Morocco: Only One Day to Go

A small portrait of the translator

November 4, 2008 @ 1:13 UTC

Written by

Barack Obama, John McCain
International Relations, Government & Politics

Morocco may be in the grip of general Obamania, but a few voicesÂ here and there still stubbornly resist the flow. Not that the reluctant Moroccans would give their ballot to John McCain if they had the chance, but they are wary of the American model of democracy, of America, andÂ more than aÂ little sick of an election that hides its flaws under a Hollywood-inspired cast and plot.

In a severe post entitled “A good show does not equal democracy” [fr], blogger baraka from TangiersÂ doesn't mince words: “In the United States, democracy is a pure fiction”.

The mediaÂ in countries that are part of NATO offer a wide coverage to the US presidential election, and convey a double message:Â  the future of the allied countries lies in Washington, the United States is the model of democracy. But it is well known that the US Presidential election is tainted by money. This electionÂ is already costingÂ over 1,5Â billion USD.Â  Below this superficial critique, lies anotherÂ hidden reality: money makesÂ the winner,Â but maybe it's the other way round, money goes to the candidate who wasÂ designatedÂ all along [..]Â Â 

Baraka republishes a long article by Thierry MeyssanÂ [fr], Â a controversial French writer who still maintains that no plane crashed into the Pentagon on 9/11, that it was all a plot,Â but has neverthelessÂ a large numberÂ of followers, united by a solid mistrust, if not more,Â of America.

Ce show rÃ©gÃ©nÃ¨re la sociÃ©tÃ© tous les quatre ans, il sert aussi Ã  nettoyer l'image des Ã‰tats-Unis dans le monde. L'opinion publique internationale est invitÃ©e Ã  suivre un spectacle qui fasse oublier les crimes prÃ©cÃ©dents et lui redonne espoir. Cette annÃ©e le casting est particuliÃ¨rement rÃ©ussi : un sÃ©millant jeune noir assistÃ© d'un vieux briscard de la politique contre un ancien combattant Ã©paulÃ© par une femme sans complexes. DÃ©jÃ , la presse mondiale titre sur l'aprÃ¨s-Bush comme si les guerres en Afghanistan et en Irak Ã©taient des erreurs passagÃ¨res imputables Ã  la seule Administration sortante

This show rejuvenates [American] society every four years, and helps clean up the United States reputation in the world. The global public opinion is invited to a show, crafted to make themÂ forget previous crimes andÂ restore hope. This year, the cast is particularly good: a dashing young black man, assisted by an old political fox, against a veteranÂ flanked byÂ a shameless woman. The global media have alreadyÂ written theirÂ headlines on post Bush America, as if wars in Afghanistan and Iraq were forgettable errors of the sole Bush administration.

Amazing flow Â [fr] chose to zoom in on a side of Obama that has gotten very little coverageÂ in Moroccan or French media: his support of the death penalty. In a video montage, he matches footages ofÂ publicÂ statements on this issueÂ by Obama and Jean-Marie Le Pen, the champion of the French extreme-right, and find them perfectly in tune.Â  Too banal comments gloomily under the video:

Â Obama ou pas, rien ne changera sur le fond des rÃ©alitÃ©s de la politique Ã©trangÃ¨re amÃ©ricaine

Obama or not Obama, nothing will really change in the foreign policy of the United States.

Blogger chergaouiÂ [fr] Â has no timeÂ for gloominess: he is on a rush quest for online election creativity, which obviously is on Obama's side.Â Â After Pumpkins for Obama and Design forÂ Obama, heÂ recommends warmlyÂ his latest finding: “Not another C student“, t-shirts adorned by the bestÂ Bush'sÂ gaffes of the decade, andÂ Republican blunders of the year.

Leur objectif est de faire savoir aux gens quâ€™il est temps de mettre un terme Ã  lâ€™ignorance et Ã  lâ€™incompÃ©tence qui rÃ¨gne Ã  la maison blanche depuis 8 ans. Ils dÃ©noncent la mÃ©diocritÃ©, et ils le font de belle maniÃ¨re : des modÃ¨les de stickers, posters et t-shirts, sur lesquels on peut lire des extraits de discours etÂ  dâ€™interviews, sont tÃ©lÃ©chargeables gratuitement

Their objective is to communicate that it is time to put a stop to theÂ ignorance and incompetenceÂ thatÂ ruled the White House for eight years. They denounce mediocrity, and in aÂ pretty way: stickers, posters, t-shirts, with excerpts of speeches and interviews,Â downloadable for free.

Only one day to go…

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