Forgive me if I'm pissed.
Jose Aznar's defeat in yesterday's election can only embolden al-Qaeda. "Look what we've done!" they'll marvel. "Just a few days before the election we bombed a train and killed 200 people and they oust the government that opposes us!"
So, are we to be concilitory sheep and live in a world were brute terror rules; or will we respond to terrorism like brave and civilized men and women? Spain has made their choice.
Shall 3/11 live forever as a date that will live in infamy? Freedom itself is being attacked. Will freedom be defended? No. Spain has opted to cower to the threat of murderous tyrants.
Maybe it's their mandatory 35 hour workweek. Maybe it's the 8 weeks of paid vacation each of 'em are guaranteed each year. I dunno. But, something tells me that Europe is too distracted by getting even more soft and comfy leisure time to be mentally or emotionally prepared to deal with the reality outside.
228 years ago America gave the world a Republic. What has Europe given us in the past 100 years? Hitler. Stalin. Musselini. Melosovic. Ceausescu. Franco.
Maybe the very love of Liberty is something essentially alien to Europeans -- something they're afraid of just because it demands them to have a voice in their government. You tell me.
On 9/11 3000 innocent men, women and children who were simply going about their daily business were murdered and America decided that it was time to kick some terrorist ass. On 3/11 200 innocent men, women and children who were going about their daily business were murdered and Spain has decided to punish the government that tries to stop it.
Sometimes I wonder if Europe was ever worth saving from it's mistakes: it seems ready and willing to make the same ones over and over.
I am ashamed for our Spanish cousins today.
Sic semper tyranus.
UPDATE: Emporer Misha ! has a pithy yet clueful post, as usual... and links to a few others.
Posted by Tuning Spork at March 14, 2004 09:26 PMIn the past 100 years Europe has also given us Churchill and Lloyd George and Blair and Thatcher...
Posted by: Pixy Misa at March 15, 2004 12:30 AMMy initial reaction was much the same, but I'm calming down some because reality is never so black & white.
If it happens again, I hope the citizens of the next country blame Spain, because they've shown that terror bombing can influence elections.
Posted by: Ted at March 15, 2004 06:54 AMAah, but Pixy, those are Brits. The U.K. is only "on the continent" by treaty.
Posted by: Tuning Spork at March 15, 2004 12:28 PMOkay, there are many freedom lovers everywhere. But, what do "The People" want?
My guess is that Europeans want out. OUT of this mess and Out of the fight. They -- most Europeans -- seem, to me, to be short-sighted and wishful thinkers. If they just lay low then maybe the Destroyer will ignore them.
The shame of Spain is that they opted for comfort over confrontation... Thank you, Sir, may I have another...?
Yes, you may...
