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D I T O R I A L
HIIRAAN ONLINE
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
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| Somalia's Unknown Soldiers - Somali Women |
The Somali society could be divided into identifiable segments. Youth, Diasporas, politicians, women, businessmen, military men (askar), religious people (wadaaddo), traditional elders, intellectuals and media people are some of the oft-mentioned social groupings.
If we were to measure, the contribution (or lack thereof) of these groups to the Common Good, without doubt, the illustrious record of some would stand out.
Likewise, many could be identified with out-and-out treachery while some would be classified as AWOL or missing from the national scene.
With the exception of one group whom we call as the Unknown Soldiers, almost all of the aforementioned national groups failed Somalia one way or another. Many of these groups are guilty of straightforward acts of commission or omission, that is to say, they either betrayed the nation or failed to discharge sacred national duties. Hence the twenty-year long turmoil in Somalia.
On the other hand, those whom we call the Unknown Soldiers, did not cause any harm to the national interest. Albeit for twenty years, they almost and single-handedly sustained the country; many had also paid the ultimate price and sacrificed their lives.
If, by now, you did not figure out, who the Unknown Soldiers are, we are not surprised, for you are not alone. Most Somalis are oblivious to the extraordinary class of citizens whom every Somali should be grateful and saluting because of their remarkable role in the survival of the Somali state.
Somalia’s Unknown Soldiers are our womenfolk.
Unlike the Somali men who pointlessly destroyed the nation, the Somali women, whether they are in the motherland or in the Diasporas caused no harm, soldiered on and sustained the country and its people economically and otherwise.
Every facet of the temperament of the Somali women merit awe and celebration. We are particularly impressed with how the Somali women inoculated themselves from the tribalism virus that rendered the Somali men immobile.
Without its women, Somalia would have disappeared long ago. Without them, there could never be a successful Somalia. The Somali women should be saluted; they should be apologized, they should be compensated, they should be consulted with and above all they should be hailed the true heroines they are.
Hiiraan Online dedicates this editorial to the Somali women wherever they maybe.
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