Amazigh or Arab: keep tolerance!

Amazigh or Arab: keep tolerance!

One of the issues that attract a lot of debate in Morocco when brought to conversation is “Tamazight”. From the question of race, identity, culture, to alphabets in which the language should be written in, and the right of “Amazigh” people to hear and use their language in public administrations as well the use of “Tamazight” in Moroccan school.

“Tamazight” was, still and will always be one of the hot and complicated subjects for it is a vital element of Moroccan identity. And as any controversial subjects with many ramifications, everyone tackles it from an angle and defends his point of view but sometimes ignore the other’s even if it may contain certain truth.

The debate intensifies more between “Arabs” and “Amazighs” and in many cases raises conflict especially when fanatics from both sides come together. And everyone tries to intimidate the other and exclude his right of existence particularly when they enter in race discussions, and who is from where, and who has the right in Morocco?

For some “Arabs”, and insist on some because not all of them has this view, “Tamazight” is only a primitive language and culture that has no value in the 21st century, and there is no benefit to knowing about it or the culture of “Amazigh”. And those who defend ideology goes so far and see it as a threat for “Arabic”, the holly language of Quran, and that it might be also a threat for Islam. And of course, it’s only an ideological use of “Arabic” for some goals and gains and has nothing with reality. From when Arabic language is necessary to be a Muslim, if it was, most of Asian people wouldn’t have been Muslims, but they are. Defending “Tamazight”, language and culture, has never been against Islam. And for “Amazigh” people haters, and they are numerous, I just tell them where we can take the bulk of Moroccan society if you don’t like them?

For some “Amazigh” fanatics that see “Arabs” as enemies, I also ask them the question where can we take those you think are “enemies” away from you? They have the right to exist as you think you have, and if some of “Arabs” really have hurt “Amazighs” and “Tamazight” and some of them still and will always fight their right of existence fiercely, but not all of them do. And hatred you might harbor toward “Arabs” if not harm the cause you are defending, will never serve it.

To be objective, “Tamazight” has suffered for long, and it has sustained a lot of prevention, and now it’s not bad if it gets some care, and its constitutionalization in the late constitution is just the entrance, and a lot of work still needed.

I’m an “Amazigh” and I have a lot of “Arab” friends and never judge them by their origins. And when I want to defend “Tamazight”, I never defend race because in Morocco, few could be completely sure of their origins, and absolutely be certain if they are pure Amazigh or pure Arab, but I defend culture and language no matter what your roots are.  We have to accept each other with different langue and culture, and this tolerance is something we have to keep in mind when dealing with anyone different from us, whether he is “Arab”, “Amazigh” or whoever.




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