January 7, 2006
THERE IS NO SPAIN:
Spanish Officer Held for Catalan Comment (CIARAN GILES, 1/07/06, Associated Press)
Spain's Defense Ministry ordered the house arrest Saturday of a senior officer who warned that the armed forces might have to intervene if the northeastern region of Catalonia went too far in its efforts toward greater self-government.The comments by army Lt. Gen. Jose Mena Aguado to fellow officers in a speech Friday in Seville triggered memories of military uprisings and coups in Spain's past. [...]
Mena's remarks were a direct reference to negotiations for a new charter for the region of Catalonia which have dominated political debate in Spain. The Catalan regional government, based in Barcelona, is demanding far-reaching political and fiscal powers and also to be recognized as a nation.
The Basque region is also seeking to revamp its charter.
It was an excellent 500 year run, but now these states are going to go their own way again. Posted by Orrin Judd at January 7, 2006 8:54 PM
I would love to get into it w/Spaniards of a certain mental belief.
It's OK for the Jews to give up their land, now it should be OK for them to give up theirs for "peace," of course....
Posted by: Sandy P at January 7, 2006 11:24 PMSomewhere, Stephen Maturin is smiling.
Posted by: Pepys at January 8, 2006 2:20 AMWhat is it about America that allows for differences and, seemingly, everywhere else only sameness will do?
Posted by: Bartman at January 8, 2006 9:18 AMIt's our motto: E Pluribus Unum. We're many, but we hang together as one.
Posted by: erp at January 8, 2006 10:23 AMerp,
How long can we be expected to "hang together as one" with the virtues of tribalism,identity politics, and cultural Balkanization preached daily from the Pulpit of Public Education.
Posted by: Bruno at January 8, 2006 12:11 PMBartman;
Because ultimately, being an American is a state of mind. America requires sameness as well, but at a more abstract level rather than specificities of genetics or history.
Posted by: Annoying Old Guy at January 8, 2006 3:04 PMBruno, you're talking to one of the original zealots! I've been ranting against the public schools and the teachers unions which own them since the early 60's and believe me, I was out here all by myself for a very long time. Happiest day in my life was when my youngest graduated from high school and I never had to be in contact with the school system ever again.
I made a mistake we retired to a small Florida town and I volunteered at the grammar school. Whole volumes could be written about that experience. That was about 15 years ago and now I have the feeling that kids are on to the propaganda and are beginning to ignore it.
Don't forget they never lived in a segregated society and don't carry a lot of the taboos we had when we were kids. In my family, there are still bigots and anti-Semites among the older folks. Nobody pays any attention to their silly outbursts, they just drop like a lead balloon while the conversation goes on around them.
I thought all was lost, but lately, I'm getting a teeny bit optimistic. Again, credit must go to the internet.
We are hanging together right here right now. A more diverse group probably couldn't be imaged. Yet here we are, having self-selected being here, we're having a great time.
Be of good cheer. Our kids are smart and healthy. Give them a good example at home, support them at school, don't let the school board get away with anything and watch their smoke.