Monthly Archives: May 2014

The movement for non violent protest has gotten much attention in the past, during which many individuals would voice their opinions about current events, particularly war. This has been very prevalent since the 1900s, for “violent resistance was successful on 26 percent of the time, and nonviolent campaigns saw a 53 percent success rate”; most famously are Martin Luther King Jr.’s actions for civil rights and peace. Presently, there are many non violent creative resistance movements around the world today, which are created to peacefully call for change. “Most repressive governments tend to be less prepared to counter massive noncooperation by old, middle aged and young”. This is seen in the current conflict in Syria. “Terrorism does not fight terrorism”; that opinion and ideology is kept in mind by the protests in Syria to end the brutal Assad regime and bloodshed. The two main protest groups are “I Am Syrian” and “the Syrian Nonviolence Movement”, which sponsored an exhibit called “Stories of the Revolution”. The exhibit involves a big screen that shows clips of Syrian revolution songs, attracting a stream of visitors into the exhibition, including women, children, and even rebel fighters. Nonviolent resistance activities are capable of reaching diverse segments in Syrian society. They appeal to many on various levels, rather than outright violence or anger. The belief behind these kinds of actions is that a message for peace and prosperity for all can be achieved without drastic measures or extremes. Nonviolence protests offer hope, while violent resistances cause more death and grief than good.

-Lananh Nguyen

http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=691997

http://forusa.org/blogs/ibrahim-al-assil/creative-resistance-syrias-nonviolent-struggle-persists/12932

http://www.ozy.com/c-notes/a-force-more-powerful-than-war-nonviolent-resistance/30051.article

With 13 various and frequently spoken languages, there is no denying Morocco has a very rich and diversified culture. Among these 13 languages are various playoffs of Arabic and the original Berber tongues, but the main four happen to be French, Spanish, Arabic, and Tamazight (the Berber language). Berber is the original language of the native inhabitants spoken in three different dialects Tarifit, Tashelhit, and Tamazight, which is often associated with the rural poor. Today, over 10 million people still speak it, yet the Berbers have fought hard for proper recognition. They have endured a long struggle due to the past “arabization” of Morocco which completely ignored the native roots and privilege of the original inhabitants. In 1965, King Hassan II sought to implement a national homogeneity of the Islam faith and the Arabic language once independent from their European colonial powers. In doing so he banned Tamazight from the educational sector forcing Berber children to drop out, and crippling adults in communication with the Arabic speaking court systems and hospitals. Thankfully, the fight ceased when King Mohammed VI later on granted Berbers the recognition they deserved when in September 2004, the language was permitted to be taught in 300 Moroccan primary schools in its original alphabet. Furthermore, the Royal Institute of the Amazigh Culture has been established in addition to Tamazight newspapers and translation of the Koran into Tamazight pushing it to the second national language.

The Berber language however is not the only language in the past that arabization attempted to purge out of Morocco. Moroccan leaders sought to universalize its people in education while moving them past elements associated with their European colonizers. French and Spanish are a result of colonization and are mainly preferred among the middle class and private education. This has put a cleavage between classes because French and Spanish are considered more modern and European, and therefore belong to the elite. It is almost “too good” for the normal Arabic or Berber speaking people. However, French was never successfully denied and still serves today as Morocco’s unofficial third language is used in education and government, and functions primarily at the tertiary level of medicine, agriculture, and technical fields. Surprisingly, a growing new language is on the horizon of pushing French down the authoritative ladder as the language of education in Morocco.
Minister of Higher Education Lahcen Daoudi said the government was moving to boost English in Moroccan universities going so far as to call out the “solution to the country’s education system”. The ultimate goal is to make English so common in higher education that proficiency is needed for obtaining a doctorate. Why choose this new language when Arabic, French, and Tamazight have served every department of the country for so long? Reasons all point to globalization and the growing digital revolution of the internet and usage of smartphones in the 21st century. Arabic unfortunately is falling behind in transforming into a usable and common global language, especially transcribed into texting language. To stay connected with the world politically (for example off-shoring, trade), especially with rich European countries, you must know the universal languages of English and French. The question for Morocco’s future thus will be how they will honor their traditional languages like Arabic and Tamazight while moving towards modernity in the French and English languages? What are the consequences of this shift on Morocco’s citizens, especially the Berbers who have fought for so long for their own recognition? Restructuring the education system and rewriting textbooks yet again may be a pricey endeavor, but it could indeed be the most beneficial action for a more globally-integrated Morocco.

-Kaitlyn Fitzgerald
Sources:

http://www.universityworldnews.com/article.php?story=20140403202152771

http://www.worldcrunch.com/culture-society/french-language-revival-in-morocco-colonial-nostalgia-or-bridge-to-modernity-/education-school-language-english-arabic-/c3s10662/#.U0iFV_ldUS0

http://www.usnews.com

In today’s modern world, the face of the enemy is changing. States are no longer the threat as was the case during the WWII or the Cold War. Today the threat is the terrorist, an unpredictable, transnational, and hard to pinpoint enemy. Today, it’s hard to talk about the War on Terror without mentioning the United States’ controversial drone program. Recently, a three day long operation in Yemen, killed a speculated 65 suspected members of al Qaeda.1 Although the total fatality count is unknown, it is speculated that 504 people have been killed by U.S. drone strikes in Yemen since 2002.4 Since 2009, drone strikes in Yemen have greatly increased and have been very successful in combating al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), killing top AQAP members such as Anwar al-Awlaqi. However, drone strikes are also extremely damaging to Yemen and its citizens. Not only are there numerous civilian casualties but drone strikes also have a significant psychological impact. Yemenis are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and paranoia from the constant buzzing of drones flying overhead.4 Some mothers are even keeping their children home from school for fear al Qaeda members will approach them and the possibility that any contact with a member of al Qaeda will make them into a drone target.4

Currently, the U.S. does not release casualty figures for drone strikes since they are technically still covert operations. However, the new intelligence bill of 2014 included a provision that would require public declaration of civilian deaths caused by CIA drone strikes. This past week, the Senate dropped the provision, causing an uproar of criticism. Human rights activists demand change and more congressional oversight. On the other hand, it is very important to the Intelligence Community to “to protect against the disclosure of intelligence sources and methods or other classified information.”3 President Obama announced in May 2013 that he would reform drone policy so that “strikes only target high-level terrorist targets who can’t otherwise be captured, and when there is near certainty of no civilian casualties.”3 Although the number of drone attacks has decreased since this announcement, the recent massive drone strike in Yemen has lead to backlash by al Qaeda forces.

The United States has been working with Yemeni President Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi and Yemeni armed forces in fighting AQAP. But now in response to U.S. drone strikes, a senior AQAP leader, Qassem al-Rimi, has vowed to attack anyone “acting as an intermediary with the Americans” and “any establishment, ministry, camp or barracks” involved in helping U.S. drones target terrorists.2 Some people believe that drone strikes are actually making terrorism worse and strengthening al Qaeda. The resentment towards the U.S. caused but the use of drones has only increased recruitment opportunities to al Qaeda in Yemen.5 While the U.S. government sees drones as being an efficient and precise way of getting a target, drones might not be able to solve the terrorism problem. Newly recruited terrorists quickly replace those killed in a drone strike. In order to solve the problem, we need to get to the roots of the problem that are breeding terrorism: “poverty, illiteracy, political marginalization and lack of opportunity for young people.”5

-Caroline Malec

References:

1 http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/22/world/meast/yemen-terror-operation-dna/

2 http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2014/May-02/255152-qaeda-threatens-to-hit-back-over-yemen-drone-strikes.ashx#axzz30b5ka2TB

3 http://www.stripes.com/news/us/senators-drop-provision-to-report-number-of-civilian-deaths-in-drone-strikes-1.280658

4 http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/death-from-above-how-american-drone-strikes-are-devastating-yemen-20140414?page=2

5http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/news/international/Drone_strikes_alone_wont_stamp_out_al_Qaeda_in_Yemen_-_analysts.html?cid=38426016