The U.S founding fathers have written the U.S constitution in the 18th century, a constitution which still ,even today, impresses the reader with its 7 articles and 27 amendments. The stylish use of biblical language in the American constitution gives it a sacred quality, it makes one feel that he or she is in front of a divine manuscript. The use of universally valued terms, such as Liberty and Justice as well as the short and concise paragraphs, relays a thoughtful, strong and easy to understand meaning and content.
Contrary to the American constitution which clearly makes the separation of church and state one of its pillars and uses the beauty of biblical language, The newly drafted Moroccan constitution, which clearly identifies Morocco as an Islamic State, doesn’t take advantage of the descriptive and powerful language of the book of Islam “the Quran”.
Mr. Manouni, Morocco’s best Judge and the best scholar in constitutional issues along with 18 others , could not produce a simple, short, concise, and time enduring constitution for Morocco 2011 and beyond . Even with its 180 articles, the newly drafted constitution is full of details that will soon be irrelevant when put to the test of time.
The language used will expire in a ten year or less because it unnecessarily sheltered contemporary gobbledygook such as Human Right, Democracy, World Peace and the needless reference to the current and ever-changing geo-socio-economical and political state of affairs and events : Maghreb, Islamic world, Arab world and International Treaties.
Moreover, The focus in the American constitution is centred around the individual citizen, starting the first sentence with the clause “We the People“, while the Moroccan one focuses more on the rights of the king and only refers to the Moroccan citizen(s) in plural and twice in article 14 and 15. This constitution doesn’t impress anyone in form nor in it content.
I advise Mr. Menouni and his 18 colleagues to learn the language of Shakespeare and enjoy the beauty of this constitutional introduction.
“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquillity, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”
6:18 am
The US Constitution also enshrined Slavery that took one hundred years to be ammended and of which then took another one hundred years to actually allow real emancipation. Women in most States had no right to have a passport by themselves or without husband approval until 1973.
Constitutions are actually living breathing things and can be ammended. I would not worry about the draft Constitituion’s language as much as the party-political system that has 35 personality – cults that perpetuates the risk of corruption.
The most important thing is that the continuing change here in Morocco that has been ongoing for the last 11 years gets a chance to operate and have its issues worked out. Blogger based reactionism by youth whom do not actually participate in the country and claim this is the Arab Spring only makes for confusion and false or unrealistic aspirations – like getting jobs in Europe or America.
DHH
Marrakech