Uttering Slander Diminishes Your Integrity

Far too often, Khatumo volunteers have been ridiculed and their characters besmirched because of perceived absence of consequences. Professor Galayr in particular has been a subject of unfair calumniation and derogatory articles. I am not surprised for I have personally witnessed, on many occasions, people who constantly use smear tactics against distinguished pioneers to express their opposition to the creation of Khatumo State.

In addition to professor Galayr, many of the regularly offended gentlemen include Dr. Ali Isse, Ali Ige, Suleiman Wejihad, and other known volunteers. I also came across a furious man who accused Osman Badawi of exposing a controversial cause to the world. He was obviously disturbed by the fact that Khatumo was noted in the UN documents. This fellow rejected the will of SSC people to run their affairs independently. I can’t fathom why anyone would choose subservience over ascendance. It is perhaps a phenomenon that’s yet to be rationalized!

In this writing, I’d like to explore the reasons behind defamatory remarks directed at those who spend their precious time for Khatumo’s common good.

Loyal Khatumites have persistently argued that self-governance would be the only way forward, since their identity had been reduced to mere “inhabitants of a disputed territory” – a demeaning label for people who had introduced the essence of sovereignty to the Somali people. Despite the unmatched history of nobility, a few does shamefully propagate a culture of socio-political servitude. I guess a failure to persuade anyone has frustrated them into waging personal attacks against Khatumo supporters.

Expressing hostility toward proponents of the cause is induced by an absence of intelligible refutation. A typical Khatumo antagonist tends to have difficulty in separating an individual from his or her opinion. If one intends to oppose an opinion, one would attack the backers of that opinion instead of presenting an alternative thought. Since finding flaws in an opinion requires a highly evolved critique, those who lack the proper mindset try to find faults with the advocates of the prevailing opinion. As a result of this deficiency, an anti-Khatumo person would resort to verbal abuse.

In addition to annoying the prominent volunteers, opponents try to fabricate suspicions between brotherly lineages in the hope of creating divisions. They politicize clan affiliations by utilizing “us versus them” scheme to manipulate weak-minded people who are susceptible to clannish sentiments. And worst of all, they have the tendency to degrade their people and exaggerate the importance of those in the neighbouring administrations.

Clearly, the SSC people overcame the naivety that had led them into relationships designed to improve the living standards of elsewhere. Today the world is well aware of the Khatumo State interests, and its territory will no longer be a contested source of international aid by others. The inexorable few, flustered by these transformational events, should understand that use of slander would not help one’s political position, but would only reveal the unfortunate caliber of the slanderer.

Professor Galayr, who has been particularly a target of libel by the usual suspects, is of course a treasured volunteer, but he alone does not have the capability to build or destroy the aspirations of the people. There are tens of thousands of men and women tirelessly engaged in preserving the principles of Khatumo statehood. These citizens and compatriots will carry out their duties despite the negative campaign against their indispensable volunteers.

 M.M.H.Barre

mmhbarre@gmail.com