Why do we oppose the word Moro? We must know and understand that many Muslims in Mindanao refuse to be called “Moro” because of its derogatory connotation. The word Moro is a Greek word that means Foolish, Stupid, Black skin and other negative denotations. It is the origin of the English word Moron which means the same sense. The European kingdoms including Spain and Portugal used this word to derogate the people in the lower class especially the Black African whom they believe to have been cursed of having dark skin and having been enslaved in the different parts of the World. This is the reason why the Spaniard and Portuguese called the Berber Muslims who conquered Al Andalusia, now Spain and Portugal, during the time of Umayyad Dynasty as Moro. We know that the Muslim have reigned in Spain, Portugal, Andorra, and part of southern France for almost 800 years from 711 AD to 1492 AD. During their decline, the Berber Muslims experienced gruesome treatment from the hands of the Spaniards. Most of them had been exterminated. Muslim men, women and children had been massacred. Some of them were forced to embrace Christianity and some had been imprisoned and others were enslaved. When the Spaniard came to the Islands of Mindanao to conquer the area, they met the Muslims under the confederation of Sultanates of Sulu and Mindanao/ Maguindanao who made decisive resistance against the foreign invaders. Based on the record, despite of having established camps in some strategic areas, the Spaniard had never established full control over the Muslims in Mindanao. Out of animosity and derogation, the Spaniard called the Muslims in Mindanao Moro. During their era, the Spaniard invented a comedian play which was called Moro-Moro. Such play became popular in the Philippines in 17th century. It depicted battles between Christians and Moros-as Muslims in Mindanao are popularly known-with the Moros as the perpetual villains who always lost to the Christians in the end. When the United States of America defeated Spain after the end of Spanish American War in 1898, Treaty of Paris was negotiated on terms favorable to the U.S., which allowed temporary American control of Cuba, and ceded indefinite colonial authority over Puerto Rico, Guam and the Philippine islands in consideration of $20 million paid by the US Government. However, The Spaniard surreptitiously included the islands owned and occupied by Muslim in Mindanao and called it Moro Land. This name was formally written in the Treaty and continuously used by the American government. They also called the Muslim Population in Mindanao, against whom they fought later, Moro. When Muslim Revolutionary movement was established in 1970s, some Muslim leaders used the word Moro in the Liberation Front without consulting the innocent majority. Accordingly, the intention of using the word Moro is to intimidate the enemy as they know its connotation being used in Non-Muslim areas to frighten a child who does not want to sleep. Knowing the importance of Jihad in Mindanao to defend the Religion, the new Muslim generation loved those revolutionary groups regardless of name being used. As the time goes by, they eventually embraced the word Moro and name it to their different groups and some of them become even proud of bearing the name Moro without caring of its derogatory meaning. Now, some people say it is not the right time to address the issue on identity as it would just impair the progressive Peace negotiation. Some of them call those who do not want to be called Moro and brought about the issue on identity problem Peace Spoiler. Their belief is that attacking the word Moro is considered as an attack to the liberation fronts and the whole Muslims in Mindanao. We have to understand that it is not against the peace negotiation or peace process, nor it is against any revolutionary groups of Muslim in Mindanao. But only the word MORO. we fully support the peace process and the new set of regional government that would be established believing that it will bring a new milestone to our quest for self determination. however, we believe that the Basic Law is now underway to legislation. There is also a rumor on constitutional amendment to give way to the new development. It is therefore believed that once the word Moro is legally recognized more so if it is constitutionally sanctioned to replace the word “Muslim Mindanao” as provided in the Constitution, whether it is liked or not, it will become permanent identity of all Muslims in Mindanao including ourselves.
Posted on: Mon, 17 Mar 2014 09:15:07 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015