When I despair, I remember that all through history the ways of truth and love have always won. There have Primarily journalism stands for conveying stories of everyday life in a well balanced and fair manner.  Media meant to interact with social and political structures and to arbitrate between the public and different institutions.  Journalists must be trustworthy and their information should be backed by evidence.  They supposed to enrich our lives by questioning, exemplifying both good and ill social, political, cultural practices and should add value to social construction.   Media is central to social, political evolution and indeed is crucial to democracy.  It meant to nurture public debates by adapting opposing opinions.  It meant to help us, the public, to make informed decisions and to aid us in our quest to hold the elected accountable. 
The media also plays a role in building and safeguarding the national interest.  We must all, the public life and its institutions, ensure that our media is purposive and that in a conflict ridden zones like ours, it does not cite hatred and encourage the continuation of tensions.  Thus the national interest should and must be at the heart of public and media discourse. 

In order for the press to achieve its objectives, it has to be free.  However, the notion of freedom of the press assumes that we are all logical beings.  Whilst the public should have access to arguments and counter arguments, we should not just hope that somehow we will witness the triumph of good argument over the evil.  As a realist, I know that this is not always the end result.  The impact and the power of words, whether negative or positive, should never be undervalued.  Therefore, there should be an agreed limit to freedom of speech.  We must be able to draw a line between responsible journalism and those who make a life long career out of bullying and destruction. 

We must fight ignorant media whether that is driven by personal vendetta, racism, or hatred of an individual or groups.  We must in the same time be able to encourage responsible journalism, one that, in our current climate, rebuilds our shattered lives, one that repairs public confidence in our elected leaders and one that is constructive. 

Amin Amirs cartoons fall into the purposeless category or the sensationalist.  The intention I believe is not to generate a healthy debate, but rather to provoke doubt.  The cartoons point the finger and pass a guilty verdict on the head of our regional state.  This is clearly not a disagreement with certain actions or political stance, it is pure accusation.  Amir has directly linked, Dr Faroole, to a criminal activity, namely being a partaker in fraud.  It is really of a paramount importance that we, as Puntlanders, take this issue very seriously, not only to protect our infant democracy, but because an insult to our national symbol is an insult to us all.  As the electors of Dr Faroole, this is an attack on our pride and dignity as people and it must never go by unpunished.  Condemning our leader is accusing all of us of indecency and moral corruption.  However, People of the land of Punt are law abiding peace loving and must reject any attempts that means to demonise them.  

We must show that Puntland is serious about the path it has chosen for itself.  We have chosen a government that represents the people and one that transforms our dreams and aspirations to actions and tangible results.  

There is nothing journalistic about what Amir did.  This should be a rallying point to the land of Punt.  We must draw a line between what is acceptable and what is not in the context of our social, cultural and political parameters.  We must show to the world that bullying is not going to be taken on the chin anymore, we choose to break away from submissiveness and to stand up for what is right.  Freedom of journalism should never be confused with irresponsible reporting.  The media should only be protected when in return it adheres to its intended functions.  

People of the land of Punt must come together and support, both morally and financially, the bringing of a legal case against Amin Amir. 
  
Warsan Cismaan Saalax
Warsan2001@hotmail.com

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