Profile

I met Mr. Dirios few years ago, Back home Mr.Dirios was once the president of National Museum in Somalia. He also worked in Academy of Science where he experienced a great deal of researching and managing. Then in 1990 he moved to Sweden where he worked and develops more understanding on business management. After coming to America he worked for Columbus Board of Education. Even though many knew him around the community as well as in the neighborhood. They are unaware of his knowledge which is worth seeing, as it exemplifies the beauty of Somali art. Mr. Dirios physical characteristics are portrayed as, a tall, medium built guy, who wears typical Somali clothes, and does not really care of what people think about him. With his thick glasses, he speaks very soft and gentle, but many underestimate his ability as a museum artist. I always wanted to learn about Mr.Dirios and his mysterious museum which the name recently changed to Somali Cultural and Research Center. The Museum is located inside a crowed Somali mall. The mall is run by Somali immigrants, and has varieties of stores within the same building. In particular, Mr. Dirios who fled his home country more than a decade ago, due to violence, finds peace in his little museum. Currently, his museum is almost filled with items and pictures. Upon entering the small museum you will feel as if you are in another country. It is like a bee hive net filled from top to bottom, with all kinds of art glory to cultural sculptures. The museum is a non profit-making service for conservation, study and reflection on heritage and cultural development. You know there is an old saying that suggests “don’t judge the book by its cover” and after interviewing Mr. Dirios, I realized how true that saying is.




My name is Mohamud Mohamed Diriye, but I am known as “Dirios”. Back when I was in school my mother once asked me, Son what are you studying? I told her hoyo (mother) I am studying the lands and mountains of Italy! She then asked “Do you know any lands and mountains of your own land”? That question appalled me, and I will never forget that question, (shaking his head).


You know I grow up in era when we were colonized by Italians. It was not only that, but it was also cultural colonizism, or as you guys call it identity crisis. The Italians controlled everything from culture to clothing’s. We did what the Italians asked us to do. But after my mother’s question, I went back to my roots, studying and researching about my country. Learning every piece and shape of my land; I even went into the forests to study the origins and culture of my people. Upon learning these things, I also taught myself how to preserve certain items. This is when I developed the love of art. I always loved art of course, but this knowledge, gave me a path to follow.
You know, I love to learn, and then you can teach. Ever since I finished my school I always loved to learn more and also teach if I ever had an opportunity, and this what I am doing is my redemption. When I was working for Columbus Board of Education I saw our kids (Somali) were missing something; they lost the value and understanding of their own culture. So I started to dedicate myself, and preserve the cultural items so kids who never had a chance can have a chance to view these items. My goal is to build a strong bridge between our culture and our kids.
You know what makes America great? It’s not its technology, or workforce but people or should I say diversity, that’s what makes America great, if America didn’t allow anyone here, it will never reach this greatness. So in order for us not lose our culture we need to copy those cultures that were here before us, preserve and collect our cultural items, so later on when we all are gone, our kids can see what their forefathers made or do.
This is has been my dream. I love my job and I am proud of what I do. Today at weddings some people come to me and ask for traditional dress or kids came in the museum and ask about some items, this makes me feel more than happy and I thank God for what I am doing. I know in my heart I make a difference. You know I am the only person who operates Somali museum in Ohio. We are not that well known but to me it’s not about the money; it’s the knowledge that is available in this small room. You see my computer I have thousands of pictures and posters, it will take you days to view them all. I would love to publish all this or put them in poster and distribute to people, but even if I started today I will not see my achievement in my life time. You I am an old man now, soon I will be gone and it’s up to you guys younger people to pass this legacy on.
I will tell you something. Life is about 3 things ok, and I will explain what they mean. One is building a family, basically having a family. Second is grow a tree, you know in science a tree is a real product, and real product will produce another real product. So this means you need a real job in life something that worth a value, job that can reproduce, just like a tree. Last value is write a book, this does mean have a pen and book and write a story, but it means pass on your knowledge and shares it with people just like a book. To me that’s what life is is about. And I love what I do, some people might think I am doing such a boring job, but I enjoy every minute that I am in this museum. Sometimes I even forget to eat. But wallahi (swear) I don’t make a lot of money I invest it all, all this items here worth more than 500,000 thousand, but I will never sell them. Even though I don’t have a penny in my pockets today (laughs). My goal is to pass on the knowledge, profit and money making I have done those for long, but today I feel like a millionaire in my heart because of what I know and what I do.

Poem

Free Like a Waving Flag

She was born into slavery

Her accomplishments were of bravery

It’s her people she is try to lift

With her unique and rare gift

She suffered emotionally and physically

Yet she managed the brutality

She patiently waited for that Faithful day

But seem so far away

She looks into the mirror and sees her reflection

Its kills her inside like a dangerous infection

She prays and asks for a divine power; if only she can change her color

But we all know that’s impossible

She fought like a lioness and bravery was her accomplishment

They told her “Your kind don’t have rights”

She went back to God asked why?

God told her accept no defeat

So she learned to be loyal

And soon they will declare her royal

Her fight was only for her freedom

From this country that offered equality

She showed her people the way

With her amazing speech here in Ohio

Believing that slaves and women had rights

She fought like a lioness and bravery was her accomplishment

She passed away free like a waving flag

And if you forgot about her look through pages of history better yet Google search her …and her name

sojourner Truth (Isabella Baumfree)

Hello, My name is Yusuf Mohamed
I am a sophomore here at Ohio State
I am posting my essay 2 and my Poem.
They are both inspiring to me and hope they will be to you guys
Thank you for reading them!!

Protecting the Environment

Rachel Carson was a well known environmentalist born in 1907

She wanted to make the world look like heaven
When she attended college, her major was biology
Partly because she wanted to save the trees
But she decided to drop her major
Even though she was still aware the world was in danger
When she graduated, she became a writer
But for the environment, she was a fighter


Later when she wrote Silent Spring
She wanted the public to understand one simple thing
To protect the environment, for you and me
She wanted regulations for chemicals, especially DDT
But the chemical companies accused her of being an alarmist
When in reality, she was trying her hardest
To convince the public the harms of pesticides
Or the earth could end up in suicide

Hurricane Katrina

The storm that took place in New Orleans, Hurricane Katrina, was tragic. Many themes in the film include the view by some victims that government failure contributed to the death and suffering of many New Orleans Residents. The film consists of themes that may be emotional to some, which can influence the viewpoints of the viewers. As of today, New Orleans is a city that is in need of rebuilding, even though the hurricane hit four years ago.


The city of New Orleans was hit the hardest by Hurricane Katrina. The city is in need of rebuilding, but it is difficult to say whether it should be rebuilt. One explanation would be the cost of rebuilding the city. It would take an excessive amount of money in order for New Orleans to be rebuilt in the aftermath of the hurricane. But because the people are suffering, we should help the people of New Orleans. Rebuilding may have some risks to the economy, but if there are deaths due to starvation and lack of aid, it would also be costly as well.


The film contained themes that influenced my feelings. One theme that influenced me was the scene where a five-year old girl drowned in the storm. It felt sad mainly because the loss of a child can be painful, along with the loss of a family member. Another theme in the film that influenced me were the peoples' feelings about the federal government's failure to respond to the hurricane. Some victims of the storm explain that they lived in shelters without electricity and that they did not feel that the federal government gave them enough aid. Of course, as mentioned, it is expensive to rebuild the city that was hit hard by a powerful hurricane, especially when the levees broke. The broken levees are another issue. Victims argue that the local government knew that the levees were weak and that they did nothing about them. Overall, it may take time for the city to get cleaned up.

Frank Lloyd Wright - Kris

"The Man About Town"

Born of two people strong willed and passionate,

Your mother knew you would be a builder great.

The blocks you toyed with as a toddler small,

Shaped the way you saw when you grew tall.

You once said that we have to see

The whole of life that there can be

To serve this life most completely

Common sence with clean geometry.

In stone and glass you showed us clear,

With great designs by the many score;

The harmony towards which we should steer,

To avoid tradition in structures poor.

Your life was long and full of loves,

Your social life wrought gossip to harm.

A man about town with a lustful eye,

In marriage the third time's a charm!

Profile Essay --- Kris

“Kombucha Bob” Munley
Kombucha Tea Brewer, Astrologist, and a Communicator of Life Force on Earth
Clintonville, Ohio
Bob Munley brews a very popular fermented green tea called Kombucha, that sells off the shelves here in Columbus as fast as he can make it. Despite pressures from corporate businesses who want to supply his product on a large scale, he likes to keep his business small and manageable. Despite the potential for capital gains, it is obvious that he is not motivated by money, but fueled by his passion, rather. I expected the interview to be mostly about his brewing, but found that Bob’s interests are mostly spiritual, and I think this made the conversation all the better. My meeting with Bob Munley was very emotional, to say the least. One of his close friends had died unexpectedly in a car accident several nights before the interview, and he had a lot on his mind.

There is a science to life! That is why there is a higher power. God is the easiest word to take; universal force is my choice of words. Higher power, what rules the universe. Nothing is by accident. God works with synchronicity, there are no accidents.
About 150 of [my books] are astrology, which is a science of life on earth that I dismissed entirely until I was in my 1980’s period, until I was over 30 years old. I used to think that astrology - the first people who introduced me to astrology, were yes, hippies from California, who came to my New Jersey east coast head shop with loooong hair, and talking about brown rice, macrobiotics, diet, and astrology. I said “These guys have done too much bad acid.” And you know what? It took me ten years later to find out that some of those old hippies, ha ha ha! Now I know why the person who turned me on to astrology was 60 to my maybe 30 years old, back in 1979, a woman I met in Morristown, New Jersey. We met in this little health food store and she said, “You’re an interesting character! Could I do your astrology chart?” I was like, “Neeeeh!” This was my feeling about astrology through those 1960’s and 70’s. “I don’t believe in that shit.” Well do you mind, it will take me 15, 20 minutes. Well she did all the math, that the computers now do. She did all the math and stuff in less than half an hour, while I sat there, put the planets into the proper houses, and started telling me about myself. And I’m sitting there saying “OH my god! OH no no don’t say that! How do you know that? Oh! Oh!” And then after that I got a book, then a couple more books and started reading and saying, “This is unbelievable this stuff!” I graduated from the New York School of Astrology, and had a license here in Columbus, when I came here 15 years later as a licensed astrologer, and I say to you, astrology IS a science. And it can tell you all about your proclivities, your tendencies, the things that you can learn to succeed with on Earth. I’m missing the word there. The things that are your attributes – capabilities. Right, the things that you have to learn to deal with properly, and not fall, succumb to your incapabilities as far as the science of life on earth. I’ve done hundreds of charts, I do them for so many people now, still, and people are always in shock!
There are no yes-or-no answers to any questions asked of Bob. Personally, I am the communicator of life force on earth. My work, my profession now is chosen to be the creator of a magical - bad word, bad choice of words! A wonderful health drink called kombucha, which is a fermented green tea, available nationally, or internationally now at this stage, as it is becoming very popular around the world! Although it has been known in parts of the world for 2300 years! Kombucha is known to be kind of an acidic, strong tasting drink with great health benefits but not necessarily a great taste. I learned how to make kombucha that is pleasant tasting, besides having all of the health attributes of this drink. Health attributes being a loaded, raw, alive, unpasteurized green tea, or tea and sugar mixture containing extremely large amounts of vitamins and minerals, probiotics, antioxidants, digestive enzymes and amino acids, cleanser for the liver, and detoxifies the small and large intestine. Extremely rejuvenating because of its stimulating effect for the digestive metabolism of the body. It is at times considered a stimulant, but it is just a natural digestive enhancing drink.
I drink 3 or 4 pints a day, as much as that is, probably half a gallon a day. The only thing better for you on earth other than kombucha is clean, CLEAN water. People addicted to kombucha will not drink enough water, they drink too much kombucha! You have to remember to drink water too. The body is 76% water, it needs liquid. Kombucha is so stimulating, it makes people feel good. People don’t expect to feel good from it! Like I was telling you about the [Bexley] Chief of Police, he said “That’s legal? Natural? Organic? Home crafted in your case?” Because you know, you have that kombucha out there that’s made commercially now. That’s very very good for you also; it’s just that they try to reach the masses with the flavors and dilutions of true kombucha. I only started drinking kombucha seven years ago, my hair has grown back in places where it was getting scarce. Most of my hair has turned back, from white to black. Among its attributes, [kombucha] is a cure-all for cancer, many digestive diseases, it is raw, alive, unpasteurized. Therefore it is containing all the natural – people need things that are not killed by commercial heat, pasteurization processes and chemicals. Chemicals – NO good! Chemicals caused Bob the epileptic seizures! It took eliminating all of the chemicals from Bob’s diet to remove the tendencies towards neurological short circuiting. Imbalances, better word. Neurons firing! Uncontrollably! CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP! Hah! That was Bob clapping, claps from Bob. I’m thinking, “He’s recording this! This will be part of the future sir!”
I found kombucha to be necessary. A great addition to my life. It’s life giving properties are so impressive that I chose to make a few extra bottles the first time I made it, after I had been drinking it for three years and purchasing it from others. I made 18; I had 18 empty bottles that I previously bought kombucha in. I filled them with my own kombucha, and people asked, “Could I have one? Will you make more for me?” I gave some to the Co-Op, the Clintonville Community Market, and they said “Bob, we could sell this, can you make some more for us?” I said, “Wow, hah – yeah I love it, it’s good isn’t it? Sure, I’ll make some more, and I started making kombucha.” I turned – turned Columbus on to kombucha! I’ve given out – edit this - I’ve brewed 50,000 bottles, I’ve given out 5,000 samples of kombucha, and people say, “This stuff is OOH, AHHH, EEEE! Different! I like this! This tastes good! IS this making me feel good? Is this legal?” I say, is it illegal to feel good? You don’t need a license to feel good. It’s got no caffeine, no alcohol. I love it, it changes your life. It’s good for you.
I love the personal gratification that people give me for making this. I realized that it had a great potential for being marketed. This is before there were any marketed ones. GT Dave’s, the leading product, was not available in Ohio, no one had ever heard of it. It was in the past only brewed by local, kombucha home crafted beverage manufacturers, like I chose to do. I decided to make it and it grew incredibly with request, and I enjoyed - I enjoyed immensely - the satisfaction in people saying thank you, the stories that I could give you about its acceptability and its aiding in ill people, people with illnesses, old age, and medical problems, and their enhancement! 76 year old women, 18 year old kids who told that it made them feel good rather than drinking alcohol! I said, “This is good. This is good, people love me.” Because I look for social acceptance, I love people loving me, liking me, I enjoy the social acceptance and the enjoyment that I get and it’s the reaction that I get “Thank you Bob!” and its, Jesus Christ! Hahaha! Thank you Jesus! It needed a business forum, somewhat, to be brought out to the public. And I’m happy to say, I’m making as much kombucha as I can. A lot of people are leery of starting with it, you know? “It tastes weird! I don’t like this!” Second sip, “This isn’t bad, oh, I think my husband would like this, where can I get this?” Ehhh, so I said I’ll kept making more, and I kept selling and selling, and people looked for it then, then your friends and people, other stores, call up and say “We’re out of it! When are we going to have more?” They say it’s my responsibility! Hah, I gotta make more! It’s hard to keep up with! It’s above me, I can’t make as much as I can sell!
What I’m relating to you, is enhanced by Bob’s …acceptance of life, and yet is part of Bob’s dream, which has proven to be, in Bob’s life, very real to God’s call for Bob. What – how else can I say it? My art - that I read to you about from the [astrology] book - Bob’s art is, and my first teacher said “Your art is food, Bob. Saturn is in your fourth house, that’s home kitchen, home affairs, Saturn is the planet of challenge, you were meant to work in your kitchen and to provide, I guess for you for your nutrition, for your diagnosis of epilepsy, BOB YOUR ART IS FOOD AND NUTRITION!”
No accidents in life, we’re here for God, our higher purpose in life, another name for God. The sooner you find what you do, who you are comes back to you, manifest many times over. That’s what your life’s about and how you will achieve your happiness, not your success or material gain but happiness and love of life and being a part of that higher power, or God or force on earth, we are all God’s force on Earth here!
I insisted that Bob read a poem that he wrote to finish the interview.
Written by Robert Munley, Bob, in 1980…I am very proud of this. It is printed and hangs on my wall.
I am the witness…to all God’s might.
We can all be the witness, we can all choose...Light.
I am…made aware universe’s plan, God’s angle.
We are all made aware, we can all choose…or dangle.
We are all given ways to see, we can all choose to love or reject.
For love is ours, all, and meant to be.
The creative plan is…how our lives intersect.
Now it’s only in our accepting, in living out our part,
We can truly learn from this life, we can gain growth of the heart.
So then all in life has purpose, with all reason from above,
So then we are all free to choose, and we can all choose
LOVE.