Table of Contents:
It should be noted that the chronology of the journals starts from the bottom (that is the first post) and then works its way to the top (Israeli-Palestinian) is my final post. Also, there was a bit of a mix up in dates and I added 2 of them (La Sagrada Familia and Sitges) after they actually took place…I need some cultural activities so I had to add them there or delete my entire post and start from scratch. I understand if points are taken off for lack of organization…however, all of the dates are correct.
1) Calçots Experience – Food/Restaurant
2) Journal one – Personal/Leisure Activity
3) Roman Barcino – Field Trip
4) Barca vs. Getafe – Personal/Leisure Activity
5) Nightlife in Barcelona – Personal/Leisure Activity
6) Guild – Field Trip
7) Spanish Food – Food/Restaurant
8) Lunch with the Locals – Personal/Leisure Activity
9) Sitges – Cultural Activity
10) La Sagrada Familia – Cultural Activity
11) Andú – Food/Restaurant
12) Catalan Companies – Local News
13) Young People Protest – Local News
14) Raval – Field Trip
15) “Hippie Festival” – Cultural Activity
16) Unemployment – National News
17) Immigrant – Local News
18) Israeli-Palestinian – International News
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Israeli-Palestinian Journal April 27th
Ok, so this short article does not really address anything particularly new in the world but I still think it addresses a few important things. It is going to be a bit difficult to try and directly connect it with Barcelona but there are still a few important connections that can be made.
Basically, the article addresses the recent death of a Hamas militant in the West Bank on Monday afternoon. He was unsurprisingly killed by the actions of Israeli soldiers who had surrounded his house and asked him to surrender. To make a long story short, the Hamas militant, Ali Suweiti, had been suspected of killing numerous Israeli officers/soldiers and was a prized asset for the Israeli military. However, he refused to “surrender” and promptly opened fire on the soldiers which forced them to return fire thus cementing his status as a “martyr.”
Now, I have chosen to talk about this situation because it touches upon one of the most difficult/controversial topics in modern history: the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Although I am still torn with my feelings on the situation, I am certain that the conflict originated because of numerous political blunders. The creation of Israel has done nothing but cause havoc in the Middle East for the past 60 years. Now, this area is certainly not unaccustomed to chaos/persistent conflict…a simple look at the region’s history would reveal that this area has been one of the biggest “cluster fucks” in history that has constantly been plagued with tribal wars and unchecked aggression. We need only recall blatant reality that Islam is widely considered by many academics to be a religion “spread by the sword;” that existence in and of itself tells you a lot about the region. But I digress…
The conflict between Israel and the entire Muslim world is starting to become a bit sickening. Seriously, when is this going to stop? Sadly, I think there are only two options which few people neither like nor are willing to admit. The first of these is exactly what the majority of Arabs are calling for: the destruction of Israel and the reclamation of the Holy Land (I could easily go into greater detail about this topic because it is absolutely fascinating but I would easily write volumes on it so I will not address such intricacies). The other option is the one that few individuals, particularly those of us in the West, are terrified to even whisper: the destruction of Arab nationalism. Yes, I said it…seriously considering a way to keep Arabs from uniting against Israel and wanting to kill each end every Jew that they come across. The most logical option, the destruction of Islam. BOOOOM. The cat is out of the bad and the anvil has promptly struck the floor…
Now, I should stress the fact that I am not making anti-Islamic remarks here because I hate Muslims; rather, if I make the point because if it were possible I would do away with religion entirely. Religion has caused far too much bloodshed over the years and it is effectively holding society back but that is another story for a different day…back to the point at hand, it would seem that these are the only two logical options that will end this persistent warfare. We must not forget that the Arab peoples (and a majority of Muslims for that matter) consist of societies which are largely based upon tribal affiliations. To put it bluntly, the only thing keeping these people “together” are the tenets of Islam and their subsequent belief in Allah. The only reason that all the Muslim states hate Israel is because they are all Muslim and their Muslim “brethren” (Palestine) have been disrespected. Furthermore, the Jews are forced to hate the Muslims because they are now forced to fight for their survival because their grandparents refused to “give up” the Holy Land.
All in all, this situation has caused far too many headaches on the political/social arena and drastic measures need to be taken for any real changes to be made. Like I said earlier, it’s a bit difficult to connect this to Barcelona seeing as this debacle that the Middle East finds itself locked in revolves primarily around the resultant actions of the Allied nations post-WWII and the “bossy” United Nations. However, I think the only connection that can be drawn is the reality/thought that the Spanish people are slowly beginning to stop “trusting/turning” to religion for any sort of substantial value. In many ways, people are just practicing in Catholic practices because they are “traditional” NOT because God commands them to do it…as such, I think both Muslim and Jews alike should learn from Spain that religion is truly holding people back and is causing far too many problems. By the way, if you were wondering…I am not actually an atheist but I just strongly despise what religious values do to people.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/27/world/middleeast/27briefs-Westbank.html?ref=world
Basically, the article addresses the recent death of a Hamas militant in the West Bank on Monday afternoon. He was unsurprisingly killed by the actions of Israeli soldiers who had surrounded his house and asked him to surrender. To make a long story short, the Hamas militant, Ali Suweiti, had been suspected of killing numerous Israeli officers/soldiers and was a prized asset for the Israeli military. However, he refused to “surrender” and promptly opened fire on the soldiers which forced them to return fire thus cementing his status as a “martyr.”
Now, I have chosen to talk about this situation because it touches upon one of the most difficult/controversial topics in modern history: the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Although I am still torn with my feelings on the situation, I am certain that the conflict originated because of numerous political blunders. The creation of Israel has done nothing but cause havoc in the Middle East for the past 60 years. Now, this area is certainly not unaccustomed to chaos/persistent conflict…a simple look at the region’s history would reveal that this area has been one of the biggest “cluster fucks” in history that has constantly been plagued with tribal wars and unchecked aggression. We need only recall blatant reality that Islam is widely considered by many academics to be a religion “spread by the sword;” that existence in and of itself tells you a lot about the region. But I digress…
The conflict between Israel and the entire Muslim world is starting to become a bit sickening. Seriously, when is this going to stop? Sadly, I think there are only two options which few people neither like nor are willing to admit. The first of these is exactly what the majority of Arabs are calling for: the destruction of Israel and the reclamation of the Holy Land (I could easily go into greater detail about this topic because it is absolutely fascinating but I would easily write volumes on it so I will not address such intricacies). The other option is the one that few individuals, particularly those of us in the West, are terrified to even whisper: the destruction of Arab nationalism. Yes, I said it…seriously considering a way to keep Arabs from uniting against Israel and wanting to kill each end every Jew that they come across. The most logical option, the destruction of Islam. BOOOOM. The cat is out of the bad and the anvil has promptly struck the floor…
Now, I should stress the fact that I am not making anti-Islamic remarks here because I hate Muslims; rather, if I make the point because if it were possible I would do away with religion entirely. Religion has caused far too much bloodshed over the years and it is effectively holding society back but that is another story for a different day…back to the point at hand, it would seem that these are the only two logical options that will end this persistent warfare. We must not forget that the Arab peoples (and a majority of Muslims for that matter) consist of societies which are largely based upon tribal affiliations. To put it bluntly, the only thing keeping these people “together” are the tenets of Islam and their subsequent belief in Allah. The only reason that all the Muslim states hate Israel is because they are all Muslim and their Muslim “brethren” (Palestine) have been disrespected. Furthermore, the Jews are forced to hate the Muslims because they are now forced to fight for their survival because their grandparents refused to “give up” the Holy Land.
All in all, this situation has caused far too many headaches on the political/social arena and drastic measures need to be taken for any real changes to be made. Like I said earlier, it’s a bit difficult to connect this to Barcelona seeing as this debacle that the Middle East finds itself locked in revolves primarily around the resultant actions of the Allied nations post-WWII and the “bossy” United Nations. However, I think the only connection that can be drawn is the reality/thought that the Spanish people are slowly beginning to stop “trusting/turning” to religion for any sort of substantial value. In many ways, people are just practicing in Catholic practices because they are “traditional” NOT because God commands them to do it…as such, I think both Muslim and Jews alike should learn from Spain that religion is truly holding people back and is causing far too many problems. By the way, if you were wondering…I am not actually an atheist but I just strongly despise what religious values do to people.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/27/world/middleeast/27briefs-Westbank.html?ref=world
Immigrant Journal April 27th
This article addresses a recent study which had been released which discussed the immigration trends of Barcelona. Without going into too great of detail, here are some the facts which were released that hold the greatest importance: roughly 15,000 babies with “foreign/immigrant” parents have been born in Barcelona since statistics have been kept, as of 2008 only 34% had a parent who was of Spanish nationality, El Raval section is comprised of roughly a 47% immigrant population, and many of these individuals are “here to stay.” Furthermore, it would seem that “new immigration has taken root in Catalonia” and these immigrants are primarily comprised of individuals of Italian, Ecuadorian, Pakistani, Bolivian, Peruvian, Chinese, and Moroccan decent.
Now, this sort of study is extremely important because it establishes a precursor for change that is about to occur in Barcelona. Essentially, these individuals are bringing their culture/way of life into Barcelona and are going to blend everything that they know with the Barcelonan outlook on life. Depending on the person that you talk to, this reality can be interpreted as either positive or negative. It is seemingly unimportant what my position on their presence will bring to Barcelona but one this is certain – they are going to influence the city in various ways. As is shown with the first fact, immigrant birth rate is fairly steady and does not look like it is going to decline any time soon. As such, this has a direct impact on everything from the social fabric of a particular neighborhood to crime rates. Additionally, the fact that 34% of these new babies have “mixed background” (Spanish parent and immigrant parent) has a direct impact on the Spanish/Catalan identity as well. I am not going to address “purity” because that has an innate negative connotation but people may slowly begin to lose the Catalan culture as it begins to blend with the culture of Morocco, Pakistan, etc. The third fact is directly related to how the social fabric of a particular area can be impacted by this growing immigrant population. It would seem that El Raval is become Barcelona’s “China town” of the city as so many immigrants are choosing to live here (mostly Pakistani). Therefore, the question must be raised of this area is truly Barcelonan or Pakistani?
Finally, the fact that these immigrants are “here to stay” should not come as a surprise but it highlights some very important facts. The first of these is the fact that Barcelona is clearly a prosperous city because the immigrants want to live/work here; otherwise, they would not be moving here for work. Secondly, this is a fact that compels the local government to seriously consider the “well being/existence” of these individuals within the political arena because their children will soon become citizens of Spain/Barcelona. To put it bluntly, even though some of these individuals may be illegal, their existence forces the city to address their needs.
This situation is interesting due to the fact that it closely resembles the reality that the United States of America has been forced to deal with for the better part of its existence (referencing immigration from Mexico/South America). Furthermore, it is intriguing when the recent immigration laws in Arizona are taken into account…anyway, I doubt that Barcelona is going to take such “extreme” measures [like my cowboy like/conservative brethren in Arizona] to address this immigration situation but they are going to need to consider in the near future.
http://www.lavanguardia.es/ciudadanos/noticias/20100427/53916673527/los-extranjeros-empadronados-y-nacidos-en-barcelona-suman-15.000-ciutat-vella-ildefons-cerda-argenti.html
Now, this sort of study is extremely important because it establishes a precursor for change that is about to occur in Barcelona. Essentially, these individuals are bringing their culture/way of life into Barcelona and are going to blend everything that they know with the Barcelonan outlook on life. Depending on the person that you talk to, this reality can be interpreted as either positive or negative. It is seemingly unimportant what my position on their presence will bring to Barcelona but one this is certain – they are going to influence the city in various ways. As is shown with the first fact, immigrant birth rate is fairly steady and does not look like it is going to decline any time soon. As such, this has a direct impact on everything from the social fabric of a particular neighborhood to crime rates. Additionally, the fact that 34% of these new babies have “mixed background” (Spanish parent and immigrant parent) has a direct impact on the Spanish/Catalan identity as well. I am not going to address “purity” because that has an innate negative connotation but people may slowly begin to lose the Catalan culture as it begins to blend with the culture of Morocco, Pakistan, etc. The third fact is directly related to how the social fabric of a particular area can be impacted by this growing immigrant population. It would seem that El Raval is become Barcelona’s “China town” of the city as so many immigrants are choosing to live here (mostly Pakistani). Therefore, the question must be raised of this area is truly Barcelonan or Pakistani?
Finally, the fact that these immigrants are “here to stay” should not come as a surprise but it highlights some very important facts. The first of these is the fact that Barcelona is clearly a prosperous city because the immigrants want to live/work here; otherwise, they would not be moving here for work. Secondly, this is a fact that compels the local government to seriously consider the “well being/existence” of these individuals within the political arena because their children will soon become citizens of Spain/Barcelona. To put it bluntly, even though some of these individuals may be illegal, their existence forces the city to address their needs.
This situation is interesting due to the fact that it closely resembles the reality that the United States of America has been forced to deal with for the better part of its existence (referencing immigration from Mexico/South America). Furthermore, it is intriguing when the recent immigration laws in Arizona are taken into account…anyway, I doubt that Barcelona is going to take such “extreme” measures [like my cowboy like/conservative brethren in Arizona] to address this immigration situation but they are going to need to consider in the near future.
http://www.lavanguardia.es/ciudadanos/noticias/20100427/53916673527/los-extranjeros-empadronados-y-nacidos-en-barcelona-suman-15.000-ciutat-vella-ildefons-cerda-argenti.html
Unemployment Journal April 27th
This article is particularly important because it provides a brief update/reminder of the current economic state of affairs in Spain. Currently, unemployment in Spain has reached over 20% (actual figure is 20.05%)...this reality highlights the ever-present crisis that Spain finds itself entangled within (over 4 4.5 million individuals are without jobs). This is a staggering figure to say the least and is certainly something that Zapatero and his administration are scratching their heads over. It is particularly troubling to note that unemployment rates are “higher than they were in the 90s” – seems as if Spain has taken a step back in terms of progress.
Although Zapatero promises that changes are going to be seen in April, I seriously question this strong statement – we have a phrase in America for this sort of announcement, “ he is just blowing smoke up everyone’s assess.” I guess the easiest translation for this would be that he is just bullshitting the populace in an effort to divert their attention from the reality of everything (something that politicians have always been very good at). Regardless if changes happen or not, you have to wonder how this pressing issue is going to impact Spain in the long run. Furthermore, is the rest of the EU going to take Spain seriously for much longer? If I remember correctly, I think Spain is currently “managing” the EU’s economic situation at this point in time (responsibility rotates every 6 months I believe between members of the EU – a way to “share the burden”). The question that comes to my mind, and likely the minds of many individuals within the EU is quite simple, “How can a country that cannot figure out its own economic problems solve the more complex economic complications of the EU?”
Hopefully, things will begin to turn around for Spain and unemployment will steadily drop over the next few months/years. We must not forget that the entire world is currently recovering from a bit of a recession so these sort of things take time; however, I think it is pretty safe to say that an unemployment rate of over 20% must be quite disappointing/humbling for the Spanish people. I think Spain is only second in Europe (in terms of unemployment rate) to Latvia. I don’t think that is a country that many people want to be compared to, no matter what the comparison…
http://www.lavanguardia.es/economia/noticias/20100427/53917775056/zapatero-admite-que-la-tasa-del-paro-es-demasiado-alta-aunque-augura--que-comenzara-a-bajar-en-abril.html
Although Zapatero promises that changes are going to be seen in April, I seriously question this strong statement – we have a phrase in America for this sort of announcement, “ he is just blowing smoke up everyone’s assess.” I guess the easiest translation for this would be that he is just bullshitting the populace in an effort to divert their attention from the reality of everything (something that politicians have always been very good at). Regardless if changes happen or not, you have to wonder how this pressing issue is going to impact Spain in the long run. Furthermore, is the rest of the EU going to take Spain seriously for much longer? If I remember correctly, I think Spain is currently “managing” the EU’s economic situation at this point in time (responsibility rotates every 6 months I believe between members of the EU – a way to “share the burden”). The question that comes to my mind, and likely the minds of many individuals within the EU is quite simple, “How can a country that cannot figure out its own economic problems solve the more complex economic complications of the EU?”
Hopefully, things will begin to turn around for Spain and unemployment will steadily drop over the next few months/years. We must not forget that the entire world is currently recovering from a bit of a recession so these sort of things take time; however, I think it is pretty safe to say that an unemployment rate of over 20% must be quite disappointing/humbling for the Spanish people. I think Spain is only second in Europe (in terms of unemployment rate) to Latvia. I don’t think that is a country that many people want to be compared to, no matter what the comparison…
http://www.lavanguardia.es/economia/noticias/20100427/53917775056/zapatero-admite-que-la-tasa-del-paro-es-demasiado-alta-aunque-augura--que-comenzara-a-bajar-en-abril.html
"Hippie Festival" Journal April 25th
Ok, so I do not think the actual “title” of this fair was the “Hippy Festival” but it will have to do. I think the fair had something to do with Earth Day…regardless, it was a very enjoyable experience which I will never forget.
The fair took place around Arc de Triumf and the Ciutadella Park. The place was packed with people and numerous vendors of all shapes and sizes (although, I must stress the point that many of the individuals tended to resemble “hippies” because of their clothing style and ever flowing dreadlock hairstyles). Anyway, it seemed that the festival was something that the locals truly look forward to every year because both Ciutadella Park and Arc de Triumf were packed with people. You could see people just lying out in the park getting a tan, families having a nice picnic in the shade, and tourists/locals alike buying some local products from the numerous vendors. I think one of the coolest things about this festival was the fact that there was such a diverse selection of things that you could buy at this festival; to keep the list rather short, we shall just say that the things offered ranged from fresh goat cheese [being sold by some local farmers] to getting a 15 minute massage from a person standing on top of your body…In addition to this selection, there were numerous food stands which gladly satisfied the local patrons’ hunger and exposed them to foods from Cuba, Morocco, Brazil, and many others.
Although this sort of thing is not uncommon back in the States, this fair had a unique Barcelona flair. Being able to participate in this sort of festival also provided a nice look at the Barcelona [laid-back/enjoy life] mentality; the few hours that I spent here proved that the local populace truly knows how to enjoy life. Just looking at each of them should that at that particular moment, none of them had a care in the world. All of them were simply enjoying the beautiful weather with their friends/family/loved ones and just “taking it all in.” It is this sort of mentality that I hope to bring back to the USA. Although we do have these sort of fairs, they are certainly not leisurely activities; rather, people go to these fairs, buy what they want to buy, eat what they want to eat, and then just leave. It is this sort of mentality that leads me to believe that the people in the US don’t truly appreciate what life has to offer – they rarely take the time to appreciate life. This is why this seemingly simple/basic fair had such an important impact on me – it further proved that the people here truly appreciate life…
The fair took place around Arc de Triumf and the Ciutadella Park. The place was packed with people and numerous vendors of all shapes and sizes (although, I must stress the point that many of the individuals tended to resemble “hippies” because of their clothing style and ever flowing dreadlock hairstyles). Anyway, it seemed that the festival was something that the locals truly look forward to every year because both Ciutadella Park and Arc de Triumf were packed with people. You could see people just lying out in the park getting a tan, families having a nice picnic in the shade, and tourists/locals alike buying some local products from the numerous vendors. I think one of the coolest things about this festival was the fact that there was such a diverse selection of things that you could buy at this festival; to keep the list rather short, we shall just say that the things offered ranged from fresh goat cheese [being sold by some local farmers] to getting a 15 minute massage from a person standing on top of your body…In addition to this selection, there were numerous food stands which gladly satisfied the local patrons’ hunger and exposed them to foods from Cuba, Morocco, Brazil, and many others.
Although this sort of thing is not uncommon back in the States, this fair had a unique Barcelona flair. Being able to participate in this sort of festival also provided a nice look at the Barcelona [laid-back/enjoy life] mentality; the few hours that I spent here proved that the local populace truly knows how to enjoy life. Just looking at each of them should that at that particular moment, none of them had a care in the world. All of them were simply enjoying the beautiful weather with their friends/family/loved ones and just “taking it all in.” It is this sort of mentality that I hope to bring back to the USA. Although we do have these sort of fairs, they are certainly not leisurely activities; rather, people go to these fairs, buy what they want to buy, eat what they want to eat, and then just leave. It is this sort of mentality that leads me to believe that the people in the US don’t truly appreciate what life has to offer – they rarely take the time to appreciate life. This is why this seemingly simple/basic fair had such an important impact on me – it further proved that the people here truly appreciate life…
Raval Field Trip Journal April 22nd
Simply taking a short walk in this area of the city reveals a fundamental distinction between El Raval and other parts of the Old City (Ciutat Vella)…El Raval is definitely not an area that is frequented by tourists very much. If fact, the only “non local” inhabitants that you can see are the Pakistani/other foreign immigrants who have settled in this area – they clearly dominate the presence of the area. Regardless, there are many factors which probably justify this reality but the primary one is the fact that El Raval was not a very “safe/touristy friendly” area some years ago. It is important to note that this area had once been the center for illegal activity (drug dealing, prostitution, etc.) for quite some time. Additionally, it was in this area where the anarchists held their “stronghold” – a presence which certainly reflected the chaotic nature of this section of the city. It was only until the ________ when the local government decided to refurbish the area in an effort to attract tourists and stamp out crime.
Although this attempt was mildly successful, the overall goal was not truly achieved. Demolishing old buildings to pave the way for broad streets such as “Ramblas de Catalunya” was a clear attempt at “bringing life” to the neighborhood while also bringing some needed air from the sea (ventilation). Additionally, building five star hotels yearned for posh tourists to spend a few nights in this recovering area; however, these attempts were met with mixed results. Certainly, the area seems to be cleaner/more welcoming than it probably was 20-30 years ago – cars have limited access on the streets, fresh air makes its way into the area from the sea, and buildings such as MACBA and other museums attract younger crowds/families into the region of the city. However, the trip there still gave me the impression that the city never fully “succeeded” in achieving their goal: tourists can hardly be found, the area is still home to many “sinful” individuals/activities, and it still gives the feeling of an area that is unwelcome to tourists. I cannot completely explain it but in a twisted way, it felt like the locals wanted change/improvement but they still wanted to hold onto the last vestiges of a “real/non-touristy” section of the Old City. Granted, there is a large portion of immigrants in this area who probably would just be happy with a roof over their heads but the push for change seems to hold a bit of a conflicted existence (people want young people to come to the area but don’t want skateboarders outside MACBA, they want tourists to stay at the new hotel but they don’t offer them any real captivating activities/shops, etc.)
All in all, the area is a pretty interesting section of the city which has a lot of character; I would probably have ventured over to that area a bit more if I had been introduced to it a bit earlier on during my stay. However, I still feel that the area has much room for improvement. I understand that change/progress takes time and there is no possible way that an entire area can change in less than 20 years so this reality gives me hope that the city will achieve their goals. Unfortunately, they are not there yet and it may take 20-30 more years before drastic changes can be seen…
Although this attempt was mildly successful, the overall goal was not truly achieved. Demolishing old buildings to pave the way for broad streets such as “Ramblas de Catalunya” was a clear attempt at “bringing life” to the neighborhood while also bringing some needed air from the sea (ventilation). Additionally, building five star hotels yearned for posh tourists to spend a few nights in this recovering area; however, these attempts were met with mixed results. Certainly, the area seems to be cleaner/more welcoming than it probably was 20-30 years ago – cars have limited access on the streets, fresh air makes its way into the area from the sea, and buildings such as MACBA and other museums attract younger crowds/families into the region of the city. However, the trip there still gave me the impression that the city never fully “succeeded” in achieving their goal: tourists can hardly be found, the area is still home to many “sinful” individuals/activities, and it still gives the feeling of an area that is unwelcome to tourists. I cannot completely explain it but in a twisted way, it felt like the locals wanted change/improvement but they still wanted to hold onto the last vestiges of a “real/non-touristy” section of the Old City. Granted, there is a large portion of immigrants in this area who probably would just be happy with a roof over their heads but the push for change seems to hold a bit of a conflicted existence (people want young people to come to the area but don’t want skateboarders outside MACBA, they want tourists to stay at the new hotel but they don’t offer them any real captivating activities/shops, etc.)
All in all, the area is a pretty interesting section of the city which has a lot of character; I would probably have ventured over to that area a bit more if I had been introduced to it a bit earlier on during my stay. However, I still feel that the area has much room for improvement. I understand that change/progress takes time and there is no possible way that an entire area can change in less than 20 years so this reality gives me hope that the city will achieve their goals. Unfortunately, they are not there yet and it may take 20-30 more years before drastic changes can be seen…
Young People Protest Journal April 7th
This article that was released today is particularly interesting to me because I actually saw everything pan out. At first, I didn’t know what was going on but I made sure that I looked up some of the facts once I got back to my apartment. Regardless, I saw the protest first hand and can safely say that this protest was being taken very seriously by the local police forces.
The article addresses the recent demonstration that was held at the corner of Carrer de Pelai and La Ramblas. A group of young protestors stood out in front of a clothing store to protest the recent sentencing of a “squatter,” Alfonso Hermoso Castillo, who had been handed three years in prison for allegedly beating a Catalan police officer with an “okupa” back in May 2007. Essentially, the individuals were saying this was an extremely harsh sentence for someone who had done nothing more than “defending himself from aggression.” To truly voice their frustration, two individuals from the protestors chained themselves to a barrel that had been filled with concrete. Furthermore, the barrel had been placed in the middle of the street - thus causing quite a ruckus to the local traffic (one of the busiest streets in the city). The chained men then proceeded to sit down in the middle of the street while they were screaming “Free Alfonso” chants. Needless to say, the police were forced to come in and cut the men free from the concrete barrel in order to free up traffic.
This event is another indication of how passionately the local populace feels about certain situations and how willing they are to express their opinion. Although a similar demonstration may have taken place in America, I doubt anybody would have chained themselves to a barrel. However, the most interesting/important thing that this protest touches upon is the fact that traditional/past feelings about the police may still have their place within the minds of the Catalan people. It should be remembered that the police forces were entities that had been imposed/installed by Madrid. Many individuals felt that these forces (Mosso d'Esquadra, Guardia Urbana, etc.) were nothing more organizations that were set up to suppress the Catalan people/nationalist uprisings/etc. As such, these organizations serve nothing more than representations of the repression of the centralized Madrid government and have done nothing but anger many people in the past. With that being the case, the outrage/resent from today’s protest can possibly be stretched to be a protest against Madrid as well. Although I highly doubt that this reality/theory (to protest against Madrid – i.e. was a protest for Catalan independence/etc.) played any role in today’s protest, it is still an interesting thought nonetheless. Furthermore, the protest highlights the ever present “balance” between police authority and people’s rights. This battle is one that has little chance of slowing down and will likely be raged until the end of time. For whatever reason, people really get pissed off when their rights are violated by the authoritative powers…
The article addresses the recent demonstration that was held at the corner of Carrer de Pelai and La Ramblas. A group of young protestors stood out in front of a clothing store to protest the recent sentencing of a “squatter,” Alfonso Hermoso Castillo, who had been handed three years in prison for allegedly beating a Catalan police officer with an “okupa” back in May 2007. Essentially, the individuals were saying this was an extremely harsh sentence for someone who had done nothing more than “defending himself from aggression.” To truly voice their frustration, two individuals from the protestors chained themselves to a barrel that had been filled with concrete. Furthermore, the barrel had been placed in the middle of the street - thus causing quite a ruckus to the local traffic (one of the busiest streets in the city). The chained men then proceeded to sit down in the middle of the street while they were screaming “Free Alfonso” chants. Needless to say, the police were forced to come in and cut the men free from the concrete barrel in order to free up traffic.
This event is another indication of how passionately the local populace feels about certain situations and how willing they are to express their opinion. Although a similar demonstration may have taken place in America, I doubt anybody would have chained themselves to a barrel. However, the most interesting/important thing that this protest touches upon is the fact that traditional/past feelings about the police may still have their place within the minds of the Catalan people. It should be remembered that the police forces were entities that had been imposed/installed by Madrid. Many individuals felt that these forces (Mosso d'Esquadra, Guardia Urbana, etc.) were nothing more organizations that were set up to suppress the Catalan people/nationalist uprisings/etc. As such, these organizations serve nothing more than representations of the repression of the centralized Madrid government and have done nothing but anger many people in the past. With that being the case, the outrage/resent from today’s protest can possibly be stretched to be a protest against Madrid as well. Although I highly doubt that this reality/theory (to protest against Madrid – i.e. was a protest for Catalan independence/etc.) played any role in today’s protest, it is still an interesting thought nonetheless. Furthermore, the protest highlights the ever present “balance” between police authority and people’s rights. This battle is one that has little chance of slowing down and will likely be raged until the end of time. For whatever reason, people really get pissed off when their rights are violated by the authoritative powers…
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