Lets start with the environment. I didn't expect as much green--vibrant green--as there was. All of the drives there were rolling hills of green pastures and trees sporadically. There were sheep, goats, and cows! There were at some points in our drive where I felt like I was apart of the Truman Show since it looked like "Iowa" every once and awhile. But that was only one side of the road. On the other was the beautiful, yet murky, Atlantic Coast or the rocks and mud of the Rif Mountains. I know that Africa is not all Sahara or jungle but even though I know that, it still hadn't registered. My mind could not process me being in Africa. I took a picture of these trees in order to help my mind because they looked "African." Whatever thats supposed to mean anymore...
On to architecture. Again, Africa is not what I've seen in the books or movies. It is not all pueblos or huts made out of clay or straw. There is merchandise and commercialism. There are Muslim influences everywhere beyond the mosques. There are less statues but more tile work and attention to detail sculptings in the walls. There are roads and cars that drive by and its like Frogger on steroids in order to cross (I loved it!). And then there is a ton of blue painted buildings in the old parts of town. This blue represents the Jewish influence that lives and breathes across Morocco. I learned that when the Jews were being oppressed in Europe, many fled to Morocco and their government and cities accepted them and protected them. At one point, Hitler asked the Moroccan government to hand over all of the Jews. Their response? They're apart of Morocco, if you want them, you have to take all of us. How not discriminating is that? Chefchoaen, one of the last towns we went too, had a lot of Jewish refugees because it was so hidden in the mountainside. Apparently for sometime the government had forgotten the city was there because it was economically and politically stable. It was just mind blowing to think how all I had heard was how Muslims are so cut off and not really open to other religions from the media, that to hear stories and see real life results of living together in peace and helping each other. It was comforting. I know it is not like that everywhere (just like how some Christians fight with Jews or Muslims) but it appeared that in general, things were peaceful. Mandy took this really cool picture of just the blue accented on the hillside.
On to people and beliefs. The discussions with each set of groups--3 women, 3 men, and the family in the pueblo--all consisted of more or less the same questions regarding daily life, religion, and politics. The two biggest realizations for me were how much influence the United States has on this country and how grey the area is between culture and religion.
I learned on this trip that Morocco was the first country to recognize America's independence and that we have the longest friendship treaty with them. Why isn't this taught in school? America recognizes Egypt as one of its biggest Arab allies because of its social and economic status, but we are Allies with many more Arab and particularly Islam countries that seem to be forgotten about. We were asked more than once of what the USA thought of Morocco and I felt so lame noticing we all had nothing to say. In a sense its a good thing because it appears that the media's motto is "no news is good new." If there is no major crisis that directly affects the USA then we won't know about it. The day we traveled to Morocco was the same day that Egypt entered their government crisis. When we were asked what we thought the USA was going to do about it, we again responded in silence since all of the news stations here were in Arabic. It was almost humiliating to feel so ignorant. We learned that a lot of countries in that area were still expecting big things from Obama in regards to his foreign policies since Bush didn't go over so hot there. One of the men brought up a good point regarding how the War of Terrorism was started. The non extremist Muslims didn't appreciate or agree with what the terrorist groups were doing either--they felt that their name, their religion, was being muddied up. They hated that it gave them this horrible reputation. He asked us why didn't the USA ask Morocco or Jordan to help with finding the Taliban, Al Queda and other terrorist groups? Why did we seem to avoid every Arab and associate them with a Muslim terrorist. How would the war/battle gone if we had asked for help? It was certainly a duh moment for me as my ignorance flared up again. I hate how I had allowed the terrorist, hating Christians, stereotype find a little root in my mind. I know not to follow stereotype and yet its so easy to do. I hate how I let the 2% of extremist Muslim become the 98% in my mind. This terrorism event that shows the extreme Muslims is just like the 2% of Christians that march around with signs saying "God hates fags." I, as a Christian, don't want that to represent me, so why did I think the terrorists could represent the Muslims. Its the same idea with the 2% of illegal immigrants who purposely live off of the government while 98% come here with purpose and to work hard for another cause. Its aggravating and seriously shows how one little thing can explode or how ignorance creates fear. Why is that so? Why can't the rational beat the irrational thoughts?
Moving on...
Religion and culture is no where close to black and white; there is no set line where this is where religion ends and culture begins. America has a problem distinguishing this too at times but not as much as it was in Morocco or many other Arab nations because in predominantly Islam countries, their government follows--there is no state and church separation. This is completely relevant in hearing the discussion regarding the head scarves, hijabs, burkas, and other traditional clothing. While talking with the women they described it as a choice for them, not something forced upon them or something that oppressed them. Their head scarves (the most popular article) was worn in order to respect their beauty. One of the girls said that while "we (American women)" think that the head scarf is a type of oppression to us, they view American women wearing slutty clothing as oppressed beauty. Because the style or mind set of some women is to show off what you got, the respect and natural beauty aspect is lost. The women we spoke to didn't want a man to find her attractive for her looks, but for her thoughts. That is a whole lot more respectful and non oppressive as some media has made it seem. Another analogy/symbol the head scarf is, is a way to show they are devoted to their God just how I wear a necklace that says Faith or has a Cross on it. Its a public announcement of what I believe in. Again--not oppressive. The men had similar thoughts regarding the traditional clothing too. They said that they can walk around wearing whatever they want because they are not the more attractive sex so they don't have much to hide, to cherish. While the Quran suggests women to wear one, the consensus in Morocco was you can wear one or not wear one, but that is up to you and your God. In Morocco, religion is public yet very personal to almost each and every person. Their government does not make it mandatory to wear the traditional clothing, unlike places like Saudi Arabia where it's the government demanding. Their government is oppressing their choice, not their beauty or their dignity.
So there was the grit of the discussions. All three groups were very lively in their talks, sometimes bickering as they had different opinions and stories to tell. There was so much more said that I wish I could remember, but those were the two that stuck out the most to me.
I learned on this trip that Morocco was the first country to recognize America's independence and that we have the longest friendship treaty with them. Why isn't this taught in school? America recognizes Egypt as one of its biggest Arab allies because of its social and economic status, but we are Allies with many more Arab and particularly Islam countries that seem to be forgotten about. We were asked more than once of what the USA thought of Morocco and I felt so lame noticing we all had nothing to say. In a sense its a good thing because it appears that the media's motto is "no news is good new." If there is no major crisis that directly affects the USA then we won't know about it. The day we traveled to Morocco was the same day that Egypt entered their government crisis. When we were asked what we thought the USA was going to do about it, we again responded in silence since all of the news stations here were in Arabic. It was almost humiliating to feel so ignorant. We learned that a lot of countries in that area were still expecting big things from Obama in regards to his foreign policies since Bush didn't go over so hot there. One of the men brought up a good point regarding how the War of Terrorism was started. The non extremist Muslims didn't appreciate or agree with what the terrorist groups were doing either--they felt that their name, their religion, was being muddied up. They hated that it gave them this horrible reputation. He asked us why didn't the USA ask Morocco or Jordan to help with finding the Taliban, Al Queda and other terrorist groups? Why did we seem to avoid every Arab and associate them with a Muslim terrorist. How would the war/battle gone if we had asked for help? It was certainly a duh moment for me as my ignorance flared up again. I hate how I had allowed the terrorist, hating Christians, stereotype find a little root in my mind. I know not to follow stereotype and yet its so easy to do. I hate how I let the 2% of extremist Muslim become the 98% in my mind. This terrorism event that shows the extreme Muslims is just like the 2% of Christians that march around with signs saying "God hates fags." I, as a Christian, don't want that to represent me, so why did I think the terrorists could represent the Muslims. Its the same idea with the 2% of illegal immigrants who purposely live off of the government while 98% come here with purpose and to work hard for another cause. Its aggravating and seriously shows how one little thing can explode or how ignorance creates fear. Why is that so? Why can't the rational beat the irrational thoughts?
Moving on...
Religion and culture is no where close to black and white; there is no set line where this is where religion ends and culture begins. America has a problem distinguishing this too at times but not as much as it was in Morocco or many other Arab nations because in predominantly Islam countries, their government follows--there is no state and church separation. This is completely relevant in hearing the discussion regarding the head scarves, hijabs, burkas, and other traditional clothing. While talking with the women they described it as a choice for them, not something forced upon them or something that oppressed them. Their head scarves (the most popular article) was worn in order to respect their beauty. One of the girls said that while "we (American women)" think that the head scarf is a type of oppression to us, they view American women wearing slutty clothing as oppressed beauty. Because the style or mind set of some women is to show off what you got, the respect and natural beauty aspect is lost. The women we spoke to didn't want a man to find her attractive for her looks, but for her thoughts. That is a whole lot more respectful and non oppressive as some media has made it seem. Another analogy/symbol the head scarf is, is a way to show they are devoted to their God just how I wear a necklace that says Faith or has a Cross on it. Its a public announcement of what I believe in. Again--not oppressive. The men had similar thoughts regarding the traditional clothing too. They said that they can walk around wearing whatever they want because they are not the more attractive sex so they don't have much to hide, to cherish. While the Quran suggests women to wear one, the consensus in Morocco was you can wear one or not wear one, but that is up to you and your God. In Morocco, religion is public yet very personal to almost each and every person. Their government does not make it mandatory to wear the traditional clothing, unlike places like Saudi Arabia where it's the government demanding. Their government is oppressing their choice, not their beauty or their dignity.
So there was the grit of the discussions. All three groups were very lively in their talks, sometimes bickering as they had different opinions and stories to tell. There was so much more said that I wish I could remember, but those were the two that stuck out the most to me.
He explorado, soñado, y descubrió
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