Espana en mi corazon
This is running both here and Ontherim
Te amo Espana. Siempre
I served my mission in Andalucia, serving in Almeria, Algeciras, Jerez de la Frontera, y Jaen. I love the people there. I did have a chance to go back in 1990, and was there for just a few days, but not a day goes by without wishing for a trip back.
In 1861, as a result of a tumultuous Presidential election in the United States, southern states, beginning with South Carolina, voted to break from the Union, and to form their own nation, separate from the United States of America. The argument over whether states could secede was settled by blood. A tragic war that probably was payment for the ugliness of slavery. Of course, many scholars feel today that states did and still have the right to secede. Or rather that they did. The Civil War changed many things.
Tomorrow. in the Catalonia area of Spain, a referendum will be held as to whether Catalonia should remain a part of Spain, or form its own independent nation. An illegal election, according to the national government. Spain feels that the marriage of Aragon and Castille 500 years ago was an eternal pact. They have arrested many of the leaders of Catalonia. Will the election go forward? Good question. I suspect it will, even though the government in Madrid will not recognize any result.
According to recent polling there are two takeaways. The first, is that most Catalans want the election to go forward, likely, at least in part, as a reaction to the actions in Madrid. The second, is that it is an even split for secession, or not. The National government AND the Separatists have polarized the region.
Even as that is going on, in the Middle East, the Kurds in Iraq have proclaimed an independent state. This will prompt a swift reaction from Turkey, Syria, Iran, and Iraq.
Scotland narrowly defeated a separatist vote recently, coming on the heals of the BREXIT from the European Union.
Even in the United States, there are those advancing the idea that California should secede from the union, and establish itself as its own Republic. I think it is time to rethink, politically, alliances, and even nations.
It would be wonderful if each group could live and govern itself. Idealistic? Probably, but all over, violence has been used to suppress minorities, and sometimes majorities. Too much treasure, and more importantly, blood, has been spilled to bring people into line. Maybe it is time to stop. To allow each to live, and let live as they will.
That was the ideal for the United States. That states would have their laws and customs, and people could choose to live or not live there. We were polarized in 1861, as brother fought brother. I think, in the US today, that we are nearly as polarized. That doesn't end well.
But for now, I pray for peace in Spain. In Catalonia in particular. That the government will not overreact, and the separatists respect the outcome, if not in their favor, and that the people will have
Te amo Espana. Siempre
I served my mission in Andalucia, serving in Almeria, Algeciras, Jerez de la Frontera, y Jaen. I love the people there. I did have a chance to go back in 1990, and was there for just a few days, but not a day goes by without wishing for a trip back.
In 1861, as a result of a tumultuous Presidential election in the United States, southern states, beginning with South Carolina, voted to break from the Union, and to form their own nation, separate from the United States of America. The argument over whether states could secede was settled by blood. A tragic war that probably was payment for the ugliness of slavery. Of course, many scholars feel today that states did and still have the right to secede. Or rather that they did. The Civil War changed many things.
Tomorrow. in the Catalonia area of Spain, a referendum will be held as to whether Catalonia should remain a part of Spain, or form its own independent nation. An illegal election, according to the national government. Spain feels that the marriage of Aragon and Castille 500 years ago was an eternal pact. They have arrested many of the leaders of Catalonia. Will the election go forward? Good question. I suspect it will, even though the government in Madrid will not recognize any result.
According to recent polling there are two takeaways. The first, is that most Catalans want the election to go forward, likely, at least in part, as a reaction to the actions in Madrid. The second, is that it is an even split for secession, or not. The National government AND the Separatists have polarized the region.
Even as that is going on, in the Middle East, the Kurds in Iraq have proclaimed an independent state. This will prompt a swift reaction from Turkey, Syria, Iran, and Iraq.
Scotland narrowly defeated a separatist vote recently, coming on the heals of the BREXIT from the European Union.
Even in the United States, there are those advancing the idea that California should secede from the union, and establish itself as its own Republic. I think it is time to rethink, politically, alliances, and even nations.
It would be wonderful if each group could live and govern itself. Idealistic? Probably, but all over, violence has been used to suppress minorities, and sometimes majorities. Too much treasure, and more importantly, blood, has been spilled to bring people into line. Maybe it is time to stop. To allow each to live, and let live as they will.
That was the ideal for the United States. That states would have their laws and customs, and people could choose to live or not live there. We were polarized in 1861, as brother fought brother. I think, in the US today, that we are nearly as polarized. That doesn't end well.
But for now, I pray for peace in Spain. In Catalonia in particular. That the government will not overreact, and the separatists respect the outcome, if not in their favor, and that the people will have
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