http://www.williamsonday.com/morocco/ Reflections on far away Morocco . . . en Copyright 2008 Sun, 11 May 2008 01:09:36 -0500 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification previews the Gnawa Music Festival in Essaouira.]]> http://www.williamsonday.com/morocco/archives/2008/05/gnawa.html http://www.williamsonday.com/morocco/archives/2008/05/gnawa.html music Sun, 11 May 2008 01:09:36 -0500 Three books I have been reading lately chronicle grim pasts and suggest possible futures for the African continent, of which Morocco is a key part. In addition to Assia Djebar's The Tongue's Blood Does Not Run Dry and Ishmael Beah's A Long Way Gone, I have also been reading Thomas L Friedman's The World Is Flat. It is hard to believe that all three authors are living on the same planet. Djebar, in series of short stories, chronicles decades of French on Algerian, Algerian on Algerian, and Algerian on French violence, much of it directed against women and chidren. Beah recounts his years as a child soldier in the Sierra Leone army in a brutal tale of close range killing after killing after killing. These blood soaked memoirs, recounting a level and scale of violence and brutality not seen on the North American continent since 1865, paint a macabre picture of societies so torn by violence and suspicion that a restoration of some sort of normal life seems utterly remote. In contrast, Friedman comes from another world. He paints a picture of "globalization" in which increased efficiencies in communication and distribution of goods, and a resulting greater dispersion of knowledge, allow hitherto excluded countries such as China and India to tap into global prosperity and compete on an equal footing with Europe and America. While acknowledging that the free ride of American economic and technological dominance is drawing to a close, Friedman argues that more equal competition and greater global prosperity will also benefit America, so long as America retains an openness to innovation and a will to compete. Friedman argues that it will still be possible for America to compete in the brave new world of globalization, but he also sees ominous signs that present day America is not really prepared to do so. Friedman's showcase example of the future of globalization is Bangalore, India, which he paints as a high tech oasis providing modern services to the North American continent in areas as diverse as computer game development, tax preparation, and even overnight X-ray diagnosis by highly trained Indian doctors. Friedman points to a combination of high speed information and computerization with low Indian wages and a cadre of highly trained, English-speaking professionals forged in the crucible of India's fiercely competitive Indian Institutes of Technology. Friedman sees this cadre of highly educated Indians as an essential resource not only for the development of the Indian subcontinent but also for the continuing technological advancement of the United States. The key question for Friedman, however, is whether Bangalore's island of prosperity in a sea of Indian poverty can share the wealth fast enough to prevent political instability. The price of the failure to share wealth, power, and opportunity is illustrated vividly by the examples of Algeria and Sierra Leone, as Friedman recognizes when he concedes that there is no greater threat to his program for world prosperity than the existence of violent, failed states cut off from the general rise in education and prosperity. As I hear reports of the real estate boom in Marrakesh and the investment projects of H.M. Mohammed VI, I am tempted to wonder whether Marrakesh is headed in the direction of Bangalore or the direction of Freetown. As a comparative model of stability and moderation in the region, Morocco appears to have bright prospects. Indeed, Friedman explicitly argues that is the Arab countries that have been obliged to develop their people rather than their oil that will most likely enjoy the brightest long term future. At the same time, it would also appear that Morocco must capitalize on its current prosperity by investing in the education of its population and leveraging its currently underutilized educated population at a level that will allow it to compete on the world stage. http://www.williamsonday.com/morocco/archives/2008/05/african-heaven.html http://www.williamsonday.com/morocco/archives/2008/05/african-heaven.html computers development globalization Mon, 05 May 2008 23:34:57 -0500 Moroccan Vocabulary, on of my favorite sites, has a new location and a zween new look!]]> http://www.williamsonday.com/morocco/archives/2008/04/of-note.html http://www.williamsonday.com/morocco/archives/2008/04/of-note.html Darija Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:17:36 -0500 Marrakesh restaurant, 617 New York Ave NW, and tonight I had my chance. The mint tea at was quite good, as was the bellydancing (the least authentically Moroccan feature of the club). To our distress, however, the salad was bland (except the zaalouk was pretty good). The bread was stale. The bastilla was burnt. The chicken with lemon and olives was not made with preserved lemons. The chicken was dry and tasteless. The olives were an afterthought. And that was the best dish of the night. The lamb with prunes and almonds just tasted like lamb that had been boiled too long. And I swear, the couscous tasted as though it was boiled not steamed. The apples in our fruit basket still had the labels affixed. All in all, a high priced fiasco. Never again.]]> http://www.williamsonday.com/morocco/archives/2007/11/bad-couscous.html http://www.williamsonday.com/morocco/archives/2007/11/bad-couscous.html food Sat, 17 Nov 2007 22:47:26 -0500 pushes Marrakesh tourism.]]> http://www.williamsonday.com/morocco/archives/2007/11/36-hours-in-mar.html http://www.williamsonday.com/morocco/archives/2007/11/36-hours-in-mar.html Marrakesh tourism Sat, 10 Nov 2007 23:53:26 -0500 declaring martial law, we should all support the brave people of Pakistan who are resisting. Appropriately enough, on the forefront of the protesters seeking to restore the rule of law are Pakistan's lawyers, hundreds of whom have been rounded up, beaten, and jailed by the dictator's police force. The United States should not thoughtlessly continue to shovel aid into Pakistan's government while Musharraf runs amok.]]> http://www.williamsonday.com/morocco/archives/2007/11/we-are-all-paki.html http://www.williamsonday.com/morocco/archives/2007/11/we-are-all-paki.html Human Rights Human Rights Tue, 06 Nov 2007 22:13:25 -0500 press release describing Intel Chairman Craig Barrett's recent trip to Morocco to provide technical assistance and computer technology. Barrett pointed out that Intel's support for education in math and technology was not purely philanthropic, but also helped to develop technically literate workers and consumers who would contribute to Intel's business. As a podcast by Jason Lopez suggests, Barrett's visit raises the possibility that a country with 60 percent literacy for men and 40 percent for women can develop its human capital to the point that it can have a major impact in the modern technology marketplace.]]> http://www.williamsonday.com/morocco/archives/2007/11/morocco-tech-wa.html http://www.williamsonday.com/morocco/archives/2007/11/morocco-tech-wa.html computers Sun, 04 Nov 2007 00:24:44 -0500 Eatbees and My Marrakesh are finalists! Don't forget to vote.]]> http://www.williamsonday.com/morocco/archives/2007/11/2007-weblog-awa.html http://www.williamsonday.com/morocco/archives/2007/11/2007-weblog-awa.html awards Fri, 02 Nov 2007 07:32:18 -0500 Lalla Mira.]]> http://www.williamsonday.com/morocco/archives/2007/10/fun-with-rice.html http://www.williamsonday.com/morocco/archives/2007/10/fun-with-rice.html Culture Society charity Wed, 24 Oct 2007 17:07:40 -0500 Jillian York has a great interview with Bouba on the struggle of the Amazighen (Berbers) for recognition and fair treatment. Among other topics, the interview touches on the linguistic complexity of Morocco, European prejudices reflected in the search for Madeleine McCann, and the use of the blogosphere to transcend traditional restrictions on communication. As the original inhabitants of Morocco, the Berbers' influence in the country has waxed and waned over the centuries. The Berbers were instrumental in the conquest of Spain and for centuries Berber dynasties ruled the Maghrib. In modern times, the Berbers have played major roles on both sides of the colonization of Morocco, but have also been variously exploited, oppressed, and marginalized. In my experience, however, Moroccan Berbers maintain a fierce pride in their lineage and culture, piquing themselves particularly on a spirit of generosity. They have a constant struggle, however, to be allowed to use and teach their language publicly and to have their culture acknowledged through a veneer of Arabization. Bouba's interview addresses some of the ways Berbers today are striving to assert themselves. ]]> http://www.williamsonday.com/morocco/archives/2007/10/invisible-man.html http://www.williamsonday.com/morocco/archives/2007/10/invisible-man.html Culture Society Berber Wed, 24 Oct 2007 16:01:04 -0500 My Marrakesh on winning a Bloggy Award.]]> http://www.williamsonday.com/morocco/archives/2007/10/bloggy.html http://www.williamsonday.com/morocco/archives/2007/10/bloggy.html Personal awards Wed, 17 Oct 2007 23:15:30 -0500 Laila Lalami speaks on NPR about the importance of maintaining artistic integrity in the creative process, even if the demands of governments or the marketplace force one to make compromises after a work is completed.]]> http://www.williamsonday.com/morocco/archives/2007/10/integrity-and-c.html http://www.williamsonday.com/morocco/archives/2007/10/integrity-and-c.html Culture Free Press art censorship Tue, 16 Oct 2007 03:58:46 -0500 piece on the future of the hammam ("Turkish bath") in the Mediterranean. So far, it appears to be holding its own in Morocco, despite being studied by the EU.]]> http://www.williamsonday.com/morocco/archives/2007/10/the-view-from-f.html http://www.williamsonday.com/morocco/archives/2007/10/the-view-from-f.html Culture History Society hammam Mon, 15 Oct 2007 21:43:13 -0500 Happy breaking of the fast to all my Muslim friends and readers. http://www.williamsonday.com/morocco/archives/2007/10/eidcom-mabrouk.html http://www.williamsonday.com/morocco/archives/2007/10/eidcom-mabrouk.html Culture Islam Fri, 12 Oct 2007 22:02:01 -0500 Simply Moroccan's competition:* wili, wili, wili 3mra rasi fi khnona; j'ai vraiment mal à la tête. wa fi kershi, farasha. tbeeb qrzâz, ma ataynish doua; bghreet nmshi el maghreb fi el babbor, but now my vacation is ruined, and I will only see Morocco on the Internet. *Sponsored by SpeakMoroccan.]]> http://www.williamsonday.com/morocco/archives/2007/10/wili-wili-wili.html http://www.williamsonday.com/morocco/archives/2007/10/wili-wili-wili.html Culture Darija Wed, 10 Oct 2007 22:27:05 -0500