Things to like

Ah, back in the world again. I will one day write I think a post about the fugue of the migraines, but I have to have a bit more distance…

Instead I was thinking this week of some of the reasons I enjoy living in Morocco:

The fact that my landlord this week has brought me shebekia (a cookie that is very very sweet and made with tons of honey and sprinkled with sesame seeds made as the special desert at Ramadan), and insisted I will need more and he will be over later this week!

The fact that one of the neighbor ladies brought me harira (the special Ramadan soup;tomato-based soup with lentils, chickpeas, cilantro, lemon, and pieces of meat) because apparently not only do the neighbors all know my comings and goings, but found out I fast during Ramadan – don’t ask me how, I have no idea!

The fact that surprises abound – I was walking, like you do, down by the new and lovely riverside park and noted some chap high up in one of the yellow contraptions that take them up to work on the wires. There was another chap who had come up to help and they were doing the kiss the cheeks greeting. I just found that endearing.

The fact that now that the Riverside Park is completed I can easily walk to the local Marjane, and observe the river as I go.

Episodes like this morning when I was trying to convey to the shopgirl that I wanted to buy some massage oil. One of them ‘got it’ after some miming and a French word here and there; and we were demonstrating to the other by massaging her back; she made clear she enjoyed the massage by asking for more. The three of us ended in giggles even though they had no oil.

Taking my DVD player into the nice chap on Digital Alley who said he would check the remote for me. The conversations got everything said, again with laughter, and he did fix the bloody thing. At the astronomical cost of 50 dhs. Oh yes.

The fact that the chap in the art gallery gives me a huge discount because I live in the Oudayas.

The fact that when I went to the post last week and was a bit turned around when trying to find the correct door to collect my package, the cleaning lady who had seen me go in and ask directions then walk about with that look on my face I get that says “Que?” and has proven handy on several continents; came out and took me by the hand like a two-year-old and led me around the corner to the correct door, smiling and laughing all the while.

The fact that no matter how my day is going I can cheer up by wandering about and seeing the beautiful faces of the children. This time of year the playing in the street below has changed from football to spinning wooden red tops. They toss them on the cobbles and then pick them up in the hand to spin. It’s a bit like dodging land mines really, except for the giggling.

The fact that for every nasty taxi driver there are twenty nice ones who go out of their way to be helpful.

The fact that the temperature is finally on the way DOWN!

The fact I love my little house with its spiraling staircase, cedar doors, glass ceiling, and double windows.

The hammam! The sheer luxury of it, and the incredible low price, as well as the fact I no longer have to have facials at the salon or pay for massages when the gym wears me out. The gracious treatment I receive at the salon.

What do you like about where you are living?

Ciao.

migraine today, back on the morrow..

Bloggers Against Abuse

Today is Bloggers United against Abuse day. The topics for choice are: child abuse, domestic abuse, animal abuse, drug abuse, emotional abuse, verbal abuse, political abuse – I would wish for fewer choices. Originally I would have written about child abuse as that makes my blood boil and my heartache but when I opened the papers this morning I was presented with the aftermath of a post I wrote earlier this week – I bow to the instructions of the Universe.

“Myanmar Raids Monasteries Before Dawn” is the headline that kills the hope of peaceful change in Burma. As much as I expected it, I hoped for better. Beginning the second day of their crackdown on nationwide protests in Myanmar before dawn today, security forces raided at least two Buddhist monasteries, beating and arresting dozens of monks, according to reports from the capital, Yangon.

On Wednesday, in a chaotic day of huge demonstrations, shooting, teargas and running confrontations between protesters and the military, many people were reported injured and half a dozen were reported to have been killed, most of them by gunshots.



The Associated Press reported that more shots were fired today at one of several monasteries raided early in the day, Ngwe Kyar Yan, where one monk said a number of monks were beaten and at least 70 of its 150 monks were arrested.

On Wednesday as it was made apparent to the government the protest were growing in size, instead of taking this as a mandate for change the junta began the violent crackdown. And speaking of things that make my blood boil: In response to the violence, the United Nations Security Council called an emergency meeting on Wednesday to discuss the crisis, but China blocked a Council resolution, backed by the United States and European nations, to condemn the government crackdown. And so that’s it?

On a broad avenue near the temple, hundreds of people sat facing a row of soldiers, calling out to them, “The people’s armed forces, our armed forces!” and “The armed forces should not kill their own people!”

As the protests grew, public figures began to come forward, and on Tuesday the government arrested the first of them, a popular comedian, Zarganar, who had urged people to join the demonstrations. He had irritated the government in the past with his veiled political gibes.



The crackdown on Wednesday came in the face of warnings and pleas to the junta from around the world to refrain from the kind of violence that had made the country’s ruling generals international pariahs. So I can assume the new sanctions will really scare them eh?

I feel compelled to insert here my own bias. This particular outbreak of abuse takes me back to the Chinese rape of Tibet and that my friends is very personal for me. I grew up with monks of the same ilk as those who are protesting; they are compassionate and peaceful, and more loving to their fellow humans than I can ever hope to be. One of the most compelling stories I know was one told to us in a meeting with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. There was a monk who had been imprisoned by the Chinese and tortured beyond imagining, who managed to escape and get to MacLeod Ganj in Northern India. In his meeting with His Holiness he said, “There was one time when I was truly frightened, when I feared for myself – that was when I was afraid I was losing compassion for my jailers.” These are the kind of men the junta in Burma are beating, arresting, and killing.

We are all responsible for abuse of all types. As long as we are in the world, and we permit it in the world, we are responsible. Every time we see an adult abusing a child and say nothing, we are responsible. Every time we see evidence of a man beating his wife, and we do nothing, we are responsible. Every time we see someone abuse an animal, and we do nothing, we are responsible. Every time we allow someone to express prejudice in our presence, and we say nothing, we are responsible. Every time we elect leaders who choose to kill for retaliation and oil rather than the freedom of our fellow world citizens, we are responsible. Every time we read of abuse and do not speak out, we are responsible. When we look away, we are responsible.

Feel good thoughts...

26 September 2007

Brilliant!

Here is an easy feel good for all of us, and at a very reasonable price.

One Laptop Per Child, an ambitious project to bring computing to the developing world’s children, has considerable momentum. Years of work by engineers and scientists have paid off in a pioneering low-cost machine that is light, rugged and surprisingly versatile. The early reviews have been glowing, and mass production is set to start next month.

One of the machines will be given to a child in a developing nation, and the other one will be shipped to the purchaser by Christmas. The donated computer is a tax-deductible charitable contribution. The program will run for two weeks, with orders accepted from Nov. 12 to Nov. 26.

In spite of the potential for learning and communication this could portend, the orders for the machines from the countries that need them most have been slow. The company has come up with a promotional idea that I think is brilliant. You buy one computer at 399usd, and get one free! You can then give that computer to a needy child or use it in your own family. The computers are simple and rugged – built for the third world. The program is only in the U.S. and Canada during 12 – 26 November 2007. I am thinking if you are in another country you can find a way to purchase one. I’m going to have Q order for me.

For example, if donations reach $40 million, that would mean 100,000 laptops could be distributed free in the developing world. The idea would be to give perhaps 5,000 machines to 20 countries to try out and get started.

Find the complete article here. There’s a great way to expunge anything you feel bad for doing this year! If you’ve been perfect, here’s a way to continue..



And speaking of presents – I have two more! You people are too kind to me. I do hope you all know how much each award means to me, that you thought of me. I appreciate it very much. I shall have to order a special trophy case from Second Life to hold my goodies, but for now I have them secured on my Data Pages.

From Omega Mum, the BodaciousBlog Award, and from Wake up and Smell the Coffee, Blogging that hits the Mark Award. I thank you both, and I pass on BodaciousBlog to Welshcakes, JMB, Mutterings and Meanderings, and i beatrice; and Hits the Mark to Darth, Mountain Mama, Dulwichmum, and the Land of Sand.

goody!

Look what Winchester Whisperer sent to me! I'm so tickled. I don't believe I've ever been called a "dude" before. I feel very cool. Thank you WW for thinking of me, I appreciate the award and the thoughts that go with it. I pass it on to Ian, James, Mutleythedog, and Stay at home Dad - because I can.

It's all about the money..

Two articles that describe opposite intentions in the world have caught my attention, and my ire. In the International Herald Tribune “Monks joined by celebrities as protests grow in Myanmar” tells of the growing protest movements against the brutal military junta controlling Myanmar (Burma). Buddhist monks and nuns in the face of the violence that met the protest of 1988 where the government killed thousands of protesters lead the movement. The courage of these people is beyond my ken; my admiration for them is limitless. “The march, launched from the Shwedagon pagoda, the country's most sacred shrine, gathered participants as it winded its way through Yangon's streets. Some 20,000 monks took the lead, with onlookers joining in on what had been billed as a day of general protest. On Saturday, more than 500 monks and sympathizers were allowed past barricades to walk to the house where Suu Kyi is detained. The Nobel Peace laureate greeted them from her gate in her first public appearance in more than four years -- a meeting that symbolically linked the current protests to her struggle for democracy.” However during the second march the attempt to approach Kyi’s home was blocked by security forces.

"The protests will continue to grow as more people gain the courage to join, but they have not yet reached the point where I will allow my family to march," said a 50-year-old taxi driver who would not give his name. "There is still too much uncertainty to do that." That is a view that all of us with family can understand, but at some point that fear must be overcome in the name of a better life. In 1988 the military killed thousands of people who had joined in the protests.

Two points of interest here: the junta is presently being held in check by China, the queen of human right violations, in the name of economics. China supports and to a large extent controls the junta. The government does not want any violence to stain the upcoming Olympic events in China. As well the intention of China is to develop the recourses of Burma to their own advantage. "China is very eager to have a peaceful Burma in order to complete roads and railroads, to develop mines and finish assimilating the country under its economic control.” The other point of interest is the attitude of the West. This is the same group of governments who invaded Iraq in the name of democracy - "Hopefully the international community will not keep quiet, and they will do something before terrible things take place in our country," said Soe Aung. But it seems the policy is watch, not act. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the Bush administration was watching the situation "very carefully." I’m sure that’s a great comfort to the people of Burma.

However the U.S. seems very “involved” in seeing to Iran… In an article from 23 September 2007, “Secret US air force team to perfect plan for Iran strike”, Sarah Baxter describes the planning of the invasion of Iran that is taking place in the Pentagon. There was also an article in yesterday’s London Times addressing the same issue. Project Checkmate is the designated name for the U.S. Air Force group that is tasked with “fighting the next war”. “Detailed contingency planning for a possible attack on Iran has been carried out for more than two years by Centcom (US central command), according to defense sources.” Iran’s president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is going to New York to speak to the United Nations and then students at Columbia University today. I’m sure he will do all in his power to add fuel to the rhetoric fire. I find no comfort in this statement: “The US president faces strong opposition to military action, however, within his own joint chiefs of staff. “None of them think it is a good idea, but they will do it if they are told to,” said a senior defense source.” Find the complete article here.

There lies the question, what constitutes a reason to intervene in another country’s affairs? If the Middle East erupts in flames more than it is even now, how long before that fire reaches our doorsteps?

Vroom, vroom

The only time I have seen Moroccans in a rush is while in their cars. I am amazed that I have witnessed no road rage in Morocco, not even now during Ramadan. I say this because of the Moroccan driving habits, and it is not just the taxi drivers, or the city drivers, or the men, or the women (of which there is an increasing number) – it is everyone I have seen. If there is an accident or some other obstacle in the road or highway, they find a way to drive around it; if the traffic is not moving to their satisfaction they pull out into the opposing lane and sally forth; when making a turn they pull out and create an additional lane while acting as if they are in the right no matter how many cars they are cutting off; horns blast constantly and the car to car conversation is the norm. But they are fastidious about stopping for lights; I have witnessed no one running the lights. This is all done in apparent good humor, even in the late day and heat of Ramadan. Hats off I say.

I did have two chaps for drivers this week whom I suspect have as a secret desire to drive in Le Mans. One old and one young they drove from Souissi to the Oudayas in record time zipping in and out of traffic as if there were a fire or life and death situation. Another interesting note is the scarcity of young, as in teenager, drivers. Where they are in abundance in the West, they are rare here, as is the blaring radio that one so often pulls up next to at a stop light in the West. I have seen a “driver’s education” car that passes by the Oudayas recently, but the chaps in the learner’s seat are all late twenties or thirties that I have seen.

There does seem to be an increase in traffic during Ramadan, another mystery I have not cracked. Why would that be? Last year in Fez most people who could, stayed indoors and waited out the day. But I have sat in several traffic tie-ups since the beginning of Ramadan, briefly it is true, not like the one time I was in Los Angeles traffic and sat dead still for thirty minutes – the standard by which I judge all traffic jams. There are many more cars on the streets than I have seen before, and I can’t imagine why.

I visited the neighborhood art gallery yesterday to begin my Christmas shopping and found a lovely piece with four Berber warriors mounted on galloping steeds, with weapons at the ready. The perfect gift for my friend’s daughter who is a horse-person. It was quite pricey until the chap (who had dealt last month with Q) said, “Oh no, that is not the price for you! You live in the Oudayas, you are one of us.” Nice to be in the in crowd eh? He had another piece I must have for my little house. I am counting my dirhams today to see if I can return and purchase it. He has works by a variety of artist from all over Morocco. I shall get some photographs of the shop for you later – I’m just not a takes-my-camera-everywhere sort of person. Until this trip I was a rare photograph taker preferring to use words, but in the digital age…

I have the lazy today. I am hoping it will pass..

Ciao.