But what struck me most about this situation with ETA is that it has stirred up a lot of "anti-nationalist" sentiment. I use "anti-nationalist" in quotes because it is really more in opposition to Basque or Catalonian nationalism, or anything that does not adhere to mainstream Spanish "Castilian" culture. The extent of this anti-minority, pro-Castilian feeling seems to be escalating, much like isolationism and nativist sentiment have been awoken by the recent debates in the U.S. over the Dubai port deal and immigration from Latin America.

I was a bit unsettled by the emergence in Spain of this nativist sentiment. One of the host brothers from our program, Danny, said that after the March 11 attacks by Al-Qaeda, there was a resurgence of anti-Basque sentiment, due in part to the fact that the government kept insisting (despite evidence to the contrary) that ETA was behind the attacks. Danny said that he heard some people start shouting anti-Catalonian slogans, even though there was no logical link between the Catalonians (who have been very peaceful in their quest for independence) and the Basques, let alone between the Basques and the train bombings. It apparently didn't matter to those people: they voiced their hate for the Basques and decided that, while they were at it, they could also voice hate and make violent threats against other non-Castilian groups. And this is why I think the re-emergence of this form of nationalism is so unsettling.

Anyone who studies Spain's history knows that for many years, Spain was ruled by Francisco Franco, a dictator who tried to form a unified, fascist Spain where non-Castilian national identities were almost completely eliminated. Spain's political and economic position from the end of the Spanish Civil War in the late 1930s to the 1950s, when the borders and markets were opened to foreigners, also exacerbated the situation, resulting in a very homogenous culture. These elements have contributed to a strong pro-Castilian nationalism, but hostility towards Basque, Catalonian or Galician nationalism. It also carries over in other ways: for example, there is a lot of prejudice against Moroccans or North Africans due in part to Spain's history under Muslim and North African rule and to the desire of some people to ignore Spain's African roots in order to establish a "European" Spain that is largely Castilian and Roman Catholic, and nothing more. This has been exacerbated in recent years by increased immigration from North Africa and tensions between native Spaniards and those immigrants.

Not all Spaniards share these sentiments, just as not all Americans express anti-immigrant feelings. But I think that both societies still have much progress to make in the way that they deal with minorities. One of my classmates lent me a very interesting book on race in America, entitled "Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?" It was very informative and hit the nail on the head regarding some of the issues we talk about (or don't talk about) concerning prejudicial attitudes in America. Reading that book, seeing the immigration debates in the U.S. on TV and the Internet, and hearing and seeing the Castilian "purists" in the news certainly started me thinking about the rhetoric we use towards minority groups, whether they be racial, religious, ethnic or defined by some other social construct.

These issues have also caused me to think about one of my friends. An Asian-American studying abroad in Spain, she is enjoying herself, but is shocked at the often prejudicial attitudes or comments she will receive from ordinary Spaniards on the street. She is Korean, and is tired of being referred to as "china" (pronounced "CHEE-na") or Chinese. I will grant you that there are very few Asians in Spain, especially when compared to other countries, and some of these comments or gestures (such as slanting their eyes) may just be ignorance due to a lack of exposure. The people doing this may not even know or understand how hurtful their attitudes can be. My friend, though offended, is open-minded and tries to understand the social context in which most Spaniards are operating. And, as I mentioned before, there are others who do not make the comments or gestures who just treat people as people.

Regardless, I do think some discussion of these issues is warranted. In fact, by comparing the social situations in Spain, or the United States, or in any other country, we may even be able to single out what certain countries or cultures do things better, and where they fall short. Either way, it would be a lot more constructive then playing the "blame and stereotype" game that usually occurs when such issues are discussed. It also keeps us grounded in reality: as much as we might not want to admit it, we (as in human beings) still have much to learn in the way of tolerance. This can be applied to any social construct, whether racial, ethnic, religious, or even in terms of lifestyle or others' political affiliations (for example, a liberal being open-minded towards a conservative's ideas or beliefs).

But life does move on, and not all is bleak or hopeless. My friend and I are enjoying our time in Spain, we are taking the good with the bad and are looking forward to more exciting adventures and experiences.
Until I write again: hasta luego.