After a lifetime of travel, one starts to think a new destination will not hold any unique surprises. Such was the case for Morocco - my expectations for Imprint’s first Morocco tour were way too low. This is an amazing travel destination. And perhaps more importantly, it is a country where Americans can experience a democratic, moderate Muslim culture. And we are sorely in need of this exact kind of experience in our current age and time. At a moment in history when fear dominates American perspectives, we need to be reminded that a majority of Muslims are moderate, admire America, and welcome Americans. Morocco is the perfect place to experience it.
“Welcome. Yes welcome in Morocco everybody.” Our charming guide Tariq greeted us with these words several times each day. Initially, I thought it was simply a canned phrase learned for use with tourists. I soon realized this is a direct translation of a traditional Moroccan greeting. Perhaps more than anything else, this phrase embodies the spirit of the country. It was repeated multiple times every day by everyone we encountered. Eventually I understood this was more than just a greeting - we WERE welcome – genuinely and from the heart. It was definitely refreshing.
Typical welcoming Moroccon smile
Imprint group on Saharan camel trek
Tariq was proud of Morocco’s democratic institutions and moderate outlook. He was constantly pointing out female police, cafes with both men and women together, women in western dress, and kids on their way to school. He shared about new laws passed to combat backward traditions and stamp out racism, intolerance, misogyny, and Medieval practices. Evidence of the country’s prosperity and forward thinking were everywhere. The infrastructure is the best I’ve experienced in the developing Arab world. Buildings are well maintained and there are lots of new, quality constructions. Roads are maintained with new curbs and street lights in the cities. The country is very clean and, according to Tariq, education efforts by the government and king are having great effect in improving the situation even further.
School children engage our Imprint group
One of our friendly camel mahouts
At a time when our own democratic institutions are under siege, it is refreshing to experience the Moroccans’ genuine thirst for the their protection and expansion. That phenomenon is nowhere better demonstrated than the King’s public denunciation of fundamentalist terrorism, which occurred during the refugee crisis in Europe in 2016. I would like to conclude by including his speech here verbatim:
My dear countrymen, the whole world is talking about the problem of immigration, and about the human tragedies suffered by the immigrants. This situation is exacerbated by the spread of terror and extremism, and the attempts to link it – rightly or not – to the immigrants, especially in Europe.
In this context, I call upon Moroccans living abroad to adhere to the values of their religion and to their age-old customs, in confronting this phenomenon, which is alien to them. . . . I call upon them to be always among the first to defend peace, harmony, and coexistence in their countries of residence.
We understand the difficult situation in which they live. They are suffering from the distortion of the image of Islam, as well as from the terrorist attacks, which have harvested the lives of so many of them. They suffer from reprisals, and from accusations leveled against them by some, because of their faith.
Naturally, we strongly condemn the killing of innocent people. We believe that the killing of a monk is prohibited by the Shari’a, and that killing him in a church is an unforgivable act of stupidity, because he is a human being and a cleric, even if he is not a Muslim. . . .
The terrorists who operate in the name of Islam are not Muslims. They have nothing to do with Islam, and jump on the bandwagon in order to justify their crimes and stupid acts. They are people who have been led astray, and they are destined to dwell in the Hell of all eternity.
Led by their ignorance, they believe that what they do constitutes Jihad. When was Jihad ever about the killing of innocent people? . . .
They are exploiting some Muslim youth, especially in Europe. They are exploiting their ignorance of the Arabic language and of true Islam, in order to convey their erroneous messages and misleading promises.
Can anyone of sound mind believe that the reward for Jihad could be some virgins in Paradise? Is it conceivable that anyone who listens to music will be swallowed by the Earth?
And there are similar lies. The terrorists and extremists are using all possible means to persuade the youth to join them, and to strike at societies that bask in the values of democracy, liberty, openness, and tolerance. . . . We are all being targeted. Anyone who believes in what I have said serves as a target for terrorism.