Friday, December 11, 2009

What now?


Somalia my beautiful country. I sit and wonder what will happen to my people whom we left back home? They face constant danger of being hit by a stray bullet, but yet remain to stay put and not abandon their land. Growing up in the U.S. for the past 16 years of my life, I feel a sense of shame. This shame comes from the fact that we as the students who are pursuing higher education in the diaspora have become too comfortable in our current situation. As sad as it is for me to admit I am one of those people. I can't imagine being in Somalia and enduring the pain and constant struggle that those back home face on a daily basis.

With that said, I feel a deep passion to do my part in at least raising awareness about the struggle of those back home. Luckily we've been able to escape the mayhem, but that shouldn't keep us from thinking about what we can do to better our beautiful Somalia. Yes Somalia has been without a central government for quite sometime now, but then CHANGE will come. Change comes with the mindset of having hope, and translating that hope to organizing people to take the leadership role in making it happen. After organizing then can we act as ONE people, with one vision in mind of making Somalia what it once was. That dream will come true INSHA'ALLAH with the help of Allah. It requires for us to put aside our differences, and remind ourselves of what Somalia was. With the images and memories of what Somalia was we can be HOPEFUL that with hard work and determination CHANGE WILL COME!!!!!!

I pray that I live to see a UNITED Somalia. I pray that my kids will see it as well, and be PROUD to state that they are Somalis. I want to preserve and carry on the Somali culture and language. May we act on our wishes and remember that wishes/dreams are the starting point to creating lasting change. CHANGE will come.......

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

MAKE Every Week AIDS WEEK!!!


It’s AIDS Week, and as I surf the Internet I come across many facebook wall pictures as well as twitter pages showcasing the red ribbon. Now don’t get me wrong, but SERIOUSLY do we need a week to remind us of all the people dying of AIDS?
I don’t mean to sound cynical but we as people need to do more to not only educate ourselves about this disheartening issue, and ask ourselves what role we can play in getting antiretroviral therapy to those living in the poorest of countries. Maybe we ought to start, right here in America, after all CHARITY DOES START AT HOME. Sometimes it irritates me of how we picture Africa as the nation that is good for nothing and in desperate need of not only our financial assistance but of our medical advances. But then if we’re honest with ourselves, we come to realize that one doesn’t have to travel far to find people who are unable to pay for antiretroviral therapy to not only tend their lifespan but to reduce their infectiousness. Truth is we have come too overly individualistic that it’s more about ME, ME, ME rather than WE.
We need to think of what we can do to really make a difference in the lives of those living with AIDS, and make it OUR problem rather than just theirs. Harmony and happiness comes from helping others and working towards the common good rather than assuming that there’s nothing You can do. It takes someone to create a movement that can change lives. That change needs to start somewhere, might as well work to create it.
It’s a start the people are taking interest about AIDS, but we cannot pick and choose which parts to be parts of. We need to be PROACTIVE and work to make EVERY WEEK AIDS week because after this week, AIDS will continue to kill hundreds of thousands of People. Let us work towards creating lasting change that will increase the life span of those living with AIDS and work to create awareness. AIDS is not the problem of those living in AFRICA; AIDS is our problem. Together we can do it.

Remember we must all strive to become the change we wish to see in the world…

Cedar Riverside Plaza

Cedar Riverside Plaza
"Little Mogdisho"