Clownish
WardheerNews: Clan Politicking for a Lost Cause
Mohamed
Hussien H. Ali “KHAN”
Hargeisa,
SOMALILAND
Email:
mohamedali2020@hotmail.com
Click
here to Read - Maqaalkii Wardheer
- (Family Run website)
I
came across an unprofessionally written article about the commendable
Somaliland Convention that was recently held in Los Angles under the
auspices of the esteemed SOPRI. The article in question is an editorial by
WardheerNews titled Clan Politics: a Solitary Journey to an Empty and
Solitude Pride. What a travesty to objective journalism!!
Someone
who has known you since childhood has already forcefully responded to you.
However, I will throw my hat into the ring since you foolishly and callously
attacked a clan that has courageously fought for its birthright of living in
justice, equality and freedom.
Having
analyzed the said article, I find it worthless and reprehensible. It is
devoid of the basic rules of civility and responsible journalism, and spews
nothing but hatred and baseless accusations. The views in it are myopic and
self-defeating. What is the grudge WardheerNews has against Somaliland?
It is obvious that it is jealous of Somaliland’s venerable
achievements in communal harmony, peace-building and democracy.
WardheerNews,
I have systematically and meticulously scrutinized your arguments. I’ve
found them repugnant, shameful and full of holes. You may read on my
rebuttal below:
o
If you live in a glass house, it is not wise to throw stones
at others. It is well known that the views on your WardheerNews are much
clan-based and clan-oriented. One may promote the interest of his/her clan
as long as he/she does it objectively and without trampling on the rights of
others. You’re a hypocrite to
accuse others of clan politics when you’re involved in it yourself
o
You may deny it as much as you want but truly Somaliland is
NOT a clan-based country. It has gone way beyond clan politics and is a
nascent democracy committed to the pursuit of the common good for all its
citizenry. Somaliland belongs to all Somalilanders equally – one and all.
In spite of your envy and your denials, Somaliland is here to stay as ONE
distinct nation living in harmony
o
The SOPRI-organized Convention is an event that merits to be
acknowledged by any one with a sense of decency (which you obviously lack).
It has brought together officials from the government and the opposition to
debate issues of national interest in an atmosphere of respect and dialogue.
This can ONLY happen among Somalilanders to discuss issues in civility. In
most other Somali conventions, fistfights and the throwing of chairs at each
other are the norm
o
Somali nationalism is dead as a dodo. It has been dealt two
terminal blows.
-
One in 1977 when Djibouti wisely opted to stay away from the Somali
“Union” after it gained independence from the French. Djibouti took heed
of the fate of Somaliland.
It is worth quoting here a
thought-provoking Somali folklore.
Remember
what the fox responded when the Lion enquired how she came to be so versed
in the intricacies of fair dealing after she gave the lion’s share of the
carcass to the King of the Jungle? She replied, “Isha Cumar ka laalaadda”
is the lesson I learnt.
-
The final coffin in the so-called union has been the brutal
suppression of those fighting for their freedom, the reckless killing of the
innocent men, women and children, and the destruction of cities in
Somaliland
o
A flag cannot be sacred as you claim. It is nothing more than
a piece of cloth and has no sanctity since it is not an inspiration from God
o
You foolishly discredit all the colours and symbols of the
Somaliland flag. Since you’re ignorant, be reminded that the green colour
has an Islamic significance
o
You lamented that red stands for defending Ethiopia’s
orthodox religion. Let me ask you this: What did the red stand for in your
despicable uncle’s Red Beret?
o
You claimed that the Somaliland flag does not capture any ones
imagination. It is NOT meant to capture the imagination of fools. Never has,
never will
o
You wrote the Convention “is taking place in our
backyard”. I wonder here what backyard of yours you’re talking
about. Don’t you know that you live in the USA? Are you claiming to be
more American than naturalized Somalilanders?
It seems you have mistaken the sounds
of the waves of the Pacific Ocean with
the sound of the dusty whirlwind that
is common in your hometown of Wardheer
o
You talked about some negative energy at the SOPRI-organized
convention. Instead, you’re the one who is wasting his energy. Why are you
spreading gloom and doom about such a decent convention? Surely, you could
have written about many positive and constructive highlights on the event
and its participants
o
TimaAdde, having better intellect than most of his generation,
prophetically anticipated the doom of the “union” (not a union of two
equals but a sellout) even though he praised its hoisting so eloquently with
the kaana sib, kanna saar.
Exactly
10 days later after his famous poem of hoist that down and hoist this up,
he had another prophetic one in which he expressed his profound
disillusionment with the so-called Union. Read on and see it for yourself:
Ri’
dhashaaba layskaga daraa
rubuca jiilaale
Ma
riwaayadbaa calanku sow
ruuxuun kuma reeyo
A
lactating sheep can be
a source of energy in the lean season
Is
it a hallucination?
How come independence does not benefit
even a single person?
TimaAdde
did not stop there. He put together one more poem elaborating a little more
on his disappointment with the “merger” and prophesying its downfall.
Waa
taa sidii buul duqeed
daaha loo rogaye
Ninowna
dawladbaa Xamar fadhida
haw durbaan tumanin
In
similitude to bringing down the curtain
on an old woman’s hut
No
man should pin any hope on a
government seated in Mogadishu
A
favourite of the Kaba-Cad just after the ill-fated union was the followingt
lyrics:
Gaajada
ka baxbaan guntida u furtee
Ma haddaan galay geerashkeedii
My
intention was to eradicate poverty
Oh my! Did I end up in its den
You reminisce about the greatness of
Qarshe and TimaAdde (both from Somaliland) while the blood of the most
popular Somali singer, Mohamed Mogeh, is on your hands. Don’t you have any
conscience left?
o
Let me remind you that:
-
TimaAdde hails from Gabiley where it is documented that sadist Tuke
burned a Gabiley resident alive, and threw others alive into a waterhole.
These were victimized not because they took arms up against your Faqash.
They were ONLY guilty by clan association
It
is obvious you’ve lost your bearing since you’re commenting on a dead
issue (as dead as a dodo) that does not even concern you in the least.
Better expend your energy (your positive energy, if you have any left) on
issues of your Wardheer. Charity starts at home. Address the serious
problems of your clan. A case in point is the grave schism between your clan
elders and the terrorist ONLF that terrorizes on your behalf.
It
seems you’re still nostalgic about the rights you usurped in Somaliland
when your uncle was calling the shots before the Giant Freedom Fighters came
in from the cold to hunt him down. How much have times changed!
You’re vengeful because you lost your privileges of having the same
rights as any other Somali in Hargeisa and Mogadishu even though you did not
belong to either. In fact, you had more rights than all. You’re vengeful
of losing your residence in JigJiga Yar of Hargeisa where I coincidently
reside now without fear of the notorious knock on the door at midnight.
WardheerNews
I finally say to you: Af noolina wuu
hadlaa, eeyna wuu ciyaa. You’re barking for no other reason than
having a vendetta. It is obvious that your attack is – among other things
- in retaliation of the elimination of your uncle in the gorge.
You
foolishly wrote: Clan Politics: A
Solitary Journey to an Empty and Solitude Pride
I
proudly write:
Far from clan politics: Not a solitary journey, but a voyage in
solidarity, dignity and self-respect of a checkered history, and to a rosy
future
