Wednesday 18 July 2007

Are you an Organ Donor?

18 July 2007

Organ donation: Today *“BlogCatalog Community Organ Donation Awareness Campaign” is doing a full court press to raise awareness about the need for organ donation. In other words, I am an organ donor, are you? I mean really, when you are dead why do you need those organs? You aren’t going to use them again. If you insist on an open casket those chaps can fill you with Styrofoam.


Seriously, and it is a serious issue, people die every day for lack of an organ donor. Here are some links for more information. Do give it some thought – as in what if it were your child, husband, mother, sister, brother who needed an organ transplant? What would you do to make that happen?
If you live in the United States, all you have to do is link to OrganDonor.gov.
UNOS
or MatchingDonors.com .

Visit the British Organ Donor Society for known worldwide links.

Once you sign up make certain you discuss your decision with your family. Be sure they know this is what you want, and that they are comfortable with your decision. Read some of the success stories if you have any hesitation. It’s not just the old kidney transplant (albeit that is pretty spectacular) but did you know you could save someone’s sight with a corneal transplant? How brilliant is that?! Come on, sign up, it is the cool thing to do. You can brag about your philanthropic ways at the next Club Brunch over martinis.



And now back to our normal programming….

Last night hearing strange sounds ‘above’ I made way up the stairs to the terrace where I saw our neighbors to the ‘right’ decamping to the roof for the evening. I assume it is now hot enough to bother the Moroccans! They are set up with chairs, lights, and a television – there you have it, the Archers in Rabat catching the ocean breeze.

I want to post a little DISCLAIMER today. I know I have readers from Morocco, Indonesia, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Britain, Italy, American, and France, et al (you know who you are) – I want to make it very clear that this is MY view of Morocco. These are MY experiences here. There was a lot of talk on the Morocco blogs ( you can find the list at this link) some time back about the “incorrect” view, the “tourists’” view, the “unrealistic” view, and the “real” view of Morocco. I think they are all valid. It is the old tale of the blind man and the elephant isn’t it? I mean do you have hold of the tail or the trunk? I am a well traveled western woman, but western nonetheless. Hopefully this is not an Orientallist point of view, but rather that of one who knows her biases, limitations, and has an eager desire to learn and explore – one I have indulged for many years. I welcome all my readers and my Moroccan readers are welcome to always post any difference of opinion or correction. Meanwhile I shall continue to give my impressions and experiences in this wonderful country.


Here are some better photographs of my neighborhood of the Oudayas (Oudaia) than I can take.



Yesterday I was at my New City ‘office’, the Majestic Boulangerie that has some of the best sandwiches in town and a wonderful bakery. The only complaint is that the café’ au lait deliciousness is not consistent. It is one block over from Mohammad V Blvd. where at present there is a world of construction work going on with the sidewalks.
I was working on my story and doing a bit of people watching, like you do. Q came back from her Arabic class and over café au lait we were discussing the positioning of the veil in Moroccan society.

Our observations have been that if she is dressed all in black and the veil is right under her eyes, she is from out of town or Islamist, and is usually young. The newly converted (usually westerners) will have the veil up and tight but will go to different colors at times. Worn by the middle-aged who still bow to convention or habit lays the veil gently across the nose and often is beautifully embroidered. I have not seen the lovely embroidered veils on the younger women. I don’t know if it is no longer part of the trousseau, out of style, or I have just not seen it. Worn by those in the later years who have seen much, the veil is often worn loosely under the nose and even under the chin; these women have either amusement in their eyes or a look that says, “Don’t even think about it.”

There is a place for feminists in Morocco, and you can’t always tell by the veil or the lack of one. The Queen of Morocco does not wear a veil.


We have also noticed in the past weeks we are not the only ones to become more “relaxed” in our clothing choices. As the weather heats up and stays there, the scene in Morocco is more sleeveless and less covered but shorts are rare on this side of town. In Agdal and Souissi it is shorts, sundresses, and t-strapped shirts.

Personally I try to expose the least amount of skin I can stand to the sun here. I saw a group of tourists yesterday that resembled lobsters more than anything else. Ouch!

You can tell the Moroccans and those of us who live here from the tourists by one sure method, the Moroccans will head for the shade even if it means extra steps out of the way. Q and I have begun to take a longer, but shaded way through the Medina to the New City. The tourists walk down the center of the street or look into the shops on the SUNNY side!


I have to go meditate now before I THROW MY COMPUTER AGAINST THE WALL. Which would be illogical because it is the Internet server that is so slow I could be dead for three years before I was able to blog about it! Then to the hammam which should help with the relaxing. Don't forget go sign your donor's card.

Om mani padme hum…

20 comments:

Pamela T. said...

Well, I know which one of my organs they won't have any interest in! But the rest of them are in good shape. I agree with your thoughts on donation. Not going to need them where I'm going...

I love visiting your blog because I feel as though I'm on a tour and you are my personal guide. What a terrific job you do of sharing your travels, insights, and experiences.

Omega Mum said...

1. Totally agree with you about organ donors. Simply can't understand why the dead (who can't feel anything anymore) gain precedence over the living (who quite definitely can). Ludicrous

2. What a dangerous game of these other bloggers to try and define the 'true voice' of Morocco. As if there were one ringingly clear voice in a load of background clanging.

Clearly what you write is a personal view - it can't be anything else. That, presumably, is what blogs are all about. D'oh!

Ellee Seymour said...

I am an organ donor and carry a card, I've made it plain to my family that this is my wish, we do need more, but I don't feel people should be forced, they need to be educated about it.

xoussef said...

we are humans, we can't help judge things and people...at least i know i can't, but all views are legitimate.

The Good Woman said...

I've been a blood donor and on organ donation registries for years - its part of my relocation process. Its really important - costs nothing and saves lives - brilliant. Thanks for reminding us all of this.

Mutterings and Meanderings said...

I have been arguing about organ donation today with colleagues. I was outnumbered with my view: "They can have what they want; I won't need it, I will be somewhere else."

When you're go to your 'higher plane', you body is nothing more than old clothes, you aren't in there any more...

lady macleod said...

pamela jeanne

Honey I imagine your heart is so big they will have to ask someone to share.

Thank you for the kind words and thank you for coming by.

lady macleod said...

omega mum

1. indeed
2. indeed
3. indeed

and thank you for coming by.

lady macleod said...

ellee seymour

I think I am preaching to the choir here; all my readers are spectacular!

I think "forcing" organ donation is illegal Sparky. :-)

thank you for coming by.

lady macleod said...

xoussef


well said, and I am always glad to hear yours.

thank you for coming by.

lady macleod said...

good woman

I have tried for YEARS to be a blood donor but they won't take mine! I was too thin, it was too low on hgb, I had been to India..... so I gave up. I am waiting for the big show and give them all the parts that are still working!

That is brilliant to make it a routine process of your (many) relocations.

thank you for coming by.

lady macleod said...

M&M

Yes and some "old clothes" are nicer than others; I have no doubt yours are splendid!

I hope none of those people ever need an organ donor and regret that choice.

thank you for coming by.

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

Hi, Lady M. Another great post. Well done for mentioning organ donation and for telling it like it is - simple - to paraphrase you, "if you're dead you don't need 'em". Fascinated by what you say about the veil and the different ways it is worn. Re those who head for the shade , it's like that here, except at the beach: the only people sitting outside cafes in the heat will be tourists! Love reading you, Lady M.

lady macleod said...

WL

Thank you I have to give credit to Blog Catalog as it was their idea, but one I fully support.

Yes, we shall have to do one of those gift books about tourists and August. Even the French leave Paris in August!

Thank you for the kind words, and thank you for coming by.

jmb said...

Hi Lady Mac,
Now I know what hammam shoes are but the link to the Queen of Morocco doesn't work. I'll have to find a photo elsewhere.
I fear my organs and corneas are too old now so I am no longer an organ donor. My friend's son is waiting for his second kidney transplant so I know how important the transplant program is.
Isn't it frustrating when the internet connection is slow?
regards
jmb

scarlettscion said...

Just a note--she actually isn't a Queen, they made a big deal of it that she was even a Princess and not just Lalla (lady) Salma

lady macleod said...

jmb

sorry about the link I am posting something for you today.

thank you for coming by.

lady macleod said...

ss

thank you dearest, I have just been correcting that error.

Not the Maid said...

The pictures of your "neighborhood" are beautiful! Oh to live with that kind of scenery....

Interesting notes about the veils - I have always wondered.

pommygranate said...

Lady

Nice blog!

I'm writing a post on organ donation now. My fellow libertarian travellers are insisting that recent proposals to make donation the default option are a gross invasion of personal liberty. They are bonkers.

ill check out some of your links.