I have been sitting on the tarmac in Paris for the past five hours aboard United Airlines Flight 915. My Boeing 777 has been sequentially delayed by mechanical failures, a freak snowstorm, and de-icing issues. I am returning from spending Christmas in Morocco as a tourist, an unforgettable journey to arguably the most progressive Islamic state in North Africa. As I wind my way home (hopefully), I leave with much more than great pictures and souvenirs. I return with a greater appreciation for the Islamic faith and heightened awareness of the potential cost of our cultural isolation from the modern Muslim world.
As Americans, we are exposed to a never-ending news cycle that often covers the Islamic world in the context of war, conflict, or terrorism. With no intention, one could easily fall victim to dangerous stereotyping of the billion-strong Muslim world. After a brief ten days among the people of Morocco, my perspective of that world has been dramatically altered by this shining example of Western culture and devout Islamic faith living harmoniously side by side.
"As-salam alaikum" were the first intelligible words I heard as I exited customs in Casablanca. The well-dressed gentleman offering pleasantries introduced himself as Samir, a Moroccan in his early 40s. He would be my guide and lead us through both ancient and modern Morocco, visiting the great cities of Casablanca, Rabat, Meknes, Fes, Ouarzazate, and Marrakech. We would also explore the country's extremes, from the burnt-orange Sahara to the frigid alpine of the High Atlas Mountains. Most important, we'd have the opportunity to spend time with the Moroccan people, both the nomadic Berbers and the jet-set of Marrakech.
Glancing about the airport, one is immediately struck by how foreign Casablanca feels from nearby Spain. Most men and women wear the traditional jellaba, a long robe with a pointed hood. And, of course, everything is in Arabic (with a smattering of colonial French). As I was exiting the airport, loudspeakers blared the traditional call to prayer, "Allah u Akbar, Allah u Akbar" (Allah is Great, Allah is Great). As someone who considers himself an enlightened, anti-xenophobe, I must tell you that my senses were heightened as I became suddenly aware that I was one of the few Americans in this very loud, very crazy, and very Islamic airport.
Despite an intellectual understanding of the profound difference between Islam and terrorism, it is hard not to experience a Pavlovian twinge of anxiety. Perhaps those fleeting warning signals sent so urgently from my amygdala were normal for any unfamiliar place, but in the back of my mind I worried that the call to prayer had triggered a warning response caused by some subliminal, yet baseless, association of Islam with danger. Perhaps I had been affected by countless Western news images showing Arabic script and Muslims in the context of the Global War on Terror. Either way, I found it disturbing to be bothered at all.
My first activity in Morocco quickly dispelled any concerns. After leaving the airport, we quickly made our way to one of the few mosques in Morocco that allows non-Muslims to visit. The grand Hassan II Mosque is located on the Atlantic in the heart of Casablanca. After removing our shoes, we entered the magnificent main hall. It is large enough for thousands of the faithful to pray simultaneously. In the center, five teenagers were at prayer. Regardless of your religious background, one is struck by the quiet holiness of the mosque and its crucial role in the religious and social lives of Casablanca's residents.
On our way to Rabat, Morocco's capital city, Samir showed us pictures of his family on his cell phone. Everywhere in Morocco, one can find five-bar cell coverage, the latest handsets, and, yes, even those terribly annoying Beethoven ring tones. During the conversation, Samir asked if I had heard of "The Google." He said that Google-the Web search engine-has taken the nation by storm. His home had just been wired for DSL (for around 150 Dirham per month, about $15.00). He visits Yahoo, CNN, and Al Jazeera online regularly. Samir is not alone; the Internet in Morocco is quickly outgrowing the already ubiquitous Internet cafés and making its way into homes and handsets. Yes, even my guide in the Sahara desert had cell access (much to my dismay). This democratization of information is going a long way to building a bridge between different cultures everywhere.
Almost all the Moroccans that I encountered during my journey were quick to smile-and many tried to converse with me in French to offer greetings or answer questions. They were justifiably proud of their country. At every stop along the way, I was offered something to drink and the opportunity to rest and talk-mint tea and extraordinary graciousness were in abundance everywhere. Frankly, I have never seen such consistent and thoughtful hospitality.
Although my visit to Morocco was too brief, it was more than sufficient to reverse the polarity of any anxiety I had felt toward the Muslim world. For me, it was a Christmas gift of hope for the future between our two cultures.
Mr. Michel is president of Military.com, a company focused on connecting service members, veterans, and their families to the benefits earned while in the service. He is a former naval officer.