Reflection of Visitation: Hindu Temple & Cultural Center of Kansas City

October 4, 2008

The Hindu Temple and Cultural Center of Kansas City is located on a spacious land in a breathtaking serene atmosphere at 6330 Lackman road in Shawnee Mission of the State of Kansas. It has a sizable parking lot enough for approximately 50 cars. Upon approaching the entrance to the temple, one is attracted to the screams and laughter of children in the playground swarming around a few swings and slopes meant for their entertainment while their parents converge around a dozen deities assembled inside the temple. As is common for the typical American child, parental guidance is always a manifestly remarkable event as one or two adults keep watch over a few rambunctious toddlers left outside to bump each other for a few hours of the day especially on weekends. 

            The roofing rim of the temple is decorated with what appears to be gold colored relics similar in kind to the golden temple in Amritsar, India. According to information contained in www.pluralism.org, the temple serves the Hindu and Jain communities of Wichita, Topeka, and the Greater Kansas City area. Work on the temple commenced on Aril 9, 1984, when, after making great sacrifices, a group of committed Indians purchased a tract of land on which the current temple is sitting on. According to the web site www.htccofkc.org, the location of the temple is close to at least 80% of the Indian population of Kansas City. Where there is a will, there is a way. The struggle to have a temple for the area came to fruition in May 1988. The Indian community of Kansas City did their best to have a place to worship and display their cultural heritage. In any case they perspired enough to ensure their revered gods and goddesses remain visible in the American landscape for many years to come.

I was ushered in the temple by a young man who at first advised me to remove off shoes. To my amazement, there was a faucet for hand washing and purification. As I proceeded further down the passageway, I was led to a man who introduced himself as Mr. Sanjeev Goyal. After handing me a pamphlet detailing the day-to-day activities of the temple, Mr. Goyal instructed me to proceed to the interior of the temple where the prayer hall was located. This is where I could observe the overall activities of the worshippers. The interior of the temple contained idols earlier mentioned in class lectures. An assortment of deities filled a semi-circle rotunda resting against the wall of the main worshipping hall holding India’s holiest of Gods and Goddesses most notably Krishna and his beautiful consort, Radha, often worshipped as an incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi. There was Laxman who is the brother of Rama, and Rama himself considered in Hinduism to be an avatar of Vishnu and his wife Sita. To the left was Saraswati, the Goddess of Learning followed by Parshvanath, a saint in Jainism. There was Durga, which the clergy explained as the mother of Ganesha, the elephant-headed deity revered among Hindus as remover of obstacles and Kartikeya, the God of war.

            Ironically, most of the devotees in the temple were women and children whose prayer etiquettes revolved around sitting directly in front of the deities while listening to arousing music in the background. For others it entailed disappearing behind a secret wall located directly behind the deities and then appearing minutes later the side of Shiva and Sai Baba, a saint from western India. One other appealing act I noted among women adherents is the application of forehead dyes of a variety of colors known as Bindi among Hindus. A lady worshipper explained to me that the forehead adornment mark is made from a concoction of red turmeric and zinc oxide and dye. Though a prerogative of married women, girls may also choose to wear Bindi. For married women, it is a promising indication of matrimony that shepherd opulence, grants happiness and offspring and elevates social standing. Also, I saw women devotees dip their fingers in a bowl-like container holding what I thought was a kind of nice smelling frankincense and other sorts of perfumeries and cologne. This type of sweet-smelling aroma was not new to me given that I am from the ‘Land of Punt’ or ‘Land of the Gods’-a connotation coined by ancient Egyptians in their travels to the Horn of Africa during the reign of Queen Hatshepsut.

My visit to the temple coincided with the preparation for Navaratri Garba- a special occasion where men and women dance to observe the defeat of Lord Rama over the historically contumacious Ravana whose effigy is burnt and blown up to pieces amid applause and ululation. Though not lit, the neon decorations on the ceilings of the temple and the beautifully colored bright fabric hanging from the edges of the walls must have been set for an occasion of vital importance to adherents of Hinduism. Right in the middle of the temple, a large bell suspended from an extended chain gracefully dangled above the assortment of idols. Beneath the bell, lay a charity box for Bihar flood relief and an idol of India’s most sacred animal, the cow.  Hinduism is a religion of many gods and goddesses. As explained by the caretaker of the temple, Mr. Goyal, a summary of the basic beliefs of Hinduism is outlined below:

1.      Belief in an all-pervasive supreme being who is immanent and transcendent.

2.      Belief in the divinity of the four Vedas, primordial hymns.

3.      Belief in universal creation, preservation, and dissolution.

4.      Belief in Karma, the law of cause and effect.

5.      Belief in reincarnation and liberation from cycle of rebirth.

6.      Belief that divine beings exist in unseen worlds.

7.      Belief in an enlightened master or Sat guru.

8.      Belief in the sacredness of all life and the practice of ahimsa.

9.      All religions are genuine paths to god

There was no congregation on this material day. Apart from a few individual adherents who supplicated and bowed down before a few idols here and there, by and large the atmosphere changed as we approached afternoon hours. Unfortunately, the caretaker was overwhelmed by the multitude of adherents, visitors, and children and so he did not have time to explain his religious and educational background. The knowledge I gained from the study of Hinduism on this material day will remain ingrained in my mind forever.

MY ENCOUNTER WITH THE WILD

After three days of rest in my new residence, I decided to venture into the woods. I glanced at the devastated scenery; deliberate land degradation was evident everywhere. Badda-uu-uu had disappeared, dhasheegii Aaminow was nowhere to be seen and extinct. I got worried and dumbstruck.

Then a surprise event evolved immediately. I realized that the hot, burning tropical sun of Africa had instantaneously transformed into a cool, Shangri-La. What shaded me from the tropical blaze was an artificial phenomenon. Multitudes of Leptoptilos crumenifus were hovering overhead.

Minutes later, only one landed nearby then walked towards where I was standing. At first, I felt startled. "Don't worry Makina. I'm your old friend, Baamboow Cantallaa', he whispered from a distance. Within minutes, I felt at ease. As he got closer, we both started weeping. He hugged me and I could feel the soft touch of his natural, golden tie. Baamboow, how are you doing? "I'm a bit heartbroken Makina for man has been unjust to us for the years you were away", he cried ceaselessly. I wiped the rolling tears from his eyes and kissed him on both cheeks.

Strange though, I could see various wild animals and every Aves species trooping towards my direction. What caught my sight was Struthio camelus molypdophanes---the world's largest, flightless, and the most beautiful bird on earth. It was an ostrich or Goroyo. Without mincing words, I roared at her like an agitated Leo panthera (lion), saying "Goroyooy gabbalkaa dhac", with the intention of teasing her. She burst into laughter, wrapped her feathery plumes round my entire body such that I resembled as if I wearing silken regalia. Like lovers in romantic act, the prudent and talkative Goroyo opened her mouth wide enough, then licked my cheeks. Then we shook hands and thereafter she broke into a ceremonial dance that was intended to welcome me into the broken habitat.

After Goroyo stood aside to give me the chance to welcome everyone, a stinking, carcass-eating hermaphrodite who introduced himself as Crocuta crocuta (hyena), extended his/her hand to me. After shaking hands as a gesture of goodwill, I asked him/her if he/she ever brushed his/her visible rotten teeth. "I haven't been to a Dentist for the years you were away", he/she responded with anger splashed on his face. "The dental beauty of our species depends on feeding and since we have nothing to eat, we've suffered immense tooth decay", was his/her response.Unfortunately, Mr. Makina, like humans, we don't brush with Salvadora persica (caday). To avoid our teeth stick together, when sleeping, we do place one of our front legs in our mouths.

Then I turned my attention to a group of the towering Giraffa Camelopardalis reticulata (giraffe). After shaking hands with each one, I asked them what reduced their original gigantic shapes into such decrying infirmity. They claimed their environmental sanctity had been violated unjustly by callous humans who were working in cahoot with greedy businessmen. Looking around my sides, many of the Acacia sp. like Acacia bussei, Acacia albida, Acacia senegal, and other perennial trees have become extinct because of deforestation. To add insult to injury, the giraffes spoke alien languages that were distinct from the previous ones I was accustomed to. It was mind-boggling to me that many spoke different accents that I could not comprehend. Some spoke the Maay language, others in Afaan Booraan, Aweer or Booni, and the accents of Ethiopia, and Somaliland. On inquiring the cause of their geo-linguistic differences, they claimed they were refugees from Somalia who were uprooted from their original habitats by war. I sensed some suffered from Buufis, and given the chance they would have opted for migration to the West. A young calf who was crying uncontrollably, asked me to intervene and find them a better place.

Even though time was running out for me, there was no way I could depart without paying homage to my dear friend Loxodonta africana (elephant). The elephant, named after Surah Fil (Chapter 105) of the Qur'an, the Meccan Surah, reminded me of Abraha al-Ashram's invasion of the Kaaba. The Surah is in Juz 30, has 5 verses, 23 words and contains 96 letters. Of the 13 elephants, one named Mohamoud and who is in paradise, refused to partake in the destructive adventure. Since elephants deserve better respect, I greeted them with Asalaamu Caleykum. After a brief discussion, I left them with the humorous saying, "libaaxii Alamtarana soo dhaaf." With blasts of laughter, each one waved me goodbye.

MEMORIALIZING THE PAST

Yesterday, I had a hectic day searching for a memory card for my Sony HI-8 Camera. Finally, close to sunset, a Gikuyu friend sold one to me. It was bought in Mororo. Strange enough, even the memory card is Sony. Nowadays, every Dick, Tom, and Harry is a Photographer. The same applies to every Diifley, Deredleey, and Dareenleey with a Smartphone.

Due to globalization and human inter-connectedness and the world transforming into a global village, our own Geeljire and Jilley, whether in Addoo Booddaa, Wallu Gabaaba, Dheekaa Harja, Asaaqo or Kamoor Arba or Arba Daboolo, can now, with ease, teleconference and as well video-conference with the livestock owners anywhere in the world as long us data bundles are available from Safaricom and other carriers.

To better memorialize our past, I'd suggest we look for hand pictorialization or graphic experts who can redraw the special changes or events our people have been through that are worth recollecting. We need to have a vivid recollection or depiction of the old bridge, the one and only loudspeaker around the main prison that blazoned "Dheerow, Dheerow, Dheerow--Dheerooow adigana Dheeroow--dhinaca iga soo joogsoo dhunkashada mar ii dhiibee", and the only two main gates--one around where Garissa Yarey and Sankuri Road converge near the graveyard where there was a mtaro and the other one was near the old Father John. This was the era of forced villagization--a kind of concentration camp.

The old town deserves pictorial recreation. It is worth recollecting the afternoon and evening children's play times and playgrounds. The hide-and seek after maqrib song like:

Loo loo loow
Loon daaroow
Kureydi ciddaa
Waan boornaa
Waana bakisnaa
Sac la booranaa
Waa balaayee
Soo baxaay...

Boys teasing of young girls with the song:
Foodleey fajo
Fiijaan isgeli
Faataxa burburi
Loodaayn horteed
Heey noo dheh

The insulting language can be paraphrased to give it better, appealing taste that rhymes with modernity.

The dress code of the men and women of old should be put into perspective. The men's bafta and hidha (ceylon) and ladies' baluugleey that were garxir (gareys) with one breast visible on one side, the kabo Carbeed sandals (dacas) and men's Dood and Leylon (nylon) shoes, the hagoog headscarf, and other olden regalia could be included.

Fauna and flora of all types deserve enumeration. What were the favorite fruits children ate those days? Later miraa chewers started from munching the Kamoora shrub. Mareer fruits, Janow branches, Dheekaa Booneed, Lika, and roots and tubers were delicacies. Those who could not afford Big-G or chewing gums enjoyed Hambaq (xabag). What happened to the Dana plant?

Please note that I'm a trained Photographer previously (1998) employed by QUALEX Inc, USA.

AN INTERVIEW WITH RETIRED EDUCATIONIST ALI A. BAKORDA

February 1, 2019

Editor’s Note: Educationist Ali Bakorda is well known in Kenya’s northern regions as well as in the national education fraternity. Hailing from a family that did not even own a hen to hatch an egg to sell in the market, the man many knew as “Abakurde”, encountered tough trials and tribulations until he finally climbed the ladder of success through self-motivation and pedagogical transformation. A friendly man who is full of humor, Abakurde would jokingly claim to his Somali friends that he exclusively owned a small village within Garissa County called ‘Kurde’! In an interview with our own Adan Makina, Ali A. Bakorda gives our readers paradigmatic information related to education in the Somali-populated Kenya’s northern regions. Other than teaching, managing, and administering a large institution, Bakorda did many other fascinating tasks in his spare time. We hope you enjoy the interview.
_______________________
WardheerNews (WDN): Welcome to WardheerNews. Before we begin our interview, please tell us briefly your background history such as the environment you grew up in, schools attended, and academic achievement(s).

Mr. Ali Bakorda

Ali: My past is turbulent. I had grown up in a very poor family that did not own even a hen! What disturbs me most is that when I passed Kenya African Preliminary Education (KAPE) with eight others in a class of 26, only nine of us passed. But there was no secondary school in the whole province. One had to go to Shimo la Tewa in Mombasa to pursue secondary education. I was not able to make it because of poverty! That hurts me to date!

And that’s how I joined the teaching profession having been pushed into it by my late mentor and teacher Mr. A. A. El-Amaawy. He passed away last year. May Allah reward him with Jannatul Firdaus, Aamiin. So I taught in primary schools and as time went by I did London General Certificate of Education (LGCE) exams ‘O’ and ‘A’ levels and ploughed my way up till 1994 when I voluntarily retired.

I was born to Yemeni parents in Wajir. Astonished at my fluency of the Somali language, time and again, I’ve been asked by Somalis if my maternal uncles were Ogaden, Ajuran, or Degodia– three Somali clans that have a heavy presence in historic Wajir.

WDN: How old were you when you joined the teaching profession and to which school were you posted first?

Ali: I joined teaching at age 21. Almost all my teaching career was in Wajir.

WDN: What inspired you to jump onto the educational bandwagon and what were the main horrifying factors you perceived as deserving significant attention before becoming an Educationist?

Ali: I was actually pushed into teaching by my teacher and mentor the late A.A. Elmaawy who knew I came from a very poor family as such, I had no forethought as to the task ahead. All I believed was teaching was a noble profession.

WDN: Having traveled the breadth and width of Kenya whether to attend seminars, conventions, or for further training, what disparities did you perceive in other regions that Somali schools lacked?

Ali: Well this section deserves a chapter to be fair to it. In short the Somali is a staunch Muslim who had alot of misgivings about secular education. But things have changed now as they have plunged into it full scale and doing well.

WDN: We learn from history that before Kenya became independent, especially during the colonial era, majority of the teachers in the Somali-dominated areas or regions were exclusively Zanzibari teachers. If true, why were the Zanzibari teachers selected by the British colonial Administration? Was it a form of divide-and-rule tactics?

Ali: The early teachers came from Zanzibar as a colonial strategy to have the Somali acceptance of schools. They brought the late Shariff Shibly who started Garissa primary in 1947 and moved on to Wajir in 1948 and started Government African School in Wajir.

WDN: Can you tell us about  the roles and responsibilities you held during your tenure in the educational sector and how long have you been in the education sector?

Ali: I started as a teacher in 1966 and retired as an Assistant Director of Education (P.E.O.) in 1994. So I have been teacher inspector DEO and Provincial Director as well. I never taught in Garissa but Wajir. I have been in the Education Sector from 1966 to 1994 when I voluntarily retired.

WDN: How many local ethnic Somali District Education Officers (DEOs) and Provincial Education Officers (PEOs) in the northern regions can you recall for the time you were in employment?

Ali: The first local officers after late Omar Sheikh Farah were Ibrahim Hussein and myself.

WDN: Since gaining independence from Britain in 1963, the northern regions you served (formerly part of the North Eastern Province or NEP) has been afflicted by an atmosphere of neglect and abandonment, and dwindling education. What are the best strategies for tackling these insurmountable problems?

Ali: Neglect for the whole province was applied by the British against the Muslims and the shifta menace added insult to injury. The vast area and small population that was compounded to a barren land also affected the area.

WDN: Compared to other counties, the literacy rate of the counties (previously provinces) you served reveal grim statistics. Girl-child education is at the lowest ebb. Most affected are the rural areas where girls ‘primary responsibilities include herding goats and sheep or doing backbreaking house chores from dawn to dusk. What do you think can be done to overturn these trends?

Ali: As for the results and education development time is not on our side. Compare Kagumo secondary that started in 1900 and Wajir secondary that started in 1963! That tells a lot doesn’t it? I remember the first two girls were Rukia Ali and Fatima Idhow. The trend has now drastically changed. Girls equal boys or more in some classes.

WDN: It has come to our attention that you have been a guitarist in the past and that you taught world renowned Afan-Boran Vocalist and Guitarist Malfadho (May Allaah Admit him to Jannatul Firdows). Tell us more about how you came to learn the Oud, and the number of people who benefited from your musicological talent.

Ali: As for my musical stint, in short, we bought the instrument from Malindi, learned how to play it together with Salim Mubarak who is still alive. As for the late Malfadho, he was very keen to learn music. He used to work in Wajir hospital. After work he would pass at my residence and learn to play the Oud though he would compose music in his own vernacular afterwards. Honestly, I gave Malfadho the main tools for the ABCD of music.

 WDN: You were the first non-Somali pedagogue to have written a book in Somali? If so, what was/were the name(s) of your book(s)?

Ali: The books I wrote were three booklets for children and that was many, many years back. I don’t think they are available anymore. One was Sheeko Carruureed or children’s folktales and the other “dhegna meel dheer, dhagaxna meel dhow.” It was in 1994 and the copyrights were mine. The books were published by Longhorn. On the other hand, I was part of the team that authored the book, “The Development of Education in NFD.” Besides, I spent 21 years turning the Latin Somali Qur’an translation into Arabic letters–meaning somali language translation in Arabic script. Though not printed yet, it’s in a disk with me. I believe it was a mistake for Siad Barre to use Latin for the Somali language

WDN: To elevate the educational standards of the regions you previously served, what is the last advise you have for the people and the educational/political leaders that currently hold the mantle?

Ali: My advice to all is…we started late so let’s not leave any stone unturned so as to catch up with the others. Alhamdu Lillaah, we have done well so far but the journey is still long.

WDN: We appreciate for giving us your precious time.

Ali: Thank you Sheikh Adan Makina and your team at WardheerNews.

An Eye On Workforce Bureaucracy

As years progress, the nature of bureaucracy and the workforce that surround them either undergo transformation or may remain stagnated depending on the effectiveness of the leadership empowered to implement strategic planning initiatives. Popular leaders of the past viewed American government bureaucracy from a different perspective.

In the era of Wilson, there was constant competition among groups competing for scarce resources. On the other hand, there were the political spoilers who took advantage of the patronage politics that was rampant in the infant American democracy. Wilson complained bitterly about the massive influx of European immigrants flooding the country.

Currently, according to Governing (2018), when postal services workers are excluded, approximately 2 million serve as full-time federal government employees. This is a large force that needs to be handled with prudence. To overcome tensions in the nation’s superfluous bureaucracy and keep a lid over future racial altercations, the best method would be to create a harmonious balanced bureaucracy drawn from people of walks of life. To be surrounded by ‘gentlemen’ as was during the reign of Washington can be a recipe for disaster in modern American politics. Washington believed in the use politics to select the best candidates to run the affairs of his government.

To ensure citizen safety and protection, agencies like the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Center for Disease Control (CDC), Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) among others, should be run by the best of the best. Selecting personnel should be based on merit and not on political inclination and favoritism. One factor that seems to be the cause of the problems associated with public personnel administration is related to shifting policies and alliances. Diminishing political participation result from the lack of national political coherence and meddling by greedy bureaucrats, lobbyists, and industrial magnates driven by the urge to either climb the ladder of success or cause political disunity and entanglement.

Rosenbloom (2009) feels the term “merit” to be a misnomer. The examination factor used to generate the best public service personnel demonstrated that it was a means to marginalizing select communities like Latinos and African-Americans whose representation in the workforce was limited. In essence, the merit factor was a handicap to equal employment. To ensure American public service personnel stay up to the task, the laws and regulations that call for equal pay for all citizens regardless of age, creed, color, national origin, political and religious affiliation, sex and gender should be enforced.

References

Governing: the State and Localities (2018). Federal Employees By State. http://www.governing.com/…/federal-employees-workforce-numb…

Rosenbloom, D.R., Kravchuk, R.S., & Clerkin, R, M. (2008). Public Administration: Understanding Management, Politics, and Law in the Public Sector. New York: McGraw-Hill

At the invitation of Libyan strongman Muammar Qaddafi between May and June of 1990, Sultan Deghow Sambulmet with several African opposition figures. Among them was Charles Taylor of Liberia. The Sultan lived in the same residence with Charles Taylor in Tripoli. According to the Sultan, Nelson Mandela had earlier departed Libya after being hosted by Qaddafi. Also, the Sultan met a delegation from Gibraltar known to the Arabs as Jabal Tariq before jetting off for London to met with a world renown African literary doyen who is a novelist, and as well a professor. Authoritarian Colonel Muammar Qaddafi, the man who wanted to crown himself the Shahanshah of the African Continent, had African opposition guests from almost every African nation engulfed in political upheavals. The amalgamation of opposition warlords hosted by Qaddafi–a man who wielded tremendous power over the Black Race in the African Continent, was at peace with himself and his oil-rich nation. Qaddafi had monetary clout, black gold, and material and moral support for any African struggling to overcome oppression by dictators back home. Qaddafi embraced the ancient political ideas and military tactics of Hannibal–the ancient Carthaginian General who waged war against the Roman Republic in the Second Punic War (218-201 BC) using a strong dedicated army and a herd or parade of domesticated elephants. However, after fifteen years of dominating the Roman territories excepting Rome, Qaddafi's Mentor and General Hannibal was decisively defeated by the Romans through the application of the Fabian Strategy–a psychological military strategy and warfare where forces avoid frontal assaults (direct or face-to-face contact) and pitched battles (disengagement over fighting location and time). Hannibal has been quoted to have said regarding his scuffles with the Romans: “I am not carrying on a war of extermination against the Romans. I am contending for honor and empire. My Ancestors yielded to Roman valour. I am endeavouring that others, in their turn, will be obliged to yield to my good fortune, and my valour.” Hannibal is historically regarded to have been in par with Scipio Africanus, Julius Caesar, and Alexander the Great and his father Philip of Macedon in terms of military prowess, even though Hannibal and Scipio shared virtus–a composition of courage, manliness, and excellence of character and courage. As if following the footsteps of his much-adored Ancient Carthaginian Hannibal, Qaddafi named his fifth son Hannibal Muammar Qaddafi. Young Hannibal Qaddafi joined the Libyan Navy, majored in Marine Navigation in his baccalaureate degree and eventually rose to the rank of Chief Officer and Master Mariner. A child of Hannibal Qaddafi whose name was Carthage (b. 2 August 2008) died 30 April 2013 after a raid on their family-owned compound. NB: This is an excerpt from my upcoming book.

Hello Brothers and Sisters and Friends,

When any of my Facebook contacts is affected by a problem, I do get sad and turn to my Lord to ease that problem. Your ideology, religion, philosophy, color, race, creed, gender and sex, national origin, and religious and political affiliation does not matter to me. When you make progress of any kind, it places a smile on my face.

When Faisal Roble was awarded a Medal of Honor by the City of Los Angeles, I was ecstatically happy. When Stig Jarle Hansen reported that he was now a full Professor, I got thrilled
though I felt grief-stricken when his dad passed on. The professor har kjærlighet til somalier and that's why I admire his research papers. When Hassan Abukar, Hamse Warfa, Mohamoud Gaildon, Ahmed Ismail Yusuf, and others authored books, I was overjoyed. The latest injection was Mohamed Gaas publication of his new book that rocketed me to cloud nine. I learned Professor Stig Jarle Hansen through Mohamed Gaas, PhD.

When Ali Sheikh, though younger than me in age but according to cultural norms is my grandfather, reverberates in international radios analyzing Horn Africa politics, I'm taken aback to the days of Herodotus and Thucydides, two Greco-Romans who set the stage for the oral history we cherish to this day. Another down-to-earth moderno fashionista and broadcaster is Jamal Ahmed Osman of the Voice of America - VOA Somali Service whose voice appeals to millions of audiences around the world. Hopefully, I'll approach him one day for a few "who died", 'Huudheey' or simply 'used clothes' to get rid of my tatterdemalion regalia.

I like Abddelkarim Hassan when he releases unexpected up to date news and analysis and how Minister Ahmed Hassan continuously shares with us poetic selections by tough and eloquent Somalis of the past and present. Diamond Bande is a great writer and a crowd puller whose writings are devoured by hundreds.

I hate to read or see my Facebook friends hurl expletives at each other because such exchanges hurt my inner soul.

Anyway, let me end up angry since half of what I was writing disappeared into thin air after I forgot to save it. Facebook must introduce automatic saving to help contributors to social media stay on course.

Like, Love, Haha, Wow, Sad, and Angry

Sometimes called Emojis or Emoticons, the characters above are all electronic facial expressions and at times are referred to as Smileys. While 'Like' towers above the rest, followed by 'Love', 'Angry' remains at the lowest ebb because it is an act of foaming at the mouth, being pissed off, on the warpath or exasperated, antagonistic, and aggravated.

Since Love is an affair related to the heart, many friends avoid clicking it since it is a show of intimacy, passion, and amour. Though rarely used, the study of Love is called erotology. Since friendship between two contacts could grow into a love affair, only those with confidence have the tendency to give it a click.

Haha is simply laughter or jubilation ,or exclamation of a statement. Wow could mean astonishment or consternation while being Sad implies being sorrowful and disconsolate. You would feel sad at the death of a friend or relative, poor academic performance, or anything below your expectations.

Like, Love, Haha, Wow, Sad, and Angry

Sometimes called Emojis or Emoticons, the characters above are all electronic facial expressions and at times are referred to as Smileys. While 'Like' towers above the rest, followed by 'Love', 'Angry' remains at the lowest ebb because it is an act of foaming at the mouth, being pissed off, on the warpath or exasperated, antagonistic, and aggravated.

Since Love is an affair related to the heart, many friends avoid clicking it since it is a show of intimacy, passion, and amour. Though rarely used, the study of Love is called erotology. Since friendship between two contacts could grow into a love affair, only those with confidence have the tendency to give it a click.

Haha is simply laughter or jubilation ,or exclamation of a statement. Wow could mean astonishment or consternation while being Sad implies being sorrowful and disconsolate. You would feel sad at the death of a friend or relative, poor academic performance, or anything below your expectations.

Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the current ruling Emir of Qatar who took over after the abdication of his father Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani in 2013 and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (1920–75) who was the founder and President of Bangladesh and later Prime Minister until his assassination in 1975, are the only two male Muslim leaders to hold the religious title of Sheikh.

However, the current 71-year-old leader of Bangladesh whose name is Sheikh Hasina is a female. Daughter of the late President Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, a look at her family tree chart reveals the title Sheikh is common among females in her family.

In Arabic, the term Sheikh or Shaikh means elder, chief, or old man as in Sural Al-Qasas (28:23):
وَلَمَّا وَرَدَ مَاءَ مَدْيَنَ وَجَدَ عَلَيْهِ أُمَّةً مِّنَ النَّاسِ يَسْقُونَ وَوَجَدَ مِن دُونِهِمُ امْرَأَتَيْنِ تَذُودَانِ ۖ قَالَ مَا خَطْبُكُمَا ۖ قَالَتَا لَا نَسْقِي حَتَّىٰ يُصْدِرَ الرِّعَاءُ ۖ وَأَبُونَا شَيْخٌ كَبِيرٌ - 28:23
SAHIH INTERNATIONAL
And when he came to the well of Madyan, he found there a crowd of people watering [their flocks], and he found aside from them two women driving back [their flocks]. He said, "What is your circumstance?" They said, "We do not water until the shepherds dispatch [their flocks]; and our father is an old man."

Kiswahili
23. Alipo yafikia maji ya Madyana wanapo nyweshea maji alikuta karibu na kisima kundi la watu wengi mbali mbali wanawanywesha wanyama wao wa mifugo. Na pahali pa chini kuliko hapo pao akawakuta wanawake wawili wanawazuia kunywa maji kondoo na mbuzi wao. Musa akawaambia: Mbona mko mbali na maji? Wakajibu: Hatuwezi kusukumana, na wala hatunyweshi sisi mpaka hawa wachunga wamalize wao kunywesha. Na baba yetu ni mkongwe, hawezi kuchunga wala kunywesha wanyama.

Af-Soomaali
Markuu Gaadhay Biyaha Madyanna wuxuu ku Helay Ummad Dad ahoo Waraabinaysa wuxuuna ka helay Sokodooda Labo Haweena oo Reebi (Adhigooda) wuxuuna yidhi muxuu Xaalkiinu yahay, waxayna Dheheen Ma Waraabinno intay ka Fulaan Xoola jirku, Aabbahanana waa Oday Wayn.

Malfado: renowned afaan Boran Musicologist

The best entertainer of the Borana and Oromo ethnic groups in the olden days was the famous dramaturgist, vocalist, and guitarist Malfado who spoke both Borana and Somali tongues.

Malfado was a social man who made many friends regardless of his comrades' ethnicity. With his slim features, smart character, and refined behavioral mannerisms, Malfado was the only recognizable musician among Somalis and Boranas in Kenya in his heydays.

In 1983 in Maqdi Shah, Malfado and his wife were our honorable guests at our residence in the famous Hawlwadaag Suburb.

May Allaah admit him to Jannatul Firdows. He passed away after retiring from music and other entertainments altogether.

Was Malfado a Borana or Ajuran? Yes, he was Ajuran.

MY AMHARIC AND ERITREAN FRIENDS

I had two friends. One was Amhara whose name was Jonathan and the other an Eritrean, and his name was Girma. They spoke the same language, had identical features, and shared the same cultural traits. Girma, the Eritrean, hated Jonathan so much that given the chance, he would have killed him. But I was always there between them as a peacemaker, a trusted friend, and practicing Muslim who stood by the Islamic values of peace and submission to Allaah, The Only Creator.

By then, I was young man with a Herculean-built body physique, energetic and consistently on guard in case the antagonists broke into fist fights. I treated them as equals. Besides the two, was a Nigerian friend. His name was Harvey. He was enrolled in university majoring in computer sciences. While Girma and Harvey shared a room, Jonathan and I lived with Amharic friends. Since most Ethiopians were Orthodox Christians, Sunday was a day of rejoicing and feasting, with Ethiopian Injera served to the fullest. They would later on listen to sermons by their Oromo priest.

The thirty years of brutal war between Ethiopia and the Eritreans was the cause of the enmity and hate between my two Christian friends. The animosity between my friends demands historical reflection. It started with the Italo-Ethiopian War of 1935-1936 that prepared the way for World War II and the ineffectiveness of the League of Nations to intervene. A border dispute between Ethiopia and Italian-Somaliland was the precursor for this altercation. Under the command of Generals Pietro Badoglio and Radolfo Graziani, the poorly-equipped Ethiopians were pushed without resistance from the heavily-armed forces of Fascist Benito Mussolini.

While my friends harbored internal grudges of the past, there was one thing they did not know: Past and present Ethiopian kingdoms and regimes brutally mistreated fellow Somalis in Ethiopia. The succession of kingdoms and dictatorial regimes that held sway over the Horn of Africa in the Medieval Ages to the present day, inflicted harm of the greatest magnitude to Somalis beyond human comprehension.

Going by the old adage, "never argue with a fool, people may not notice the difference", I kept aloof from raising issues that could enrage them and instead turn on me. Had that happened, I would have gone ballistic and pulverized their limbs and without an iota of doubt reducing them to diga iyo dambas. In the end, I would have frogmarched them to the nearest police station so they could be arraigned in court, convicted and sent to the Alembeka of the host nation.

Eritrea, though claiming independence from Ethiopia in 1991, viewed Ethiopia with much suspicion. As a keen follower of global events, the skirmishes at Badme and Zalambessa and the concerted aerial bombing by the mighty Ethiopian jet fighters rung in my ears years later. By the time my friends were squabbling, Somalia was a bleeding mess resulting from a scandalous, well-orchestrated scheme engineered by the two cousins that headed their nations: Deceased Meles Zenawi and Issaias Afewerki-two dreaded criminals who were hosts of Somalia's fallen government for many years before taking the helm.

I had learned a lot about the history of Ethiopia before meeting these two friends. Formerly Abyssinia, or the 'Land of the Habasha', Ethiopia meant a lot to me because I'm not the kind that hate people because of their race, religion, creed, color, sex, gender, national origin or political affiliation. Under the command of the Najashi or Negus, Muslims fleeing persecution from the Meccan idol worshiping Qureishites at the time of Prophet Muhammad (Peace and the Blessings of Allaah Be Upon Him) were given protection.

Neither Girma nor Jonathan were representative of Meles Zenawi and Issaias Afewerki. They were simply men with differing ideological foundations. Perhaps, my absence would have yielded a calamity. I believe my presence was necessary.

In 1983, I was an employee of the Jalalaqsi Reforestation Project (JRP) as a Social Science Field Assistant working under an American Social Scientist, Ralph Ted Field, who is now an accomplished scholar in a highly regarded university. It was at that time, that I made a list of the trees that grew along the banks of the Shebelli River and the plant species we planted to overcome deforestation.

Before the arrival of hundreds of thousands of refugees from the Somali region of Ethiopia, after the Ogaden War of 1977/78, Jalalaqsi and its surroundings enjoyed lush green vegetation and various fauna and flora that created a beautiful scenery.The newly-arrived refugees denuded the soil of its vital nutrients by cutting down trees for construction, for fodder, and for firewood.

Around Jalalaqsi, a creeping sand dune was wrecking havoc and causing blinding sandstorms especially during the windy seasons. The organization that was contracted to do the work was Africare Incorporated. Its headquarter is Washington, D.C. It was a contract agreement between the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Wasaaradda Dhirta iyo Daaqa (Somali Ministry of Forestry and Rangelands).

Poverty and Social Variables By Jamal Osman

1.      What role does the individual play in the fight against poverty?

Poverty has been a problem to human lives for so many years. Some factors of poverty are human-made while others are not. There are two kinds of poverty: deserved poverty and non-deserved poverty (Hartford, 2013). Hartford, the writer of “Roots of Poverty” says, “The deserving poor include orphans, accident victims, those with a debilitating illness, etc. for whom we should provide some ameliorative charity.”

The least thing you can do to curb poverty is not you to be a burden to society. Instead, you have to strive to work harder.  Just depending on someone else, due to laziness, alcoholism and drug abuse can cause you to be a poor person. In that circumstance, the person falls into the category of the undeserving poverty. In other words, if the person works hard, he/she can become a self-sufficient person.

2.    How do different social variables (e.g., race, class, and gender) impact poverty rates?

Discrimination and oppression against some races, religion or gender play a pivotal role in creating poverty in the society.

According to T.J. Sullivan (2016), "after the abolition of slavery, for example, African Americans experienced decades of severe oppression during which it was difficult for black families to advance from poverty." This, however, shows that some form of poverty in society is human-made and can be overcome with struggle and support from the whole community, regardless of race, gender, and ethnicity.

Works cited:

Hartford, B. (2013, February 13). The Roots of Poverty. Retrieved March 15, 2018, from https://www.huffingtonpost.com/bruce-hartford/the-roots-of-poverty_b_2625943.html

Sullivan, T. J. (2016). Introduction to Social Problems, 10th Edition. [MBS Direct]. Retrieved from https://mbsdirect.vitalsource.com/#/books/9780134054612/ 

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Problems By JamalOsman

This letter is to raise the issue of drug and alcohol abuse among our society which has been a social problem for a long time. In modern societies, drug and alcohol abuse have become very common, such that it has become an epidemic that affects the community as a whole. It all starts when the person uses overdose drugs or consumes a lot of alcohol every day. If measures are not put in place, it could cause a lot of health problems.

There are many factors that influence people in the drug and alcohol abuse. These factors include the biological make-up of the person (genetics), conditions at home, school or neighborhood influences and a person's developmental stage (CDC, 2017).  Also, the environment can be a major factor in influencing drug and alcohol abuse. For example, if the child grows up in an environment where elderly people have no limits in using drugs and alcohol, then the child can see this as a normal thing and start using it. Many people believe that stress, depression, sexual abuse, verbal abuse, neglect, accidents, natural disasters, and terrorism are also major factors that contribute to alcohol and drug abuse. These events can leave marks in their mind, and in time, people who are exposed to issues like this might be tempted to soothe their distress by leaning to addictive drugs (Futures).

Many of these problems can be handled and eliminated if the adequate procedures are followed. These problems can lead to the person to suffer severe conditions including serious illnesses like HIV/AIDS and sometimes, deaths. Drinking alcohol, particularly binge drinking, and using drugs like methamphetamine or cocaine can alter the abuser’s judgment, lower inhibitions, and impair decisions about sex or other drug use (HIV.gov, 2017). This social problem is also preventable.

There have been a lot of unsuccessful attempts to curb these social problems. In 1956, the American Medical Association declared alcoholism an illness that can, and should, be treated within the medical profession, and in 1989, it declared addiction involving other drugs, including nicotine, to be a disease (Kean, 2013). According to Kean, the root of the problem is twofold. First, most medical professionals who are being sought out to provide treatment are not sufficiently trained or experienced to diagnose or treat addiction. That was the leading cause of the failure of this attempt. 

To curb this problem, the medical professionals should have been given the resources they wanted and should have been well equipped. Embarking on such actions could have made their medical attempts successful. Meanwhile, there are other successful attempts that can reduce drug and alcohol abuse. Criminal justice can have a significant impact in reducing illicit drug and alcohol abuse. Law enforcement initiatives addressing substance abuse and related crime are now working more intimately with communities to solve local problems (DOJ, 2000). In other words, the law enforcement can play significant role in combating the drug and alcohol abuse

.

In some cultures and religions, drugs and alcohol are prohibited, and if people are found using them, they can be disconnected from the rest of society. That can lead the person to be isolated and commit other bad things, including crimes. In some traditions, some people assume drinking alcohol is also addiction, while the fact is different. People with such mindset do not know more about the ramifications of alcohol abuse. To them, whoever drinks liquor or other types of alcoholic beverages, could end up an addict. It is a typical stereotype of a distinct society.

This is an epidemic and is costing us financially and physically. My personal assumption is that people who use any overdose of drug and alcohol lag behind other people in many social aspects. When someone gets addicted to drugs/alcohol, he/she will end up being ineffective. The end result will be negative contribution to society.

To deal with this stereotype, I’d suggest people should be educated and get the awareness they deserve. They also should know this is a social problem. For example, if people are educated about this social problem, that can reduce the rate of the drug and alcohol abusers.

To prevent this epidemic, I would suggest that there must be a full drug and alcohol abuse awareness to the public. This can be advertised on TVs, and the other media outlets since many of us use the social media which can be used to give awareness to the public. Since prevention is better than cure, strategies must be implemented to overcome the menace of drug and alcohol abuse. To those already addicted to drug and alcohol abuse, they can be given proper rehabilitation. This can be lessons about the bad behaviors, its causes, and the way out. These people must also be shown there is another right path that they can rebuild their lives. To do ensure that procedure materializes, there must be financial assistance involved. Therefore, my organization is requesting if there are any available financial resources to curtail this overwhelming epidemic.