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I must admit, I was brought to tears many times during his remembrance. Even though each time when a human being passes, it’s natural to feel sadden, I don’t remember ever having such feelings of sorrow during the passing of my fellow Somali leaders or even Muslim leaders. My Early Childhood When I was growing up in Somalia, I remember having a love affair with the United States of America. At an early age, in the depths of my heart I felt as though it’s the land in which I belonged. Don’t get me wrong I am proud of the fact that I am Somali, but I always felt like I belonged to something greater than just that only. In fact, I consider myself a citizen of the world. As a little girl, I felt that I could relate to others due to their humanity, rather than just a simple tribal subscription, nationality or even sharing the same faith. All of these were based on an illusion of looking at magazines, watching movies and listening to American music. I was finally able to come to the land of my dreams in the tender years of my early teens. I immediately felt a sigh of relief that was long coming. From the moment my feet touched the soil, I knew I was in the Promised Land. Reality Bites Over the years there have been a lot of twists and turns with my fairy tale story book of America. I even went through a period of Afro centric changes in which I was angry about the history of this nation and how American Indians and black Americans were treated through the years. I was angry and disappointed with the land I have idolized for so long was not and is not kind to my fellow African American. I started reading more about the history and was fueled by it even further. The economic conditions of its African American citizens, assassination of civil right leaders and the harsh treatments they still faced every day. It has been more than 20 years since my arrival here in the United States of America and I went through many changes in my life. Of course, it’s only natural. It has been said that the average human being goes through a drastic change at least once every 7 years and after traveling to different parts of the world, becoming a parent etc, it’s to be expected. However, the one thing that has been constant in my journey of life is that I still believe this is the only nation under the sun, where people can still dream the impossible dream. It’s a place where people can relate to one another through ideals and morals. The United States isn’t perfect-far from it. But it’s a nation where a lot of its wealthy citizens like the Kennedy’s believe that “to whom much is given, much is expected.” That’s why American people are the most generous and most companionate people in the world. It’s a nation where people love success and glory and they’ll lift up any one whom they believe is reaching for the American dream. It doesn’t matter the color of your skin or where you came from, it’s the life you are trying to lead that’s important, especially if it’s an honest one. It’s the land of second and third chances. It’s the only place that I’ve ever heard the words like it’s not over till it’s over. Never ever give up. You are maybe down but you’re not dead. Most places you are encouraged giving up, it’s easier. Why bother. When you work for an American person, you can be sure that your individuality will be respected and maybe even appreciated. For instance, CEO’s, head of organizations and smart politicians believe that all human beings have something to contribute and so they encourage their employees to participate in everything that’s going on. They’ll use words like let’s brain storm. They are not threatened by anyone because the process of how they rise to power is fair from the beginning. They recognize the value of learning from others and how powerful it is to be gracious and kind, because it gives back. It has been said that craziness is doing the same things over and over again expecting a different result. It is fascinating to watch that Africans whether they are heads of states or organization no matter where still behaving and practicing the same old tired methods of division and always alienating those that are not from their tribe while they surround themselves with the members of their own clique knowing it failed those that came before them. I came here early in my life and as a result, I missed out on most of the horror that took place in my homeland of Somalia, and even though I missed the mayhem, I had not missed the pain. It’s a sad story, but it has become a Somali Story. In the bright holy lights of Ramadan my fellow Somalis are dying in the streets of Mogadishu, by the hands of none other than their fellow Somalis. Yet, all you hear is how it’s everyone else’s fault but our own. I think that these groups believe as long as they don’t acknowledge their actions, then they bear no responsibility. I wonder if they actually believe that God forgets. In the predicament of this harsh reality, there are no Somalis and even no Muslims that are coming to the rescue of the hundreds of thousands of refugees that are mounting in Kenya, Yemen and other refugee camps. The dead bodies of young Somalis looking for a better life are famous for being scatter from the golf of Aden all the way to the Mediterranean Sea. When it comes to helping Somalis, there are no Africans, Arabs or Muslims that came to the rescue. Its mainly humanitarian aid from the West that helps feed the hungry. It is the West that are offering resettlement for Somali refugees into their country, but also sense of hope to those Somalis still ravaged by 20 years of senseless civil war. Most Muslim nations may mention Somalia and its troubles in their summits but when it comes to lending a helping hand, well, its let’s move to the next agenda that actually matters. So tell me again, why are we fighting the fight of terrorists groups like Al-Qacida and their affiliates in Somalia, who slaughter Muslims and other innocent people around the world in the name of Islam? I am no scholar of Islamic studies nor do I claim to know a lot about the Quran, but after talking to many scholars and reading the Quran myself, it says no where that killing another human being is okay. The bottom line of any Muslim faith and anyone from the rest of the world that wants to know is that Islam believes “Taking the life of another innocent human being is like killing all humanity.” Thank God for America We have no control of whom we love and respect. It’s something that people earn. You may at the beginning align yourself with the familiar territories, but in the end it’s the heart that guides us. As for me, each morning I rise, I thank God for keeping me healthy and whole. I give thanks to Allah for my family, friends and all that he has blessed me with. And most certainly, I thank him for giving me the opportunity to end up in all places, the United States of America. I am one proud Somali American woman that can hardly contain herself. Fathiya M. Absie Email: farhiaa1@gmail.com? ----------------------- Fathiya is a journalist currently working with Voice of America. ______________________________________________________________________________ We welcome the submission of all articles for possible publication on WardheerNews.com |
