Paul's view of Morocco

September 17, 2010


I just read Suzanne’s blog on Morocco and it was really good especially about its history, architecture and her major impressions. As you all know, I am more interested in the social aspects and wanted to share my perception of this unique country. The driving here is chaotic and dangerous especially in crossing the streets. They do not slow down nor some don’t pay attention to the few stop lights. Thus you are running with the crowd halfway across the street – then stopping and then running again to get across. Survival for the Fittest. Casablanca takes great pride about the old movie named Casablanca but admit it was developed entirely in Hollywood. Obviously, the movie has brought this extremely poor country added money for tourism. When we got off the boat in Casablanca, we were in the medina the old and poor section of the city. Thus they were several children asking for money or trying to sell you something. I learned early not to talk nor keep eye contact with either the children or the vendors on the streets as they will interpret that as you are interested and won’t leave you alone. Suzanne put her arm around this one cute girl at the beginning and she followed her for 2 blocks. It is sad as parents make them beg or sell something to make money for the family. Overall, I was not impressed with Casablanca – dirty and too much begging- little quality of things to buy –not that I was interested in buying. Ha

I did enjoy Fez for 2 days. It was another very old town out of the medieval days from years ago but very interesting. We had an excellent place to stay –clean –beautiful rooms- courtyard-people very friendly etc. The owner had a taxi waiting for us at the train station to take us back to his place. Very nice Bed and Breakfast. We had a good guide who took us around the city for 2 days – walked a lot- had the taxi pick us up later to take us to dinner and pick us up when finished. I was more interested in his personal views of his culture and his knowledge of the US. He was a ultra conservative Muslin who still believes in arranged marriages and highly restrictive women’s roles. The parents are revered in the Muslin culture – the man’s role is to make money as is their kids and to give it to their mother. The mother role is to bear children especially boys who can work and make money, cook and weave rugs to sell. Some women have golden fingers- some silver- others bronze. Golden fingers are women who can bear a lot of children especially boys, be an excellent cook and make beautiful rugs. Silver fingers are able to do only some of those things and bronze will little of those things. Thus there is a hierarchy of respect within their culture. The mother selects the young girl for her son’s wife – has to be a virgin etc. If they divorce, they are looked upon as being tarnished and no man will want them. They pray 4 times a day including at 4AM over the loud speakers in the cities. These muslins are non-violent and are strongly against war. He admits there are some radicals in their country who cause problems with other countries including the US BUT almost all muslins are strongly opposed to them. Too bad our news in America doesn’t tell us this!!!!! He was very knowledgeable about the US politics and even the crazy man in Gainesville who wanted to burn the Quran in protest. He felt he was doing this to stir others who don’t know the truth. He says all countries including the US and Morocco has these crazy people. Thus he did not take this personally and strongly supports the US (I’m sure in part for the money they get from us). I did notice him flirting with another at lunch while we were eating away from him. I asked him later about fidelity in the Muslim religion and he admitted some people go under the table. More men than woman. Thus I concluded that with all their religion and prayers, there is a similar hypocrisy as in the US who obviously has similar problems with fidelity. In all, we have different beliefs and opinions and need to recognize them as DIFFERENT as opposed to who is RIGHT vs. WRONG. Anyway, this is only my opinion.