Shame

Please look at these pictures. This happened in Spain (Madrid) today, Sunday 15th. July of 2018. Yes, Sunday 15th. July of 2018…

La protesta en el Valle de los Caídos, en imágenes

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Source: El País Digital

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I prepared my first blog post talking about a different topic; however when I read this article, I was so shocked that I decided to write about this now.

For those who don’t know what is this about I will give you some context. There is a place near Madrid called Valle de los Caídos which, beside being a Catholic basilica, it is also a memorial for the people who died in the Spanish Civil War, and conceived by dictator Francisco Franco. The controversy started when after Franco’s death in 1975, the site was designed to be the burial place for his remains. Since then, across the coming convulsive years of the transition to democracy and until today, the site and its purpose has being untouched. No matter which political side has governed the country. However in 2007, under social democrat government of Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, the Historical Memory Law was approved (something that was needed to formally condemn the Franco regime) and controversy peaked up where some of the amendments on this Law promulgate the “depoliticisation” of the Valle de los Caídos and the question of remove Franco’s burial from the site.

The issue might be more complex and has more social and political implications, however leaving aside (if possible) all that, I am astonished to see this pictures in a modern society in 2018. I do believe in freedom to express political views and thoughts, but I do not understand how some people can defend and support such views; clearly fascists and extremists. While I was watching these pictures, a feeling of sadness, ugliness, sepia effect vision and shame of being Spaniard came to my mind. Furthermore, I do not understand neither how a 21st. century democracy has a public monument to remember and praise a fascist dictator and how this democracy still allows to exist a foundation which promote Franco’s figure. This is inconceivable in a modern society.

I have always believed that evolution goes to be united, not to be segregated. No matter which way we choose, the final goal has to be something better and brighter. Not that hate and social decay.