Thank You President Washington
The second law of thermodynamics states “whenever you do something, the universe gets more random.” At no time in the history of mankind has this been more evident than now, and for no more reason, ever, than the Internet. Because of today’s easy access to any information on anybody or anything, the world is changing at a rocket ship pace…and, sadly enough, not all for the better. Being a product of the fifties, I remember when the US was where “opportunity abounds” and “the streets are made of gold.” and everyone looked up to us. I look around and see no gold. This article is about a place where change has moved at a slower pace. A gentler place. A place where lives are fashioned around need instead of greed and people help people, locally. In Morocco, they told me their religion teaches that you should give something to someone every day. Even if it is a grape. Nice thought.
In 1789, our president, George Washington, made an appeal to Emperor Mohammed the third of Morocco. President Washington said our ships were being fired on in the Mediterranean, by Tunisia and Lybia, and asked the king to intervene. The president said, “We greatly regret that the hostile disposition of those regencies toward this nation, who have never injured them, is not to be removed on terms in our power to comply with. Within our territories there are no mines of gold or silver, and this young nation, just recovering from the desolation of a long war, has not yet had time to acquire riches by agriculture and commerce. But, our soil is bountiful and our people industrious, and we have reason to flatter ourselves that we will gradually become useful to our friends.” The president went on to propose a treaty of peace and friendship with Morocco.
Emperor Mohammed replied, “In the name of God, the merciful. There exists strength only by God. From the servant of God, Mohammed Ibm Allah, may God help him-to the president of the United States of America. Salvation be upon him who follows the righteous path. We received your letter in which you propose a peace treaty. Our intention is also to maintain peaceful relations with you. We have also contacted Tunis and Tripoli regarding what you solicited from Our Majesty and all your requests will materialize, God willing.” As a result of these correspondences, America’s peace and friendship treaty with Morocco, The Treaty of Marrakech, signed in 1787, is our longest standing treaty.
So what’s happened in the couple of centuries since, Mr. President? The United states has become a world power. Our military is made up of the most dedicated men and women in the world. They move, without question, to assignments around the world, where they risk their lives to protect total strangers, at the behest of the United States government. They re-define bravery. As a force, we are lethal beyond human comprehension. Whenever any country suffers a natural disaster, politics are set aside and the United States is first to offer assistance. We feed more people around the world than any country, with our consideration of repayment. We house and protect the parliment of man….. The United Nations
Our space program is second to none. We fly around in the stars so frequently the American public, as a whole, pay’s little attention. Thanks to our scientists and laboratories, modern medicine is keeping people alive longer than ever. The quality of our lives in our later years is enhanced, as well. We are the innovator’s of the computer world and still lead in development and technology. Ours is a society that thrives on new ideas and inventions. The list of things this industrious nation of the United States leads in is endless. I am, and always will be, proud to be an American….with a few exceptions.
Tell me, President Washington, please. Do you think, with all of these accolades, we may have come too far too fast? Have we spread so much confusion around the globe, insisting others adopt our values, that we are now looked on as conquerors instead of liberators? Can we slow our pace if we tried? Do we have reason to flatter ourselves that our new administration will lead us back onto a righteous path and away from that of worldwide confrontation and inevitable destruction? If not now, when? The eyes of a world, whom we have fallen out of favor with, will be on the first moves of President Of the United States, Barak Obama. Please be worthy. God speed, Mr. President.
Let me move you a few thousand miles across the Atlantic, to a country that I have been blessed enough to call my second home. Like other countries situated close to the equator, Morocco’s progression is different, as is their pace of life. Warmer climates are more conducive to living naturally and less demanding for basic survival. When I first went to Morocco, in 1975, I was shocked at what I considered third world backwardness. For an American city dweller to see animal drawn carts mingling with auto congestion, a bit of shock is understandable. As I fell in love with the country, I learned to appreciate the harmony that allows this to happen. It works. People, carts, bikes and other traffic move along in sort of a groove of mutual respect. The general attitude of the Moroccan people follows the same trend. In general, they believe, if no good can come from something, do not do it. For instance, if someone takes something from you, no good can come from hitting them for it. Then, on the other hand, William Shakespeare said “men are not hung for stealing horses. They are hung that horses shall not be stolen.”
Thirty some years later, Morocco is no longer this sleepy little Kingdom, catering to a few tourists and making their lives miserable while trying to enter and leave the country. No more packed highways, if you could call them that, dotted with road block check points and guards, with their paranoia. There’s no more wondering if your room reservation would be waiting, or clean, if it was. For years Morocco was at the bottom of the list of countries re-visited, because it just didn’t have it together. Today, things are different and people who visit once, generally are excited about someday returning.
Morocco is thriving. The paranoia is gone. King Mohamed the sixth has invested a fortune into cleaning the cities spotless and creating jobs and commerce. He has commissioned beautiful garden laced avenues and parks. Super highways and toll roads now connect the major cities. Casablanca’s new Mohamed Sixth Airport is modern and gorgeous. Their passenger rail service is modern and non smoking. The train is a wonderful way to see Morocco’s countryside. Beautiful five star hotels are being built in every direction, each booking full as soon as they open. The biggest ski resort in Africa is almost completed in Okaimden. Marrakech has a new Royal Theater that looks like a palace. The shops are packed with tourists from around the globe lapping up Morocco’s treasure chest of handicrafts. Europeans, Saudis, Katari’s, Omanis, and, of course, their best friends and shoppers, the Americans. People come from around the world, all eager to play, whether it’s on one of Morocco’s many beautiful golf courses, hiking or skiing in the Atlas Mountains, or basking under Moroccos’ blue sky, on one of the hundreds of miles of beaches. You can have the best, most exciting time of your life in this gracious, hospitable kingdom. My gosh! I sound like I’m selling tours.
Permit me to repeat myself:
Morocco has progressed more gently. They are an inspiration in change
You would be proud of these friends you made for us, President.Washington
Governor Alf Taylor
November 2008
