(Unity in diversity makes the stronger bond.)
Let me start with the preface that the main aim of this sensitive article is to pinpoint the past mistakes of all of us- Somali communities and regimes- committed and we should learn from mistakes. We will never forget the mistakes but we forgive so that the same mistakes will not be repeated.Revenge is also worse than the mistake because it multiplies the magnitude of the mistake.Forgiving while pinpointing the mistake is the best solution to prevent a repetition of a mistake. In every country , there are several communities that differ from each other in certain ways of life – let it be the dialects of the language , the physical gestures , attitudes , characters and ways of thinking that gave each community its special identity.What makes a nation stable and progressive is the unanimous generalization of the freedom to practice these identities by its community and the respect for each community to the other.Part of the problems in our country came from lack of every community to recognize and respect for other communities’ identities and the wish to dominate them in many ways. It is a social disaster when the president utilizes his political powers to subjugate the identities of certain community and propagate those of others and to the worst of it if he makes it a national duty.Words are formed naturally out of certain cultures and interactions and if they have to be fabricated, it should not serve short term objectives only.The word “ HANTIGOOSAD” which means capitalismhas a negative impression on every Somali speaking at the mere spell of it because its creators were at the time solid followers of the socialist ideology and were in high esteem for it.It also compelled them to give a decorated name “HANTIWADAAG” to its adversary rival “The Socialism”; If the Somali government was a strong ally of the WEST and the capitalist ideology was adopted in the country, we would end up having a beautiful name for the capitalism and an ugly one for the socialism.While the phrases like “ MALAAYAAN CUNOOYAA “ and “ KALLUUN BAAN CUNAHAYAA” both have same meaning unfortunately those who speak the latter phrase were considered as better Somali speaking citizens.Does it harm if the teacher of an elementary school in Mogadishu uses the word “MALAAY’ while the one in the northern part of the county keeps the word “KALLUUN” and pupils of both sides would enjoy the language. In India there are fifteen principal languages and different dialects and each region uses its regional language in school teaching, newspapers, radio broadcasts while the Hindi language is the main official language. In Italy and other European countries , there are various dialects and languages with in each nation.I would consider it a progressive step if the communities of D&M were allowed to teach MAAY MAAY dialects in schools , have regional MAAY language radio broadcast and create arts and music of MAAY MAAY origin while the Somali official language which was not purely based on any regional dialect would be their official language.The new government should respect each and every small and big community in Somalia and allow them to practice their identities freely and fully in their regions..The word “JAALLE” was never heard in the southern part of the country before the 1969 revolution that came along with new prevailing words.We have had enough lessons from the 15 years of difficult times and what lessons we learn should not only be the great losses of life without government but also the urgent need to recognize the special identities of every community that are the pillars of our nation. Should we have to expect the words like AREE , BOOWE , ARIIROW to be equally filling the Somali national newspapers and radios when the communities that use these words respectively become the ruling giants.If we call it MALAAY , KALAAY OR TALAAY , the importance is that people recognize it for something called FISHbut unfortunately very precious words that were originally fluently used in the BENADIR region have vanished because they were made into a shameful whispers instead of proud language that emanated from ancient history and culture. I wonder if any reader from the northern regions of Somaliaever heard of the following words :FUUQ, FASHAQ, KURTA , SHARUUR , MOXOGGO, DHANGALOW , CAANABARAAWE, BEYDAAN, SHALIMAANTALAHAAN,BARJIN, and I would also like to know if some of the southerners themselves ever heard of the following: ALKUN , GAFAR , MANJEERO , URUG, MAAYADA WAA MAAJISAY, BAFTO, UKUR , DHAARAAN,Let Qawdhan proudly keep in his lips words like “ HEEDHE” while Macaani will always happily use “ SAAS MAAHINOO” with his own people and when Macaani and Qawdhan meet occasionally , we let them find a neutral way of communication , each learning what the other means and the official language of the country will have the full features of this neutral way.Every community in Somalia has traditions and dialects special to its identity and we have to admit to be learning from each tradition and letting each to promote its values and by that way we let the democratic principles in our social lives prevail and lead us into a progressive society.I personally feel at ease whenever I utter the phrases like “ SAAS MAAHINOO “ instead of “ MIYAANU CEYNKAA AHEYN” Which my body , brain and mouth all consume a potential energy equal to ten liters of petrol .Awes
Awes A.Osman
thenewsomaliagroup@hotmail.com
thenewsomaliagroup@yahoo.com
P.S: The New Somalia Group is working on how to preserve the ancient cultures, dialects, history of each and every Somali community big or small and demonstrate them to the public. We hence need the contribution and suggestions of new ideas from Somali experts and historians.
Awes A.Osman
http://www.ogaden.com/On_Top_of_Hamarweyne.htm
On top of HAMARWEYNE sea-rock
Awes Perspectives : Views From Dubai
I stood over one of the high rocks of Hamarweyne Sea Coast on a nice dawn time and let the fresh air go around my neck/ it was after so many years that I was standing near Sheikh Owais Al-Qarni mosque for fresh air.
One characteristic of such cool and clean breeze was that it always gets my grey matter functioning well by giving full energy, tranquility and beautiful climate.
This time it prompted me to brood over how things were developing with my fellow brothers & sisters in what used to be the white Mans world.
It occurred to me to exactly differentiate between what people should stick to as hard as glue and what should be flexible & changed like an old dirty clothes and replaced with new & modern ones.
The analysis took me to compare the lives in a small house of Ambarey & Awomar at Mogadishu suburbs and that of Cynthia & James in Washington D.C.
Since the first day of the creation of the earth , life had been changing from stone age to digital age , however , as the line of progress went up and moved faster in the western world, it made curves and by products that became lethal to any society .
The ways of our life that should remain intact and that should not be deviated from are the holy commandments & its forbids of our religion.
The ways of our life that could be developed and imitated with any society that proved to be civilized are the ways the developed nations educate themselves, pursue science & technology and health advancements.
Special tastes of culture and arts which are specific to regional and ethical origins of our country should be proud ways that we decide its direction as per the circumstances.
The fact that we are the only people on earth that eat banana pieces with a handful of delicious rice and much it joyfully should be a proud food habit that we call a Somali specialty but if we replace the old style of a big plate of cooked riced and huge mutton pieces with variety of dishes containing nutritious food cooked with the advise of a professional cook guide book is not a bad idea.
It is painful that a highly educated Somali intellectuals in Europe & USA get lost to screen the package of shining colour lifestyle in the civilized society and take only the best part of all.
While the home of James enjoys modernized civilization and the shines of richness & hygiene , there are some core advantages the home of Awomar always counts on over that in Washington close family & relatives attachment, pure love , peace of mind , faith in gods power to give * take are all advantages that James could never find in any social industry around him.
Hollywood and other main media companies which are the social industries in America that direct the production of Americas future young generation simply avoid to include within their campaign programs that produce societies that are not hundred percent material oriented.
I stepped down from the rock to a lower one to have a clearer view of the sea waves of ABOHUSSEINKA beach * a sprinkle of the salt water of the wave after it fell on the rocks moved back on my face. I enjoyed it and it again got me thinking.
It reminded me that this future American generation include thousands of Somali children who would make a part of the new generation of Somali population that we expect in the future.
Would any one pay heed to this vital social issue and hold hand with NSGs social affairs department in order to tackle above crucial issues and correct mistakes if any.
I took some seashells from the beautiful beach and went home.
The New Somalia group is not only political group concerned the political deterioration of our nation but the group are concerned on all social ,economical ,political and religious problems of our society.
Awes A.Osman
The new Somalia Group
thenewsomaliagroup@hotmail.com
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