Moroccan unity and unity with Morocco in misfortune
Feeling the ground tremble under your feet is an experience unlike any other, but, as an experience, it is dispensable. The earth moves for a few seconds, nothing more, enough to make us aware of how vulnerable human beings are. In front of us the buildings start to sway, things start to fall off the shelves and finally the roof falls on our heads. The body asks us to run, to seek shelter without knowing where to go. Control is lost and the only thing that remains is a survival instinct. Not even those who are most accustomed to watering know how to react. Fear has taken hold of us, the only thing that matters to us is survival.
This description is an understatement, for the worst is yet to come. The walls that have fallen have left those who were living peacefully inside them underneath. Everything is falling down like a house of cards, it will crumble now or later and that makes it harder to pick up the survivors. The most terrible premonition that in the next few minutes it could happen again. In this scenario there are no differences of class, race or creed, nationality. It is the vulnerability, the fragility of the human being and here we are all the same.
The earthquake in Morocco, that country that for some is only our neighbour with the sea in between. That is if only a narrow strip of water of 12 kilometres separates us. We should remember, once again, that Morocco is much more, it is part of our past, present and future history. Therefore, in the face of a tragedy such as the one that has occurred, there are no differences, no land or water borders, no intentions, no prejudices. It is therefore unacceptable that, when the bodies, alive or not, are still warm, voices should be raised to criticise whether or not appropriate action is being taken, or to be indifferent to the tragedy. The victims, the buried, those who have lost their loved ones, their homes and basic necessities come first.
At the moment, it is people who come first. Earthquakes do not understand politics, and it seems that politics and some of the media do not understand earthquakes either. The speed of the aid offered by Spain, with personnel and rescue resources, in these circumstances is what should be highlighted. The same goes for the difficult working conditions being carried out by the Moroccan Armed Forces and Civil Protection. Spanish aid has been the first, as it is the closest and most involved, and gratitude should be shown to them. Surely no one is sparing no effort to help, to lend a much-needed hand to the Moroccans in their distress. Solidarity is a beautiful word that only finds its full meaning when others need us and without asking ourselves why we respond with help that resolves their suffering or can alleviate it.
It seems that the Moroccans themselves have understood this and although the effects of the earthquake have been felt in a very specific part of the country, the feeling of the tragedy they are suffering belongs to each and every one of the Moroccans in any part of their national territory, but it also belongs to the thousands who live in Spain. That is why we must feel closer to them these days. It is not necessary to remind them that they are the largest population of non-nationals in our country, but also that there are already many Spaniards who are Moroccans by origin, who work with us and whose children go to school with ours.
Today, in the face of pain, to say that Morocco is a neighbouring nation is not enough; today it makes more sense to say that the Moroccans are our brothers, as they like to say. Morocco is much more than a beautiful holiday destination for Spaniards. Morocco is suffering these days and I think it is more appropriate to extend an open hand to help them than to put a finger in their eye to criticise this or that. They will learn their own lessons from this tragic event, it is not the time to do so now. What is appropriate now is to join them in their grief and help them in whatever way we can.