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Diana Ponasik book singing 2006
The Washington Moroccan Club has organized a book signing for “Tangier, the novel” , a novel published in 2005 with Book Surge Editions, by the author and anthropologist Ms. Diane Skelly Ponasik.
At the beginning of the 20th century Morocco is the only country on the southern rim of the Mediterranean that has not been colonized, or fallen under the rule of the Ottomans. When a twelve-year old boy inherits the throne, this traditional country soon falls into civil war, in protest against his interest in Western reforms. The situation is ripe for takeover by France, to which Morocco is deeply in debt. While some forward-thinking officials want the changes the West offered, few favor a colonial take-over, preferring to maintain their integrity as a Muslim country.
Tangier, a Novel is set in this international town where Jews, Christians and Muslims mingle freely. It is the story of Lili, a young Moroccan girl brought up by the American Ambassador in Tangier, and the man she loves, Tariq, a Berber noble at the Sultan’s court. Lili, who has embraced her American identity and married an American diplomat, finds herself increasingly drawn to Tariq, despite her reluctance to enter a world she sees as limiting her freedom. Like Morocco itself, she must choose between her Western life or the traditions of the country she was born in. It is also the story of Meriam, a Moroccan Jew, and her family. Moroccan Jews acted as intermediaries between Western merchants and Muslim farmers. They paid substantial taxes to the Sultan from the profits they made on these transactions, but as more foreigners sought out these goods, they find ways to exempt the Jews from the taxes, removing a valuable source of income from the country.
As civil war and indebtedness gradually weaken the country, the stage is set for a colonial take-over.
Ms. Ponasik, who has lived for over 12 years in Morocco, said that the novel takes place in the city of Tangier at the end of the 19th century and early 20th century when European powers, France and England in particular, were competing to colonize the Kingdom of Morocco.
The main protagonist, Lili, is a young Moroccan woman, from the Rif mountains, who was adopted and educated by the American consul in Tangier, following the death of her mother. After her studies in the US, the teenager was torn between her adopted American identity and her original Moroccan culture. Even though she fell in love with Tarik, a young man from a prominent Moroccan family, she reluctantly decided to marry an American diplomat with the hope of being a “happy and free American woman”. But destiny has decided otherwise…
Takes place in an era of civil war and political unrest as a young Sultan tries to fend off European powers interested in annexing Morocco, and bandits and pretenders threaten his throne. This is the story of Lili, a Moroccan girl raised in Tangier by the American Ambassador. Lili is convinced her future lies in becoming a Western woman, and, despite her attraction to a Moroccan noble, she marries an American diplomat posted to Morocco. As she watches the country fall into civil war and follows the noble, Tariq, in his resistance to its take over by the French, she realizes the strength of her allegiance to Morocco and her love for Tariq.
Lili’s stepbrother, Ted, experiences the same conflict. Educated in Moroccan palaces with three young aristocrats (of whom Tariq is one), Ted becomes a respected journalist reporting on Moroccan issues. He must choose between his career and his Jewish wife, Meriam, who is raped in an anti-Semitic attack and rejects the country of her birth.***
the story line and the protagonists are based on real events at the time.” said The author.
Ms Ponasik, is a former peace corp. volunteer. She lived and worked in a remote village near khmisset and helped with young girls’ education. She returned to the US and finished her PhD in Anthropology.
She has recently visited Morocco to celebrate the marriage of her Moroccan adoptive daughter and was amazed at the transformation of the country in such a short period of time.
The book signing was attended by Moroccan Community in Washington as well as the “friends of Morocco organization”, a group of fo
rmer peace corp. volunteers that were based in Morocco.
The Moroccan musical concert that followed the reading was performed by Mr. Ali Amir, a talented Moroccan singer that also performs at the Morocco pavilion at Epcot Center in Orlando, Fl.
By Mostapha Saout
Edited from original French article by Mr. K. Fattoumi of MAP
Diane Skelly Ponasik was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Morocco in the 1960’s and has a Ph.D. in Anthropology with an emphasis on the Middle East. She spent ten years on and off in Morocco, and lived several months at the American Legation in Tangier, where her novel is set. She then joined the United States Agency for International Development. During her twenty-seven year career she was stationed in the Yemen Arab Republic, Mali, Egypt, Haiti and Macedonia. She and her husband have an adopted Moroccan daughter, who is now married. Ms. Ponasik and her husband, who are now retired, live in Washington, D.C.
Welcome to Washington Moroccan - American Club
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Featured Articles
LE MAROC EN ROUTE DE WASHINGTON À LAAYOUNE
Le Maroc en route de Washington DC, Etats Unis à Laayoune, est une manifestation sans précédent dans l'histoire contemporaine du Royaume, organisée sous forme de marche à travers plusieurs villes américaines importantes. Le Canada étant la deuxième destination de la Caravane en Amérique du Nord, laquelle aura comme point de départ la capitale américaine, Washington DC et comme point d'arrivée Laayoune au Sahara Marocain.
Moroccan American CEO Summit 2013
"Building Business Bridges Across The Atlantic" You are cordially invited to the Moroccan American Network's (MAN) inaugural session, Friday, May 31, 2013. MAN, a non-profit organization, is dedicated to strengthening economic ties between Morocco and the United States. Join a VIP Moroccan delegation of business leaders as well as executives from across the U.S. for this premier forum to exchange ideas and consider investment opportunities. he program will begin at 2:00pm featuring an address from Mr. Alan Merten, past President of George Mason University, followed by remarks from other prominent business leaders who will provide valuable insights and information to strengthen your business strategies and objectives. The daytime session will conclude with a VIP reception with local, state and federal government officials, Members of Congress, and notable CEOs.
Le Washington Moroccan American Club (communiqué) Les provinces du sud font partie intégrante du Maroc
Il s'agit là d'une vérité historique que nul ne peut ignorer, tout autant qu'une réalité sur le terrain qui atteste de l'engagement du Royaume, sous leadership éclairé de SM le Roi Mohammed VI, à consolider le train de développement mis en oeuvre dans toutes les régions sans exclusive.
WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT IN MOROCCO BY WMC
Women’s Empowerment in Morocco
From Left to right; Fatima Badri, PhD. Susan Schafer Davis, PhD. Stephanie Willman Bordat, Esq. Martha Dye, Esq. Latifa Elhadri, PhD. Salma Lemtouni, MD., M.P.H. Jamila El Abbassi. Fatiha Occhialini. Fatima Sadiqi, MA,PhD. Annalisa Assaadi. Loren W. Greene, MD. Fatima-Zahra Elmaliki.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 from 1 to 5 PM
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
First Floor, Choate Room, 1779 Massachusetts Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20036
The link between the status of a country’s women and its progress in development is well established. In this event, preeminent experts on issues of gender and development in Morocco will examine this link as it has impacted Morocco’s progress. They will present their views on past and projected legal reforms affecting women’s rights, on women’s psychological wellbeing and its effect on raising empowered daughters, and on how best to empower Moroccan women to achieve social, economic, and political equality for themselves and their daughters.
HMEMSA at WMC 20th Anniversary
Event report
Hmemsa team at WMC 20/20 Gala
HMEMSA, Home of Moroccan educators and Moroccan Students in America organized it's in honor of the Washington Moroccan Club's Celebration of its 20th Anniversary. All the Moroccan students and the local community from the greater Washington DC area were invited. Ambassador Mr. Mekouar, Charge de Mission Mme Zailachi, as well as Consul Mr. Kassimi attended the event. There were numerous students, professors, as well as many Moroccan and American professionals from various fields. Members of the press were also in Attendance.
Opponents to the Polisario Prevented from Meeting with Kerry Kennedy
By Hassan Samhrouni
Morocco World News
The visit of the daughter of former US presidential candidate, Robert F. Kennedy (brother of John F. Kennedy), Ms. Kerry Kennedy, which began in the Polisario camps in south west Algeria on August 29, was marked by severe security measures taken by the leaders of the separatist movement to prevent any demonstrations or sit-in in the camps,
Morocco Comes to Easton, Maryland – Saturday, May 5, 2012 By Norman L. Greene*
The day began with a flag ceremony and ceremonial ribbon cutting at noon where attendees heard from the organizers of the event and the Moroccan Ambassador to the United States Rachad Bouhlal, and the preceding day, from the former U.S. Ambassador Edward Gabriel. (The ribbon cutting was performed by Easton Mayor Robert C. Willey and Moroccan Ambassador Bouhlal.) The presentations set the stage for the rest of the day which continued with a souk featuring Moroccan tea, cookies, music, rugs, and clothing, and more. It was a perfect day to wander along Harrison Street in historic downtown Easton, Maryland, and peruse the Moroccan wares that were being sold.
paint the town Moroccan Video
Paint the Town Moroccan
On Saturday, May 5, 2012, from 12:00 p.m. to 7:30p.m. the Academy Art Museum will host its annual Paint the Town fundraiser for Academy Art Museum in Easton, MD. This year's theme, PAINT THE TOWN MOROCCAN! Promises an exotic adventure to the Kingdom of Morocco. The day begins at souk with the enchanting music of the five key regions of Morocco, a Moroccan flag ceremony and more.
First Meeting on Non-Governmental Diplomacy Under the theme: Towards a New Vision of Public Diplomacy
Paint the Town Moroccan by Fouad Arif, MAP
Memory of Resistant Abdelkrim El Khattabi Honored in Washington By Adnane Bennis
Understanding Morocco- opportunities for Business and Trade by WMAC
Morocco's economic strengths highlighted in Washington
New York, October 10, 2011-Morocco World News
The economic advantages offered by Morocco to U.S. investors were highlighted Thursday night in a Washington D.C. meeting entitled "Knowing Morocco: opportunities in the areas of business and trade."
Les atouts économiques du Maroc mis en exergue à Washington( french version)
Washington, 7 oct (MAP)- Les atouts économiques qu'offre le Maroc aux investisseurs américains ont été mis en exergue, jeudi soir, à Washington, lors d'une rencontre placée sous le thème "Connaitre le Maroc : des opportunités dans les secteurs des affaires et du commerce".
Understanding Morocco – Opportunities for Business and Trade
You are invited! Washington Moroccan American Club & Global Economics and Business Seminar of the Washington Semester Program of the American University Understanding Morocco - Opportunities for Speaker:
Present
Business and Trade
Jean AbiNader, Moroccan America Cultural Center
Note from Joseph Braude to WMC, Dear members of the Washington Moroccan American Club,
In 2008 the Moroccan police became the first Arab security service to grant sustained, inside access to a writer, enabling him to spend four months reporting on their operations from inside a police precinct in Casablanca. I am that writer, and my new book on the experience is both a real-life murder mystery and an unusual examination of Moroccan society and government in the 21st century. It's called The Honored Dead: A Story of Friendship, Murder, and the Search for Truth in the Arab World. You can pick up a copy in most bookstores, or online via www.josephbraude.com .
"Honored dead" booking signing by Joseph Braude and WMAC
Joseph Braude and the Washington Moroccan American Club
Present
“the making of the “The Honored Dead”, by Joseph Braude”
Police in North Africa and the Middle East have a troubling history of human rights abuse and corruption, and their inner workings are opaque. But in 2008, one Arab government granted a Western journalist unprecedented access to its security services, and the outcome of his reporting offers gritty insights into the changes now underway throughout the Arab world.
Launch of the U.S.-Morocco Strategic Dialogue
"the making of the "The Honored Dead", by Joseph Braude" sponsored by WMC
Police in North Africa and the Middle East have a troubling history of human rights abuse and corruption, and their inner workings are opaque. But in 2008, one Arab government granted a Western journalist unprecedented access to its security services, and the outcome of his reporting offers gritty insights into the changes now underway throughout the Arab world.
All Articles
LE MAROC EN ROUTE DE WASHINGTON À LAAYOUNE
Le Maroc en route de Washington DC, Etats Unis à Laayoune, est une manifestation sans précédent dans l'histoire contemporaine du Royaume, organisée sous forme de marche à travers plusieurs villes américaines importantes. Le Canada étant la deuxième destination de la Caravane en Amérique du Nord, laquelle aura comme point de départ la capitale américaine, Washington DC et comme point d'arrivée Laayoune au Sahara Marocain.
Moroccan newspapers
- Maghrb Arab Press
- Al massae
- AL akhbar
- Wydad Athletic Club site
- Al Ahdath
- Le Matin
- Nichane
- Al Bayane
- AlAlam
- Al Ittihad Al Ichtiraki
- Bayane Alyoume
- Al Sabah
- Attajdid
- ALmaghribia
- Aujourdhui
- L'economiste
- Le Repoter
- La Gazette Du Maroc
- La Nouvelle Tribune
- La Vie Economique
- Tel quel
- Maroc Hebdo
- Aufait Maroc
- La Chronique on-line
- Al Watan AL An
- Al Mountakhab
- Annoukhba Sport
- Le Monde diplomatique
- Haraka
- Sharq Aawsat Arabic
- sharq Aawsat English
- Morocco sport
- Morocco Daily
- Morocco Star