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"Those of us who are so-called U.S. citizens
have double duty. We must fight for equity
and equality for all the people in this country
as well as keeping this government from invading,
controlling or destroying the land, resources
and people in other lands. Those who live in
European countries have the same obligation."
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Sometimes
I'm challenged to help my readers make connections between local,
national and international issues. The U.S. Government is usually at
the center of global controversy which makes exposing foreign policies
and aggression easier--they mirror the domestic policies.
The attacks that recently happened in France underscore the fragility
of life: Think about going to a concert to have fun only to become a
victim of senseless killings. Such bewildering attacks also point to
the need for citizens to fully understand their country's foreign
policies and its global impact. Their neo-liberal, military responses
often keep the vicious cycle of violence spinning and
reverberating—with innocent people caught in the crossfire.
I believe the West has created and continues to foment the conditions
for terrorism. Instead of looking at the havoc, they replicate and move
to make people and their native lands whole, white settler mentality
kicks in with more repression and more aggressive destruction of lives
and land. In this scenario, they are not enough bombs and bullets to
put dissent in check. For every death by a foreign power, at least ten
freedom fighters spring to the fore. This is a battle that cannot be
won by might alone.
When you read about these young men (and an increasing number of women)
who become extremists in their views, from all accounts they started
out like regular youth—playing video games and sports, engaging in
social media, hanging out with friends. They’re a lot like the young
people in Ferguson, Baltimore, New York, Miami, Los Angeles, etc. whose
families have been in the U.S. for generations but who still get
treated like second-class citizens by a racist society with a hammer
who sees them all as nails.
Those of us in the U.S. must see the connections between the domestic
racist policies that are carried out across the country and those
exported to countries around the world. Just as we must hold our local
government accountable for human rights abuses, we must also hold our
federal government accountable for policies and actions done in our
name with our tax dollars.
If we take note that the alleged terrorists have Moroccan roots, we can
gain valuable historical insights instantly. When the European
imperialists decided how to carve up the vast and resource-rich
continent of Africa, Morocco’s fate was also decided. The highest
population of Moroccans outside of the country are in France—almost two
million. This is an important fact to keep in mind when you're trying
to understand the attitudes of Moroccans towards their colonial captors.
At the turn of the 20th Century, Britain, France and Italy got together
to take over important coastal countries with key ports for trading and
military operations. It was decided that France would get Morocco,
Italy would get Libya and Britain would get Egypt. Spain would maintain
a small territory in northern Morocco that it had claimed some
centuries before.
The French invasion of Morocco resulted in the theft of land and other
natural resources, the suppression of Moroccan culture (which goes back
centuries) and the imposition of French culture and traditions, along
with the hi-jacking of government entities, including educational
institutions which were re-created to be separate and unequal. Hordes
of French settled into their new playground, turning up their noses at
the brown and black indigenous citizens, especially those who claimed
Islam as their religion. Before Moroccans could bat an eye, they were
second-class citizens in their own land.
Fast forward a bit and we see native Moroccans making the trek to
France to seek a better life. Perhaps, since the French had messed up
their lives in Morocco, life would be better in the Fatherland. This
was not the case—even for Moroccans who were/are born in France and are
natural citizens—they experience the same discrimination and
contemptuous treatment as in their homeland.
Not surprising, Moroccan resentment towards their French colonizers is
a strong undercurrent in both countries. The pointed question many
Moroccans ask is “When do we get to enjoy full citizenship privileges
in France or in our native land?” The answer continues to be elusive.
Moroccans who have been in Belgium for several generations ask the same
question. Many were brought in as guest workers to supplement a
shrinking workforce in Belgium, especially in the capital city of
Brussels. Their situation is very similar to Moroccans in France and
their resentment is just as volatile. The young, disgruntled Moroccans
from Belgium and France are hooking up.
Native and Mexican Americans (the indigenous peoples of North America),
as well as those of of us of African or Latina descent, face the
question daily of what does it take to be treated fairly and
humanly--like a citizen. We can't seem to access the room with the
"Citizens" sign on the door. Being born here apparently doesn't
guarantee access. Neither does your family living here for generations.
Neither does the Constitution or law. Neither does having education.
Neither, neither, neither. This is what's being sorted out in the
streets of Ferguson, on the campus of Mizzou campus, in the workplace.
Those of us who are so-called U.S. citizens have double duty. We must
fight for equity and equality for all the people in this country as
well as keeping this government from invading, controlling or
destroying the land, resources and people in other lands. Those who
live in European countries have the same obligation.
To our respective governments, we must made demands for our own
security. Stop tilling the soil for avoidable discontent and
extremism. Stop denying citizens their human rights. Stop the
collateral damage.
Maybe one day when December 10 rolls around, the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights will have true meaning for all citizens across the
world.
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 is published every Thursday |
Executive Editor:
David A. Love, JD |
Managing Editor:
Nancy Littlefield, MBA |
Publisher:
Peter Gamble |
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