The recent attacks in France underscore the fragility of life: Think about going to a concert to have fun only to become a victim of senseless killings. Such bewildering attacks also point to the need for citizens to fully understand the foreign policies of Western superpowers. Their neo-liberal, military responses often keep the vicious cycle of violence spinning – with innocent citizens caught in the crossfire.
If we take note that the alleged terrorists have Moroccan roots, we can gain valuable historical insights instantly. When the European imperialists decided how to carve up the vast and resource-rich continent of Africa, Morocco’s fate was also decided. The highest population of Moroccans outside of the country is in France – almost two million. Keep this important fact in mind as you keep reading.
At the turn of the 20th century, Britain, France and Italy got together to take over important coastal countries with key ports for trading and military operations. It was decided that France would get Morocco, Italy would get Libya, and Britain would get Egypt. Spain would maintain a small territory in northern Morocco that it had claimed some centuries before.
By now, we have a pretty good idea of what happens when foreign matter invades a country or continent. Close to home, think of Native Americans.
The French invasion of Morocco resulted in the theft of land and other natural resources, the suppression of Moroccan culture (which goes back centuries) and the imposition of French culture and traditions, along with the hijacking of government entities, including educational institutions, which were re-created to be separate and unequal. Hordes of French settled into their new playground, turning up their noses at the brown and black indigenous citizens, especially those who claimed Islam as their religion. Moroccans became second-class citizens in their own land.
Native Moroccans began making the trek to France to seek a better life. Perhaps, since the French had messed up their lives in Morocco, life would be better in France. This was not the case; they experience the same treatment as in their homeland.
Moroccans also were brought into Belgium as guest workers to supplement a shrinking workforce, especially in the capital city of Brussels. Their situation is very similar to Moroccans in France, and their resentment is just as volatile. The young, disgruntled Moroccans from Belgium and France are hooking up.
I believe the West has created and continues to create the conditions for terrorism. Instead of looking at the havoc they replicate and move to make people and their native lands whole, white settler mentality kicks in with more repression and more aggressive destruction of lives and land. There are not enough bombs and bullets to put dissent in check. For every death by a foreign power, at least 10 freedom fighters spring to the fore.
When you read about these young men (and an increasing number of women) who become extremists in their views, from all accounts they started out like regular youth. They’re a lot like the young people in Ferguson, Baltimore, New York, Miami, Los Angeles, etc., whose families have been in the U.S. for generations but who still get treated like second-class citizens by a racist society.
Those of us in the U.S. must see the connections between the domestic racist policies that are carried out across the country and those exported to countries around the world. Just as we must hold our local government accountable for human rights abuses, we must also hold our federal government accountable for policies and actions done in our name with our tax dollars.
The French people have an obligation to pronounce to the world that they are opposed to their government tilling the soil for avoidable discontent and retaliation. We must do the same in the U.S. We cannot be collateral damage; we have a new world to build.
