Abdi Aden Blog

            Beyond Scared Straight is a documentary show that airs on Thursdays on A&E. The basis of the show is to scare young boys and girls to avoid prison time at any part of their lives. The guests are introduced to convicts, which they then begin to share their stories with them. One particular girl has an interesting story. Her own mother is incarcerated in the prison and she pleads for her daughter to not commit the same mistakes she did. Although the young girls are brought together, each ones has a significant story to share. In one segment, they are paired up with the inmates and they give these girls the motivation they need to keep them out of the prison system.

            The fifth estate is a very popular show on the CBC network, which is on every Friday night at 9pm. One particular episode that caught my eye was “The life and death of Abdinasir Dirie. He’s a young man whose family emigrated from Somalia to escape the civil war. After completing high school, he suddenly decides to leave to Alberta where the economy in Fort McMurray is booming. Being Somalian myself, this was a common trend amongst families in the city. Along of the young Somali kids would tell their parents that there going there to work but end up selling drugs, which was the harsh reality for Abdinasir Dirie’s family. All this resulted in 30+ unsolved murders, all Somali. One particular moment that shocked me in the show is the following hours before Abdinasir’s death. His own friend lets some people into his apartment, knowing that Abdi wasn’t close to these people. He then leaves him alone with these people only to come back and find his friend dead. He then calls the police and fled. Being Somali myself, all I can say about this is the young Somali adults have to understand that life is not worth fast money. It’s much better to earn it legally and live to tell about it.

            Sicko is a documentary by famous filmmaker, Michael Moore. Once again he attacks America’s government on health care. His previous installments were Bowling for Columbine & Fahrenheit 911. Sicko attacks America’s poor health system. He goes to different countries and compares wait times and service, with the United States ranking last in almost all categories. Being Canadian, I feel absolutely blessed that I can receive health care for free. In the United States, if you don’t have insurance, your sent packing. That is absolute travesty that Americans can be bleeding to death but the doctors have to check to see if you they got insurance first. Only then can the help you. Unbelievable.