By Hassan Salman
Orlando -In order to break up the daily hustle and bustle of everyday life here in the United States, Moroccan immigrants do all they can to keep their lives interesting and fulfilling. Moroccan men and women across the country meet online and exchange daily news and events, both about the United States and their home country.
To better understand how Moroccan immigrants feel about their homeland thousands of miles away, I asked several of them the following question: what would our country have to look like in order for you to return permanently to Morocco?
Below, I will analyze some of thoughts our fellow countrymen and women living abroad had about this issue. I have removed names for security purposes, and have included direct quotes from those interviewed.
The first male commenter said that Morocco must offer “opportunities, safety, and justice.” This commenter hopes for the best. Currently, Morocco is a land with few opportunities for youth, which explains why the majority of youth have emigrated to different parts of the world. They leave their homes seeking better opportunities for a sustainable future.
Regarding many interviewees’ safety concerns, they often find that Morocco "is not a safe place" to live, except for a few small cities and villages around the country. Banditry takes place in both public and private areas at all hours of the day and night. The big question being asked is: “why can’t the government make it safe for the people?” The public wonders if it is a deficiency on the part of the government or if it is willful negligence.
Justice and equality often appears absent in Morocco. The majority of citizens are deprived of their rights in all aspects of life: employment, housing, hospitalization, and other related areas. Laws are not always implemented, and when they are, it is done very poorly. The worst of all is that only three types of people make up the social hierarchy of the country: the filthy rich, the middle class, and the impoverished lower class. Deplorably, the latter category represents the majority of the country’s citizens.
One Moroccan woman living in the United States brought attention to another important issue in the country: healthcare. This issue is in need of closer consideration from the Ministry of Health. Health coverage in most, if not all, of Morocco’s public hospitals is disappearing to the point that people, both rich and poor, must resort to private clinics for hospitalization.
Most public hospitals barely contain the basic necessities for a health facility, including healthcare equipment, medicine, and sustainable rooms for patients. Almost all public hospitals lack a sufficient number of nurses and doctors to help provide for a comfortable visit for the patient. The question is: can a penniless Moroccan man or woman who needs immediate surgery to survive be given a chance at life?
Four other interviewees shared a concern for the state of education in the country. Morocco is in dire in need of a system of education that guarantees fruitful learning and produces valuable citizens. According to the interviewees, the ideal education system is one that pays attention to quality, not quantity. They seek an education that enables degree-holding graduates to find a job with little-to-no difficulty. Above all, the education they dream of is one with curriculum that does not contradict or misrepresent our beautiful religion, Islam.
One of the female interviewees also mentioned she wishes she did not have “to offer a bribe to every office” she visits. She also highlighted the lack of respect while driving and human rights. A less-optimistic female said, “nothing really. I know the change won't occur at least a decade from now. For anyone thinking about going back now: do not waste your time waiting for big change to happen yet.”
Despite all of these attitudes, which perhaps some may view as pessimistic, there are thousands of other Moroccans who want to move back to Morocco permanently. They are eager to do so simply because it is the land where they were born and raised; it is the land where their parents, siblings and relatives live; and it is the land that speaks their mother language. These people dream to lend a hand to make the change they want to see in Morocco.
One cannot help but wonder: how successful will these Moroccans returning from the US be in changing our kingdom’s future?
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Morocco World News’ editorial policy
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