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by Ali Bahar, PhD.
Sunday, July 05, 2009
Photo: Hiiraan Online |
Such a powerful conviction and commitment by Maandeeq’s daughters and sons singing to this beautiful Flag, the Somali Flag, signifies the Independence Day –A memorable Day for all Somalis.
Most nations have one special day called “Independence Day” to celebrate, as often the Somalis in the Diaspora find themselves celebrating the Independence Day of their respective adapted countries in the west or wherever they found refuge. I indulge on the American Independence Day celebrated on Fourth July. Independence Day is regarded as the birthday of the United States as a free and independent nation. Most Americans simply call it the "Fourth of July," on which date it always falls. The flying of the American flag (which also occurs on Memorial Day and other holidays) is widespread. On July 4, 1976, the 200th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence was marked by grand festivals across the nation.
---“This signifies a historical Day for the American Revolution, the legal separation of the American colonies from Great Britain occurred on July 2, 1776, when the Second Continental Congress voted to approve a resolution of independence that had been proposed in June by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia. After voting for independence, Congress turned its attention to the Declaration of Independence, a statement explaining this decision, which had been prepared by a Committee of Five, with Thomas Jefferson as its principal author. Congress debated and revised the Declaration, finally approving it on July 4. A day earlier, John Adams had written to his wife Abigail:
" The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more”…..
Such a powerful conviction and commitment by citizens of a nation to commemorate the significance of Independence Day, something today’s Somali nationals, no matter where one lives in their country, should treat their yearning desires with. Therefore, in this Somali independence week (June 26 to 1st July), I found myself engulfed by sounds of nationalistic, soothing Somali songs that, once again, like it happens once every year, trying to lure me away from today’s mortifying news from Somali, the nation, to a quiet and calm corner. So tempting and powerful I followed those sounds, though little bit cautious, without much of resistance. And why not!!
What a better way to spend time enjoying the sounds of hopeful songs with unparallel strong message of better future for all Somalis. I wanted so badly to stop, at least for a moment, reading about or listening to today’s news of unjustified and unchecked punishment of the innocent; public condemnation of Somali nationalists; or listening to one-sided arguments and unpatriotic quarrel over a 200-year old illegal colonial demarcation lines to justify an inadvertent exaggeration of secession. How much of these arguments are for selfish desire of dominance instead of productive pursuits for the people is debatable. Clearly, nonetheless, there is no doubt that the destruction of the Somali State left a major void of governing system that was replaced by lawlessness and despair which, in the long run, destroyed our nation. It remains one of the major factors feeding the long years of civil strife, warlordism, jihadism, Al-shabaabisim, Al-Huzubulahism, clanism and secessionism, all of which share a common public enemy agenda used as a tool for corruption and public abuses. It is a system that satisfies itself only with the act of torture, murder, illegal appropriation of peoples’ land and properties. So misguided and attitudinal-based, such a civil strife, unfortunately, lack tolerance and human compassion. My logic dictates that any system of governance, Islamic or secularism, even in their most conservative form of government, welcomes the facts that permissive democratic society can be only one of various esteemed values. Permitting political heterogeneity to flourish must be balanced against other values, traditional societal values. It cannot and must not be assumed that Sharia Law, especially with its barbaric primitive applied in the case Sothern Somalia today, will or must subordinate all else. It is horrifying to listen to these arguments justifying imported cultures as the only tool to solve our twenty some year Somali problem. All communities and societies, in general, are by definition, bound to maintain boundaries of acceptable beliefs and behaviors. Policy analysts long emphasized that, by and large, policymakers bring two kinds of intelligence to bear on their thinking: mental ability to cope with complicated problems and the experience they have with the issues in hand. Neither is practiced nor required in today’s Somali; thus no genuine policymakers exist. I am tired of this. I am ready to visit the past.
Just as the mist cleared to give me a proper view of the path to the past, a path I follow every year this time during celebration of Somali Independence, revisiting my origin, my heritage and my history while I still can. Swiftly sneaking out from the back door and moving behind today’s bloody and desperate situation in Somalia, I was finally free. Wending my way slowly and cautiously, avoiding any eye contact with Al-Shabaab, while tiptoeing around the debacle of warlordism in the 90th and 80th I was already in familiar territory. So, with no resistance I followed my thoughts to yesteryears to escape from hearing more news about horrendous action of hand and leg amputation of teenage boys in public without anesthesia. Why people wanted to see this barbaric action, I wonder!!
It was really a thrill to finally escape. Immensely relaxed in a peaceful state of mind, I felt very much protected and safe, ready to give my soul to be flown away with all efforts to defy gravity. Letting loose of me and wanting so badly to disappear deep into the thrill of flying back to the past, I felt hypnotized by the sweet nationalistic songs welcoming me back to my roots, where I always find solace and peaceful to reflect on what once was a vibrant Somali nation with proud people-and what it could have been. Luckily, I managed to escape safely into a calm and peaceful familiar frontier. I found a nation completely intact. Mesmerized by her forever natural beauty I have found tranquility in my surroundings.
From her physical appearance, I recognized it was in late 70th and, though seemingly somewhat shaken and in total chaos, troubled by the low morale and all after the defeat in the Somali-Ethiopian war, I still found Maandeeq standing noble, strong and ever determined to bringing herself up. Her golden skin little rugged and roughed by the daily blood-shed of her dying sons and daughters, but still even in her 49th birthday, she is as beautiful ever.
Like a child would do when his caring mother suddenly shows up in Daycare, I rushed into her motherly and always welcoming arms, excited and happy to see her again. I rested my head against her heavenly chest and let loose crying, in an apologetic manner, I may add. She smiles, wrapping her arms around me making me feel comfortable in her presence. Son, “Why are you here, child”, she asked. Lifting my head ever so slowly, I looked up to see her face on her worldly figure hovering over me. ”There is no future for me”, I replied. Caressing my head with her ever caring hand, she responded with her motherly gentle voice, “Son, do not despair. I maybe badly weakened but I am not dead”, she added. She vehemently rejects the notion that Maandeeq is dead and equally laments those who are celebrating her death and sending condolence while she is still alive. “Never count me out, son”, she reassured me.
It was quite an experience to spend the week with her, Maandeeq. I did not want to ever come back. I found familiar faces visiting Maandeeq from different parts of the world. Thanks to the sons and daughters who still care, people are celebrating in Ottawa, raising the blue Flag forever up, up high. They are celebrating wherever one finds Somalis, from Jibouti to Kismayo, from Kenya to Ethiopia and in between. So long some of us are still celebrating the 26 of June and 1st July, Maandeeq is still well and alive. So we sang the great Somali songs that reflect on our independence days, just the way we used to do. It brought back wonderful memories of people honoring their Heroes and those who lost their lives for the love of their country. Of course we owe them respect, unlike today’s confused generation who are dying in the wrong war. I realized that yesterday was mine, and is still mine. I sang those songs years ago and I still remember them. I realize I have a responsibility not only to protect them as much as I can, but to also teach those who never had the chance to experience such a nationalistic festive mood. I do not want Al-Qaeda to find out about them though, lest they dig them and destroy them, as they do to everything else. I recited them again and again so that, even when destroyed, I could still remember them. It is my history; my culture, my heritage; it is my national Anthem; it is what defines what I am and I should save them. This is my war. Some do not want them, some do not know about them, and some do not care about them. But thanks to those who still cherish their history and are willing to present their pride and heritage to the rest. Who knows, maybe if taught enough about their history, even Al-Shabaab may join hands and sing these songs with us next year?
So I will continue singing some more: Let us all sing.
Ma Go’do Candhadii Gollaha Marisee, An Maallo Hasheenna Mandeeq. (About the Nation)
OR
Dharaartaan Waxyeeladii Dhaqdhaqee, Callanka Dhesay Soo Ma Soo Dhicin (about the Flag)
OR
Callankaayagow Cawaale, Waad Na Caawisee (about the Flag)
OR
U Roonow Rabiyow Raxmaankow Soomaalida U Roonow (about blessing Somali people)
OR the mother all songs
Soomaaliyee Toosoo, Toosoo Isku Tiirsada (about unity)
I even visited Gabaygii Gobaad:
Gabaygii sislsilada ahaa ee Maandeeq qayb uu tiriyey Marxuunkii
Abwaan, Axmed Ismaaciil Diiriye "Qaasim"
Hashaan gaaxinayaan lahaa gorofka way buuxin
Geyaxa hashaan kaga xidhxidhay gabantii nuugaysay
Geedkii magoolaba hashaan uga garaacaayey
Gaaroodi iyo Hawd hashii laba gardaaqaysay
Wax-layidhi haddaa goodirkii lagu gabraartaaye
Waxla yidhi golbaa lagu dabraa geed-waraabe leh'e
Wax-layidhi gujaa lagu lisaa labada gooroode
Wax-la yidhi gal daayeer cabbaa habari geysaaye
Golqaniinna waa loogu daraa yaanay gaagixine
Wax-layidhi gomode naasihii giigsanaan jiraye
Gobaad waxay la daaqdaa sagaal goroyocaw-loode
Wuxuu Abwaan Qasim ka hadlayey daayaca iyo burburka loo geystay Qarannimada Soomaaliyeed, oo loo yiqiin magaca Maandeeq. Waana ereyo runtii si dhab ah u taabanaaya waxa maanta taagan.
Ali Bahar, PhD.
[email protected]