Let's look back for a second.

Let's take control of our communities.

     All week long since the dreadful news out of
Oakland California hit the airwaves and newspapers I
could not cope nor understand why these types of
crimes are taking place in our communities. I don't
want to sound like a Johnny come lately who is
speaking out for the sake of speaking out, however my
intentions are strictly to remind all Eritreans that
we must take back our communities and start paying
close attention to each other.

     In one article I read the local police from
Oakland had this to say Sgt. James Morris said the
murders were about two things - "truthfulness and
honor in (the suspects') eyes." The suspects had a
perceived dishonor and had to do something about it,
he said.

     I thought about it for a second how in the world
can one think in those terms. Even worst case scenario
if the two guys believed in what they did how in their
right minds can they take away precious lives of their
in law family members and leave a 2 year old without a
parent. I am confused by this and flabbergasted and as
a human being and as an Eritrean both I am asking
myself, how in the world can this happen?

Are we losing our values as a society? We shouldn't.
After all, we do have something to be proud of. Our
culture is one we should all be proud of and we have a
background as Eritreans that is more unique than most
parts of the world. May be we are doing something
wrong as a community. I hope this does not come across
as a blame but more as an awareness of how we can
utilize the best in us and turn it into success
stories. What do we need to do? Let's talk about it
while we are still mourning the death of our beloved
Eritreans.

A young man who had so much future in life GONE! I am
ANGRY, VERY ANGRY!

A Mother who raised beautiful Children! Makes me boil.
I think of my mother and many other mothers who
sacrificed for us.

A young lady with a child who is so young and does not
deserve what she got, under any circumstance it is a
crime to KILL!  To the others who had to endure such
agony may god be with all of them.

     OK! Enough said about the criminal acts, but my
main point in speaking up is because I have so much
love and respect for my culture and people and the
place I call home Eritrea. A place I eat, drink and
breath every second of my life and it pains me to see
that members of the Eritrean family at large had to
face this horrible crime.

     We may not predict the future and we may not know
what happens to us but we can minimize the risks by
staying positive and teaching our young people that we
have a great culture and we should cherish it. We must
focus on our lives and not the daily run and gun
lifestyle of the west. We need to stay focused on our
responsibilities as a community.
     Believe me folks! May be some of you may not be
people's person but if you get involved in your
community you can benefit quite a bit and also help
others in the process. I urge all of us to take a
moment and think and look back at those who gave up
their lives trying to create our homeland, we also
need to understand that we are in the west because we
made that choice and if we abide by the rules while
MAINTAINING OUR ERITREAN VALUES & ACCEPTING
THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A DIFFERENT LIFESTYLE we
will do ourselves a big favor. Let's all take away our hateful
feelings and concentrate on how we can be good role
models. Let's be law abiding and most of all GOD
FEARING CITIZENS. Let's take what happened in OAKLAND
as a reminder that we must be FOCUSED at all times.

Let's look back for a second. Let's take control of our communities.

May god be with all associated in this crime. To those
who died Rest in Peace and to those who killed may god
be with you despite your deeds.

I know I am being emotional here! but I care and this
really hit home.

Mike Seium