Morocco: the Change We All Need

By Rachid Acim

Morocco World News

Beni Mellal, Morocco, June 7, 2012

When surfing in the social networks like Facebook and Twitter, I came across many notes talking about the Moroccan Prime Minister Mr. Benkirane, all of which strongly castigate the DJP leader for his inability to bring a positive change to the Moroccan society.

One comment read, “O Mr. Benkirane, did you understand me or not?” Another person ran a different comment on his page. It went as such, “Shame on you, Sir.” A third man addressed Mr. Benkirane sarcastically. He wrote the following conversation:

Mr. X: “Suppose we found petrol, would you cut down on gasoline prices?”

“Mr. Benkirane: Sorry to say it, gifts are from Allah.”

Dozens of people, if not hundreds, put a like on the three comments and left. “Sorry, but Allah is above all else, Mr. Benkirane,” another one said.

Upon seeing this, a question struck my mind. Is Mr. Benkirane an icon capable of change? Many narratives suggest that he is not. Asking this question raises another issue. Can Mr. Benkirane help us bring real welfare we could read about but never experience in reality? The above-mentioned comments also say no.

But let’s not be too rude unto the man. Isn’t one eye much better than blind?

I would stand up and greet Nehru for his wise proverbial words: “The wheel of change moves on, and those who were down go up and those who were up go down.”

Why such sadness?

The party that was in the opposition a year ago is now wielding power. For some years to come, there will be another party that can take the torch of change and let the wheel move on, hopefully, upward. Let us first reach a consensus on what we mean by change.

As I view it, change is equated with hope. In turn, hope entails success. And success results in welfare. If an element is missing in this hierarchical pyramid, then we should gather together to offer our collective prayers for God’s forgiveness on Mr. Benkirane; he is dead in our eyes. Death is not necessarily corporeal, but spiritual as well. A person who does not care for the public is a dead person. Helas, what thing can restore life to the dead? Only some heartfelt prayers can.

You may agree of course that change takes multifold forms. We can change our clothes in the mid of the day to look smarter, more handsome. We can change our old cars to be more attractive, more elegant and may be more tempting to others.

Still, dictionary designers need to clarify a little more what we mean by change as many ambiguities leave the word undefined in the realm of politics.

Moroccans, like all nations, are longing desperately for a true change. For this reason, they swarmed to the ballot to vote, elect their favorite parties. They were all agog to see how change could manifest itself in a beautiful color.

They were looking ahead with hopeful eyes at what might come next. Yet, the song is almost the same even though the musician has put on another uniform and started playing on new instruments less appealing than his predecessor.

If the white beard does not trigger change, I’d better shave it.

I was myself following the political scene in Morocco with the rise of the so-called Islamist parties and I was determined to paint my beard white to keep with the new fashion. Now, I’m convinced that black and white are two gloomy facets pertaining to the same coin.

We are to suffer and suffer. Change is nagging in my mind. Is it going to show up someday? Sorry, no again.

We are disappointed by the day-to-day fake promises we hear. The standard of living is going up faster and faster. I’m afraid, by 2020, we will not be able to purchase a modest house to accommodate ourselves in. We will not have be able to rent a luxurious car for some hours and show off for awhile amidst our friends. Then, by that time, none will have been able to get married though, build a family or think of pursuing his/her studies.

The expenses of living in Morocco are rocketing up

Most of the people are helpless. They are mad at the new government, whose triumph, we should not forget, is ascribed to its religious background.

When the matter comes to religion, we are almost blind. We put whole trust in religious icons because we believe they will keep their words, never ever deceive us or dare toy with our feelings.

In academic circles, a heated debate has gone on. Is religion part of politics or are the two separate entities. Truth is that they are one. A good religious person is himself a good politician. Nevertheless, a good politician is not and will never be a good embodiment of religion.

We need a good model in our life, the quintessential of love, care and virtue. This model, alone, can bring true change to us. At that time, we will be happier.

Unluckily, we hoped for a government whose members can take from their salaries and give the impoverished. A government which can bring a better life, where Moroccan children can smile and sing together aloud Louis Armstrong “What A Beautiful World!” and they are raising their heads up.

We hoped for a country where the rule of law is the terrain of justice, truth and transparency, not bribery and necromancy. We hoped for a school where students would stand up and say tunefully in complete respect, “Good morning teacher!” A school whose teachers would never ride a bike or a taxi and be squeezed like oranges next to 6 or seven people besides the chauffeur.

We hoped for a hospital whose doctors would never make up excuses and let us suffer to death of awful diseases, committing suicide to alleviate and put an end to our pain. A hospital which does not need a relative of ours to intervene and mediate to allow us to undertake surgery for cancer for free.

We hoped for an administration that would welcome us with much hospitality and no sign of hostility. An administration, whose people would never take but merely give, serve citizens in complete fairness not through faces and intermediary.

We hoped for an exam that could be within our reach, not so challenging to the effect that we fail before we answer.

But let us hope for change. If the latter seems impossible with these people, let us be the change.

© 2012 Morocco World News. All Rights Reserved