In Rare Rally, Somalis Protest Shabab

[alp227]

Source: NY Times

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Thousands of residents of this bullet-scarred city packed into a stadium on Sunday to denounce the Shabab Islamist group for the suicide bombing last week that killed scores of people, many of them students.

It was one of the largest rallies in Mogadishu, Somalia’s capital, in years.

Many participants cried as politicians and others took turns heaping scorn on the Shabab, the militant group that claimed the Tuesday truck bombing.

“Should we abandon our country because of fugitive criminals from abroad and children who have disobeyed their parents?” said Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed, Somalia’s president. “The answer is no.”

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/10/world/africa/in-rare-rally-somalis-protest-shabab.html

[Robb]

1. Not one of them had any doubt they could die today.

Showing up with a placard at an anti-Shabaab protest in Mog is painting a target on yourself. A real one. And there's no Starbucks to run into, no pizza delivery, no streaming video. Likely as not, lots of shooting or a bomb. Didn't happen this time, but the smart money yesterday wasn't on that.

I am in awe of these people. This is what courage looks like.

[JI7]

2. yes they are, i always wonder if i would be able to do if i was in a similar

situation.

[xchrom]

3. For this to happen is awesome! Nt

[sulphurdunn]

4. When it comes to murderous

religious fanatics of any stripe, what's not to hate?