The Portrait of the Others in American Movies

Of all cultural forms, cinema is best suited to reflect the culture, the political ideology and orientation of a given nation. Cinema was and still is a powerful means to manipulate and reshape the thoughts of the audience. Irrespective of one’s educational level, an avid cinema fan is likely to passively consume all presented material. Through many films, especially war movies, American film makers were perfectly able to establish the idea of otherness and the American as an undefeated super hero. Only by watching a few movies, one may end up adopting stereotypes; such as Russians threatening world peace, the French are to be ridiculed, Mexicans are drug dealers and Arabs are sex-machines, if not terrorists.

In most American movies, the setting, length, casting and techniques may vary, but the story remains the same. Always, there is an immense threat targeting the world from outsiders and sometimes aliens. Thanks to their intervention at exactly the right time, human beings will enjoy a safe life and the natural rules will be in a harmonic balance again. They introduce themselves as indispensable peacekeepers, appointed not by divine right as was in the feudal system, but by a highly sophisticated advanced technology implemented in the making of their movies.

In fact, they are not to blame. They have got all that it takes to make amazing movies responding to the universal aspirations. They were able to entertain the whole world. Personally, I stood enthralled and astonished by the intricate worldly-wise techniques and high-tech technology used in the newly released movies even though the story sounds monotonous and boring.  The unprecedented technology used in these movies is breath taking whether it exists in the real world, or it is only a mere fiction. To commercialize the idea of American superiority is not a sin, but to falsify history, debase some ethnic groups and disregard other nations is an unacceptable immoral practice.

As a Moroccan, I will never find it mortifying to introduce “Said Jemmani” to the world as the wisest person of all his time. Neither will I feel it is exaggerating to present the myth of “Aicha Qndisha” as the most powerful invincible woman, who along with other militants was able to expel the colonisers from Morocco. According to the myth, she had super-powers that made her stronger and more ferocious than Superman, King Kong, the Hulk and even Hell Boy. Unfortunately, such myths will never go beyond the oral folklore to make their way to the screen plays of Moroccan film makers, if we do not consider the cultural richness and moral lessons these myths communicate.

This week, I watched G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, a less biased American science fiction and action movie directed by Stephen Sommers.  The story is about an elite military unit, known as G.I. Joe, whose mission is to retrieve nanotech-based warheads before they are used to destroy the world. The thing that attracts my attention in this movie, and makes me love it, in addition to it being technologically advanced, is the significant heroic role given to some foreign actors namely Said Taghmaoui and Byung-hun Lee. Said Taghmaoui, a Moroccan actor, is a member of the G. I. Joe team who, with his excellent skills in computer science, helped the team track the enemy and destroy the missiles before they were used against their targets. At the end of the movie, whether it is the direct message of the movie or my own interpretation, I learned that peace is the fruit of a collaborative work.

By Larbi Arbaoui

Morocco World News

Taroudant, Morocco,, February 24, 2012

The outcry of a montane

Through my window appears,

Clearly, the lofty mountain.

It kindled intense feelings and fears

In my heart akin to that of a swain.

The wind bring to my ear

A freezing scream, certainly, of a montane

With barely enough clothes to wear.

Abruptly, I abhor snow, wind and rain.

 

January 4th, 2012

Taliouine

The fact we all know

Everybody knows it,

But few remember it.

How much you help them admit

The power of the clarinet

In sweeping away the puppet

And listening again to the prophet,

Who can afford us the outfit

To toil, successfully to quit

Living shamefully as a marionette,

And appear again above the summit.

My. Larbi Arbaoui

 Sunday, 24 October 2010

What is home?

Most people love not only their country but also the town, village and the hamlet they grew up in and the people, food and the songs they grew up with. Why is this? As a child, I long cherished the simplicity and heterogeneous society in which all people live together in harmony and happiness. The more I grew up the more I discovered that my village was too small to satisfy my growing hunger for life and to answer the few tough questions residing in my mind. Gradually, life became hostile. My inclination to leave the village grew fonder.

When I earned my baccalaureate degree, I couldn’t wait to leave  the village where I was born. Early in September, I packed up my staff and bid farewell to my motherland and to everyone there. I went to Meknes in order to pursue my studies. As luck would have it, I instantly met and befriended nice people. I loved the new city, my new homeland; I may say. But when we leave home and end up in a foreign, though soothing environment, how soon we remember home. In fact, we realize the importance of our homes and recognize their value only when we are far away from them. In such moments, a subtle feeling of instinctive tenderness towards our home suddenly kindles. It is homesickness.

In a philosophical sense, home is but a conventional term, meaning more than a four corner space. Home is more about the feeling than the building and places where we grew-up, work or live. Some say: “Home is where the Mom is”. To a certain extent, it is true. But what is mom? Is she the biological person who gave birth to you? Is she the person who raised you up and taught you every single tip that made you an independent man or woman? Or is she that person who embraces you in your weary times and sweeps away all the worries and tears. Maybe it is more than that.

While reading The Death of the Hired Man, a long poem by Robert Frost, I came across an inspiring couplet. It runs, “Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in.’’ In this sense home is every place where we feel welcome. A place where we are wanted, valued and loved. But what if we don’t really love that place, or simply we share no history, no memories and language with those people? Could this be still regarded as home? Home, I guess, is broader than words can express.

Home, I think, is the place towards which one feels a mutual love. A place one fondly remembers, hopes to live in and even dies for. Home, regardless where it is located, up the hill, amidst the woods, in the desert, near the sea or on the snow remains one’s haven. This strong devotion and attachment with home is what makes people come back home whenever time allows. They feel happy to travel thousands of miles for the sake of being back home even though their homes are in barren and wild places. They are ready to sacrifice all that they have in order to support and stand by their homes.

By Larbi Arbaoui
Morocco World News
Taroudant, Morocco, February 5, 2012

The Shackled Continent

The Shackled continent by R. Guest

The Shackled Continent: Power, Corruption, and African Lives, by Robert Guest - former Africa editor for the Economist – is an exhaustive and lively book that tries to explain the reasons behind Africa’s poverty . It accounts for the hard economic situation in African and how to make it better « Africa- is in a bad way and this book is my attempt to explain why. » R. Guest. The author makes it clear from the beginning of the book that he means by Africa the sub-Saharan Africa, excluding the Arab countries of north Africa. Africa is a mineral rich continent, with tourist potential and a fertile ground advantageous for  agricultural. However, it is growing poorer. Guest notes that so many factors are the stumbling block to the development of African nation ; such as geography, slavery , the remnant of colonialism, AIDS and bad government to name but few.

Most of the African countries are tropical. Such weather is convenient for many deadly diseases to flourish “Africa has the worst of them: Malaria, Yellow Fever, rare but deadly viruses such as Ebola, and a host of energy sapping parasites”.

Another factor to blame for Africa’s misfortune is slavery. Although Guest doesn’t consider slavery a serious element contributing to Africa’s poverty for the reason that « the Trans Atlantic slave trade ended in the 19th Century,” so that can hardly explain 21 st Century problems, but , in fact, it has tremendous negative aspects on the history of most of African countries.

Guest admits that it is « easy to find colonial roots for modern problems ». South Africa ; for instance, was one of the first African countries to gain independence ; however, it remained under the control of a  white minority through a biased unfair system of racial segregation known as apartheid until 1994. Practically, African countries have gained their independence, but the colonialists have left most countries under ethnic conflicts and disputes over borders that are intently left ambiguous with neighbouring countries. Guest claims that the colonialists « left deep scars. » but he adds «  they also left behind some helpful things such as roads, clinics and laws. »  despite all these problems handed down from the colonialists, Guest still doesn’t consider all these unfortunate defects excuses for the modern problems believing that « If colonialism was what held Africa back, you would expect the continent to have boomed when the settlers left. »

AIDS in Africa is the most threatening disease ; regardless, of all the advances achieved in modern medicine. Guest points out that not only do soldiers and migration help the virus to cross borders, but prostitution, witchcraft, and some cultural beliefs worsen the problem «  some young African women believe that without regular infusions of sperm, they will not grow up to be beautiful » these myths must be « rebutted » he adds.

Guest , with powerful arguments and an exceptional lively style , is able to convince the reader that the misery of Africa is caused by African themselves. To solidify his statements, he quotes from The great African Novelist, Chinua Achebe: “ The trouble with Nigeria is simply and squarely a failure of leadership. There is nothing basically wrong with the Nigerian character. There is nothing wrong with the Nigerian land or climate or water or air or anything else. The Nigerian problem is the unwillingness or inability of its leaders to rise to the responsibility, of the challenge of personal example which are the hallmarks of true leadership. » In fact, all the external factors mentioned so far can be successfully overcome if the people in power were not corrupt. African countries would have progressed, he added, if their leaders believed in democracy and engaged seriously in promising projects.

Finally, Robert Guest ,through his amazing book , has shed light on the major problems hindering Africa’s improvement. He clearly believes that African countries can improve. It is through access to primary education, reducing bureaucracy, privatisation and fundamentally embracing the free market that these countries will prosper. 

Larbi Arbaoui

Tuesday February 7, 2012

http://www.northafricaunited.com/Africa-the-shackled-continent_a737.html

Al Mouloud holiday: the mixture of the sacred and the profane

Like many Muslim countries, the Moroccan people celebrate the birth of the Prophet Mohammad (Peace be upon him) on February 5. This celebration is known by different names in the Islamic world. In Morocco, it’s called “Eid Al Mouloud,” or simply “Al Mouloud.” It is an occasion when Moroccans show their devotion to their faith, a spiritual day to recall the ideals of Islam and recite poems dedicated to the Prophet, though some of the cultural conventions surrounding this holiday have little to do with Islam.

On February 5, when walking past a mosque, spiritually uplifting recitations of the holy Quran can be heard. People exchange visits and organize religious parties at which “Al Mouloudiate,” a series of long poems eulogising and praising the Prophet Mohammad are recited. The most famous poem is “Al Burdah” by Sheikh Al Bussiri.

In early morning, men will walk together to the graveyard singing “Al Burdah” and women will warble “you-yous” when the men pass by. In the evening, the sound of the Attalba reading the Quran and reciting hymns glorifying God can be heard coming from houses, along with the fragrant odor of incense and sandal wood. The Attalba are religious people who memorize the Quran and master the Islamic legislature. They read and recite until dinner, traditionally couscous, is served.

The city of Salé, on the Bou Regreg estuary, holds a lantern procession on Al Mouloud called Dor Eshamaa. In Meknes, in the square of Saint Sheikh Al Kamel, the celebration on this day takes a barbaric turn. Men and women engage in wild dances using knives to strike their foreheads and eat hot embers and drink boiling water.

The dancers, who wear white, see themselves in an ecstatic state of joy. Visitors must wear white in order to participate or risk receiving violent treatment. Wearing black or red is considered an offense and those who do may have their clothes torn. Perhaps the strangest aspect of this ceremony is the custom of the infirm laying at the gate of the shrine in order for the the “Aisawa,” followers of the Saint, to heal them by walking on their backs.

In Tazarine, Al Mouloud is considered an important and dignified day. In the early morning, readings of the holy Quran can be heard from a distance. Men dress in white, and exchange smiles and expressions of courtesy. The day of “Tazlaft,” when couscous is served, is the busiest day with loud music from tambourines. It is believed that, thanks to Saint Sidi Amrou, a dish of couscous twice as wide as the width of the door, can be passed through the door. Tradition says that anyone who looks while the miracle takes place will be struck blind.

On Al Mouloud, the sacred coexists with the profane. In Meknes, for example, at the same time as some are engaged in the pagan ritual of ecstatic dancing others are inside mosques reading the Quran or studying the Prophet’s biography. The decadent and barbarous practices should be done away with, and efforts should be made to preserve only those traditions dedicated to celebrating the Prophet.

By Larbi Arbaoui

Morocco World News

Taroudant, Morocco, February 5, 2012