Madrid Airport Bombing - Consequences

According to our president, the "process of peace" (a.k.a. "dialogue with extremists") is suspended. Local media have stressed the difference between "to suspend" and "to break".

Meanwhile, the 2006 ends. The spanish tradition for the last moments of the year is to eat a grape for each struck of the midnight bell. If you manage not to choke, 2007 will be a good year.

I hereby introduce you Anne, the basque hostess of Spanish National Television for tonight's classic broadcasting of Madrid's clock striking at midnight. She already performed last year.

Yes, there's expectation about her lingerie for tonight

Bomb in Madrid Airport

On Tuesday we referred to the situation in Spain concerning ETA (Basque terrorists).

Today, a bomb has exploded in Madrid Airport. Happily, no people have been killed. Lots of material damages, and some people injured (5 for the moment being).

The bomb was placed in a parking lot. There was a phone call 1 hour prior to the explossion.

In this very moment, it is suspected (not confirmed) that the bomb has been placed by ETA. If confirmed, this could certainly have an impact in the so-called "process of peace" between government an terrorists.

To get actualizations on this fact, we refer to the two most important spanish media:

• El Pais
• El Mundo

Update 04.01.2007: One equatorian found dead. Other still missing.
Final update: Two equatorians were found dead.

Spanish languages

In Spain there is not only Spanish as an official language. Some of the 17 autonomous regions use Spanish as well as other tonge. For example,

• In Catalonia, the speak Spanish and Catalan.
• In the Basque Country, Spanish and Basque.
• In Galicia, they speak Spanish and Gallego.
• Other languages are spoken in Valencia, Asturias, Balearic Islands...
  

The Spanish Government is taking measures to strengthen the presence of Spanish in education.

Governments of some autonomous regions are opposing this idea, on the grounds that only these regional governments can set rules concerning education.

On the background, the idea of this regional governments is to strengthen their cultural identity, aiming to gain more autonomy. They are already consiedered -literally- "nations".

We think that everyone should learn languages to communicate with others, and not as a function to preserve cultures from dissappearing.

We also stand for the right of the parents to educate their offspring, and freely choose about these matters.

Geographical location of Catalonia

Political configuration

In Spain we have a King (Juan Carlos I). There has been a lot of debate about the royal family role nowadays. All the more since the Prince (Felipe) married a divorced plebeian.

Our Constitution says that the male would be preferred to the female when talking about succession to the Crown. We are discussing that as well.

However, this royalty stuff is substantially a symbol. Real decisions are made at two levels:

* Spanish Level: president Zapatero and his government.

* Autonomous regions: 17 presidents taking decisions on various issues concerning their respective territories. Kind of State Governors, I guess.

Our King and Magneto

Spanish doctor assisting Fidel Castro

Fidel Castro, Cuban dictator, is suffering some kind of illness. His medical advisors have requested the assistance of a Spanish doctor, Mr. García Sabrido, who has travelled to Cuba and is now back in Spain. Mr. García has revealed that Fidel Castro is not suffering cancer.

It is relevant to note that Mr. García works for the spanish medical public system.

Common thoughts of spanish society concerning this medical trip to Cuba:

- Spanish authorities have said that the trip to Cuba has not been paid by Spanish authorities (i.e., spanish citizens).

- If Fidel Castro himself needs international medical care, what about cuban people?

Cuban girl

Basque terrorists

During Franco's dictatorship emerged a terrorist group (ETA) claiming that the Basque Country should be a separate Estate, different from Spain. ETA's attacks on Spanish citizens did not cease when Franco died in 1975 and Spain became a democracy. Today, ETA is responsible of about 1000 deaths. For these past years though, there have been periods of time without kills (so called "truces").

Currently, profiting one of this "truces" (ETA has not killed anyone in more than 3 years), the Spanish government is carrying out a so-called "process of peace". It is held by the government that this is a difficult process that should be performed with discretion. It is also held by the government that no political concessions will be made.

We believe that just because a terrorist stops killing does not mean that law should not be applied. Therefore, we do not understand what this "process of peace" looks forward to.

We would also like to point out one of the characteristics of this terrorism that make it sort of "unique": it attacks the opposition in Basque Country (mainly, PP), not the autonomous government. It also attacks spanish citizens randomly.

Famous Basque singer

So this is Christmas

We have recently been told that in New York it is politically incorrect to wish Merry Christmas. Expressions like "Season's Greetings" and "Happy Holidays" are preferred, trying not to offend anyone because of his/her religious beliefs. We ignore whether this practice is extensive to the rest of America.

In Spain, there are discussions right now about keeping catholic traditions. Nativity scenes, religious symbols... have been traditionally inserted not only in churches or private houses, but also in streets and public buildings.

Generalizing: socialists (governing since 2004) want to keep religion as something private. Conservatives (main opposition) believe that prohibiting catholic practices in public is nonsense.

The case at hand: a school professor in a little city throwed to the trashcan a 'nativity scene' made by pupils.

Our impression: we just wish that neither the symbols nor the repression were payed with our taxes.

Meanwhile, ¡Happy Holidays everyone!

Non-religious christmas supporters

Welcome to Cosas Espanolas

Hello everyone,

our intention here is to talk about things happening in Spain.

In case that you don't know a single thing of Spain, we graciously hereby offer you some tips you can use whenever you are introduced to a Spaniard:

- We are geographically located in Europe. In fact, we traditionally don't trust french people.
- We ocassionally let bulls running in our streets, but we kill them afterwards.
- We have same-sex marriages.
- We are good in sports. We already hosted Olympic Games (Barcelona 92). We are hosting America's Cup in 2007. We have 3 spaniards playing in the NBA.
- We were a dictatorship until 1975. We are still deciding whether we want to be a single nation or not.
- We have beatiful women

Spanish common female