Lois & Clark Forums Forums General Discussion Off Topic Terrorist Attack in Spain

I don't usually bring up real life issues around here, but today I kind of need to let it out.

Today Spain has witnessed the biggest terrorist attack in its History. Nearly 200 dead people.

I know we're not the only country under the threat of terrorism, but that doesn't make any less brutal. We've been suffering its threat for 31 year. Most of the time, the attacks have been directed at certain social groups: politicians, military men, police forces... Some other times, it's been attacks like today's.

ETA began killing people back in 1973, but today's has been their worst attack by far. In the last three decades, they'd killed in Madrid 121 people. Today alone, the number is of 186, and it still hasn't stopped.

For me it's been particularly special because it's been close to home. YOu guys probably haven't heard of my city. It's called Alcala de Henares, and it's about 30 km. from Madrid. THe trains with the bombs had departed from our train station about 25 minutes before the explosions.The bombs had been left on board a few minutes earlier. I'm still not sure if there was anyone I know on board. But thankfully, none of my closest friends ahd taken that train today.

At first, they said they fought for freedom. Freedom to speak their language, freedom to keep their culture... Now they want freedom fro 'their country'.

Heck, I try, but I can't understand. Soemtimes you wish you could do to them what they do to the rest; that you could make them suffer the fear they put you through. But then you think it over and realize that's exactly what makes us different. Nothing justifies the murder of hundreds of people; nothing justifies the murder of even one single person.

Who needs the freedom? Them or the rest of us?

Cris

Oh Cris, that's really horrible. I hope no-one you know was on board of those trains. There are no words to describe that sort of slaughter, no explanation to justify them. That's just horrifying.

Kaethel

I'm so sorry to hear that, Cris... doesn't matter if it's "only" 186 -- that's still 186 too many. And yeah, I'll bet it's even scarier knowing that it came that close to you. {{hugs}}

Jose, are you okay?

PJ

Yup!! Mad , sad but okay...

Jose

Yeah, I heard about this on the radio on my discman while I was walking home from school. Like Pam said, no matter if it was "only" 186 people that died, it is still 186 too many. There are days like this that make us doubt the good in people, and for a while, hope disappears into a world of darkness - hope for believing in the good in people, hope for living in a better world. The terrorists do not only damage where the bomb exploded: it damages the world as a whole.

So so sad

Pelican

I'm glad to hear you're both okay, Cris and Jose. I hope all your friends are okay, too, Cris.

It's just one horrible story, getting worse by the hour. I still find it hard to believe the ETA took it this far. Hopefully, they'll be put to an end now.

Saskia

Cris and José -

My thoughts and heart go out to you and to your friends and family.

There's no words to express the frustration and sadness you must all feel over the tragic deaths of these innocent people, lives taken by those who deserve nothing but our contempt.

Lynn

OMG, it's horrible.

i'm glad to hear Cris and Jose are okay. I hope no one you knew or close to you were on board those trains.

What shocks me the most is the brutality and the scale of those attacks. ETA killing people is nothing new, but this sounds so calculated.

Plus I can't help but relating those events to the AZF threats France was confronted to a week ago. The group said the entire french railroad web had been 'hijacked' with explosives and was demanding ransom for the bombs locations.

With the highlights of Madrid's events, I can't help to think it could have happened in France, or the french railroadweb thingy was just a diversion...I don't even know why I'm saying this here, so much things are going on lately. I guess I'm a bit shaken and blaming myself for being so wrapped up into work.

Just take care,

Carole (who's now worried she didn't heard about her Madrid colleagues)

hey there again

Well, Carole, in a way, maybe. But I think it was doen out of frustration. AS ironic as it may sound, the ETA is probably going through one of its worst moments. They didn't usually do this kind of thing. THey knew who they were killing; they targeted people,, had them followed... Today the target was creating a massacre, nothing more. And that's the saddest`part.

Theirs is a fight which has become more and more unjustified with the pasing of time. They're not oppressed anymore, the can speak their language, practice their traditions... BUt it seems they never have enough, And what's worst, most of the Basque people do not agree with the separaion of the area from the rest of the country, but many are too scareed to speak their minds openly.

I've been checking some names; couldn't recognize any. There was one which seemed a little familiar... It could be the dad of a friend... But I can't tell yet. At least he's only on hte wounded list. Dont' knwo the names of any of the dead people, so...

Carole., if you want to check out names, there's a page with a list of those people who've been carried to the different hopitals the capital has:

www.mir.es (and you'll find a square on top of the page reading Victimas del atentado. I think is red)

Cris

I forgot to say that you probably needn't worry. If it helps, it happened on trains coming from the east side of Madrid adn heading towards the capital. If your friends live in Madrid, is more unlikely that they'll have been hurt.

Cris

Cris and Jose,

I saw this on the news this morning and I was absolutely horrified. I can't even put my feelings into words. I am glad the two of you are all right, and I hope everyone you know is all right, too. My thoughts are with you!

- Laura

Cris, I'm so sorry for the tragedy in your country. I mourn the deaths of your compatriots as well as those all over the world who die everyday because of the actions of a few who believe they have the right to kill and maim in the name of some particular ideology.

John Donne said, "Each man's death diminishes me because I am involved in mankind." It's true. We are all dehumanized a little more by every episode of killing. I hope for the day when we will no longer slauighter each other under the pretext of imposing our beliefs and ideals on others.

Jude

Cris, what an eloquent post, and how restrained you were in your anger and sorrow. I heard something about this earlier today, but at that stage the number of lives lost wasn't clear. This is, as others have said too, so very sad and also so frustrating: what on earth do they hope to achieve?!

I feel for everyone mourning friends and family as a result of this outrage.


Wendy

My thoughts are with all of you as well. The words fail me at the moment.

Thanks everyone for your nice words.

Well, we're over the 190 deaths already... It just keeps getting worse, and mroe confusing. It seems Al-Qaeda sent a letter to a Arab newspaper in the UK, claiming the attack as theirs, Operation Against the trains, or something like that.

The government here doesn't know whether to believe it or not; they're investigating because there have been other similar letters in that paper before, some which turned out to be fake...

Gosh, it's all so weird. FOrtunately, after checking the lists available, it seems there was no one I knew. Though I know there are many people really suffering now, I can't help but feel relieved.

Again thanks everyone for your words and your sympathy.

Cris

I saw that in the news today It's horrible.
Glad you're okay, guys.
AnnaBtG.

Horrible.

I'm glad the two of you are okay.

I can't help but mention how in Israel the situation is pretty similar - except for the fact that the Palestinian terrorist groups don't target their bombs at soldiers, etc - they just kill civilians. There were times when I'd come home, when I lived there, and hear about an explosion in some commercial centre, or on public transit. I actually know a guy whose older sister died this way when he was six years old. Really horrible.

Fortunately my hometown hasn't experienced anything like that yet, but they did find a bomb once - they just disarmed it on time. So I'm always worried about my family that still lives there, and I'm always sending my prayers to anyone living in a threatened zone like that.

*hugs and lots of support*

I hope this kind of thing will never happen anywhere anymore. To say something like that might seem unrealistic, but eventually we could achieve it.

Julie

Hi,

I saw the new this morning. I'm sorry for all the life lost.

I just read this.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tm.../20040311/ap_on_re_eu/spain_tape_found_9

This bring at my memory the day a was watching TV and saw the twin tower being impact. That feeling of being unable to do something. Its mark you inside.

MAF

I saw speculation earlier (http://www.upi.com/view.cfm?StoryID=20040311-112725-1601r) that this might be an Al Qaida attack (however the heck you spell that!), because it doesn't match the MO of the local terrorists. And it'd be just like Al Q to want to kill as many people as possible, regardless of who they are

Maria, I know; I'm having September 11th flashbacks and trying not to cry. And is it just a coincidence that today is March 11th -- six months away from September... I hope so, but I do wonder.

Cris & Jose and any Spanish lurkers... There's an old saying "when you laugh, the world laughs with you; when you cry, you cry alone" but in this case it's not true. Everyone here is crying with you.

PJ

Cris and Jose -- I am so glad you are not hurt. When such a thing happens in your own home, it is like a physical pain.

Nosotros en Nueva York sentimos su dolor y nuestros corazones estan con ustedes.

(I hope I said that right)