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- Title: [SW Column] ( SW - Nadamudin Elm) CHARACTER FLAWS OF THE SOMALIS
- Posted by/on:[AAJ][1 Jan 2001]
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Opinions expressed in this column
are those of the contributors and not necessarily those of SW.
CHARACTER FLAWS OF THE SOMALIS
by Nadamudin Elmi nadamudin@hotmail.com
Conventional wisdom these days is uniform when it comes to describing
Somalis, they are irrational, dishonest, difficult people determined to
self-destruct and very much still capable of taking with them to the abyss
anyone who attempts to alleviate their condition.
The lives of eighteen American, 25 Pakistani soldiers and countless Somali
casualties sealed that fate, and the rest of the world pretty much put
Somalia in a shelf with a sign that says, "never to be touched again."
One can accuse Somalis of many things; what they are not, however, is
uninformed about their situation or about world affairs. Somalis thrive on
news, it is the first thing they ask of each other when they meet (maxaa la
sheegay?), and no self-respecting Somali goes to bed at night before
listening to the latest bulletin from the BBC. Thus, it is a forgone
conclusion that they are aware of what the rest of the world thinks of them,
or what is the nature of their problem.
Given that there is minimal outside influence on Somali affairs, one would
think that they would finally get their acts together, take stock of the
reality around them, realize the facts on the ground and the parity
established where no tribe can unilaterally impose its will on others. One
would think that they would start dealing with each other as equals instead
of using long debunked arguments about the sanctity of the Somali Union,
especially when such arguments are coming from those who were primarily
responsible for causing the collapse of the Somali State.
The flipside of that argument comes from those who advocate and assert that
the Somaliland independence is irreversible without taking into account that
such question was never posed to the Somaliland populace in a form of a
referendum, while at the same time ignoring the sentiment of a generation of
Somalis who grew up with the notion that Hargeysa is theirs just as much as
Kismayo even though they never set foot on either. Furthermore, facts on the
ground lead one to believe that today the Sool region in Somaliland is no
longer playing the secession tune.
Now the two questions with obvious answers that are not being raised here by
both camps are:
Can warlords and shady characters with a possible criminal record put the
Somali State together? Can there be an independent Somaliland without Sool
or consent from the rest of the Somali people?
These questions are not being addressed because they point out the
weaknesses of each of those arguments and therefore are best left alone by
all concerned. However, simply stated the answers lies in our being honest
with each other and our ability to search our souls for the common good;
neither Somali unity nor Somaliland independence can be achieved by ignoring
the opposing viewpoint. Eritrea did not gain its independence until a newly
born government in Ethiopia was willing to grant that wish. And the powerful
empire of Haile Selassie could not maintain Ethiopian unity. Given these
very real and close examples it seems irrational why are we still falling on
delineated predictable lines?
This is where our character comes into play, and it seems that we can't help
ourselves but be true to our nature, which by all indications dictates
immediate gratification and short-term gains above all. Having lost any
sense of shame which was the one saving grace that kept an individual from
crossing long established lines, it became remarkably easy for most to let
loose a lower form of self into the community to pursue selfish goals.
To this end we are willing to sacrifice principle, integrity, the truth
and lately even our new found faith in our religion
For instance, there are a large number of Somali women wearing the "Xijaab"
these days, and the mosques in my neighborhood are overflowing with Somali
worshipers This faith revival would lead one to believe a righteous
community is taking root here. However, upon closer examination one will
find that it is not uncommon for these "Xijaabed" sisters to claim to their
social worker that all of their children are illegitimate in order to
extract as much as possible from the social welfare system. The fact that
they are strictly following the teachings of the Quran to the extent of
living by its commands (wearing the xijaab, prayers, etc.) and their
deliberate lies to gain something which they are not justified to receive
does not register with them as sinful, nor does it pose for them any ethical
dilemmas or moral issues.
Why is that? Why is it that we are willing to do or say just about anything
in order to satisfy our immediate need whether real or imagined?
The answer may lie in our primal culture, which is deeply rooted in the
cycle of the nomadic way of life developed over the years, where feast and
famine are accepted realities of life. Unlike a farmer who invests time and
labor on the land and waits to reap his reward at harvest time, a nomad
simply moves on to find better pastures after depleting whatever resources
available to him. The only factor at play for the nomad is the present and
the future is perceived just like the rain he depends on, as something
beyond his control.
This predisposition to take life one day at a time and make the most of it
is very much a contributing factor to why a comprehensive peace agreement
still eludes us. While some form of a comprehensive peace agreement
encompassing all Somalis that reflects the realities on the ground is not
something beyond our reach, giving up whatever little powers each group has
today for the possibility of a better tomorrow for all is something we are
simply not programmed to do.
It is just not in our nature!
Nadamudin Elmi
You may address your comments here:
nadamudin@hotmail.com
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