, make peace deals and bridge gaps. The late Thomas P. O’Neill’s quote comes to mind “All politics is local.” It is essential that he travel, and build strong international partners. But, the Somalis will judge him upon things he has accomplished locally.
Clans are nothing more than a constituency with their own interests. Of course, in Somalia, there is a degree of mistrust between clans because of the civil unrest for the last 19 years. This mistrust is expected as a result of the conflict, and it is curable with the right leadership.
President Ahmed has yet to demonstrate the leadership courage, and the conviction necessary to put peace deals together between Somalis in order to move the nation forward. Somalis everywhere, as well as the international community, welcomed his election. But, he failed to deliver on his promises, and history will judge the legacy of his administration, if there is any. He has squandered his political capital and he will soon vanish into thin air.
However, important lessons have been learned, lessons that can help us move forward, save our country, our women, and children from the humiliation they are enduring in the refugee camps all over the world. Policies and decisions should be made keeping in mind the painful plight of our people everywhere
Somali Women: The Better Half of the Society
Somali women are the basis on which Somali society continues to thrive and exist. They take care of the household chores, they work, they raise children, they keep the family together, and they regularly send money to the extended families back home in Somalia. Despite Somali women being extremely busy, they are emerging as the educated majority within the Somalis. Strangely, they are not visible in the Somali political theater. Since they are undoubtedly the educated majority, they should be empowered to take the lead, as Somalia needs their intellectual assets. Unless they realize how crucial they are in this time of Somali political catastrophe, they will continue to remain the dormant majority.
Somalia, as a nation, was not destroyed by clan infighting; it was destroyed by the decisions of corrupted male leaders supported and empowered by Somali women. In 1990, there were two big institutions led by men, the Somali government led by former President Siad Barre and United Somali Congress (USC) by General Mohamed Aidid.
In retrospect, Somali women were active participants in the conflict as they were the cheerleaders of the institutions which led Somalia down the wrong path. Somali women were carrying the waters, singing and chanting words of empowerment behind the fighting men. They were collecting money and buying weapons in support of the warring men in the battle-fields. Small numbers of Somali women were carrying the weapons. However, the majority of them were encouraging and empowering the men to fight the aimless civil unrest. Consequently, these women suffered the most in the conflict.
Since they were demonstrably part of the conflict, they are part of the solution as well. Educated and enlightened Somali women must organize and focus with intensity to take the lead in turning Somalia away from the current destructive path, to a constructive trajectory.
As the leader of Somalia for over twenty years, Barre’s administration could have prepared and trained young leaders and left them behind for the country as a legacy of his administration. Unfortunately, this did not happen and individuals with no strategic foresight brought the nation to its ruin.
Somalia had a centralized governmental system where power was concentrated in the capital of Mogadishu. Therefore, the general feeling was that whoever controlled the capital controlled the nation. Upon Barre’s departure from the Somali political scene, ill-prepared individuals from various institutions such as the USC, headed by the late General Mohamed Aidid, took over the control of the capital and made fatal decisions. The decisions of USC as an institution were remarkably important, more than those of other institutions that existed at that time. Somalis are still living with its ill-conceived decisions. Somali women and children are generally the ones that suffered the most, like my own single mother who struggled with six of us in the war-zone.
It is extraordinarily important that Somali women get involved in the Somali political scene and it’s they, the Somali women, who must break the cycle of violence. Despite the media spin-doctors claiming that Somali clans are obstacles to sustainable peace, clan differences are important and they will continue to exist. They are nothing more than constituencies with shared interests. They can be used to build a nation or to destroy a nation, as in the case of Somalia.
In same way that clans were used by corrupted leaders of yesterday to destroy Somalia, they can be used to build Somalia as strong democratic nation. Somali women continue to insist that Somali men prevent them from being active participants of the Somali political sphere. This is, largely, unsubstantiated. Somali women have important decisions to make, they can continue to be whiners in despair, or they can organize themselves around strong institution and take the lead. In this dark chapter in Somali history, Somalia desperately needs the intellectual assets of all the segments of its society, especially the Somali women who are becoming the absolute better half of the society.
The visibility of the Somali women in the Somali political sphere is remarkably important, and the time has come for them to get involved in helping their men toward exercising the right judgment for the sake of nation-building.
Since Somali women are the bedrock of the family, the nation, and the head of many households, they have an enormous say on whether the men in their homes decides to build or to destroy. As a reminder, there is nothing left in Somalia to be destroyed. Therefore, it is time to start thinking about ways of putting the fractured Somalia back together. If these women channel this political capital in the right way, the results could be a democratic Somalia with peace and prosperity. It is time, however, that they get involved in the Somali political theater and correct the self-destroying men of their nation.
There is an African proverb that says “When elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers.”
When warring men in Somalia engage in the battle-field, it is the mothers and the children who suffer the most. Therefore, Somali women have the greatest interest in directing their men toward nonviolence, and in the language of peace-making.
Somalia, as a nation, was not destroyed by clan infighting; it was destroyed by the decisions of corrupted male leaders supported and empowered by Somali women. In 1990, there were two big institutions led by men, the Somali government led by former President Siad Barre and United Somali Congress (USC) by General Mohamed Aidid.
In retrospect, Somali women were active participants in the conflict as they were the cheerleaders of the institutions which led Somalia down the wrong path. Somali women were carrying the waters, singing and chanting words of empowerment behind the fighting men. They were collecting money and buying weapons in support of the warring men in the battle-fields. Small numbers of Somali women were carrying the weapons. However, the majority of them were encouraging and empowering the men to fight the aimless civil unrest. Consequently, these women suffered the most in the conflict.
Since they were demonstrably part of the conflict, they are part of the solution as well. Educated and enlightened Somali women must organize and focus with intensity to take the lead in turning Somalia away from the current destructive path, to a constructive trajectory.
As the leader of Somalia for over twenty years, Barre’s administration could have prepared and trained young leaders and left them behind for the country as a legacy of his administration. Unfortunately, this did not happen and individuals with no strategic foresight brought the nation to its ruin.
Somalia had a centralized governmental system where power was concentrated in the capital of Mogadishu. Therefore, the general feeling was that whoever controlled the capital controlled the nation. Upon Barre’s departure from the Somali political scene, ill-prepared individuals from various institutions such as the USC, headed by the late General Mohamed Aidid, took over the control of the capital and made fatal decisions. The decisions of USC as an institution were remarkably important, more than those of other institutions that existed at that time. Somalis are still living with its ill-conceived decisions. Somali women and children are generally the ones that suffered the most, like my own single mother who struggled with six of us in the war-zone.
It is extraordinarily important that Somali women get involved in the Somali political scene and it’s they, the Somali women, who must break the cycle of violence. Despite the media spin-doctors claiming that Somali clans are obstacles to sustainable peace, clan differences are important and they will continue to exist. They are nothing more than constituencies with shared interests. They can be used to build a nation or to destroy a nation, as in the case of Somalia.
In same way that clans were used by corrupted leaders of yesterday to destroy Somalia, they can be used to build Somalia as strong democratic nation. Somali women continue to insist that Somali men prevent them from being active participants of the Somali political sphere. This is, largely, unsubstantiated. Somali women have important decisions to make, they can continue to be whiners in despair, or they can organize themselves around strong institution and take the lead. In this dark chapter in Somali history, Somalia desperately needs the intellectual assets of all the segments of its society, especially the Somali women who are becoming the absolute better half of the society.
The visibility of the Somali women in the Somali political sphere is remarkably important, and the time has come for them to get involved in helping their men toward exercising the right judgment for the sake of nation-building.
Since Somali women are the bedrock of the family, the nation, and the head of many households, they have an enormous say on whether the men in their homes decides to build or to destroy. As a reminder, there is nothing left in Somalia to be destroyed. Therefore, it is time to start thinking about ways of putting the fractured Somalia back together. If these women channel this political capital in the right way, the results could be a democratic Somalia with peace and prosperity. It is time, however, that they get involved in the Somali political theater and correct the self-destroying men of their nation.
There is an African proverb that says “When elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers.”
When warring men in Somalia engage in the battle-field, it is the mothers and the children who suffer the most. Therefore, Somali women have the greatest interest in directing their men toward nonviolence, and in the language of peace-making.
The Youth of Somalia: A Call for a Different Action
If you have to explain in three simple words how Somalia could emerge from the ashes of war, these words would be “peace”, “diplomacy” and “education.”
Somalia’s contemporary history is clouded with cycles of political violence, and economic deterioration coupled with periods of political and economic upheaval, foreign occupation, dictatorship and continued environmental decay. The depiction of Somalis as victims only perpetuates the status quo. These challenges could be reversed with the right leadership who can engage with Somalis in a new strategic direction that includes peace, diplomacy, and education. This starts with your generation, the Somali Youth.
Peace is the word that constantly occupies my mind, and I assume that it is constant in the minds of many Somalis everywhere. In fact, I once went out of my way to help a young brother in need. A few days later, he came back to me, and told me that he wanted to do some blessings for me. As a Muslim, I believe in the power of blessings or dua in Arabic. So, he asked “What kind of blessings would you like me to ask God for you?” For a moment, I thought about what he said to me and uttered, “Peace in Somalia in my lifetime”.
If you have confidence in the future, you can endure hardship in the present. I have a degree of confidence that Somali Youth will work for peace in Somalia, and also around the world. This feeling allows me to stay optimistic despite the despicable plight of our nation.
There is a call to Somali Youth. A call that requires a different action, a genuine peacemaking action is your generation’s calling. For the sake of the nation, the question is, will you answer this urgent call?
Every generation is expected to contribute, and leave a legacy in this world. As we learned from our Somali history, our forefathers and fathers answered the calls of their generation in establishing modern Somalia as we know it. They wore the uniform in defense of their country against many adversaries. They gave up their own wants, needs and desires for an indispensable historical gain, the establishment of modern Somalia. Somalia as a nation is now in danger of disappearing from the world stage. So, what is the solution? And could Somali Youth’s exercise of diplomacy be part of the solution?
There must be a new approach, with cautious diplomatic engagement with international communities. Furthermore, local diplomatic action is also needed for bridging the gaps between Somalis, regardless of their political names or tribal affiliations. Political names such as Al-Shabaab, Hizbul Islam or Ahlu Sunna Waljama, and other tribal names are designed, and used to further divide, to frustrate people, and to weaken the Somalis’ aspiration to regain their nationhood.
The division of Somalis serves the interests of our adversaries: those whose desire is to see Somalia remain under the protection of Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Somalia. I was attracted to Ould-Abdallah’s initial speeches about Somalia, but his actions placed our nation on the wrong trajectory.
I believe that the solution to Somalia’s problems will not come from the United Nations or any other foreign entities; it will come from the enlightened, and the educated Somali Youth. Therefore, the time has come for you, the Somali youths, to leave the AK47s behind, and to start using the power of your minds to build bridges between feuding Somalis, to address the nation’s weaknesses, and to intellectually challenge those who are violating the interest of the nation as a whole.
You need to stop the bickering over stupidity, and see the big picture. The big picture is about nation-building, coalescing around a strong institution and leaving a legacy that outlasts many more generations to come.
You are aware of the story of the Somali Youth League (SYL), which was formed in 1943. The SYL’s objectives were to unify all Somalis, to create opportunities through education, to develop the Somali language, and to safeguard Somali interests. Of course, you have many more tools at your disposal than they had. However, they had more intimate knowledge about Somali culture, and its tribal structure than your generation has. If you have an open-minded approach towards creating peace in our homeland, then you can learn and adjust as you establish an environment that is conducive to peace and harmony.
Why was the SYL successful, and how did they maneuver the clannish minds of the Somalis?
The SYL understood the power of diversity within the team and they ensured that major clans were represented as they established constituencies of friendship and trust between Somalis. Also, they valued education as a national asset, and they wanted to create an educated society in Somalia.
How will you know what is happening if you do not take the time to educate yourself and others around you? As I tell my students, education is a great equalizer, and it will open many doors. In the current Somali crisis, I see education as the best weapon, not the Russian-made AK47s that are killing our young men. The more we educate the people, the less they will be inclined to participate in wasteful infighting.
The United States did not become a superpower because it used weapons to muscle its way to superpower status. Instead, they used public education as tools to compete against their adversaries, and won. The SYL did not use AK47s; instead they used their brain power in order to solve major problems. Of course, they won. They understood what was at stake and used the power of the pen in order to reach their objectives.
First and foremost, this peace-making commitment must be led by the political will of a visionary President who wants to leave a legacy of peaceful and prosperous Somalia. Therefore, you must promote the best in you, the Somali Youth, in terms of intellectual, and knowledge capabilities to the highest office in the land, the president’s seat and his cabinet members.
In conclusion, it is my hope that you, the Somali Youth, respond to your generation’s calling and understand that this call requires a different action. The action demands that you leave the AK47s behind and start using the power of your mind to change minds and to win peace in Somalia. It is important that you start to think about what you plan to leave behind as your legacy as SYL or other groups have done. SYL understood the price of peace, the art of diplomacy and the significance of education. While you learn from the past, you need to devise your own solution to the challenges of our time, and establish a commanding position that outlasts many more generations to come.
There is an African proverb that says “Peace is costly, but it is worth the expense”.
Your generation’s calling is not to wish for peace, but start working toward creating a peaceful Somalia for you, and for those who are yet unborn.
Somalia’s contemporary history is clouded with cycles of political violence, and economic deterioration coupled with periods of political and economic upheaval, foreign occupation, dictatorship and continued environmental decay. The depiction of Somalis as victims only perpetuates the status quo. These challenges could be reversed with the right leadership who can engage with Somalis in a new strategic direction that includes peace, diplomacy, and education. This starts with your generation, the Somali Youth.
Peace is the word that constantly occupies my mind, and I assume that it is constant in the minds of many Somalis everywhere. In fact, I once went out of my way to help a young brother in need. A few days later, he came back to me, and told me that he wanted to do some blessings for me. As a Muslim, I believe in the power of blessings or dua in Arabic. So, he asked “What kind of blessings would you like me to ask God for you?” For a moment, I thought about what he said to me and uttered, “Peace in Somalia in my lifetime”.
If you have confidence in the future, you can endure hardship in the present. I have a degree of confidence that Somali Youth will work for peace in Somalia, and also around the world. This feeling allows me to stay optimistic despite the despicable plight of our nation.
There is a call to Somali Youth. A call that requires a different action, a genuine peacemaking action is your generation’s calling. For the sake of the nation, the question is, will you answer this urgent call?
Every generation is expected to contribute, and leave a legacy in this world. As we learned from our Somali history, our forefathers and fathers answered the calls of their generation in establishing modern Somalia as we know it. They wore the uniform in defense of their country against many adversaries. They gave up their own wants, needs and desires for an indispensable historical gain, the establishment of modern Somalia. Somalia as a nation is now in danger of disappearing from the world stage. So, what is the solution? And could Somali Youth’s exercise of diplomacy be part of the solution?
There must be a new approach, with cautious diplomatic engagement with international communities. Furthermore, local diplomatic action is also needed for bridging the gaps between Somalis, regardless of their political names or tribal affiliations. Political names such as Al-Shabaab, Hizbul Islam or Ahlu Sunna Waljama, and other tribal names are designed, and used to further divide, to frustrate people, and to weaken the Somalis’ aspiration to regain their nationhood.
The division of Somalis serves the interests of our adversaries: those whose desire is to see Somalia remain under the protection of Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Somalia. I was attracted to Ould-Abdallah’s initial speeches about Somalia, but his actions placed our nation on the wrong trajectory.
I believe that the solution to Somalia’s problems will not come from the United Nations or any other foreign entities; it will come from the enlightened, and the educated Somali Youth. Therefore, the time has come for you, the Somali youths, to leave the AK47s behind, and to start using the power of your minds to build bridges between feuding Somalis, to address the nation’s weaknesses, and to intellectually challenge those who are violating the interest of the nation as a whole.
You need to stop the bickering over stupidity, and see the big picture. The big picture is about nation-building, coalescing around a strong institution and leaving a legacy that outlasts many more generations to come.
You are aware of the story of the Somali Youth League (SYL), which was formed in 1943. The SYL’s objectives were to unify all Somalis, to create opportunities through education, to develop the Somali language, and to safeguard Somali interests. Of course, you have many more tools at your disposal than they had. However, they had more intimate knowledge about Somali culture, and its tribal structure than your generation has. If you have an open-minded approach towards creating peace in our homeland, then you can learn and adjust as you establish an environment that is conducive to peace and harmony.
Why was the SYL successful, and how did they maneuver the clannish minds of the Somalis?
The SYL understood the power of diversity within the team and they ensured that major clans were represented as they established constituencies of friendship and trust between Somalis. Also, they valued education as a national asset, and they wanted to create an educated society in Somalia.
How will you know what is happening if you do not take the time to educate yourself and others around you? As I tell my students, education is a great equalizer, and it will open many doors. In the current Somali crisis, I see education as the best weapon, not the Russian-made AK47s that are killing our young men. The more we educate the people, the less they will be inclined to participate in wasteful infighting.
The United States did not become a superpower because it used weapons to muscle its way to superpower status. Instead, they used public education as tools to compete against their adversaries, and won. The SYL did not use AK47s; instead they used their brain power in order to solve major problems. Of course, they won. They understood what was at stake and used the power of the pen in order to reach their objectives.
First and foremost, this peace-making commitment must be led by the political will of a visionary President who wants to leave a legacy of peaceful and prosperous Somalia. Therefore, you must promote the best in you, the Somali Youth, in terms of intellectual, and knowledge capabilities to the highest office in the land, the president’s seat and his cabinet members.
In conclusion, it is my hope that you, the Somali Youth, respond to your generation’s calling and understand that this call requires a different action. The action demands that you leave the AK47s behind and start using the power of your mind to change minds and to win peace in Somalia. It is important that you start to think about what you plan to leave behind as your legacy as SYL or other groups have done. SYL understood the price of peace, the art of diplomacy and the significance of education. While you learn from the past, you need to devise your own solution to the challenges of our time, and establish a commanding position that outlasts many more generations to come.
There is an African proverb that says “Peace is costly, but it is worth the expense”.
Your generation’s calling is not to wish for peace, but start working toward creating a peaceful Somalia for you, and for those who are yet unborn.
SYL: The Deferred Dream
Roughly half a century ago, there was a group of very ambitious young Somalis who wanted to dedicate their lives to putting their nation into a forward trajectory. They had the will to match their words with deeds. The Somali Youth League (SYL), the first political party in Somalia, was established in 1943. This party played a crucial role for Somalia to gain its independence in July of 1960, from its colonial powers. The SYL’s deferred dreams of unifying and creating opportunities for Somalis now lies on the shoulders of the current Somali generation. This generation must understand the importance and the power of diverse institutions, which include the existing media and political institutions. The institutions such as the Somali media could serve the people as sort of a watch dog, thus becoming the eyes and the ears of the public pursuing the trails of wrongdoing individuals within the Somali government. Moreover, it is equally important to strategically choose effective leaders for these institutions.
The SYL, as a group, was driven by the great moral principles of making Somalia a progressive nation of laws. They did not take the job for fame or monetary gain. They took the job to create educational programs, to establish and reform the nation’s foreign policy, to institute economic opportunities, to free Somalia from its colonial shackles and ultimately protect the nation’s interests. They practiced a policy of inclusiveness, empowering Somalis from a grassroots level to take ownership of their causes. They wanted to achieve their objectives through civic engagements. They were able to achieve extraordinary results because of the SYL as an institution with its own merit-based culture.
While the SYL was driven by moral principles, it seems that current Somali leaders are driven by monetary interests, or they have an enormous hunger for fame. Until individuals with the similar characteristics as the SYL emerges from member of current youth, the Somalia’s political affliction will remain unchanged. The SYL were not the most educated group of individuals but they believed in the cause and they were willing to match their cause with actions.
Unlike the current leaders whose decisions seem to be driven by the world’s public opinions rather the local needs of the folks which they represent, the SYL focused and cared more about local issues of their nation than the world public opinion. Somalia is largely on a destructive path because there are no principled and visionary leaders that work for the sake of leaving a peaceful Somalia as legacy of their political tenure. Folks at the Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG) seem to be mainly interested in wiring stolen public funds to foreign banks or in their twenty seconds of fame or shame being on BBC Somali services or other Somali media services.
Although Somalis’ clan politics are heartrendingly polarizing and thousands of internal and external interest groups have the ability to prevent change, it is essential that Somalis elect a skillful leader as their president in Somalia. There are a few individuals currently running for the presidential seat in Somalia. However, the Somali media are not asking the right questions in determining their competence and whether these folks’ rhetoric matches the requirements of presidential seat in Somalia.
While great oratory ability is an important skill for presidential contenders to have, what is really needed is the knowhow of how to fix and heal the fractured Somalia. These presidential contenders must compose a written platform of how they will engage the warring political groups in Somalia.
Somalis’ vision is to see a peaceful Somalia. Without a sustainable peace, there cannot be any progress. In order to attain peace in Somalia, the political discourse of the people must change from war talk to a peace talk. A leader must train other leaders who can take the helm and start injecting new ideas of peace in the minds of the people. This could unleash the potential in matching the right people for the right jobs as the Somali president decides the right course for the nation. As the vision of peace in Somalia is being realized, there must be a scorecard that demonstrates the progress of the combined effort of the leader and his team. Altogether, this could steer Somalis toward peace, progress and prosperity. This could be accomplished just like the Somali Youth League achieved similar results in the 1960s.
Institutional complexity is an avoidable enemy. For instance, the Somali Federal Transitional Government (TFG) is unable to produce any meaningful results because there is a design flaw. It is a complicated institution with too many people. But, it is an institution to which Somalis must add value by joining and working within in order to make it a progressive institution.
Every Somali is to blame for the despicable situation that Somalia as a nation is in. At this time of great crisis, the prevailing reality of Somalis viewing each other through the lenses of clan affiliation must cease. The lenses with which Somalis, especially the youth, view each other must be based on merits, not clan affiliations.
Somalia has several institutions such as Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government (TFG), Somaliland and Puntland. Whatever your political position is within Somalia’s destructive political system, it is indispensible for you to add values to these institutions rather to dismantle them. These are Somali-driven institutions and they could be instrumental in bringing peace to Somalia and they will perhaps outlast the current leaders of these institutions.
While senior open-minded Somalis remain as advisors, counselors, and mentors, it is the ultimately the skillful and progressive Somali youth that need to drive a new agenda that will bring an era of peace and stability in Somalia. The dormant individuals with SYL characteristics must be awakened and encouraged to revive the SYL’s deferred dream.
Are Somalis ready for the task ahead?
The SYL, as a group, was driven by the great moral principles of making Somalia a progressive nation of laws. They did not take the job for fame or monetary gain. They took the job to create educational programs, to establish and reform the nation’s foreign policy, to institute economic opportunities, to free Somalia from its colonial shackles and ultimately protect the nation’s interests. They practiced a policy of inclusiveness, empowering Somalis from a grassroots level to take ownership of their causes. They wanted to achieve their objectives through civic engagements. They were able to achieve extraordinary results because of the SYL as an institution with its own merit-based culture.
While the SYL was driven by moral principles, it seems that current Somali leaders are driven by monetary interests, or they have an enormous hunger for fame. Until individuals with the similar characteristics as the SYL emerges from member of current youth, the Somalia’s political affliction will remain unchanged. The SYL were not the most educated group of individuals but they believed in the cause and they were willing to match their cause with actions.
Unlike the current leaders whose decisions seem to be driven by the world’s public opinions rather the local needs of the folks which they represent, the SYL focused and cared more about local issues of their nation than the world public opinion. Somalia is largely on a destructive path because there are no principled and visionary leaders that work for the sake of leaving a peaceful Somalia as legacy of their political tenure. Folks at the Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG) seem to be mainly interested in wiring stolen public funds to foreign banks or in their twenty seconds of fame or shame being on BBC Somali services or other Somali media services.
Although Somalis’ clan politics are heartrendingly polarizing and thousands of internal and external interest groups have the ability to prevent change, it is essential that Somalis elect a skillful leader as their president in Somalia. There are a few individuals currently running for the presidential seat in Somalia. However, the Somali media are not asking the right questions in determining their competence and whether these folks’ rhetoric matches the requirements of presidential seat in Somalia.
While great oratory ability is an important skill for presidential contenders to have, what is really needed is the knowhow of how to fix and heal the fractured Somalia. These presidential contenders must compose a written platform of how they will engage the warring political groups in Somalia.
Somalis’ vision is to see a peaceful Somalia. Without a sustainable peace, there cannot be any progress. In order to attain peace in Somalia, the political discourse of the people must change from war talk to a peace talk. A leader must train other leaders who can take the helm and start injecting new ideas of peace in the minds of the people. This could unleash the potential in matching the right people for the right jobs as the Somali president decides the right course for the nation. As the vision of peace in Somalia is being realized, there must be a scorecard that demonstrates the progress of the combined effort of the leader and his team. Altogether, this could steer Somalis toward peace, progress and prosperity. This could be accomplished just like the Somali Youth League achieved similar results in the 1960s.
Institutional complexity is an avoidable enemy. For instance, the Somali Federal Transitional Government (TFG) is unable to produce any meaningful results because there is a design flaw. It is a complicated institution with too many people. But, it is an institution to which Somalis must add value by joining and working within in order to make it a progressive institution.
Every Somali is to blame for the despicable situation that Somalia as a nation is in. At this time of great crisis, the prevailing reality of Somalis viewing each other through the lenses of clan affiliation must cease. The lenses with which Somalis, especially the youth, view each other must be based on merits, not clan affiliations.
Somalia has several institutions such as Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government (TFG), Somaliland and Puntland. Whatever your political position is within Somalia’s destructive political system, it is indispensible for you to add values to these institutions rather to dismantle them. These are Somali-driven institutions and they could be instrumental in bringing peace to Somalia and they will perhaps outlast the current leaders of these institutions.
While senior open-minded Somalis remain as advisors, counselors, and mentors, it is the ultimately the skillful and progressive Somali youth that need to drive a new agenda that will bring an era of peace and stability in Somalia. The dormant individuals with SYL characteristics must be awakened and encouraged to revive the SYL’s deferred dream.
Are Somalis ready for the task ahead?
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Who Said Strangers Do Not Care?
Let me be authentic, and engage from my heart. Despite human beings’ competitive nature over scarce resources, they do care for one another. In 1991, Somalia had descended into a disastrous civil war, and people were running anywhere they could to seek safety. We made an attempt to escape the conflict once before, and ended up going back to it because the condition of the refugee camp that we were in, was unbearable. As a final escape from the endless war, my family and I boarded a ship that headed toward Kenya. It was an old cargo ship carrying scrap metal, operated by crews from the Philippines. This ship would break down in the middle of the ocean every few hours, and the crew members would start to work on the ship’s engine again and again. We were running away from Somalia’s tribal militias, which were encouraged, and armed by corrupt leaders. And we were unknowingly running toward strangers who have showed a remarkable care toward us. It is important to know that strangers do care.
It was such a long journey that even a few pregnant women delivered their babies inside this cargo ship. Upon arrival at the port of Mombasa, the Kenyan authority refused to allow the ship to dock because they did not want to accept any more refugees from Somalia. The ship, with everyone inside, stayed at sea for close to two more weeks. Miraculously, this episode had caught the attention of the media including Cable News Network (CNN) of the United States. This media attention was a blessing. I still recall the media crews and the fresh bananas that they delivered to us. Those strangers gave me the first glimpse of how strangers care.
Upon the media publicity of our plight, Kenyan authority allowed the ship to dock at the port and unload all the refugees along with the scrap metal. They took us to a nearby refugee camp called Utanga. Utanga refugee camp was on uninhabitable land in Mombasa, Kenya.
In hindsight, the life in the Utanga refugee camp could be described as deplorable beyond belief. But, at the time, it was the best thing that ever happened to us. We were given tents and hot meals. The United Nation started to distribute weekly rations such as flour and corn oil to the refugee people at Utanga camp. Moreover, there was no sound of gun fire to be heard anywhere. Anyone who has experienced war can tell you, the sound of gun fire never leaves your memories. Even after many years of living in the United States, the sound of guns sometimes replays in my head when I hear any random bang. Although people were dying of Malaria, I felt quite safe there. For the first time, we did not have to think about where the next meal would come from. This was yet another reminder how people do care for one another.
Once Somali refugees were settled there, they were dying of all kinds of diseases including Malaria, a mosquito-borne infectious disease. I shared my tent with five other guys. Two of these guys got a severe form of Malaria. I remembered one of the sick guys, Shafici, telling me that if he recovered from his illness; he would dedicate his life to serving God. Of course, he, along with another sick guy, died a few days later. While I was there, I got Malaria and I was very sick. I recalled asking God not to kill me because I did not want my family to leave me behind. Besides, I had an incredible desire to come to the United States.
For one year, I stayed at the Utanga refugee camp and survived its appalling conditions. I became so weak with Malaria that I could not even walk a few blocks away from my tent. Despite these harsh experiences, I made it to the United States with my family in July of 1993, and Utanga refugee camp finally closed in April of 1995.
Once settled in the state of Massachusetts, I enrolled at Bedford High School where I met many people who had showed an amazing care toward me. At the time, I was the only immigrant student in the high school. They dedicated enormous time and efforts showing me around and welcoming me to their school. As a welcoming gesture, the school officials bought a Somali flag, and displayed it among other flags in front of the school. As if those efforts were not enough, the school even hired an ESL teacher just for me.
Around the same time, I met Mr. and Mrs. Melvin. Mr. Melvin dedicated a huge amount of time, and effort in order to help me assimilate into this new culture. He used to take me to the hospital, and encouraged me to stay in school. And every time I did well in school, he would reward me with his kind words or he would buy me some gift to display his satisfaction in my academic performance.
Mrs. Melvin treated me and the rest of my younger brothers and sisters well. She helped me with school work, bought me many things, and even enrolled me into a very expensive SAT class during my junior year in high school. In the summer of 1995, I was able to attend Phillips Academy summer program, thanks to Mrs. Melvin. Phillips Academy is located in Andover, MA. It is an independent, coeducational boarding high school. Through the Melvin family, I met a wonderful lady name Maxine who helped me open up my first bank account and ensured that I had a fabulous experience at Phillips Academy. She spent many hours counseling me and making me feel welcome among the rich students at Phillips Academy.
In 1996, I was going into my senior year in high school when my family moved from Bedford, MA to Malden. I started attending Malden High School. I could not get used to the new high school system, so my grades suffered. Nonetheless, I had accumulated enough courses to graduate from Malden High School. I still had an incredible desire to attend a four year university. However, my accounting teacher tried to sabotage my dream of going to college. Despite being a great student, he told me that it was not important for me to pursue a higher education because I will not make it. Instead, this Caucasian man advised me to get a job.
Another Caucasian man, who was a counselor, called me into his office, and gave me a roadmap of how to go to college. This roadmap was so critical to my life’s achievements. As I was sitting in his office, this man looked in to my eyes and told me that he saw in me an incredible desire to succeed. Of course, I believed him and his words had empowered me. He proceeded to tell me to go to the Boston Public Library and apply for financial aid through a program called ACCESS, The Action Center for Educational Services and Scholarships. ACCESS has an office within Boson Public Library, in Boston, MA. It helps students apply for financial aid. Then, he advised me to apply to Bunker Hill Community College (BHCC), and that there is no SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test and Scholastic Assessment Test) required there. He counseled me to obtain an associate degree from BHCC, Charlestown MA, and then go on to a four year university. I followed his advice until I obtained a bachelor’s degree from University of Massachusetts Lowell. While I was at BHCC, I met many extraordinary people; some of them became my mentors.
These two Caucasian men held different assumptions and demonstrated different approaches toward advising me. I assumed that one looked at me through the prism of race, and thus tried to hinder my desire of an intellectual inquiry. The other man saw me as a capable young man who was in search of the right guidance. People are different as showed by these two men. I chose to highlight those who have contributed to my life in positive ways while recognizing that there are those who intentionally or unintentionally harm others.
I am from Somalia, Africa. The people, who were part of my life’s achievement, are from the United States. Despite this, they treated me as if I was part of their family. They epitomized an extraordinary people, and are a great reminder to all of us that human beings care for one another. With the selfless generosity they have showed me, they will forever remain in my heart, and memory, particularly the Melvin family.
In closing, I am unrelated to these terrific people including wonderful Maxine and the Melvin family. And yet, they were willing to help me succeed. As I mentioned before, they are important human beings. Of course, they are my inspiration to helping others as they have helped me. I understand that human beings share similarities and require the same basic needs. I am part of the human family, and as a young person I needed to be guided as others currently need the same guidance. This story explains how I developed my attitude of treating everyone as if they were a part of my family. I was helped by many people, and I just want to pass this legacy on to others. I was reminded again, and again throughout my life that strangers do care, and thus I care for them as well. So, remember it is indispensable for me and you to pick up the torch where others, like the people above, have left off. These kinds of efforts will help to alleviate the pain of those in need, and help them realize their full potential.
There is a Chinese proverb that says, “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.”
For the sake of humanity, let us teach people how to live a productive life through education.
It was such a long journey that even a few pregnant women delivered their babies inside this cargo ship. Upon arrival at the port of Mombasa, the Kenyan authority refused to allow the ship to dock because they did not want to accept any more refugees from Somalia. The ship, with everyone inside, stayed at sea for close to two more weeks. Miraculously, this episode had caught the attention of the media including Cable News Network (CNN) of the United States. This media attention was a blessing. I still recall the media crews and the fresh bananas that they delivered to us. Those strangers gave me the first glimpse of how strangers care.
Upon the media publicity of our plight, Kenyan authority allowed the ship to dock at the port and unload all the refugees along with the scrap metal. They took us to a nearby refugee camp called Utanga. Utanga refugee camp was on uninhabitable land in Mombasa, Kenya.
In hindsight, the life in the Utanga refugee camp could be described as deplorable beyond belief. But, at the time, it was the best thing that ever happened to us. We were given tents and hot meals. The United Nation started to distribute weekly rations such as flour and corn oil to the refugee people at Utanga camp. Moreover, there was no sound of gun fire to be heard anywhere. Anyone who has experienced war can tell you, the sound of gun fire never leaves your memories. Even after many years of living in the United States, the sound of guns sometimes replays in my head when I hear any random bang. Although people were dying of Malaria, I felt quite safe there. For the first time, we did not have to think about where the next meal would come from. This was yet another reminder how people do care for one another.
Once Somali refugees were settled there, they were dying of all kinds of diseases including Malaria, a mosquito-borne infectious disease. I shared my tent with five other guys. Two of these guys got a severe form of Malaria. I remembered one of the sick guys, Shafici, telling me that if he recovered from his illness; he would dedicate his life to serving God. Of course, he, along with another sick guy, died a few days later. While I was there, I got Malaria and I was very sick. I recalled asking God not to kill me because I did not want my family to leave me behind. Besides, I had an incredible desire to come to the United States.
For one year, I stayed at the Utanga refugee camp and survived its appalling conditions. I became so weak with Malaria that I could not even walk a few blocks away from my tent. Despite these harsh experiences, I made it to the United States with my family in July of 1993, and Utanga refugee camp finally closed in April of 1995.
Once settled in the state of Massachusetts, I enrolled at Bedford High School where I met many people who had showed an amazing care toward me. At the time, I was the only immigrant student in the high school. They dedicated enormous time and efforts showing me around and welcoming me to their school. As a welcoming gesture, the school officials bought a Somali flag, and displayed it among other flags in front of the school. As if those efforts were not enough, the school even hired an ESL teacher just for me.
Around the same time, I met Mr. and Mrs. Melvin. Mr. Melvin dedicated a huge amount of time, and effort in order to help me assimilate into this new culture. He used to take me to the hospital, and encouraged me to stay in school. And every time I did well in school, he would reward me with his kind words or he would buy me some gift to display his satisfaction in my academic performance.
Mrs. Melvin treated me and the rest of my younger brothers and sisters well. She helped me with school work, bought me many things, and even enrolled me into a very expensive SAT class during my junior year in high school. In the summer of 1995, I was able to attend Phillips Academy summer program, thanks to Mrs. Melvin. Phillips Academy is located in Andover, MA. It is an independent, coeducational boarding high school. Through the Melvin family, I met a wonderful lady name Maxine who helped me open up my first bank account and ensured that I had a fabulous experience at Phillips Academy. She spent many hours counseling me and making me feel welcome among the rich students at Phillips Academy.
In 1996, I was going into my senior year in high school when my family moved from Bedford, MA to Malden. I started attending Malden High School. I could not get used to the new high school system, so my grades suffered. Nonetheless, I had accumulated enough courses to graduate from Malden High School. I still had an incredible desire to attend a four year university. However, my accounting teacher tried to sabotage my dream of going to college. Despite being a great student, he told me that it was not important for me to pursue a higher education because I will not make it. Instead, this Caucasian man advised me to get a job.
Another Caucasian man, who was a counselor, called me into his office, and gave me a roadmap of how to go to college. This roadmap was so critical to my life’s achievements. As I was sitting in his office, this man looked in to my eyes and told me that he saw in me an incredible desire to succeed. Of course, I believed him and his words had empowered me. He proceeded to tell me to go to the Boston Public Library and apply for financial aid through a program called ACCESS, The Action Center for Educational Services and Scholarships. ACCESS has an office within Boson Public Library, in Boston, MA. It helps students apply for financial aid. Then, he advised me to apply to Bunker Hill Community College (BHCC), and that there is no SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test and Scholastic Assessment Test) required there. He counseled me to obtain an associate degree from BHCC, Charlestown MA, and then go on to a four year university. I followed his advice until I obtained a bachelor’s degree from University of Massachusetts Lowell. While I was at BHCC, I met many extraordinary people; some of them became my mentors.
These two Caucasian men held different assumptions and demonstrated different approaches toward advising me. I assumed that one looked at me through the prism of race, and thus tried to hinder my desire of an intellectual inquiry. The other man saw me as a capable young man who was in search of the right guidance. People are different as showed by these two men. I chose to highlight those who have contributed to my life in positive ways while recognizing that there are those who intentionally or unintentionally harm others.
I am from Somalia, Africa. The people, who were part of my life’s achievement, are from the United States. Despite this, they treated me as if I was part of their family. They epitomized an extraordinary people, and are a great reminder to all of us that human beings care for one another. With the selfless generosity they have showed me, they will forever remain in my heart, and memory, particularly the Melvin family.
In closing, I am unrelated to these terrific people including wonderful Maxine and the Melvin family. And yet, they were willing to help me succeed. As I mentioned before, they are important human beings. Of course, they are my inspiration to helping others as they have helped me. I understand that human beings share similarities and require the same basic needs. I am part of the human family, and as a young person I needed to be guided as others currently need the same guidance. This story explains how I developed my attitude of treating everyone as if they were a part of my family. I was helped by many people, and I just want to pass this legacy on to others. I was reminded again, and again throughout my life that strangers do care, and thus I care for them as well. So, remember it is indispensable for me and you to pick up the torch where others, like the people above, have left off. These kinds of efforts will help to alleviate the pain of those in need, and help them realize their full potential.
There is a Chinese proverb that says, “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.”
For the sake of humanity, let us teach people how to live a productive life through education.
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