Postby CushiticReflections » Mon Feb 25, 2013 3:03 pm
I'm glad they're taking a strong stand. But one concern is that if the government does turn their attention on this matter, their solution will most likely be the focus on reducing khat use by having the police arrest and jail people caught buying, selling, or using it. Since these mothers are protesting, I am guessing that it is their children (mostly sons) using it. That will lead to higher incarceration rates of young Somalis males which will destroy any chance they had of having a future full of opportunities and open doors. This trend will eventually lead to the association of khat use with young Somali males which will in turn become a stereotype and ethnic profiling and harassment (and frisking) may be a result.
If not much attention is paid to their protests, the issue may continue.
All things considered, the situation is not good. I think the best solution is to raise awareness in our own communities. Speeches should be made condemning it at events, there should be special events that focus on khat use prevention methods and khat's negative effects. There should be a greater focus placed on directing Somali youths' (especially the males) attention onto more productive activities such as community work, interest clubs (clubs as in groups of youth that share a common interest or activity, such as the Muslim Club, etc), and other things. Building up a strong sense of community where different Somali families regularly interact with and are involved with is key. This will ensure that these males might not go down the wrong path, that the groups of people they surround themselves with may have good values, that the activities that they partake in has value, etc.
Bringing in non-Somalis won't do much except create stereotypes and stricter law enforcement on khat use. That's not to say that it should be a secret - that shouldn't be the case. But what can they do when the issue is entirely that of Somalis? All of their "solutions" will lead to more Somali youth in jails. Therefore, we should fix our communities in order to change things.
