|
We are not Arabs, say Moroccan Berbers
Many Moroccans are now turning their backs on the Middle East, trying to break all ties that link them to this region, except that of religion.
| Not that I'd tell another person how to pray, but some of the old-timey Berber religions might be worth their re-exploring ... |
The issue is no more that of some individuals, nor is it being expressed behind-the-scenes, as advocates of this approach discuss the issue freely in the media, political, social and cultural fora. The Berber issue is the main cause of this conflict with the Middle East, as supporters of the Berber issue always keep saying that Arab culture is not purely Moroccan, but rather alien. "What have we got to do with the Orient, we are Moroccan Berbers. Arab culture is alien to us. We are not Arabs," one can hear some of them here saying. The advocates of this approach continue to reject the country's Arabisation policy, which is trying to Arabise the country's administration and educational curricula — at present, mostly in French.
They succeeded in recent times in forcing the government to introduce the teaching of Berber language in the primary school educational curricula and the government's approval and recognition of the 'Tifinag' letters in writing their language instead of the Arabic ones. What remains now is how to succeed in getting the Berber language recognised constitutionally as an official language in the country, beside Arabic. "They are also struggling to get the translation of the Holy Quran into the Berber language legitimised, after which they will close the door completely on everything that is Orient," an observer of the issue said.
| The Master RaceĀ isn't going to take this well. Expect seething real soon. |
| They can't let that Holy Koran thing go too far. It's one thing to say it doesn't make any sense because you speak a funny dialect of Arabic. It's another to read it in your native language and discover it doesn't make any sense. |
Posted by: Steve White 2004-12-26 |
