NEWZ: On Spain, From Spain

[shannon_a]

The following entry contains a very interesting letter from someone in Spain, talking about the terrorist attack there and the resulting election:
http://www.livejournal.com/users/modrnwrld_blog/360457.html

It's also, of course, the type of thing you don't see in the U.S. media because of the extreme corporate interests here.

The letter is a very insightful one. It talks about the election that overthrew the conservative government in the wake of the terrorist attacks, and discusses that the greatest reason for the overthrow wasn't just the unjust war that the government had gotten involved in, against the wishes of almost all their citizens, but also that the government tried to cover up the likely Middle Eastern origin of the attacks last week so that they wouldn't look bad.

I found most interesting, the way that the citizens of Spain broke through the disinformation and lies being spread by their government last week.

SMS.

I never would have considered cell phones an extreme tool for democracy, but indeed information is dangerous to governments that try to lie to and mislead their citizens. Bush, take note.

Comments

My Spanish Half

[carmelonia.livejournal.com]

My father regularly travels to and from his native Spain. He brings us back internationally-respected Spanish newspapers, when they aren't confiscated by United States airport security (supposedly for casting the war in Iraq in a negative light).

I have long been aware that perhaps as much as 90% of Spain's population (according to many polls and surveys) has been strictly opposed to the war in Iraq and the manner in which the Spanish government has contributed to it.

When rumors of a United States invasion of Iraq began to surface, even before the US government made any allusions to it, Spain's citizens were against it.

Last summer I spent a month in Spain. I watched their news. I traced fingertips along murals for peace and graffiti against war, specifically targeting the war in Iraq. I talked to people and I listened. No one was happy with the president. Most of the people I spoke to were intending to vote him out of office.

There were huge peaceful demonstrations across the country and throughout Europe, of which the United States Media gave a pitiful amount of coverage, often minimizing the numbers of people involved.

Even if the bombs in Madrid had never detonated, Aznar would have been voted out of office, or any candidate endorsed by him. The Spanish people are not appeasing terrorists. They are simply continuing to choose not to participate in terror. They have been choosing not to add to war or terrorism for many years. It is only the timing of the elections and the bombs which make it appear to less educated people, that Spain is caving in to fear of terrorist activities.

Thanks for posting this. I probably would not have encountered it on my own. I could not be more amazed and in awe of the Spanish people and how they responded to the attacks. They rallied together in proportions far more impressive than the supposed US unity brought about by the attacks in New York and D.C. that fateful September.

While our citizens (aside from firemen and a very small number of civilians) ran away from the buildings and their helpless victims, people in Spain ran to the train wreckage to help their neighbors. People of all ages and sexes willingly sped to the train cars, fully aware that there could be more bombs within.

How could anyone call these people cowards? They overthrew a government that was both lying to them and ignoring their values for peace. They risked their lives for strangers. Not just those of which had it as part of their job descriptions. Not just a few random civilian heroes. We're talking practically everyone in running distance of the wreckage. They banded together in grace and dignity and peace.

For all the military occupation of Iraq, the quality of life for the Iraqi people has not seemed to improve. The number of deaths have gone up. The number of US deaths in Iraq is nothing compared to the number of innocent civilian deaths of Iraqis. Women are still oppressed. Children are still lacking even the most basic of medical attention. The economy is shot. Terrorism and violence abound.

It just goes to show that you cannot fight hatred with hatred. You cannot assuage perceived vengeance with perceived revenge. War will always beget more war.

Thanks again for the link and your thoughts,

- C

[shannon_a]

Thanks for the additional thoughts and insights.