Marrakech

By Soultari Amin Farid

noramin_dd@yahoo.com

Lost in the haphazardness of Marrakech trying very hard to find the entrance into Palais Royal, we chanced upon an elderly couple walking the opposite way. We were tired and I decided to just ask them where the darn entrance was. A few exchanges later we found out that there was no entry into the palace (furious, why is it even a Tourist site) and they suggested other places for us to go.

Soon we were talking about our experiences, as we walked back together the route we came from. A nice English couple they were.

The elderly lady said that her tour guide, the day before, shared a piece of history while showing them around. He shared that Hitler, at his height of his Nazi propaganda, had written to the Sultan of Morrocco to expel Jews out of his country and deport them to Nazi Germany.

The Ruler responded, much to Hitler's humiliation, that there were no Jews here in Morocco except for Moroccans.

The elderly lady said, "if only the world still reacts like this now, it will be better place...". I couldn't agree more.

Disclaimer Note: Although there have been claims refuting the late ruler's treatment towards Moroccan Jews, my concern here is more about the idea, or the possibility, of people helping one another and the emphasis on states/leaders to care for and protect the individuals under their rule.

Even if this piece of history turns out false, it's tale about the love for humanity regardless of faith is worth pondering upon.

Surely, There Are Less Provocative Methods of Expression, No?

By Soultari Amin Farid

noramin_dd@yahoo.com

I returned to Clermont Ferrand last night and was greeted by my group of friends at one of the kitchens. As much as we were eager to share about our recent escapades, a discussion about the recent terrorist attack in Paris became the main subject.

I was touched, somewhat, by my friends intention to talk about the matter. It was interesting for me to know that we all do not necessarily need to agree with one another. And what I appreciated most, was that they really valued and wanted to hear my view.

I told them how this has become such a repetitive task for me, as a Muslim, to denounce such attacks which I personally I feel I don't need to. I shared my view about the cartoons and why I was not offended by it because devout muslims living in this day and age will never know how our beloved Prophet looks like. When I look at these cartoons, I laugh because they were funny but I was not offended because even if it is to poke fun at Muslims, these cartoons don't look like me and I don't think it reflects what Islam truly is.

But a comment made by a Brazilian friend of Arab descent, struck me and I am made to rethink again about it. She said, "Probably those cartoons do not reflect who you are because you are Southeast Asian but for some I think those cartoons reflected features of Arabs (albeit exaggerated) and was mocking them".

Without having to go deeper into what she said, I am made to reflect whether I would have reacted differently if these cartoons was wearing Malay traditional wear (e.g baju kurung and a songkok). How would I have felt? To be mocked like that by people who don't (or maybe refuse) to understand who I am and what my religion/culture stands for.

Yes, those terrorists had no right to take the lives of these human beings for their desire to express (rather plainly) what they think of Islam. But the truth is, in cartoons or otherwise, surely there are ways we can try to express ourselves without such intent to provoke? Or maybe not.

I think we will always be stuck in this conundrum. But I am grateful that through such tragedies, I find discussions with educated and empathetic friends to be comforting and assuring. Probably, our mode of discourse is too traditional for the creative, but we don't provoke. Even if we did, we do it with a tinge of respect and love for humanity.

Two Thousand Fifteen

By Soultari Amin Farid

noramin_dd@yahoo.com


Truly recent tragedies in the world has somewhat obstructed me from writing a joyful year end message because this backpacking journey around some cities of West Europe has brought me more reflections about life than the pictures I am posing for.

Every city I've been to in this escapade has given me many lessons about our collective human experience, let alone the volumes of history, human's desire to conquer savage lands, acquire materials, exert control only to be "colonise" yet again by the colonised.

But what I found even more intriguing is human's desire to survive regardless harsh circumstances: be it peasants surviving a gruelling dictatorship or kings/queens/noblemen desire to "survive" in history books through overt display of finest statues and monuments.

What is it about this lifetime that makes us so desire to survive? Is death truly the end?

As I continue to indulge in this question about life after death, I encourage my friends, family and students to have a good reflection about their lives and appreciate the goodness that has been bestowed upon us, embrace our faults and continue to develop ourselves in becoming better individuals.

May the year ahead offer us greater prospectives on our lives and understand our role as humans to fellow humans. Restore faith in humanity.

Happy New Year :)