I haven't been able to follow the whole discussion on some of the comments
that have been made in the wake of the shooting...but we should note a point
about Omar Jamal and several others who made some very heated statements in
the first few days after the incident.
Omar did make several pretty extreme comments in the first few days. So did
several others. In the meeting in my office with Somali leaders, including
Omar, we spent a lot of time trying to get to facts and asking people to
cool rhetoric as much as possible. We had several other conversations with
Somalis in other meetings and at a rally in front of City Hall.
People should note that Omar clearly understood the message, and the
importance of separating rage and inflammation.
By Friday night when we were on Almanac together, he said the slaughterhouse
comment was extreme. He then made what I considered to be an exceptionally
effective case for what Somalis have added to this community...and expressed
quite well the anger and confusion many are feeling right now.
So as the week went on it was clear to me that a community that needs a
person who can make the case was clearly developing another effective voice.
He really did that very well.
It's also very important for people to recognize Somalis in Minneapolis do
not speak with one voice...nor should they be expected to. Of the 40 people
in my office, there were about 27 different strains of emotion....not a lot
different than there would be if there were 40 of any group of people.
Sometime during the week one federal government official said to me: "It
would really be easier if the Somalis would appoint a leader so we know who
we can talk to." That would be easy but not practical, or even, in my book,
good.
This group of people, like many others, has many many different strains.
When I was a reporter for the Star Tribune, the news desk had a card file
for people to call on various topics. I remember there was a card for
spokespeople for the "black community." The Star Tribune back then was
especially cautious about trying not to stereotype...but that card always
seemed odd to me....How could there be a "spokesperson" for a whole
community....as if everyone got in a room, took a vote and decided what
everyone thought. We would call Spike Moss to get comments for the "black
community", Tim Campbell for comments for the "gay community," etc.....but
that was not really representative, just as Omar or any other single person
could not be representative for an entire block of new immigrants....let
alone the vary different needs of those Somalis who have been here for many
years.
So I only go into this to caution people not to assume one person is
speaking for any one group....which is the way I think it should be.
R.T. Rybak
East Harriet
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