Terrorist Attack in Spain - 03/11/04 09:19 AM
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
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