I was born in Mogadishu, Somalia, and am currently attending Lewiston High School. I am a senior and will graduate this year.

In Lewiston, I have found that our Somali community is divided into factions and clans. I thought we left that problem back home, but unfortunately we are still divided into clans even though we live in a free country.

I have experienced this personally and honestly. A friend has been denied help because he belonged to the wrong clan.

I would like to see all the Somali communities become one. I hope we can, as young people, follow the ideas of truth, liberty and justice for all.

I hope to see the government of Lewiston open more dialogue and understand how different clans in the Somali community treat each other. It should be an open dialogue, where everyone can attend and be notified in advance. The government should also be careful to track where all its aid money goes to make sure it isn’t misused by some for their own interest.

Unfortunately, we must be vigilant.

So, on behalf of the young Somalis, I ask that we have elections for our leaders in the community. Some leaders now cannot read or write in English, so we must use democracy.

We are law-abiding citizens, honest and hardworking. But some of the Somalis use the government the wrong way.

We are asking the government to help us stop corruption and discrimination in the name of building the Somali community.

Abshir A. Boore, Lewiston

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