Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Jan 24 2009

What Can Obama Do For Me?

VIEWPOINT – ZAK ETTAMYMY

This is a question we Moroccans forget to ask our selves, we also
forget to analyze the candidate, scrutinize him and his policies,
demand a clear standing about issues that concern us as a group, a
small group, but a potentially influential one, the Moroccan Diaspora;
with its Muslims, Jews, Educated, Laborers, Students and mothers of a
generation of Moroccan-Americans all have one passion, Morocco and its
well being.

I took my time to support President Obama, I did not write during the
Obama-euphoria after his election, I had to wait and see his
commitment to world peace, ending injustice and above all on being a
friend of Morocco and the Arab world. Why not? My vote counts and I
can be demanding too. I wanted my vote to go to the person who can
serve me best and serve my family and of course who can help my
country of origin, no apology needed here, we are what we are and we
should not separate American politics with our passion for Morocco.
This message is not for those who claim to recreate themselves in this
country and forget their country of origin; not for those who blame
Morocco for their mediocrity or their situation and especially not for
self-hating Moroccans, it is for those who embrace America with its
bad and good and love Morocco for its bad and good. As a Diaspora,
and one of the highest proportion in the world (12% of local total
population) we have an identity crisis, we all vote, in France, Spain,
Italy, Belgium, Holland, Canada and the USA for millions of reasons,
that’s why are not listened to, we are not counted because we are too
spread out , no candidate tries to approach us because we are not
united under one ideology, we are widespread in the political spectrum
of the western world.

Israel was created because the Jews influenced the English Empire and
pushed with the force of its unity Rothschild and Belfort to declare
Palestine a future home for the Jewish people. This is by far the most
successful action of any Diaspora. The Armenian Diaspora is very
similar in its long reach, using its number to face a much bigger
opponent Turkey. We, the Moroccan Diaspora are still in the identity
crisis phase, maturity comes with a real leadership and a big help
from the government of Morocco. Unfortunately, our Diaspora is
ill-represented by personal greed and the old (BBAK KHO SAHBI)
mentality. Some of the so-called leaders of the Moroccans-living in
America are a real disgrace to all of us, they represent us because
they know someone who knows someone who knows someone back home not
because of their achievements in this country where things matter
more. What can Obama do for us with these people heading our
community? Nothing, he would not even recognize our importance and our
potential. But on a personal level, I love the fact that this country
gives us the chance to be what ever we want as a person and to be able
to fall back on that when the group does not exists or is below your
standards, my list of things I want Obama to do for me, as I wait for
a unified list of us:

A complete halt of associating Islam with Terrorism, Islam phobia
should be as taboo and as illegal as Anti-Semitism

A balanced middle east policy and a halt to American Veto’s when it
comes to the killing of children

A recognition of what Morocco has been doing since day 1 for this
nation

A full support of the Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara, the least
expected from a friend.

A strong pressure on the Arab leaders to get their act together and
support their population

A real consideration to the Arab street, it is the real mood of the
Arab world not the leaders

And of course, Economy¦

Mr. Obama, these are my wishes and I am entitled to them because I
voted for you