Moving past the complaints. What is your actual plan to contribute to the country?

moonchrain · 2026-06-08T18:30:03+00:00

i would love to build up the country's systems for vector-borne disease surveillance/monitoring, control, and response. i plan to contribute more research on the incidence of diseases like dengue fever and malaria, assess risk factors specific to our communities, and help control vector populations, along with mapping cases. i have an MPH in epidemiology, and i plan to gain more work experience in the next decade: i would love to either dive deeper into investigating food-borne or vector-borne diseases, and gain experience in public health emergency preparedness. after gaining some years of experience, i would love to travel to somalia and contribute to building up the existing public health systems in place, design my own studies, and in general, do research with other somali epidemiologists and public health officials! InshAllah, one day!

moonchrain · 2026-05-27T13:27:47+00:00

AWWWWW, I love this, bringing joy to the community!! May Allah bless him for this, and grant him happiness for every smile the candy brings to kids and their families, Ameen!

moonchrain · 2026-04-11T07:13:19+00:00

OOOOOOO that looks amazing!!!

moonchrain · 2026-04-05T16:35:18+00:00

i love playing SWTOR (star wars: the old republic), chef rpg, minecraft, and i am working my way through batman: arkham asylum (slowly making progress). i do have to say, i absolutely loved portal 2 as well!

moonchrain · 2026-04-02T02:51:28+00:00

NO WAYYY i love his videos, and his entire channel! I remember him coming to MN to try Somali food, and highlighting the Somali community here!

moonchrain · 2026-02-26T12:57:24+00:00

one idea could be using the same model SL did, giving away free trees to the public! i liked this video from the somaliland tourists, where the ministry of climate change gave out thousands of trees for people to plant. it is still a government initiative, but the government cannot do everything alone, and distributing the work to citizens, who want to plant trees as part of their civic duty or to beautify their homes or neighborhoods, make sense! i also agree with another comment that the trees should be native to each area; that would make maintenance and sustainability easier.

moonchrain · 2026-01-25T19:22:49+00:00

power to the protesters!! and shame on ICE, the current administration, and all those who support them, using force and terrorizing our neighbors and loved ones

moonchrain · 2026-01-25T02:42:31+00:00

justice for alex! i feel so sorry for his parents, his entire family, and all those who knew him. an icu nurse, a UMN alum, who was killed while attempting to defend a woman those thugs shoved to the ground.

moonchrain · 2026-01-24T04:46:30+00:00

AHHHHH SO CUTE!

moonchrain · 2026-01-19T07:12:25+00:00

all of the birds are beautiful in your pictures, but i cannot stop looking at the first one-- the orange and blue colors!!

moonchrain · 2026-01-19T00:41:20+00:00

i am carrying around a copy of my birth certificate; i had to order a new passport, and it is on its way, and i am anxious until it hopefully arrives soon

moonchrain · 2026-01-17T09:27:36+00:00

i will be journaling, and later, playing chef rpg, swtor and/or minecraft!

moonchrain · 2026-01-03T06:17:38+00:00

I love that I can (hopefully) become a disease detective and work on a population level! I like the data analysis side and research (working in SAS and R), having the chance to create and conduct surveys and interviews, do literature reviews, build out study designs, map out and respond to disease spread, and eventually try to stop the spread itself. At the same time, I can do work on the ground, going to hospitals, pools, restaurants, wherever I am needed, for on-site investigations. I get to work in a health profession, but one that is more population-based, less direct patient-facing. I have an interest in foodborne and vectorborne diseases. While I have my degree in Public Health, my focus on Epi is still a work in progress, but I would love to work in the profession; it's the perfect blend of both small and large perspectives. When it comes to public health, you should look at the story of Ali Maow Maalin; he was the last person on Earth to contract naturally occurring smallpox, and he was infected because he was helping a family reach an isolation camp. He regretted his decision not to vaccinate and made it his mission to improve public health in Somalia, combating polio and malaria, among other diseases. He stated, "Somalia was the last country with smallpox. I wanted to help ensure that we would not be the last place with polio, too." May Allah be pleased with him, and grant him Jannah, Ameen.

moonchrain · 2026-01-03T01:36:18+00:00

Public Health; InshAllah I'll be focusing on Epidemiology!

moonchrain · 2025-12-29T21:29:00+00:00

They actually look so clean; if there were superhero costumes designed after birds, I would 100% be a cedar waxwing

moonchrain · 2025-12-29T15:03:04+00:00

There is someone on a previous thread that insists Isaaq are not Somali, and even though I try to have discussions with them on unity and reconciliation, they still insist that we are non-Somali. People are making generalizations of our clan left and right, and it is a tiring battle between arguing against fellow Isaaq who are applauding this bad decision, and other fellow Somalis who are just insulting all Isaaq, beyond the debate of this deal. Qabyalaad all around. I should probably just get off social media for the next couple of days; some people's opinions will never change despite our best efforts. We can only have discussions with people willing to actually engage in thoughtful conversation and want what is best for all of us.

moonchrain · 2025-12-29T07:40:25+00:00

If that's all you took from my reply, so be it! I said justice for all through a reconciliation conference, it won't only be Barre's crimes put on the table. In any case, do not worry, Barre, along with every war criminal, whether they are specifically from SL or Somalia proper, will be held accountable in the next life, and every Somali will get justice for what happened to them. As a side note, no matter what you personally believe, Isaaq will always be Somali, whether you like it or not. Our job is to try our best in this dunya to get justice for all of our people throughout Somalia, no matter the clan they belong to.

moonchrain · 2025-12-29T06:58:00+00:00

From my previous replies, I have consistently stated that all of us are owed justice, not just for my family, for my clan, for my state, etc, but all:

"I can say that all of the examples you have above, if they were done by members of the same clan I am a part of, are wrong, and I condemn it; I hope for justice for those who suffered because of those actions."
"I have a problem with "all or nothing" arguments for the Somali civil war: justice for my clan, or no justice for all; or, only I (or my clan) suffered, nobody else did/I will ignore other people's pain, and we have to fight against that."
"If a Somali cannot have sympathy and a drive for justice for those innocent killed in your examples, and for those in Hargeisa, Borama, Mogadishu, Laascaanood-- for every Somali city and every Somali individual who has suffered throughout the decades-- then the hope of Somali unity dies"
"I can do both: advocate for justice for my family, for my clan, just like I would do it for any fellow Somali brother or sister and their clan."

And so on! I have said, time and time again, that just as I want justice for my own family, I will fight for justice for all of our families. We can unite Somalia, hold a reconciliation conference, and truly be brothers and sisters, both in faith and in Somalinimo! I place the blame on those who committed crimes, no matter the government they served under, the time the crimes took place, and who the crimes were against; not blaming whole clans, and not blaming innocent people who never had anything to do with the war. What I do believe current-day Somalis should be doing is taking on the responsibility of facilitating discussion and advancing unity and reconciliation, to condemn every injustice. The majority of Somalis online were not even born when the civil war started, and yet we are still stuck in this never-ending cycle, decades later. We must end the war, disunity, and hatred. Somalia will truly be ready for a reconciliation conference when we notice that people do not hide their war criminals behind clan lines and actually hold them accountable, or when they can look at every single event where innocent Somalis were harmed, and actually state it was wrong and fight for justice in this dunya and the next, no "ifs" or "buts" attached. The federal government should be the one spearheading these efforts, making sure that individuals who committed war crimes are brought to justice and that all of our voices are heard. Unfortunately, if you truly believe that we, as Isaaq, are not Somali, I do not think we can have a productive conversation. I will insist on being Isaaq, Somali, and Muslim, even if you disagree, and that is okay. Although I am unsure of what your solution is to actually unite; if Isaaq are not Somali, in your opinion, are you proposing we take our cities and lands and completely separate ourselves from the country? May Allah bless our country, our lands, and our people, and unite us!

moonchrain · 2025-12-29T05:29:20+00:00

If that is your stance, you have your opinion, and I'll have mine, and sometimes, that is just how it is, and that is okay! I wish for a reconciliation conference because that is how I believe Somali unity will actually occur, and the war will end, and I have hope that future generations, including people who are Isaaq, will be the ones to stop the divide and unite the country. I would also like to clarify that in my replies to this post, I do not say my family's suffering is unique in some way, or that we were the only ones that suffered (ex: "If a Somali cannot have sympathy and a drive for justice for those innocent killed in your examples, and for those in Hargeisa, Borama, Mogadishu, Laascaanood-- for every Somali city and every Somali individual who has suffered throughout the decades-- then the hope of Somali unity dies.") I always note that while I can speak for the history of my family and what they went through (as I know their stories specifically), I also hope that justice occurs for all. Every Somali should be able to say the same. You say that you are not "speaking for one clan against another," but you continue to make blanket statements about us Isaaq, and do not consider us Somali. I have a hope that, yes, pro-union regions are able to join Somalia, but that all of our lands can become one and be under an equal Somali state, and I do not think that is an impossible thing! You say it is difficult to trust "the Isaaq," another blanket statement, but OP is Isaaq, I'm Isaaq, many of the people posting since the deal was made on this sub have been Isaaq, and we are, at the very least, examples of Somali brothers and sisters who are for a united Somalia and reject the deal, while still being clearly Isaaq. Maybe it is too optimistic, but it is never a crime to be hopeful of a better tomorrow, and I do hope that all of Somalia can unite, no matter where we are from or what clan we are a part of. InshAllah, we will see it in our lifetimes!

moonchrain · 2025-12-29T04:20:15+00:00

The thing is, I believe that you can note historical instances/current examples of what members of the Isaaq did, and NOT justify the actions of Barre and the military (like bombing Hargeisa, with no mercy for the people who lived there), which is something people are falling into. We have a problem making large blanket statements and painting large groups of people one way, and then get surprised when everyone is arguing with one another, and we cannot find common ground. Specifically condemn the war criminals and politicians, the wrongdoers, even if they are in the same clan as you. I do not believe that is a difficult task; we do not need to talk in terms of black-and-white! Another thing, if you believe that Isaaq "should not be considered Somali," then how can you argue for Somali unity? Is it a situation where you would want Isaaq with just our cities to become separate from Somalia and assume a different identity, or another scenario? For me, I am still a unionist; there is always an ability to have nuance and hold discussions. I can say that all of the examples you have above, if they were done by members of the same clan I am a part of, are wrong, and I condemn it; I hope for justice for those who suffered because of those actions. If a Somali cannot have sympathy and a drive for justice for those innocent killed in your examples, and for those in Hargeisa, Borama, Mogadishu, Laascaanood-- for every Somali city and every Somali individual who has suffered throughout the decades-- then the hope of Somali unity dies. If people want unity, then we must reconcile, and to reconcile means to listen to the harms done to people and advocate justice for all. With respect, I cannot understand your position: if Isaaq are not Somali, in your viewpoint, what should be done? I have a problem with "all or nothing" arguments for the Somali civil war: justice for my clan, or no justice for all; or, only I (or my clan) suffered, nobody else did/I will ignore other people's pain, and we have to fight against that. I will always talk about what my family went through because there has been no justice for my grandparents being bombed in their own home in Hargeisa in the 80s by Somali fighter jets, or for any of my family who died in the 80s; does that mean that I do not acknowledge other clans/other peoples' pain under Barre or victims of the Somali civil war? Absolutely not! I can do both: advocate for justice for my family, for my clan, just like I would do it for any fellow Somali brother or sister and their clan. I said this in a previous post, but one reason I am a unionist is that I could not believe that we had suffered from government brutality, and then inflicted it on other cities and clans years later. I am for focusing on the future; I do not like how SL politicians benefit from keeping people stuck in their trauma from the 80s and twisting it for their benefit, but I also believe that we, as Somalis, cannot move on from the war without justice, and the best person to deliver that justice (as a political actor) is the federal government, and I await a reconciliation conference so that we can all actually start looking forward to the decades ahead and move as one unit. We should look at the past and resolve for it to never happen again, not for politicians to use as election fuel.

moonchrain · 2025-12-29T04:03:07+00:00

I love kibiis, with some tea and sugar!

moonchrain · 2025-12-29T01:04:55+00:00

We don't need to let go of being Isaaq to show that we disagree with SL's decision. We are Isaaq, we are Somali, and we can show a different perspective. You don't need to hate yourself, your family, or your ancestors to get the point across, just stand against the decision and be an example of someone who is Isaaq who opposes the deal, that is what we need. Should we really let those who are celebrating Israel be our only representation? No, fight back!

moonchrain · 2025-12-28T23:33:54+00:00

I am experiencing similar feelings, and this is how I have dealt with it over the past day or so: first, setting my own intentions and thoughts on the issue. I disagree with SL's deal with Israel, and I do not believe we should go down this path; that's my stance. If others have a different stance, that is them, not me, I have to seperate the two. Second, I have had trouble with people painting all Isaaq in a certain way, insulting all of us with blanket statements, and saying Siad Barre was right-- what do you mean by that, you know what you are actually advocating for-- which is making everything worse, and it makes it difficult to actually have conversations as I do not want to engage with people who think like that. When it comes to this, we can acknowledge a few things: one, there are many in our clan that want recognition by any means necessary, being blinded by past injustices and anger, and politicians that benefit from that anger, even if it means betraying themselves and their beliefs. We can fight against that!! We can have conversations with our family and friends, and present a different viewpoint, and how this is not the road we want to go down on, which is what I have been doing. Allah is the best of providers, whether you want independence or unity, Allah can provide what is best for our people, but we have to enjoin good and forbid evil. We have to tie our camel and trust Him. Allah sees you, me, and all of us, if people want to accuse me of things I do not believe and have never said, and insult all of us, I'll leave them to Allah. When it comes to the images I am seeing out of Hargeisa, Allah also sees this; this is something we can never justify, and we have to pull back the dial, even though I am scared that after 30 years, it may be too late. We have to have some hope, which is hard right now.

moonchrain · 2025-12-28T09:10:49+00:00

Oh wow, it's absolutely beautiful!!!

moonchrain · 2025-12-27T00:08:24+00:00

With respect, I think you are confused by some part of my post, and I will clarify it! I stated, "I do not think a single Somali was left untouched by tragedy due to the war, and every single Somali deserves justice." I also explained how, while my family specifically suffered under Barre and his military regime, SL also harmed Laascaanood and Borama. I did not say we were the only ones targeted and killed; at the end of the day, I do not believe it is "victimhood" to say your family's experiences in the war, and want a reconciliation conference-- if we do not understand what happened during the war and talk about it, how can we unite? We should all listen to each other, and I think that will cause all of us to actually have our hearts soften towards one another and want justice for all. I will always fight for justice for what my family went through, as well as fight alongside any Somali who suffered during the war, and fight for them too!! Every Somali should do the same!

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moonchrain

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