Journey of a 1000 Miles - Walking From Laayoun to Tangier
- EVENTS
- 02/05/09
A fundraising at Morocco's ambassador's residence for Mr. salman Belayachi who is preparing for a walk of a thousand miles, starting from Laayoun and ending his walk in Tangier. Mr. Belayachi said that the purpose of the walk is to engage directly with the citizens along his path and stressing the values of citizenship, active participation in public life, discarding negative feelings, regaining hope and taking responsibility for one's faith.He said that even the smallest productive actions start a domino effect for Human development. The fundraiser was heavily attended and donations were above what was expected by Mr Belayachi and his " Le citoyen Marocain" team that converged on the nation's capital from New York, Texas, Florida, Maryland and other states. Members of several associations such as the Moroccan American Coalition (MAC), Washington Moroccan Club (WMC), SOS Morocco, the Moroccan Society of Houston(MSH), Friends of Morocco worked hard to make the event successful.
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Comments (29)
This is exactly why "the pessimistic young Moroccan" as it was mentioned in the clip are losing hope for better things to come. Ideas are not scarce, anyone can come up with ideas, but when you exclude people from your gathering, then you will never hear them.
We could gather in parks and even playgrounds and we could all come out as winners and inclusive, you could have raised much more $$$$ for the so called "Friends of Morocco", and above all you will instill in us sens of real citizenship not the convenient self serving one.
Someone in the clip mentioned that we should not complain about the system, that is so stupid, ignorant, and dictatorial. He's asking us that we should basically shut up and never lift our head. Typical Moroccan autocratic behavior. No wonder most of us are disgusted.
Notice that we do get invited when shikhat are in town?
As for the "Yes we can" slogan, how about if you come up with you own? copying someone's words is unwise.
To end it on a good note, I did love the older woman who was asked about the walk idea. Those are the real people. The people that helped raise my parents' generation. Ahhh I miss those days.
I attended the fundraiser. It cost me $250.
it is a function at the residence. they can not advertise it publicly. As you can see in the video, it was already filled to capacity.
there was a $100 cost to attend and event organizers were scratching their heads trying to figure out who to call and participate in the fundraiser.
if i know who you were, if I had you email, I would be more than happy to have you attend and cough up some \"mullah\".
Using a pseudonym, Mr. \"Hmimarmad\", and hiding behind your computer and being negative is all what is wrong with unproductive Moroccans, in a nutshell.
And that is exactly what Mr. Belayachi was speaking against.
for once i see moroccans starting a project that is different from all other projects. this young moroccan seems to have struck a cord like they say in music..a hit project, all moroccans should be behind.
but of course you will have those who only like to critique everything and anything and that Mr. Mohammed you can't change. Stay with the message, stay with this initiative,
Llah i3awenkom, hna m3akom !
On a different note, others are encouraged to take initiatives, organize events and causes, and many may be more than happy and willing to contribute the best they can.
This is an open forum and everyone is free to use whatever nickname they wish the same way when you use "Mohammed B". OK to make you a bit happy I am " Mohammed C".
If you would to give a chance to my comment you would understand that it is not about me, it is about inclusion that we always lack.
I understand that it is a fundraiser, don't you think that is a more compelling reason to have more folks, at least more $$$ hopefully can be raised.
As for hiding behind the computer, What can I say? Very typical again, it should not be about me, it should be about my ideas, good or bad. I consider myself an active participant in this board and that's the reason my postings get published, when my postings stop getting posted, I will get the message and vanish.
As for unproductive Moroccans, We would be happy to learn about you produced as you are the first one to jump, we might even chip in to help with 250 bucks that you so proudly announce.
Take Care,
Mohammed C.
I am not criticizing the initiative. If you read my comment right, I have not said a thing about the the initiative, I am more concerned about how the intiative is initiated.
There are the ones who criticize and they are the one like you who criticize the criticizer. I wish you would have taken some took time to absorb my message.
If you expect people to just shut up or say " yeahhhhhh you guys are great and the cookies were great" then I am sorry to say that this is not Morocco.
Besides, the clips are shown in this board to be commented on and that's why I keep coming here. Constructive criticism can only help.
My name does not matter if you care, call me Mohammed C.
Take care.
This is great, these people behind this project have in my opinion already accomplished something quite interesting...i would love to be in Morocco to see it happen.
Let's not get into the nitty gridy stuff, Ah why wasn't I invited, why was I excluded ,..why this why that. You all know that you can please everyone. i m sure no one was conspiring in a room going like let's not invite such and such. but this was a fundraiser at a prominent figure's house, i m sure their hands were tied, otherwise koun rah jabo lbook ou berho biha !!
Lyed fleyd nbniw had leblad, Enough with the wining and complaining ! I think this young man is already showing us a great example. let's not crush it with these kind of reactions.
wa salamo Alaykom
The art of fund raising.
www.amazon.com/.../0930807278
Perhaps these persons could learn that fund raising is not only raising attendance money, it is about the message that we send. The message here is that there is someone who is doing something to better the life of others. This message will not reach the people that it is intended for if you only select the "Usual suspects" for attendance.
How come when shikhat are in town we get an invitation? Beside if you read my comment, I said that we could gather in parks and playgrounds. but some of you chose to jump without even giving a chance to my comment.
Ok, I am done wasting my times with people who chose to be hard headed and who are more concerned about my nickname.
Have a nice day!
Well to be honest with u guys, when I started listening to OBASliman s speech ( it s Slimane to enta wana..^_*!!! ) I didn t have a clue what the chap was on about..really.. !!! I mean he does look a cross between Malcom X and Barrak..!! and the more I tried to follow the less sense the whole thing made..I could figure he was trying to say something, but then I thought, hmmm.. this might just be some new English speaking political party Felblad o e7na majebna ekhobar..!!?? but as the whole thing got more intense and unbearable with the words "intiative" ,"yes we can do it" "Hope" having a merciless assualt on my eardrums, I was somehow convenced that this whole show could just be a movie rehearsal for some sort of a Moroccan version of Barrak´s presidential campaign..!! But what summed it up for me and really cracked me up is the answer that EL Hajja gave.. EMZYANA..7it MARATON..!!
tO BE CONTINUED
With all my respect, I think that you are not getting the point that Mr "Hmimarmad" was trying to deliver. He is trying to encapsulate the notion of lobbyism by mentioning that such a great event should have better advertisement; not just to whom I know or whom you know but to any Moroccan willing to be accommodated with this event. Emails will not do because there are few people that have a lot on their plate to be delivering their emails to everyone. You can see how the incoming "Chikhats" shows (if you want to call them that) are more advertised. How come these genres of events are not that well advertised?
Thanks,
It brings me joy to see that there are people who get it. Perhaps I needed to be as clear in my comment as you were.
Thank you!
Si Hamid... u re absolutely right, what one could see in the \"SLimaNight fever\" event, is that most of those Moroccan \"A\"liens in it ,except LaLLa ELhajja, are completly detached from the reality FeElblad..Or they may , which I hope, just be overdosed on something they thought it s Caviar ..!!
U see, Assi Hamid, if these GM Moroccans want to have a good time and organize these EGO-Raising events FEL Mo9ata3a DC, by all means and we could even help copy&paste the pics above to HELLO mag to mark the ocassion...!! but they should think again if they re trying to take us Moroccans (or ELKHOROTO as some silverspooned prefer to call us)for a cheap ride...!!
In my opinion, Si Sliman should keep his walk to a Marathon as LaLLa El Hajja rightly pointed out and we could all take him seriously and plz Si Sliman, do us all a favor and just keep those old \"well googled\" J F kennedy rhetorics of the (ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country.\") to yourself and your entourage.. and plz plz plz don t try that \"great miracale\" Messiah style nonsense at home, coz some of us out there may mistake you for the long expected BOU7MARA and surely you may need the protection of ATADAKHOL ESSARI3 the remaining 990 miles
PLZ BARAKA MATD7KO E3LINA O E3LA RASKOM ..!!
here is a different approach, I didn't quite understand what the event was about just from the different clips in the video. since i'm sure there is a lot more to it. so i went to their website and I tried to find out what is this Le Citoyen Marocain ? who is this Salmane Belayachi ? and i must admit I find this project to be a first, i was pleasantly surprised at least as long as i can remember in my 37 years being moroccan.
You see the world function this way, some people act, other just couldn't care less. please tell me since when the notion of i can do attitude, i can change, i can develop is only for others!!! slogan or no slogan, I see a lot of good in this mission of this young moroccan, who you can say what you want, be as jalous and hateful as you want, has struck a cord with many including me.
some people improve, strive, others look at that and point fingers, complain and criticize at will. and like obama said know that your people will judge not but what you destroy but but what you build.
so why not ! yes we can is not copyrighted last time i checked. and for people like this young man who for the love of his country has done what i'm sure most of you will never dare to do...FACE MOROCCANS FACE TO FACE and tell them hard truth ! that WE are the problem, but also finish his sentence We are also the solution. I find that more than respectable, the most noble thing i ve heard in years.
stay negative if you want ! i refuse to be one of you.
Llah I3awenkom , Llah m3akom, Tbarkellab 3likom and god bless you. all those who are behind this project.
Wa Salam
Lalla Hafida… Plz enough of that "hollier than thou" mumbo jumbo and get some grip of what s going on and stop patronizing us.. If u think that " SAD" the only word u could find,then, young-ish lady, from now on u start boiling some Ze3tter with coffee and that definetly would have some "brining down to the earth" effect^_* or just listen very often to El Gnaoua I m sure that would help u forget Elhem..!!One word of advise though, plz while u re in this "khobzozitun" treatment, DO NOT take some leisurely walks around El Carrier Central in Casablanca or for that matter in any down town fel maghreb where Eshe3b live coz that may (or may not) deteriorate ur condition...!!
Anyway..!!what s all this about “ Moroccans being Moroccans “ … !!??? If u re refering to the Moroccans in the above clip, maybe u should have a closer look, coz as far as I could see there that Moroccans “ trying “ to be Americans but if u re refering to us who commented on this topic then maybe u re confusing between being realistic and being negative..
But let s just get this straight..!! coz I m not sure if u a Lalla Hafida (Allah E7efdek lina ) like those in that clip are really talking about THE Morocco PLC meaning el maghreb ela9ssa where still a good number live on $50 a month (if they re lucky enough )and where the unemplment is higher than 50% ?? and where the good education is only accessible and afordable to only a privalaged few ?? and the only country in the whole world where exists the ministery of privitazation.. ...??!! if that Morocco which u Lalla talk about , then these wonderful BUZZ words of "initiative" " Mission" " project" etc, La Tossmino wala toghni minjou3.. Believe me Lalla, if Si Sliman starts from Tanger instead ,and just witness on a daily basis and in broad day light how 100s of kids some as young as 7 sent by their desperate families, jumping over and hiding under big trucks to cross the stretch and most never make it.. I think that would be enough for Si Sliman to see the whole reality and save him to talk the 999 miles left ...
Or just maybe u Lalla and ur "initiave" guys are just happen to be talking about El Morocco exclusive CLUB in NY ..!!?? then in that case I m really sorry for all what I said..!! I rest MY KASS.. ^_*
Here is a slogan for you "Yes We are" , "Yes We are" We are..dismayed with this new face lifting of Moroccan snobbery, exclusivity and Makhzanism. I know that you care less about what we \"khouroto\" have to say, because you know full well that we understand your tactics and I am sure that the targeted audience for this "Halqa" is the American Public.
I want you to rest assured that other non-Moroccans wont be fooled by your phony vibrancy for the simple reason that we are here. We are Moroccan Americans, that hold very high and low level positions in all walks of the American life. We deliver Pizzas, we wait tables, we teach in universities and we also work for local, state and federal government, In all we represent the essence of the American Moroccan life. We started from Scratch and we weren't spoon fed success, we are all around you and you do not have our names in the D.C Moqataa ..Yes you can call us \"Khoroto\".
Because we have regular jobs, as individuals we may not be able to afford neither the time nor the money to set up a web forum and post photos of our daily work. But our energy is unmatched in helping Moroccans here and abroad. And since we are on the subject of action or non-action , let me list what we are doing to help Moroccans be it here or in Morocco, maybe you should take some notes if you wants to affect some ingenuous change:
FOR HELPING NEW MOROCCAN IMMIGRANTS IN THE U.S:
We teach the new arriving Moroccan immigrant to speak English, use U.S government programs and offices, find jobs and how to use social security benefits in order to get them on their feet. We help them find domiciles, and walk them through how to apply for financial aids and enroll in Universities. We do this without bragging, videotaping or seeking the sanction of Almuqataa in D.C.
FOR HELPING OUR MOROCCAN BRETHREN IN MOROCCO:
We do not waist any efforts talking to anyone willing to listen, informally, of course about the real and radical change that Morocco needs, in reforming it constitution and institution; a change that will in turn lead to economic stability and prosperity. You do not have to here it from me I will refer you to his Highness Prince Mulay Hicham , who you can easily find either in Princeton and/or Stanford Universities.
Please do not insults our intelligence by claiming that Moroccan youths shall share the blame for their misery, while all of you are enjoying the freedom of the United State constitution and the Moroccan constitution still states in its articles 19 and 20 the following:
\"
Article 19: The King, \"Amir Al-Muminin\"(Co mmander of the Faithful), shall be the Supreme Representative of the Nation and the Symbol of the unity thereof. He shall be the guarantor of the perpetuation and the continuity of the State. As Defender of the Faith, He shall ensure the respect for the Constitution. He shall be the Protector of the rights and liberties of the citizens, social groups and organizations. The King shall be the guarantor of the independence of the Nation and the territorial integrity of the Kingdom within all its rightful boundaries.
Article 20: The Moroccan Crown and the constitutional rights thereof shall be hereditary and handed down, from father to son, to descendants in direct male line and by order of primogeniture among the offspring of His Majesty King Hassan II, unless the King should, during his lifetime, designate a successor among his sons apart from the eldest one. In case of failing descendants in direct male line, the right of succession to the Throne shall, under the same conditions, be invested in the closest male in the collateral consanguinity."
If you are really serious about change, I urge you for the sake of our beautiful Morocco to think seriously about these points and you will see us all coming out of the bushes, lining up in front of the Moroccan embassy, begging you to take our names and register as Moroccan Diaspora. Unless the law of land (The Moroccan constitution) changes and until then, we are forced to disengaged and distrust the official "Mots du jour". Also, the territorial integrity of Morocco will not be questioned by anyone. Who wouldn't want to live in a country with a modern constitution that is "the GUARANTOR of the perpetuation and the continuity of the State\" ? Who in it right mind would argue against a constitution that will \"the Protector of the rights and liberties of the citizens, social groups and organizations?\ ".
I fail to follow your logic.
you are against the initiative of Salman to walk a thousand mile because the people who attended the fundraiser are from the "upper class".
Sorry to say that this is a pathetic logic. How do you know who the attendees are?
Do you know them?, or do you just have a terminal case of an "inferiority complex".
I have attended and i know quite a few people present, believe me, some of them are doctors, some drive taxis, others sell used cars, for sure 99% of them are what you call "khourutu" and what i call "oulad chaab"
any time, you see someone who is clean cut, well spoken, presentable and not ugly like you, he/she has to be with with the "makhzenian upperclasses".
.........
Are you against this independent grassroots initiative because you are against the monarchical system in Morocco?
Do you suggest that we have a presidential system like Libya or our neighbor Algeria?
If we have followed the advise of your gang in the seventies and eighties, Morocco would have ended up looking like Iraq Today. But, nowadays, nobody, who thinks straight, advocates for a republican regime. It is pure non sense.
What Moroccans aspire to is The Spanish Model, Dutch Model, English Model maybe Swedish Models.
Not the Libyan, Algerian, Egyptian, Syrian Models.
so Morocco needs to implement more democratic reforms, upgrade the justice system,.. etc so that we can come closer to our goal
As for all the activities and help you are providing the Moroccan American community in the Washington area, it must be a well kept secret, we live here and we have never heard of anything except for a picnic that you guys organize every summer. beside this all you do for the rest of the year, is bitch and moan, complain and talk nonsense.
..............
About invoking the name Of Prince Moulay Hicham in your comment, That is highly irresponsible on your part and I am sure the prince has nothing to do with the likes of you. Do not ride on his name.
You are bakhoush
You are garbage
You are jealous
You are NOT Moroccan
You are coward hiding behind your computer
You are why we never move forward
You know how criticize, show us what you have done.
You are good for nothing
you are a whiner
You are 3roubi
You are un(e) paresseux(e)
This is what you hear them saying about themselves:
We are more Moroccan than you
We care more about the Moroccan community
We are representing you
We are more useful
Makhzen or not, most of us do appreciate some great work done by some of the MB folks.
Who does not appreciate Mr. Hassan in the Middle of Polisario agents in RFK headquarters chanting the Moroccanity of the Sahara? or raising the Moroccan flag in Jersey City hall? and many many good things.
The problem is when they involve Moroccans selectively, they start looking like une clique. That's not very helpful to them and neither helpful to the Makhzen that sponsors their events. Keep in mind that Moroccan Residing Abroad finance the makhzen when most of us spend and send billions of $$$$$.
Your reply is indicative of your intellectual deficiencies, a thermometer to your tyrannical and aggressive nature. You have just proven that you are a Makhzeni.. I rest my case!.
I posed for a while and contemplated whether I should respond to your inadequate foul language and insults, yet I decided to reply to you for the sake of others in this forum Ok, I will take the high ground on this one and not lower myself to your level.:
About the Monarchy, I didn't mention the word "Republic" in my writing nor any other Arab regime. All I have done is quote our (beloved) constitution. As for the Mulley Hicham's comment, I recommend watching the interview he gave to Aljazeera (in English 2007) in which he discussed the institutional reforms for Monarchies in the wider Middle East including Morocco; in it he expressed that Morocco and the Moroccan monarchy are the best suited in the region to be to make this unavoidable reforms. He continues by stating that in taking the lead, the Monarchy will resume the role of insuring the continuity for the State.
As for My Hicham, I have seen nothing but mild manners and respect from him. Concerning the ladies and gentlemen that were present in this event, I know some of them personally and I have to say that I am proud to have them in my community and many of them agree with me and murmured in many occasion what I am voicing here.
As for you, we are all grown ups here and I urge you to learn to be more respectful in your commentaries.
It was a pure act of kindness of his part.
That's all!
Yours,
Regards
Abderrahmane
It is great that you organize all these sport events. Where? when? under what name? It is easy to post a comment here. If you are organizing anything, send the announcement to Moroccoboard, or even better, post it yourself, under upcoming events and let everyone know what you do. and give them the chance to participate and maybe cover it.
All events covered here at MB have been posted prior to the date a month or so ahead. so if you do not attend the events, or do not visit Moroccoboard often, don't blame those that are active.
some of the faces that you see 'often', as you put it, are the ones that take from their time and money to participate and as far as i know, no one has ever declared that they are representing anyone, certainly nor representing the "community".
as for Salmane, looking and speaking like Obama, go ahead, speak like him if you can. Go ahead, organize a march of a 1000 miles through Morocco and raise 70 thousand dollars for it, IF YOU CAN!
so, stop Whining and start doing!
Have fun guys
Abderrahmane
If my mother was alive, she would have told you: \"SHWINI FIK YA LBAHLA\". People of all spectrum are free to voice their opinions whether you like it or not..They called it here in America : \"FREEDOM OF SPEECH\"..What\ 's wrong of being Moroccan Hafida?? in my 21 years in the US, I met so many Moroccans, and they are warm and hospitable..You remind me a lot of those who want to be invited to those fake gatherings with fake people..I am sure there are some decent people with decent intentions, not you.. I get invited so many times to "important" functions ( here and Morocco), and I could depict those fake ones like you..You don\'t come here and insult Moroccan people or any human being for that matter....May be it\'s about the time Moroccans have the opportunity to express themselves freely..they could not do it before..Every human is entitled to speak , breathe and ultimately live..OK Hafida!! we will let you speak.
No my dear, Driss Lbasri\'s era is over, and by the way, you sound like him, treating Moroccans like a herd of sheep..My mother came from a respectable family, but she never discriminated against anybody..she treated everybody with the ultimate respect, no matter what was the person\'s background..Obv iously, you came from a different one, where you look down at disadvantaged people or just someone who disagrees with you. Be nice Hafida and you are not better than anybody here; people are just different..I suggest you get out of your circle; you you will see the light..Sometime s, you underestimate someone because of his social status, appearance,...a nd you realize hopefully that that person deserves as much respect as anybody else..And you are right when you said you are not one of us, I concur.
Peace
Abderrahmane
I can't agree with you more Ash-lah ..When you act in good faith, you do it because there is a deep call in your soul..A renowned psychologist said: the noisiest person in a crowd is the weakest..I noticed that most of these people are making a lot of noise..
Abderrahmane
Peace
Abderrahmane
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