James B. Farmer
Published: 2024-04-19
Total Pages: 0
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"The book is a remembrance of my my formative years, ages 5 to 7, growing up as as the son of a U.S. Navy pilot who was stationed in Port Lyautey, French Morocco during the mid 1950's, at a time when Morocco was the epicenter of the United States' Cold War efforts to deter and contain the Soviet Union through aerial reconnaissance and nuclear weapons. During my time in Morocco, the country's Berber/rural and Arab/urban populations became united in their efforts to rid themselves of the French colonists who had taken over their country as a result of the Treaty of Fez, executed in 1912; an effort which in numerous ways paralleled the struggle of Black Americans to attain their civil rights during the 1950's.In addition to relating numerous personal experiences, both humorous and telling, dealing with the family dynamics of a Navy brat, I describe the many ways in which my life intersected the cross-currents emanating from the Cold War and colonialism.To explain the unique relationship between the country's Berber and Arab populations, I delve into Morocco's incredibly long, colorful, and interesting history, as well as the religious and cultural beliefs which have combined to produce what is arguably the most open, friendly and egalitarian population of humans on the planet.Finally, I make the case that the Moroccan ethos, which is centered on family and community, provides humanity with a far better path forward than one focused on the attainment of individual power, prestige and wealth."