Abdirahman Gutale
5th July 2004
I was shocked when I heard the news about the arrest of Nuradin M. Abdi. I was angry and many questions pop up in my mind; the biggest question was why a Somalian. Because I didn't believe a Somali person will commit such horrific act. Few days later many other Somalis who live in Ohio demonstrated against the Nuradin's arrest; thus, strengthen my suspicion. Soon the word of the arrest spread through the air waves and internet websites. And discussion started around the world and in neighborhood whereever Somalis live. Even though none changed the fact of his arrest, Somalis showed solidarity to their fellow man. As John Wooden wrote, "There is no limit to what you can do if you don't care who gets the credit." It was clear no one wanted credit for their support to Nuradin. They didn't question about his ethnicity or the region. I realized the tragedy had, indeed, united Somalis. Suddenly, Nuradin became a hero to me. He reminded me of another fallen hero Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
You may question where the correlation between Nuradin's story and Dr. King's exists. Well, Dr. King had a dream, and Nuradin gave a dream. In a great an historic speech, Martin Dr. King had vision that united a nation divided by hatred. Both sides (black and white) did not believe when Dr. King said, "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." As it appeared, no Somalian supported Nuradin because of his tribe, but because of shared nationality, religion, culture, and tradition.
As I traveled outside Somalia, I never saw anyone who judged me by tribe or region affiliation. When I moved to a new country or city, the first thing I asked around was if any Somalis lived around. Those whom I met in those cities didn't hesitate to quickly come to assist me. I am sure you had the same experiences or even better or know someone who had. We go to school together, work, share rides, talk at coffee shops, participate each other weddings or funerals. Thus, I wonder where is the hostility that separated us in our homeland. Here, I must admit I didn't see any hostility before 1990. I talked to quite few friends and asked them about their experience. No one I know or spoke with on this topic told me otherwise. I was even told many in Somalia now define the status quote. People do business together, marry from each other, and on. Although I hadn't visited the country over nine years, I see sign of hope when I read online news. nevertheless, war still goes on, although it is less frequent and catastrophic.
Unlike the Somali public, Somali leaders focus on what divides them; instead of what unites them. Like Bob Eaton put it: "A leader is some one who can take a group of people to a place they don't think they can go." But Somali leaders luck a clear vision and it is because of this they fail reach lasting peace as Henry Kissinger noted, "If u don't know where you are going, every road will get you nowhere."
As the last 14 failed reconciliation conferences and the on going Mbkati conference proved, most Somali leaders (I chose leaders because it is time to forgive and leave the negatives words like "Warlords" behind) had no plan for the nation or may be they are afraid for their livelihood. Somali leaders also luck characteristics of great leadership. It is time for these leaders to move beyond their narrow perception of leadership and learn lessons from other leaders who fallen for what they believed. Leaders like Dr. King who was optimists, with clear vision, and peacefully challenged corrupted system through grassroots efforts. However, Dr. King knew if he wanted to defeat the system, he had to befriend his enemies. As he told his followers, "there is something that I must say to my people who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice. In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred." Although he died before he saw the full fruits of his efforts, his children enjoyed it. Peace needs sacrifices as the assassination of Dr. King painfully proved.
Dr. King was not the only leader who sacrificed his life for the love of his people and nation. His teacher, Mahatma Gandhi was also assassinated as he tried to bring lasting peace between India and Pakistan. So was Yitzhak Rabin . When he dared to defy the status quote and made peace with Palestine, giving up land that some fanatic Jews sacrament. Despite Rabin's cry, "Enough of blood and tears. Enough!" he shed his blood for peace. Decades earlier, Anwar al-Sadat spoke in similar tone, "Peace is much more precious than a piece of land - let there be no more wars." Although he was Also assassinated, he saved his country from distraction. He knew he was fighting against more powerful nation (the U.S.) and Russians wasn't forth coming to help him as an ally ; thus, he made peace with the devil as some saw it. Anwar Sadat admitted the pain to make a decision: "He who cannot change the very fabric of his thought will never be able to change reality, and will never, therefore, make any progress." He added, "There can be hope only for a society which acts as one big family, not as many separate ones." He realized the only way to make Egypt prosperous nation was to make peace with Israeli. As the fate of this fallen heroes proved, peace is not achieved easily. But it is achieved through compromises, forgiveness, sacrifices, and with a clear vision.
However, we shouldn't put all blame on leaders because every Somali is somewhat responsible for what happened. It is time for new approach. One that is based on characteristics the above leaders shown. Nuradin's arrest opened our eyes we are one society and as in the words of Sadat we must become one family before we can achieve anything.
I plea with you to start with yourself, family, friends, and neighbor. Let this be a grassroots effort to question our thinking and believes about this common tragedy in humanist and simple way. WHY CAN'T WE COMPROMISE, FORGIVE, AND SACRIFICE OUR PERSONAL GOALS TO THE NATION WE CLAIM TO LOVE WHEN WE CAN UNITE FOR THE SUPPORT OF UOR FELLOW MEN? Be realistic and humanistic when you question others. Listen more, interrupt less, and show humiliation. Expect this process to be tidies, painful, and impossible at times. Bring back the pride of our nation and wipe the tears of our beloved blue flag. And remember: "Great things are not done by impulse, but by a serious of small things brought together," as Vincent Van gogh wrote.