--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What I always emphasize is that I am a…" description: "\"What I always emphasize is that I am a representative who happens to be Somali.\" — Ilhan Omar" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1e/ilhan-omar-7754_always_what-i-always-emphasize-is-that-i-am-a-r_1434902.jpg" --- # What I always emphasize is that I am a representative who… ![“What I always emphasize is that I am a representative who happens to be Somali.” quote by Ilhan Omar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1e/ilhan-omar-7754_always_what-i-always-emphasize-is-that-i-am-a-r_1434902.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1e/ilhan-omar-7754_always_what-i-always-emphasize-is-that-i-am-a-r_1434902.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1e/ilhan-omar-7754_always_what-i-always-emphasize-is-that-i-am-a-r_1434902.jpg) > “What I always emphasize is that I am a representative who happens to be Somali.” [Ilhan Omar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilhan-omar/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Identity can be a political tool, but personal heritage remains distinct. **In simple terms:** Being Somali is part of who I am, not a political label. Key Takeaway Embrace personal identity beyond politics. Themes politics identity representation heritage Mood thoughtful political Type inspirational reflective When to use this quote - campaign speeches - media interviews - community meetings Key Concepts intersectionality political representation personal narrative Questions to Reflect On - How can representatives balance personal identity with policy? - What impact does identity have on voter perception? A Different Perspective May reduce complex political views to a single identity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Somali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/somali/) ## Related quotes > [I did not come to power to divide Somali but to unite them, and I will never deviate from this path. I shall respect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siad-barre/i-did-not-come-to-power-to-divide-somali-but-to-unite-them-and-i-will/) [Siad Barre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siad-barre/) > [ \[Somali maritime violence\] is a response to greedy Western nations, who invade and exploit Somalia's water resources illegally. It is not a piracy, it… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muammar-al-gaddafi/somali-maritime-violence-is-a-response-to-greedy-western-nations-who/) [Muammar al-Gaddafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muammar-al-gaddafi/) > [We are helping our Somali brothers get rid of these narrow-minded attackers. The Somali people do not support the extremists, they are on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoweri-museveni/we-are-helping-our-somali-brothers-get-rid-of-these-narrow-minded/) [Yoweri Museveni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoweri-museveni/) > [I don't see myself only as a Somali character. I think of myself as an actor, and if the job fits me and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barkhad-abdi/i-don-t-see-myself-only-as-a-somali-character-i-think-of-myself-as-an/) [Barkhad Abdi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barkhad-abdi/) > [I think now, we in the international community are belatedly wanting to show our solidarity with the Somali peoples and also do our best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-egeland/i-think-now-we-in-the-international-community-are-belatedly-wanting/) [Jan Egeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-egeland/) > [“Since the water turns into Ice Different physical shapes the eye See but indeed their building blocks still remain same easy, (H2O) Farah Said.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farah-said/since-the-water-turns-into-ice-different-physical-shapes-the-eye-see/) farah Said > [When people put labels on us, it doesn't always enclose everything that we are. So even though I'm proud to be Somali, I'm proud…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halima-aden/when-people-put-labels-on-us-it-doesn-t-always-enclose-everything/) [Halima Aden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/halima-aden/) > [The next few years are going to be horrendous in the UK. The last thing we need is a Somali pirate-style raid on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lloyd-webber/the-next-few-years-are-going-to-be-horrendous-in-the-uk-the-last/) [Andrew Lloyd Webber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lloyd-webber/) > [I love Somali foods like canjeero, a pancakelike bread; same for pizza, burgers, and sushi.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halima-aden/i-love-somali-foods-like-canjeero-a-pancakelike-bread-same-for-pizza/) [Halima Aden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/halima-aden/) > [“Dadaala xaaji cabaas waa gaadha, oo dhaafi karaa”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dadaala-xaaji-cabaas-waa-gaadha-oo-dhaafi-karaa/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I used to own an island in the Seychelles and had a big boat there and one day I came across some Somali pirates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilbur-smith/i-used-to-own-an-island-in-the-seychelles-and-had-a-big-boat-there/) [Wilbur Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilbur-smith/) > [In our Revolution we believe that we have broken the chain of a consumer economy based on imports, and we are free to decide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siad-barre/in-our-revolution-we-believe-that-we-have-broken-the-chain-of-a/) [Siad Barre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siad-barre/) > [The Somali people deserve the kind of life we have here in the United States.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caputo/the-somali-people-deserve-the-kind-of-life-we-have-here-in-the-united/) [Michael Caputo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caputo/) > [ Somalis have made my city of Wilmington, Delaware, \[their home\] on a smaller scale. There is a large, very identifiable Somali community, i might… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/somalis-have-made-my-city-of-wilmington-delaware-their-home-on-a/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [“gud hadimo ha qodin, hadaad qodona ha dheerayn ku dhici doontaana mooye.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/gud-hadimo-ha-qodin-hadaad-qodona-ha-dheerayn-ku-dhici-doontaana-mooye/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Ilhan Omar > [I have been very fortunate to have a partner who really stepped up and have wonderful children who do a lot of things that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilhan-omar/i-have-been-very-fortunate-to-have-a-partner-who-really-stepped-up/) [Ilhan Omar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilhan-omar/) > [In just my own neighborhood, you can't go one block without seeing a sign that says, you know, 'Everyone's welcome here,' 'Refugees are welcome…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilhan-omar/in-just-my-own-neighborhood-you-can-t-go-one-block-without-seeing-a/) [Ilhan Omar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilhan-omar/) > [Hope will be found by understanding that diversity is the essence of the American Dream and why we need each other to fulfill it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilhan-omar/hope-will-be-found-by-understanding-that-diversity-is-the-essence-of/) [Ilhan Omar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilhan-omar/) > [I think we forget that, for a really long time, this country has been a place that has welcomed many refugees who have made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilhan-omar/i-think-we-forget-that-for-a-really-long-time-this-country-has-been-a/) [Ilhan Omar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilhan-omar/) > [Here in Minnesota, we don't only welcome immigrants; we send them to Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilhan-omar/here-in-minnesota-we-don-t-only-welcome-immigrants-we-send-them-to/) [Ilhan Omar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilhan-omar/) > [I'm not easily scared; from the age of 8, I learned what it means to have everything you know taken away and what it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilhan-omar/i-m-not-easily-scared-from-the-age-of-8-i-learned-what-it-means-to/) [Ilhan Omar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilhan-omar/) > [“The more we listen to and learn from those with different backgrounds and present circumstances from our own, the more we can find connections…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilhan-omar/the-more-we-listen-to-and-learn-from-those-with-different-backgrounds/) [Ilhan Omar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilhan-omar/) > [I believe in the ideals of America, in liberty, justice, and the pursuit of happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilhan-omar/i-believe-in-the-ideals-of-america-in-liberty-justice-and-the-pursuit/) [Ilhan Omar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilhan-omar/) > [This country gave us hope. This country allowed for us to develop our own identity and to create our own home. And we should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilhan-omar/this-country-gave-us-hope-this-country-allowed-for-us-to-develop-our/) [Ilhan Omar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilhan-omar/) > [I had a lot of challenges starting school, and my dad says I would come home every day crying and feeling bad about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilhan-omar/i-had-a-lot-of-challenges-starting-school-and-my-dad-says-i-would/) [Ilhan Omar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilhan-omar/) > [I think a big part of my faith teachings is to work together towards equality: that we're all created equal, and under the eyes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilhan-omar/i-think-a-big-part-of-my-faith-teachings-is-to-work-together-towards/) [Ilhan Omar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilhan-omar/) > [If we are not actively fighting against regressive ideologies, we are contributing to making them grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilhan-omar/if-we-are-not-actively-fighting-against-regressive-ideologies-we-are/) [Ilhan Omar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilhan-omar/) > [We have people who will take votes that they can't defend. They'll say they stand for a policy, but when it comes to vote…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilhan-omar/we-have-people-who-will-take-votes-that-they-can-t-defend-they-ll-say/) [Ilhan Omar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilhan-omar/) > [I come from people who dreamed of a free democratic system. I believe so strongly in the process and equal access.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilhan-omar/i-come-from-people-who-dreamed-of-a-free-democratic-system-i-believe/) [Ilhan Omar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilhan-omar/) > [We can walk and chew gum at the same time. Yes, the American people want us to legislate, they want us to insist on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilhan-omar/we-can-walk-and-chew-gum-at-the-same-time-yes-the-american-people/) [Ilhan Omar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilhan-omar/) [Explore all 88 Ilhan Omar quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilhan-omar/) ## More Always quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What I always emphasize is that I am a representative who happens to be Somali.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ilhan Omar" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilhan-omar/what-i-always-emphasize-is-that-i-am-a-representative-who-happens-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Always" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilhan-omar/what-i-always-emphasize-is-that-i-am-a-representative-who-happens-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1e/ilhan-omar-7754_always_what-i-always-emphasize-is-that-i-am-a-r_1434902.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1e/ilhan-omar-7754_always_what-i-always-emphasize-is-that-i-am-a-r_1434902.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1e/ilhan-omar-7754_always_what-i-always-emphasize-is-that-i-am-a-r_1434902.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What I always emphasize is that I am a representative who happens to be Somali.” — Ilhan Omar", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ilhan Omar", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilhan-omar/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "What I always emphasize is that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilhan-omar/what-i-always-emphasize-is-that-i-am-a-representative-who-happens-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilhan-omar/what-i-always-emphasize-is-that-i-am-a-representative-who-happens-to/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```