Muna Salad

April 28, 2016

Passing For Desires

Why do people want to change? Desires drive people to take unforgettable actions that eventually drag them down to a state of emptiness and ungratefulness. Happiness and recognition are two significant needs that every human being desires, and it’s the desperate attempt of fulfilling those desires that prevents human being from seeing the impacts and the outcomes of their actions. Somaliland, an autonomous region in Somalia, is currently in this desperate attempt as it seeks for recognition from Somalia. Somalilanders are fixated on receiving a recognition that they disregard the outcomes that could be resulted from their desire. Somaliland could technically pass as a country, but not without abandoning their identities, people, and securities. The potential consequences that Somaliland’s selfish attempt to be accepted as a country could be associated with Clare Kendry‘s failed attempt to pass as a white person in order to be happy.

Is that all you care about???

“Passing” is the act of choosing to become someone who you are not for social, economic and political reasons. In the case of Clare, she wanted to pass as white to enhance her lifestyle for material comforts and happiness. Nevertheless, Clare’s aspiration changes when she develops a deep relationship with Irene and Brain. Even though Clare had everything she wanted, she still pursued freedom from the community she chose to be part of to return to the community she originally belonged. Clare says, “Damn Jack! He keeps me out of everything. Everything I want. I could kill him...” to Irene, and this shows how desperate and unhappy Clare was with her current situation.  On the other hand, Somaliland wants to seek recognition in order to cut any ties with Somalia because they believe that they are different from Somalia. In spite of Somaliland’s temptation to be different from Somalia, they are all Somalis and all Somalis belong together just like Clare Kendry belongs to her black community. In both cases, Clare Kendry and Somaliland are trying to abandon their heritage, culture, and identity for money and glory. Clare learned that passing as white didn’t bring her happiness in the hard way, but hopefully Somaliland would realize that abandoning your own kind is never the right decision.

Not only do people abandon their own community when they “pass” but they also discount the impacts it has on their current community. For Clare, she prioritized achieving her goals more than her own child. Clare says, “Children aren’t everything” to Irene, and this is the depiction of how Clare’s selfish eagerness to accomplish her desires blindsided her from her own child. A mother abandons her child. Unfortunately, it’s not only Clare that abandons her own blood. Somaliland government ignores the opinions of its civilian and completely neglects all its activists that support the unification of the two countries. Somaliland’s economic isn’t also stable enough to stand on its own because it's currently reported that “Somaliland’s GDP for 2012 is estimated to have been $1.4 billion (current US$ prices)[1], with GDP per capita estimated at $347” making Somaliland the fourth poorest country in the world. And today, because of global warming, hundreds of people are dying due to famine. With Somaliland’s current situation, the separation of the two countries would even hurt the civilians more with the government’s full attention on building the country’s reputation instead of helping the civilians. Both Clare and Somaliland are ignorant towards the negative influences that they have on their own people and care more about receiving recognition and attention.

        “Passing” leads to desired happiness for a short period of time, and its temptation would always end up in a tragic. The truth may not be so fast, but sooner or later, it always catches up. When the truth catches up with Clare, it kills her and leaves her lying down on the floor. It’s not too late for Somaliland. If Somaliland gains recognition, the disputes between Somalia and Somaliland could only get worse. Somaliland isn’t in a position to start a civil war with Somalia because its economy isn’t stable enough to outlast any war.

        Passing for someone else for desires blindsides people from the truth and what really matters in life. It creates a distance between them and eventually leads them to a tragic place that they can’t come back. Let us unite!! SOMALIA...."Let's Help Each Other"