Demanding citizens, forgetful citizens: the other crisis of our society...
239
The citizen facing himself: between demands and forgetfulness
In many contemporary societies and undoubtedly in ours as well, a strange trend is strengthening: that of the citizen who demands everything from the State but forgets to ask what he gives back in return. This stance of collective absolution, where responsibilities dissolve into criticism, nurtures a passive citizenship, often outraged but rarely engaged. Many blame the rulers while forgetting that it is we who voted for them and that not voting is in fact a vote for the majorities that are formed.
When something goes wrong: unemployment, insecurity, education, health, the first reaction is often to accuse the State. More benefits, more justice, more transparency are demanded. This is legitimate. But in this claim, it is rare for each person to question their own role: do we pay our taxes properly? Do we respect the laws? Do we truly participate in civic life or do we prefer to leave it to the "others"? A country is not built only by the decisions of those who govern but by the conscious participation of its citizens.
Public discourse often emphasizes rights: right to health, right to education, right to work, right to freedom of expression. But duties: civil, moral, and economic, are frequently forgotten. Yet, claiming a right without fulfilling a duty weakens the social contract. Everyday incivility, such as littering anywhere, cheating on taxes, circumventing rules, undermines society just as much as the major political failures we denounce. Rights are not won without fulfilling duties.
Many denounce corruption as if it came from above, like dirty rain falling on innocent citizens. But the truth is more disturbing: the corrupter and the corrupted often merge in the same person. The merchant who cheats, the driver who slips a bribe to avoid a fine, the parent who seeks favoritism for their child: all participate in the same malaise. To accuse the "system" without recognizing oneself as a part of that system is to refuse to grow. Corruption is internalized and only bothers when one is its victim or when it must be protested, indulging in the taste of populism and nihilism.
We peacefully, passively let ourselves be seduced by the simplistic discourse of populists. They play on anger, frustration, and fear. They provide ready-made scapegoats: the elites, foreigners, institutions. But very few listeners take the time to analyze, verify, and reason. Populism appeals because it relieves: it transforms reflection into emotion. Nihilism offers an even more dangerous pleasure: that of despair. To believe that all is lost, that all is lies, that nothing has meaning is to refuse the effort to think about reality and to participate in change.
Many have a short memory and do not see the progress made, often because they do not bother to compare. Previous generations experienced misery, lack of schools, rudimentary healthcare, and permanent insecurity. Today, despite difficulties, material comfort, infrastructure, and freedoms are incomparable. Looking back is not complacency: it is a duty of lucidity to measure the path traveled.
The era is one of protest without information. Our time is marked by hyper-reactivity. We contest before understanding, comment before knowing. Social networks amplify this impulse: we get outraged faster than we get informed. But an opinion not based on knowledge becomes noise, a nuisance, not a contribution. Criticism, to be legitimate, must be enlightened, supported, and verified.
A responsible citizen does not just complain. He acts, informs himself, engages, and acknowledges both progress and errors. Only under these conditions can a nation evolve without sinking into sterile complaining.
Did not John F. Kennedy say in his inauguration speech on January 20, 1961, his famous phrase, becoming both a personal and political signature: "Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country." This quote was meant to encourage Americans to first consider what they could bring to their country, not the other way around. The phrase highlights civic duty and personal responsibility within the nation framework and is perfectly transposable to us in these times.
Apparently, John Kennedy was actually inspired by an older phrase spoken by a school principal in his childhood, who would say about a school called alma mater: "The youth who loves his alma mater will always ask not 'What can she do for me?' but 'What can I do for her?'" Kennedy might have replaced "alma mater" with "country" to make this patriotic motto. It raises the question of how many school principals are capable of such reflection and commitment to inspire our youth and make them aware of their duties before talking to them about their rights.
Today, if the need is to formulate a new social pact to bring us all together around the same goal of moving forward and making our country even stronger, it is also appropriate to work on rephrasing a patriotic pact as it was the case at our independence or after the glorious Green March, recalling at every moment, with every breath, our motto Dieu, la Patrie, Le Roi. It is thus that all our demands will be heard, that our rights will be realized, that corruption will disappear, and that social peace will be forever established.
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Palace of the Kasbah
572
Malaga, Palace of the Kasbah
Each time I wander there,
a strange phenomenon occurs
it seems I can hear the murmur of another age,
an extraordinary idyll,
from a past not so distant,
suddenly extinguished,
leaving a feeling of the unfinished,
of an era that left its mark,
of which Arabs and Moors still speak,
and nearly every spirit recalls
those of noble souls
and proud Iberian Spaniards.
In the gardens, I seem to hear melodious songs,
of lovers and beloveds
sharing cups of wine,
pure juice of the vine,
and mugs of beer,
behind stone walls
as if it were yesterday
sole witnesses of a past they hold dear,
hidden from the envious eyes of pawns,
to the great dismay of spies and the curious.
Suddenly rises the voice of a singer,
sweet and marvelous,
healing the wounds of every broken heart
that no physician, however wise,
had ever managed to cure.
O Andalusia, land of a glorious past,
of wondrous tales and shining episodes!
The Palace of the Kasbah still stands proud,
rising high through time,
faithful to its noble heritage,
awaiting the resurrection of its Caliph
and his courtiers.
Dr. Fouad Bouchareb
The Palace of the Kasbah
Malaga, September 16, 2022
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Palace of the Kasbah
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And if taxation became the key to our solutions in response to the anger of young people in Morocco?
632
At the end of September 2025, many young Moroccans protested everywhere to demand social justice, educational reforms, better access to healthcare, and the fight against corruption. This unprecedented movement, driven by Generation Z through the GenZ 212 collective, expressed deep distress in the face of precariousness, high unemployment reaching around 35% among 15-24 year olds, and a feeling of social injustice with millions of NEETs.
This was predictable: recent inflation rates, the widespread decline in purchasing power, the pressure on street vendors who were suddenly targeted for eradication, some hastily decided measures linked to the Africa Cup of Nations and the World Cup could not remain without reaction from the population, and it was the youth who carried it. Projects that were supposed to unite us have in fact divided us.
In response to this mobilization, everyone awaited attentively the speech of His Majesty King Mohammed VI on Friday, October 10, at the constitutional opening of the parliamentary session. It was the last speech before these parliamentarians. The next one in Parliament will be delivered in front of other parliamentarians of our choosing as well. We were all hanging on the Sovereign’s words, his tone, his gestures. The paternal serenity of the king reassured us from the first moments of his appearance.
In perfect continuity with the Throne speech, the Sovereign insisted on responsibility and dialogue within institutions. He emphasized the importance of unity, stability, transparency, and social justice, and recalled the need for urgent reforms both in perception and structure, to build a united and prosperous Morocco.
The line is drawn and the course specified: Morocco must become an emerging country and reach a GDP of 300 billion USD as soon as possible, benefiting the entire population and all regions of the country. The anger is perceived intelligently with serenity, and a clear response: based on major achievements, Morocco is embarking on a new era in its development, a more inclusive era that relies on the specificities and strengths of each region. The speech actually calls for a patriotic pact with the commitment of all. A pact in which projects do not collide but complement each other for the benefit of the people.
Thus, the parliamentary session is launched and will tackle the finance bill, and it is the responsibility of the elected representatives to debate it. In the current context and to respond to royal directives, deputies as well as the government must think outside the box and debate constructively, certainly partisan but in the interest of the whole nation.
In this context, taxation can become a more effective and better-adapted tool to the period we are going through and to each region. It must no longer be perceived or felt as a burden or merely a collection tool but as a strategic lever capable of supporting economic and social solutions. Too often reduced to tax collection to finance public spending, it can and must become an engine of growth, investment, and employment, particularly to meet the expectations of young people. It must become a lever for development and fairness.
Among other things, it will be necessary to question the progressive tax reform between 2023 and 2026, which is debated, particularly with the rise of the corporate tax rate (IS) for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). For SMEs whose net taxable profit is less than or equal to 300,000 dirhams, the IS rate increased from 12.5% in 2023 to 17.5% in 2025, and will reach 20% in 2026. This reform aimed to adjust taxation while stimulating economic growth but raises questions about the real impact on SMEs and their capacity to invest and create jobs essential for Moroccan youth. It must be emphasized that SMEs create the most jobs in Morocco, just after the informal sector. The government, which wanted to create jobs, blocked this momentum, including by this poorly timed reform. On the contrary, SMEs which employ the most should benefit from significant tax deductions to help them grow.
Internationally, several countries show that lightened taxation favors competitiveness and attracts investments, such as Ireland with a general IS rate of 12.5%. The Moroccan fiscal framework must be readjusted to stimulate growth and strengthen social justice while ensuring sufficient public revenues.
The challenge in Morocco is to adopt taxation that supports economic recovery while responding to the youth's aspirations for more fairness. This requires joint commitment from the government and parliament to design a transparent, fair tax policy adapted to the reality of SMEs, informal entrepreneurs, and young workers. Taxation that leaves maximum purchasing power to citizens, thus stimulating the true engine of growth: domestic demand. A VAT of 20% does not do this.
Integrating informal activities through taxation adapted to their size would allow valuing these actors as genuine entrepreneurs in the making, thus contributing to the formalization of the economy without crushing their capacities. A street vendor is actually the bearer of an SME project. How many success stories have been forged from precarious activities? Certainly, all this must be organized and regulated, but how does a young person starting a small business disturb us? The space belongs to everyone, including youth launching their own ventures without bothering anyone. Banning them makes bitter avengers ready for anything, while we are unable to offer them alternatives.
In this period of social tensions and hopes for a better Morocco, taxation can become a powerful lever for economic transformation. It must be rethought not as a brake, but as a tool for collective emancipation. Deputies and ministers should read Ibn Khaldoun on this subject.
Making taxation a factor of redistribution through prosperity, serving citizens and especially youth, is a path to explore to build a fairer, stronger Morocco capable of meeting tomorrow’s challenges.
Moreover, promoting national successes in all fields, from entrepreneurship to sports to culture, is essential to nurture the pride and ambition of young Moroccans. The exemplary achievements of our compatriots should be mandatorily taught in schools to inspire curiosity, admiration, and serve as examples through work and innovation.
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And if taxation became the key to our solutions in response to the anger of young people in Morocco?
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Love!
1026
Love!
(Inspired by Jalal Eddine Rumi)
Love is destiny.
We hardly ever choose the moment to love;
It happens one evening… or one morning.
It comes by pure chance,
Leaving you confused and dazed.
The day you expect it the least,
You never saw it coming from afar.
It strikes in the blink of an eye,
Without an appointment,
It makes you gentle,
It makes you lose your reason.
It makes you flee your home.
Like fire, it burns with passion.
Love at first sight is common—
Each will have their share, their portion.
Without logic…
Yet it’s beautiful, despite all we endure.
It’s a pure feeling,
When it is sincere.
It’s magic,
It’s fantastic.
Despite its pains and sorrows,
Its sleepless nights until dawn,
It is life’s elixir,
Ecstasy without end.
It comes to you as if by magic,
Lifting you away from everything,
Besieging you from everywhere,
Taking over your soul…
And driving you mad, sooner or later!
Dr. Fouad Bouchareb
El Médano / Tenerife
August 24, 2025
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[Short Stories #4 ] A Red Flower Among the Ice [2/3]
1113
The door creaked open softly, and she paused, turning back just long enough to catch his eyes, a fleeting moment charged with unspoken meaning. She watched him carefully, her expression a blend of surprise and gentle curiosity, then spoke with quiet tenderness, “What do you hold in your hands, Karl?”
He raised his small hand slowly, revealing a vivid red flower resting softly against his palm. “Look,” he said, his smile tender and warm, “it’s a beautiful red flower.” Lila reached out, her hands cupping the delicate bloom as if shielding a fragile flame, her warmth seeming to ignite the fiery petals.
Karl’s voice trembled a little when he said, “It’s for you.”
Lila lowered her head, her eyes searching his, heavy with a sadness too deep for words. “What’s wrong?” she whispered.
His gaze dropped to the floor, as though the weight of his next words could only be carried there. “The military… they’re sending me away, to the far north. For a whole year. And I can’t take you with me.”
Her voice wavered, trying to stay steady, but a soft sigh escaped. “Come, Karl. Let’s plant it in our garden.”
With quick steps, Lila led the way outside, carrying the flower gently in her hands. Karl followed behind, his steps slow and hesitant. They stopped in the center of the garden, where a bare patch of earth waited beneath the pale sunlight.
Kneeling, Lila loosened the cold soil with her fingers as carefully as if touching a newborn’s skin. She placed the flower into its new home and pressed the earth softly around its roots. Then, with a small watering can, she poured cool droplets like a quiet blessing, nurturing the flicker of life buried deep in the soil.
Karl stood still, watching her with quiet eyes. Then, with a faint smile, he said, “It looks even more beautiful now. You’ve given it new life.”
Brushing her fingertips across the shining petals, Lila whispered, “My flower and I will wait for you, no matter how long it takes.”
Karl’s promise was soft but certain. “I’ll come back as soon as I can.”
Later, the car door closed with a gentle thud. Karl climbed inside and began his journey northward, the world outside growing smaller with every mile. Lila watched until the car was nothing more than a fading speck on the horizon. Then she turned back, closing the door behind her.
Day after day, spring after spring, the roots of the red flower stretched deep into the earth, holding tightly to the soil, keeping the promise alive. The winters were harsh, cold biting against both flower and keeper. Though every effort was made to keep it alive, the warm hands that planted the blossom grew cold in time, but still the flower endured.
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The Neighbor of the Valley
1128
The Neighbor of the Valley
(Inspired by the song of Fairouz — “Ya Jarat al-Wadi”)
O neighbor of the valley, O joy,
O turmoil of my soul,
Your memories and dreams haunt me still,
Calling me, claiming my whole.
In my dreams as in my waking mind,
Your love remains, ever near;
And the memories softly resound,
Echoes of a past still clear.
I passed again by the gardens,
So green, so full of life —
There where I once met you,
Upon that sunlit hill.
Faces and eyes smiled upon me,
And in their breath I sensed your scent.
My weary soul revived at once,
She who had mourned her fate
Since the day you went.
Never before had I known
The sweetness of a lover’s embrace,
Until the day I gently held you close —
You, the red-haired grace,
Whose supple form bent softly in my hands,
Like a slender branch swayed by the breeze,
And whose cheeks, out of modesty,
Blushed with tender unease.
The language of words fell silent then,
Yielding to the speech of eyes;
Mine spoke to yours
With the passion love implies.
The stars and the heavens, our only allies,
Bore witness to us before the skies.
And when night came, I held you again,
Caressed and kissed you
Until the breaking of dawn —
Before we drifted apart, forlorn.
Since that day, there has been no yesterday,
No tomorrow, no day after,
No time thereafter.
The flow of time has ceased forever,
And was condensed into that one day —
The day I basked in all your favor.
Dr Fouad Bouchareb
Rabat, October 11, 2025
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