Of course my ears always perk up when I hear mention of Algeria in any type of Western media, because most people (myself included until a few years ago) aren’t really even quite sure where Algeria is located. I was laying on the couch yesterday, nursing a bout of food poisoning and listening to NPR when a story came on Fresh Air about an Algerian music producer who is living in San Francisco.
He has just released an album to raise money for his cancer treatment since he doesn’t have insurance. Mike and I both found this remarkable because Algeria has free health care. If he wanted to return he could easily get treatment here but I guess he would rather be dying in San Francisco than a live in Algeria. During our time here we have met three Algerians who are smart and well educated, some speaking four or five languages who have moved to Australia, France and now the UAE. It really cements that our frustrations are similar to those of the local citizens.It is not with what Algeria is, but what it could be. It really is a beautiful country with some amazing people that is just wasting away…
Here is a link to listen to the story with some clips of the music.
http://www.npr.org/2012/06/07/154507916/paying-tribute-to-san-francisco-dj-cheb-i-sabbah
Porkquoi 