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Nov 02
2008
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A few years ago I met a female Somali member of parliament. She was part of the transitional government that was based in Nairobi and flew into Mogadishu as often as they could.
Her story struck me. She told me about the Sixth Clan. Heard about it? The Somali are ethnically divided into five major clans, and these are subdivided further into sub-clans, etc. So the warlords are generally from warring clans. The Sixth Clan is made up of women; their concerns are different, they are not interested in power, instead they are interested in women's and children's rights.
It was no surprise to me then when I read today about a group of Somali women who meet every month to share their entrepreunial experiences and trade information and expertise. Their challenges as business women in war-torn Somalia are enormous: for a long time the port of Mogadishu has been closed, with no infrastructure such as banks and security they have to rely on militias for protection.
Like Rwanda, it is getting easier for women to get into business in a mostly patriachal society, as many men have died as a result of the decade-long war. Out of necessity, they have had to arise and keep their community running, while of course still taking care of traditional responsibilities such as housekeeping and rearing children.
This powerful network of women is a testament to the resilience of women in the harshest conditions.
Read here an article on the Washington Post on the women of Rwanda who I had blogged about before .
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So she got pregnant, and she was trying to express how that baby is both a blessing and a curse to her and all. I know Id totally lose my mind to have the constant reminder of the traumatizing ordeal she had to endure.
Anyway, she mentioned that the women (In Rwanda) got together (Both Hutu and Tutsi) and they had to do the ultimate thing in order to keep surviving- FORGIVE each other for attacking one another due to their ethnic difference.
The amazing thing is, they all agreed that every woman was going to ADOPT a children and care for them as a mother would to her own child. They agreed that the women had to take in any child and never base it on their ethnic differences.
So the lady on Oprah explained that she had to take in children from the very ethnic group that violated her, that she had to find it in her self to genuinely LOVE all the children equally... I know I was sobbing out loud like I was going through her pain. The most amazing thing is that she stressed on the fact that she truly FORGAVE all those who messed her up- thats why I came to the conclusion that GOD must be a woman.
How amazing is that?