My Trip Home: Angry Emails from Readers
For the last couple of weeks, I have been receiving loads of inflaming emails from angry Ainashe.net readers complaining about my failure (thus far) to publish my report regarding my recent trip to Somalia. Some of the readers were so angry that they gave me an ultimatum by saying that I should sit down, draft something and publish the final report on this page within weeks or else! Some even speculated that the reason why I did not complete that widely anticipated report is that I have been bribed to silence by Riyaale and his regional government cronies. Others have said that I was too lazy as any Somali or any African for that matter.
What can I say; I understand their frustration and anger!
I am sure many of those readers will find “I have been busy†as an insufficient excuse for my sluggish blogging schedule in recent weeks. However, I am quite certain those readers will be more sympathetic to me if they knew that I am currently baby-sitting my three month old daughter; Amina. As any infant, Amina needs twenty four hour attention and round the clock nursing and care. Indeed, I cannot take my eyes off her even when she is sleeping peacefully in her crib albeit the surveillance equipment monitoring every movement and every sound she makes!
I am not exaggerating but the fact is that I have to feed her five times during the day, change her diapers at least eight times, give her a shower once or twice, change her clothes at least three times before her mum comes back from work at 6pm. Not to mention the fact that Amina expects me to sing for her after each time she feeds. I believe she thinks that will help her get smooth digestion. Well, I am not convinced about that. I worry sometimes that she may get frightened by my awful voice. Strangely enough, she seems to be enjoying her self when I am “singing†for her!
As you can see I am caught between a rock and a hard place or more precisely between diaper changes, writing an official report intended for several U.S. and European government agencies, blogging and all the usual hustles and puzzles of ordinary life including reading those flaming emails from readers. And yeah darfting that report!
As I am about to learn through the hard way, fatherhood is not an easy walk in the park!
The report will come soon!
August 6th, 2005 at 1:41 pm
I feel for you Bill! You are a great role model for Somali fathers.
You are not only taking care of your daughter but most importantly you are proud of doing it. I wish many of us were like you.
As you know the biggest social problem among the Somali families here in the UK is the lack of father figure for our kids.
Yasin
London Borough of Lewisham
August 7th, 2005 at 7:45 am
Aabo wanaagsan ayaad tahay. Ilaahay Aamina gabar khayr qabta ha kaaga dhigo. aamin.
August 7th, 2005 at 12:10 pm
Yasin,
Thank you for taking the time to comment my note. I am flattered with your assertion that I could be a “role” model for anyone.
However, I must say that I do not believe the notion of “role” models. The reason is that individual human beings are, in most case, in different socio-economic and political situations. In short, what I do may only be useful to people in a similar circumstance like mine. You cannot wear heavy rain coat under the baking sun in the middle of the Sahara, no matter how impressive that rain coat looks on some one in cold Europe!
Having said that, I am for the idea of knowledge sharing among Somali fathers and the Somali people as whole so that we can be better individuals armed with the necessary knowledge and experience.
Again, thank you for your generous remarks. I appreciate it a lot.
Regards,
Bill Ainashe
http://www.Ainashe.net
wainashe@hotmail.com
August 7th, 2005 at 6:49 pm
Ainanshe: Are you trying to be modest here or you really believe what you wrote? I mean, you keep lecturing us about Sayid Mohamed and other great Somali leaders. Are you saying you do not see those men as your role models? I am sure you do.
Little clarification will help?
Hinda
August 8th, 2005 at 8:08 am
Waar Caynaanshow sheekadan naga joogi oo waxaad waddankii ku soo aragtay soo qor. Haddii kale websitekaagan kharaabka ah soo gali maayo mar danbe.
Nooli kulantee
August 8th, 2005 at 3:36 pm
Bill: Even a young father like you will not escape the Somali “wrath”. Patience, people, the brother is recovering from the shock…and also trying to write “carefully” to avoid lynching…… eh? I am not speaking for him, but trying to articulate his predicament.
August 8th, 2005 at 4:33 pm
I agree with Ismail. Leave this poor guy alone!
Jacayl
August 10th, 2005 at 4:19 pm
Cut the crap Bill… I am too buzy with housework won’t cut it. We want the report!
August 12th, 2005 at 2:36 pm
Walaalayaal bal inoo kaadhsha oo ninkan u daaya waxa uu soo waddo isagaa golaha soo dhigi doonee. Ilayn soomaaliyi wax ma sugto!
August 18th, 2005 at 4:15 pm
Brother Bill,
With all of your understandable excuses, one thing is certain; that you could have written the long awaited report, rather than spending time & effort to write us to “the REASONS” that you could not write the report! - I will have to yet hear from you about how women are treated in the part of the world (Somali ) that you visited.. Hargeysa and that area to be precise. I know, my Reer Waqooyi friends have a lot of respect and appreciation of what women do in their society.. Except the highly publicized controversial case about Samsam and her case, which I hope by now is solved I respect the way they treat women.
Does that make sense, bro? Hope I didn’t get your nerves! :-)!
As always your admirer,
Ladan
August 18th, 2005 at 4:19 pm
Ladan,
Your point taken. Thank you. And no… you did not get to “nerves”… I have nerves of steel!
Again thank you.
Bill Ainashe
August 21st, 2005 at 8:12 am
Ladan,
You asked me many times about how women are “treated” in Somalia, especially in the North; where I visited. To me your question is very vague and I do not know what you mean with the word “treated”. Do you mean, socially, politically, economically or just domestically?
Unfortunately, I did not have the time to conduct sociological research while I was there, or even now. Hence, I cannot give you an answer to your question notwithstanding the fact that I did not understand your question.
In any case, you should perhaps do bit of googling and look for socio-economic reports on Somalia.
The UN website could be a place to start.
Sorry, I could not be more helpful than that.
Bill Ainashe
August 21st, 2005 at 3:52 pm
thanks for your advise..
Ladan
September 23rd, 2005 at 2:12 pm
Ladan: I don’t think one needs to travel “that far” to see how women are treated and how they treat themselves among the Somalis (From the North, South, East, West, OR in the Diaspora)….I will suggest you visit any city in North America in general or the United States in particular, OR for your case the nearest mosque in your vicinity. I hope this helps. As they say, all form of treatment is relative!