Comments on On An Overgrown Path: Saving the art of words

Maryam, it is essential to see all the dimensions ...

2008-05-08T09:17:00.000+01:00

Maryam, it is essential to see all the dimensions in a complex society such as Morocco.

Your blog clearly explores one dimension.

It would certainly help me if you could share the links to your online resources where you explore those other dimensions you are involved with in your 'day job'.

I am unclear what your point is here. As your own...

2008-05-08T08:25:00.000+01:00

I am unclear what your point is here. As your own research proves, my job is devoted to helping others (and has been for many years) -- I don't understand why that seems to be strangely the subject of attack here. The fact that I write on design and fashion on my blog does not mean that I can not devote myself to political rights, prisoner rights and children's rights in many countries around the world (Senegal, Kenya, Namibia, Tanzania, Egypt, Morocco and over 30 countries). Are people only permitted to be uni-dimensional?

A reader has noted the counterpoint between these ...

2008-05-07T21:33:00.000+01:00

A reader has noted the counterpoint between these two stories:

“Maryam Montague, an American mother of two living in Marrakech, leads something of a double life. By day, she is the lifestyle editor of Last Exit, Marrakech's newest English language magazine, while her architect husband oversees the construction of their guesthouse in nine acres of olive grove and bougainvillea on the outskirts of the city.” …

http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2007/apr/21/saturday.budget
(accessed 5/7/08)

*

“Maryam Montague has more than 12 years of experience running [U.S.A.I.D.-funded] democracy and governance programs around the world, in such areas as governance; elections processes; NGO and political party organizing; media and communications; transparency and ethics; women’s participation; and public opinion research ... Countries of expertise include Morocco, Egypt and Nepal”

http://www.msiworldwide.com/index.cfm?msiweb=staffdetail&staff_id=49
(accessed 5/7/08)

and

http://www.usaid.gov/oig/

and more on democracy and gender discrimination in...

2008-05-07T19:47:00.000+01:00

and more on democracy and gender discrimination in Morocco here -

http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2007/apr/21/saturday.budget.marrakech

My readers do have a knack for hitting the spot .....

2008-05-07T19:31:00.000+01:00

My readers do have a knack for hitting the spot ...

An incredible and scary -- and, bizarrely, award-w...

2008-05-07T19:25:00.000+01:00

An incredible and scary -- and, bizarrely, award-winning -- blog from a rich American ex-patriot living in Morocco.

Your 'personal stories' about your 'life-style' and guest house construction now appear to be, at least in part, underwritten by the U.N., the World Bank, the U.S. Agency for International Development, or an NGO ....

Maryam, thanks for that, different strokes for dif...

2008-05-07T08:37:00.000+01:00

Maryam, thanks for that, different strokes for different folks.

Personally, I find it more difficult to separate personal stories and the bigger issues and found Marrakech to be a lot more than "a place for lifestyle and design".

http://www.moroccanmaryam.typepad.com/

Hello there. I didn't realize that I was supposed...

2008-05-07T08:06:00.000+01:00

Hello there. I didn't realize that I was supposed to be educating people on literacy in Morocco on my personal blog. My blog is personal stories about my life.

However, in my day job, I am a human rights and democracy specialist. I have run civic education programs tailored for Moroccan women, done extensive research on women and women's issues, provided grants to women's organizations, and studied the Moroccan women's movement. However, in order to not get into trouble with my work, I do not discuss these things on my personal blog.