A Family Hero in His Own Right

He was eldest of nine children and lived in a small village in north of Somalia. His father was a poor farmer and lived a very simple life. During their times, children worked in the fields to help the family survive.

Guhaad was a very intelligent and curious child. From the beginning, he was interested in everything around him. He and his brothers and sisters had to walk over a hill for almost an hour to reach the closest school.

They had to work in the field and attend school or otherwise they wouldn’t be able to get their education. Guhaad had to work six to seven hours a day to be able to afford the bare minimum of being able to attend school and have papers to write on. He also had to take care of all of his eight brothers and sisters because his parents were constantly working in the field to support the family.

At the age of fourteen, Guhaad had to move to the city to be able to attend high school since there were no high schools in his village. At fourteen, he had to become independent and responsible. His father, who was a very kind and hard working man, though did not have any education himself, supported Guhaad as much as was within his ability. He even sold one of his small lands to be able to pay Guhaad a very small amount of allowance every month so that he could go to school and get a very good education.

Life was very hard, but they were all thankful that they had their health and each other. Guhaad finished his high school and was number 20 in the whole nation in the national exam that was taken after high school to determine what college each student was to attend (equivalent to the SAT).

He was at the top with students who had attended private schools all of their lives and had role models who were doctors and lawyers. He was with those who knew nothing of work and knew nothing but money. He had gotten himself out of a primitive world and had stepped into a new world where he could excel and become what he had always dreamed of becoming: a doctor.

He got accepted to the most prestigious University of Somalia (Jaamacad Soaamlia). He, therefore, had to move to Mogadissu. Move was even a greater challenge for him and his family than the one he took at fourteen.

He rented a small room that smelled of garbage on top of a vegetable shop where he worked everyday. He had no kitchen and the only bathroom was one he had to share with five families outside in the yard. He had to wake up at four in the morning and ride his bike to where he could buy the vegetables for the shop. Then he would come back to shop and work until eight or nine in the morning. Then he would attend school.

At nights, he studied until a small light until midnight. He didn’t have much to eat, but nothing mattered to him but his education. He was determined and persistent and would’ve done anything to be able to attend such a University. The end of the month was always a struggle for him and his father was always in tears that he had nothing to offer his son. What he did not realize was that he did offer everything that he had and he supported Guhaad in everyway and that was enough.

During his undergraduate, he became friends with one of the wealthiest families in Mogadishu. And after a while the father offered Guhaad a proposition that he just couldn’t refuse, but did because of his family. He was offered to go to the United States of America with his friend. He wouldn’t have to pay for anything and all he had to do was to keep an eye on his friend, but he refused because he could not leave his brothers and sisters who he still had to take care of. So he stayed.

Guhaad successfully finished medical school and married his first cousin at the age of twenty-eight when he was just finishing his residency. He had come from a world of poverty to a world that he had never dared thinking about. He had entered a world that only the rich and famous where allowed into.

At the beginning of his marriage, there were still problem for he didn’t make much money and had to spend most of his time at the hospital. His wife, young and beautiful, would spend everyday at home waiting for him for all she could look for every night was his sight.

The apartment was as bad as his single room during his first years in Mogadishu. After a few years, he brought one of his brothers to Mogadishu and later, with the help of his father, sent him to the United States of America to get a good education.

Guhaad and his wife, Amina, later moved to smaller city near Mogadishu, which was called Balcad and had three daughters there.

He later brought his other brothers and sisters from their village and gave them jobs in his office. He was also the founder of the first Balacad High School in that city.. Life was getting better finally.

After a few years, he took a trip to the United States to take the board exam and get a license when he found out that his family was put under house arrest. They could go anywhere or sell anything. The government was afraid that Guhaad was going to move to the United States and betray his country. Even his friends turned their backs on his.

There were rumors that he was spying on the Somali government (Dolwada Kacaanka), which was the late Siad Bare's government in Somalia. He immediately came back and was not allowed to travel out of the country for many years to come.

He moved his family to Mogadishu, which was a much larger city so that they wouldn’t be under the watch of the government twenty-four hours a day. But he had to go to Balcad twice a week to visit his patients for his popularity as one of the best Ophthalmologists had grown immensely.

He worked between the two cities for three years until he found out that him and his family was getting their green cards.

This was the best opportunity for him and his family, but how could he leave everything. He was a prestigious and famous surgeon who no longer had any time to spend with his family. He was the head of the University that he had graduated not long ago. Life was finally becoming easy and comfortable. But he knew that the best thing for his family and daughters was to move to a country where they would have a future. So, he sold everything he had worked so hard for and he moved to the United States just to start all over again.

He had to start like a new student in the United States. He had to pass all the exams and go through three years of residency. He had to start studying day and night all over a gain. It was a very hard time for they did not have any money and none of them could work. But, their love and faith held them together.

He passed all of his exams and started his residency at Martin Luther King Hospital and Amina started working as an esthetician, providing the income for the family.

Guhaad is my friend and at the age of fifty-six, he is still doing hid residency. And yes, he is my hero for he never gave up on life. His fortitude drove him to places that he never dared to dream of. He came from poverty in a third world country to the Unites States of America.

Please Show Love and Kindness

Everyone in the apartment complex I lived in knew who Lola was. Lola was the resident tomcat. Lola loved three things in this world: fighting, eating garbage, and shall we say, love.


The combination of these things combined with a life spent outside had their effect on Lola. To start with, she had only one eye, and where the other should have been was a gaping hole. She was also missing her ear on the same side, her left foot has appeared to have been badly broken at one time, and had healed at an unnatural angle, making her look like she was always turning the corner.

Her tail has long age been lost, leaving only the smallest stub, which she would constantly jerk and twitch. Lola would have been a dark gray tabby striped-type, except for the sores covering her head, neck, and even her shoulders with thick,
yellowing scabs. Every time someone saw Lola there was the same reaction. “That’s one ugly cat!!”

All the children were warned not to touch her, the adults threw rocks at her, hosed her down, squirted her when she tried to come in their homes, or shut her paws in the door when she would not leave. Lola always had the same reaction. If you turned the hose on her, she would stand there, getting soaked until you gave up and quit. If you threw things at her, she would curl her lanky body around feet in forgiveness.

Whenever she spied children, she would come running meowing frantically and bump her head against their hands, begging for their love. If ever someone picked him up he would immediately begin suckling on your shirt, earrings, whatever she could find.

One day Lola shared her love with the neighbor’s huskies (Eeyo dhib badan). They did not respond kindly, and Lola was badly mauled. From my apartment I could hear her screams, and I tried to rush to his aid. By the time I got to where he was laying, it was apparent Lola’s sad life was almost at an end.

Lola lay in a wet circle, her back legs and lower back twisted grossly out of shape, a gaping tear in the white strip of fur that ran down her front. As I picked her up and tried to carry her home I could hear her wheezing and gasping, and could
feel her struggling. “I must be hurting her terribly,” I thought. Then I felt a familiar tugging, sucking sensation on my ear.

Lola, in so much pain, suffering and obviously dying was trying to suckle my ear. I pulled her closer to me, and she bumped the palm of my hand with her head, then she turned her one golden eye towards me, and I could hear the distinct sound of
purring. Even in the greatest pain, that ugly battled scarred cat was asking only for a little affection, perhaps some compassion.

At that moment I thought Lola was the most beautiful, loving creature I had ever seen. Never once did she try to bite or scratch me, or even try to get away from me, or struggle in any way. Lola just looked up at me completely trusting in me to
relieve her pain. Alaah waan soo daahey yaakhey miskiin!

Lola died in my arms before I could get inside, but I sat and held her for a long time afterwards, thinking about how one scarred, deformed little stray could so alter my opinion about what it means to have true pureness of spirit, to love so
totally and truly.

Lola taught me more about giving and compassion than a thousand books, lectures, or talk show specials ever could, and for that I will always be thankful. She had been scarred on the outside, but I was scarred on the inside, and it was time for me to
move on and learn to love truly and deeply.

It was time to give my all to those I cared for. Many people want to be richer, more successful, well liked, beautiful, but for me, I will always try to be like Lola.

Walaalayaal it is Ramadan and we will all have to not only fast but also show love and kindness to our brothers, sisters, friends, and to all animals around us. Thank and Happy Ramadan Kariim walaalyaal

First Kiss (Tips andTricks)

You know you want to kiss someone because you have been thinking about it for most of the evening. Unless the lucky person is a mind reader, nothing will happen until you make the first move (4show).


Wanna kiss your girl?
Try either holding her hand, walking arm-in-arm, sitting close, offering a neck massage. If you sense disapproval (diidis), smile, stop what your doing and start a light conversation. You have not put yourself in a scary position. Reevaluate the situation.

If she is responding positively to your touching, the next step is to position yourself so that you'll feel comfortable kissing your partner. if you choose to hold her, make it non-threatening.
Try establishing eye contact. If eye contact is sustained, move to the next step.

If you feel comfortable and have eye contact now is the time to move in for your kiss. As you move closer check to see if they are moving closer to you. If not move back a little to re-examine the situation.
With a positive response from your partner, it's time to have
that romantic kiss. Remember, no tongue, (Somali girls tongue no no).

I f you initiated the kiss, you should be the one to end the kiss. Don't do it abruptly (lamafilan), just move away slowly and kiss again. If your partner seems hesitant, just stop.

How many ways can I kiss my partner?
There are so many different ways to kiss. The two main basic ones are close-mouthed kissing and French kissing but don't forget Somali kiss. French kissing involves an open mouth and with tongue, while close-mouthed kissing is pretty self-explanatory. We thought it would be easier for first-time kissers if they knew at least the kissing basics before they try to approach other kisses, such as French kissing.

The French Kiss
You have been kissing Xamsa Kharta for a while, it is time to try the "French Kiss" Oops she don't know you have to do this. Gently touch her lips with your tongue. If you meet resistance, stop and continue kissing.

If you meet resistance it doesn't mean rejection, maybe she don't know, it could be that she want you to hold back for now. Many Somali girls don't want to kiss during the first kiss. They want to get to know you better.

If there isn't any resistance, go ahead and enjoy the moment. Always French kiss slowly at first and pick up intensity as you get caught up in the moment. Feel her tongue with yours in a gentle and caring way. Never end a session of French kissing abruptly please Abdi, always kiss her with a soft, tender kiss. Future kisses will never be the same as the first, make every effort to make it wonderful memory. enjoy man.

Positioning - Stand close to your partner. As the two of you move closer together tilt your head slightly to one side. If you don't, don't worry about it. she will still tilt her head slightly so your lips meet on a slight angle or she will kiss you straight on. If you can see which way your partner's head is tilting, tilt your head slightly in the opposite direction.

Hands - There are many ways you can use your hands during a kiss. The most popular way is to put one hand on her waist and the other one against the middle of their back. Other ways to use your hands are to cup your partner's face in your hands (very romantic!), put them around your partner's neck, put them around their waist, hold your partner's upper or lower arms gently, run your finger's through their hair if she is wearing Hijab slid you under the Hijab, or just hold their hands in yours.


Methods of Kiss
Kiss on the ear = "I'm Horny"
Kiss on the cheek = "We're Friends"
Kiss on the hand = "I Adore You"
Kiss on the shoulder = "I Want You"
Kiss on the lips = "I Love You"
Kiss on everywhere else = "Let's get Busy"

The ONLF Mujaahidiin

The Ogaden National Liberation Front is a grass-root organisation that was created by Ogaden youth activists and civic organisations that rebelled against the meddling of both the Somali government and foreigners from every corner of the world and made the Ogaden Somali people pawns to further other's political agendas.

From its inception to date ONLF caters to nobody but the interest of the Ogaden Somalis. ONLF is a national liberation front that fights for the rights of the Ogaden Somalis to self-determination in order to decide their future as is enshrined in the universal declaration of Human rights and considers Ethiopia as a colonial state that took part in the European Scramble for the colonisation of Africa in the 19th century.

Emperor Menelik's letter to the Berlin conference clearly states that Abyssinia (Ethiopia) does not intend to stand idle while Europe partitions Africa and that Menelik demands his share. Apart from this rhetoric Abyssinia had no means to materialise this dream, but the then world powers of that time installed him in the Ogaden by providing him with arms and men and by embargoing the Somali people in the Horn from external supplies as is happening today in another form and under another pretext.

Despite all this the Ogaden Somalis resisted and restricted Menelik to the Harar area until the second world war, when the victorious allies disarmed the Somalis in the Ogaden, while gradually re-arming and training new Ethiopian army and handing the disarmed Ogaden people and territory to Ethiopia over a period of 10 years, giving the last part in 1956.

The Ogaden Somalis started their struggle and within few years threatened the New Ethiopia. Again foreign intervention and arms changed the direction of the struggle of the Ogaden Somalis. The Regime in Addis Ababa was advised to divert the attention of the world community that was increasingly anti- colonialism and anti-oppression from sympathising and supporting the just struggle of the Ogaden Somalis by blaming and attacking Somalia and turning the issue into a border problem.

The new inexperienced Somali Government fell easily into that trap and from that day onwards the Ogaden cause turned into a border dispute and so-called Somali expansionism. The Ogaden Elders leading the liberation struggle, who were poorly educated and unaware of the forces arrayed against them, were no match for the regional and international forces that demonised and misrepresented the struggle of the Ogaden people.

In the late seventies the budding intellectuals and students from the Ogaden who were scattered in the region around the Horn started to agitate for the revitalisation of the national struggle. This coincided with the renewal of the rhetoric between the two military regimes in Somalia and Ethiopia that was vying for the control of the Horn.

Somalia sensing the budding struggle and sense of revival in the Ogaden struggle and the weaknesses of the regime in Addis Ababa hijacked the struggle and defeated easily the Ethiopian army and captured most of the Ogaden. Cuban troops and Warsaw Pact pilots and aeroplanes defeated the Somali army and reinstated Ethiopian occupation in the Ogaden.

While all this was happening leading intellectuals and activist students were languishing in Somali prisons for resisting against Somali government intervention in the struggle of the Ogaden Somalis, knowing well the negative impact this would have on the national struggle.

From that day onwards the Ogaden Somalis decided to untie their fate from Somalia and pursue an independent struggle that clearly differentiates between Somalia and the Ogaden. Thus ONLF was founded on the principle that the Ogaden people are independent and sovereign and have the right to decide their destiny without bowing to any strings from any quarters.

After the fall of the two governments in Somalia and Ethiopia in the early nineties, the new regime in Addis Ababa faced a serious dilemma vis-à-vis the Ogaden cause. There was no alibi to use against the Struggle of the Ogaden Somalis for self-determination. There was no Somali government to blame.

A democratic wind was blowing all across the world. Even while ONLF was testing the claim of the new regime of Meles Zenawi that self-determination is attainable through peaceful means, Meles was preparing his scapegoats against the Ogaden Somalis by encouraging the creation of religious organizations such as Itihad-Al-Islam in the Ogaden. He then provoked Al-Itihad-Islam, to take arms against his regime.

Furthermore, Meles started dangling the religious card and started claiming that he was fighting Muslim fundamentalists. This gave him the pretext to attack ONLF and dismantle the peaceful political process that was unfolding in the Ogaden. Despite the regime's efforts to paint itself as championing the cause of uprooting Muslim fundamentalism in the horn, neither the international community nor the different African nations in Ethiopia that were victims of Meles's dictatorial regime bought into his rhetoric.

Somalis, Oromos, Amhars, Afars, Sidamas and Even his Tigrai tribe, who were tired of dictators pitying them against each and keeping them in perpetual poverty and at war were approaching each other and charting peaceful routes to end the senseless carnage, lack of representative governance and denial of rights of peoples by dictators.

ONLF believes in the right of all nations to self-determination, the rule of law and representative government that comes through democratic practice and one person one vote and the separation of religion and government. The Ogaden Somali people are Muslims and have a right to practice their religion peacefully without prejudice to any other religion or group.

ONLF uses defensive combat to defend itself against the Meles militias and the Ogaden people and does not conduct or condone any terrorist act against anybody. ONLF does not have any agendas outside its borders and does not undertake any armed action outside its borders.

ONLF laments the senseless waste of human lives perpetrated by successive Ethiopian regimes and believes that it is in the best interest of all people inside Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa to resolve differences through dialogue and peaceful negotiations. This is possible only if the regime in power decides to stop the endless cycle of violence that it always opts for in or order to deal with political dissent and learn the civilised way of conflict resolution.

ONLF bears no grudge against any people in Ethiopia and regards them as their African brothers and knows that the responsibility of the victimisation of the Ogaden people rests solely with the successive Ethiopian regimes. ONLF will pursue the rights of the Ogaden Somalis and will spare no effort in trying to find a peaceful solution to the Ogaden problem regardless of the constant aggression from the regime in Addis Ababa.

ONLF will engage all forces in Ethiopia and will take part in any effort that leads to a change in the current situation in Ethiopia regardless of political differences as long as the other parties are ready to forgo any bias and come with open mind that can tolerate differences.

As ONLF has stated in its press release(http://www.onlf.org/pressAug062006.htm ) regarding the invasion and occupation of Somalia by Meles, It believes that the current adventurism of Meles brings more harm than good to the whole region of the Horn of Africa.

Both the Somali people and the peoples of Ethiopia have succeeded in putting behind the hatchets provided by self-serving regimes that disregarded them and wasted their youngsters in the hundreds of thousands. For the first time the African people in Horn of Africa, especially the peoples in both Ethiopia and Somalia were basking in new found brotherliness and cessation of hostilities as peoples but unfortunately the current debacle by Ethiopia has created suspicion and fear among all communities in the Horn of Africa.

Meles Zenawi, who failed to adhere to the rule of law and keep power by democratic means, had opted for violence inside and outside Ethiopia, instead of solving the age old problems that he inherited and ushering a new era of peace in the Horn of Africa. Creating outside enemies and threats is an old Machiavellian ploy that is familiar throughout history, and blaming and attacking government- less Somalia has become an easy target for Meles after failing to quell internal rebellion from the Ethiopian people or defeating the Liberation fronts.

Ramadan Mubarak

Ramadan is all about family gatherings. It starts from day one of Ramadan when everyone calls each other on the telephone to wish each other ‘Ramadan Mubarak’. Next you are invited over to break your fast. There you meet the extended family, people you haven’t seen for years and people you would rather not see at all.

Ramadan is all about family gatherings. It starts from day one of Ramadan when everyone calls each other on the telephone to wish each other ‘Ramadan Mubarak’. Next you are invited over to break your fast. There you meet the extended family, people you haven’t seen for years and people you would rather not see at all.

Families can be strange and it’s no exception in Somalia. This mother-in-law dislikes her daughter-in-law but has to tolerate a few hours of dinner with her; this guy hates his cousin because she’s vulgar and rude; this uncle dislikes his wife because she complains too much. But miraculously, they all come together for iftar and tolerate each other, just like you would tolerate a stone in your shoe.

Well it is Ramadan and we should all forgive each other, I hear you say. But some people can forgive but never forget- a Muslim doesn’t fall into the same hole twice, right? By opening borders with certain people after forgivness, they may take advantage and re-start their campaign of hurtful words and gossip. So, many people remain friendly but at a distance. And others just give their salams, say Ramadan Mubarak and concentrate on the glorious table of food prepared for them.

It’s a tough business, making a family and trying to maintain it. We all have a responsibility as members of a family. The least we can do is show up for iftar, grin and bare it, even if you are uncomfortable, even if you feel like they are draining you slowly, opposite to the effect of sitting with people you love, who don’t drain you; they give you energy and a beautiful sense of spirituality. Now that is what family should be like.

But you go for God, despite not wanting to see this person, or not wanting to see these people show off. You go because you wish you could be a good example to them, because they don’t take Ramadan seriously- they think it’s just about abstaining from food and water and nothing else.

Ramadan is so much more than that. It’s about purifying our souls. That after we break our fast, we are still actually fasting in a sense that our eyes won’t watch something unlawful, our legs won’t walk to a place that is unlawful, our hands won’t touch something unlawful. It’s about re-connecting with God, it’s about training our will power and submission towards Him. It’s about forgetting the material world a little and getting in touch with our souls.

In Ramadan we force each other to see family we don’t get along with for His sake, so that He may have mercy on us. But do we necessarily have to be friendly with these people, can we just be conservative and professional? Because you fear that their attitude may bring you down, you fear they are a bad influence.

So, let's welcome the holy month of Ramadan and everyone should be ready, and please don't skip fasting one day, unlsess you're very ill. Good luck! and be happy yaah guys.