subject: The right to demonstrate is part of the freedom of expression [print this page] The right to demonstrate is part of the freedom of expression
The right to demonstrate is part of the freedom of expression; this is not the problem here, what is a concern however the manner in which some people chose to do it is. It is one thing to walk in the street and demand one's rights, it is totally another when you destroy public and private property and turn the event into a mutiny and an opportunity to loot, vandalize and pillage.
The democratic process unfortunately is something that would takes us a long time to learn; we do not have solid and viable processes and avenues for expression. we have been lead like "cattle" for centuries and it is hard to snap out of it all of a sudden and behave like they do in advanced nations...
this is an opinion; it remains to be seen what the near future will bring but whatever it will be it is already underway and none can stop it... let's pray that peace, common sense and mutual understanding will prevail...
Seriously: this is a Pan Arab movement that has come out of dissatisfied generations in the Arab world; one after the other since the independence from colonial powers... all the experiments that we have tried either: Capitalism, Communism (Algeria)- Islamism- Pan Arabism (failed union of Syria, Iraq and Egypt)...etc. Nothing works and yet we have the same figures that rule without any prospects for improvements; things in fact have gotten worse for the most part...
But Moroccans are cool; I doubt we will have the same disasters as in Egypt or elsewhere; we are unique in that we are a "Mosaic" of people, none can tell us to live one way or think one way and by definition this is the essence of multi party rule and democracy, right?
We can agree to disagree about certain things, right? Totally agree with the idea that we do not have the same problems of poverty human rights abuses and a totally inept and corrupt government and leader. But we do have issues with unemployment, distribution of wealth and opportunity and there is still a high concentration of access to jobs, business and leadership opportunities to a select few. These latter issues unfortunately are the plague of Morocco for centuries, just as it is a fact in all other developing countries, particularly those in the Arab world. Change is good and we need it, but it has to be peaceful, efficient and gradual (in baby steps because that is what we can handle as we educate the youth about the democratic and peaceful process) It will take time and patience
I love my Moroccan heritage and identity and yes, the King is part of that Mix if he decides to join the right side and do the right thing; he is bright and he is from our generation and I believe, unlike his father, he "Gets it".
Got to love the face book/ YouTube revolution... They have no longer anywhere to hid those bastards! We'll what his majesty will do about that! This is a hell of a time in our world Man! I love it; things are happening but unlike longtime ago where they used to make "facelifts", "mock elections" and "throw dust in the eyes of the people", "smoking mirrors effect" this is real now and they have to reckon and change for real. Otherwise, the hell storm is coming and is not sparing anyone this time around; "pay back is a bitch! "
No matter where one stands on the issue- either pro or con demonstrations- this doesn't change the fact that this is something beyond the control of any particular force, government, the people or foreign diplomacyetc it is a domino effect and it is taking us all to a destination that none can predict, but all can agree it would be tremendous, historic and all good! The Arab is going through a stage of rebirth, gestations and something new is going to happen. We can hope for the best but we can also make way for it by allowing expression dissent, listening to the youth, debating the issuesetc. no longer can we simply shut down opposition and act as if they are simply lunatic or misguided. We have to give them an ear and take action in their way of thinking; they are the way, they are the future.
The future is already here; the Face book, the YouTube and all the social networks out there connect the world, one time zone in one big human sphere; it is a reality, none can hide from. A young man in Morocco or in any given Arab country or any third word developing state cannot afford to stay idle when the world in front of his/ her eyes is changing; cannot stand the state of deprivation when he or she has the same mental capacities and aptitudes and may be more than the person he or she is chatting with "live" on a screen inches away from him or her but worlds of distance in terms of opportunities, freedom and more importantly in human dignity and value.
Let it be as the song of the beetles one time blared, so I say power to the youth; this is all about them, it is their time; lend a hand or get out of the way (in the words of another revolutionary of his time, Bob Dylan) may be this is another counter revolution Arabic, Islamic style! Only time will tell but it will happen and it is happening already this is awesome, we live to see yet another revolution of sorts!!!
