This note published by Guardian Unlimited is proof that fascists have strong allergic reactions caused by history and art.
This article describes the most recent display of hypocrisy and stupidity by the Spanish extreme right:
You see, the problem starts with the two organizations mentioned in the article as the chief complainers over the photographic display; the Partido Popular (PP) and its front group disguised as an NGO called Asociación Víctimas del Terrorismo (AVT). The PP is the direct heir to Francisco Franco's regime so they are closely linked to all the crimes committed by the Francoist during their reign of terror that lasted 40 years. In fact, it was Franco's violence what spawned ETA. You do not see the PP nor the AVT demanding that all the monuments that honor Francisco Franco and his minions be removed at once, so why are they so upset about some of the pictures in a photojournalism display?
Which brings us to the core of this post. The extreme right in Spain hates history and hates art. You can not issue threats against a museum's director just because you do not agree with the content of two pictures in the body or work of a photojournalists. Photojournalism is supposed to capture reality with complete disregard for what the sides think or feel regarding any given picture, just like history where the hard facts are written in black and white.
But that is the quid of the question, the Spanish ultra-nationalism dictates that history has to be reshaped in order to make the Spaniards look good and the Basques (and Catalonians, Galizans and Guanches for that matter) look bad.
So, the members of the PP and the AVT (they are the same actually) go after a picture that depicts a Basque funeral and they start tearing their robes saying that it offends them. Well, how about The Guernica? Does that painting offends them too? Their ideology is one and the same with those who ordered and conducted the bombing of civilians in Durango and Gernika were hundreds of Basques were murdered in behalf of the One Spain Under God.
Or what is it, our dead ones do not count, our sensibilities do not count, our pain and suffering do not count?
How many Basque victims of Spanish nationalism before news outlets start counting us like they do with the 800 paragraph?
I second Mr. Vidarte this is sad, although, knowing well how idiotic the members of the extreme right in Spain are, I am hardly surprised.
This article describes the most recent display of hypocrisy and stupidity by the Spanish extreme right:
Exhibition of Eta photos angers victims' families
Paul Hamilos in Madrid
Friday October 19, 2007
The Guardian
Photographs depicting the Eta conflict in Spain's northern Basque region that have gone on display at the Guggenheim museum in Bilbao have caused outrage among victims' families, leading to calls for them to be withdrawn.
The black-and-white images by photojournalist Clemente Bernad, entitled Basque Chronicles, have stirred up strong feelings, with the Association of Victims of Terrorism in the Basque Country and the conservative opposition People's party (PP) demanding their withdrawal.
Among the photographs is one of a man crying over the coffin of an Eta member at his funeral. The association, whose members include relatives of many of the 800 people killed in four decades of violent struggle for Basque independence, described the photographs as "highly offensive to the victims of terrorism".
The PP proposed a motion in the regional Basque parliament calling for the pictures to be removed, saying they were an "apology for terrorism". The picture captions, which describe scenes of protests as being carried out by "Eta militants" or "militant supporters of independence" rather than "terrorists", have also been criticised.
The director of the museum, Juan Ignacio Vidarte, expressed his "surprise and sadness" at the reaction, saying that he had no intention of withdrawing them unless ordered to do so by a judge. He said Bernad had contacted the families of all those who appeared in the photographs to ask for their approval.
The outcry has overshadowed what was meant to be a celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Guggenheim. The museum is credited with helping to revitalise the industrial city of Bilbao and the photographs were part of a series, To Each Their Own, celebrating contemporary Basque art.
You see, the problem starts with the two organizations mentioned in the article as the chief complainers over the photographic display; the Partido Popular (PP) and its front group disguised as an NGO called Asociación Víctimas del Terrorismo (AVT). The PP is the direct heir to Francisco Franco's regime so they are closely linked to all the crimes committed by the Francoist during their reign of terror that lasted 40 years. In fact, it was Franco's violence what spawned ETA. You do not see the PP nor the AVT demanding that all the monuments that honor Francisco Franco and his minions be removed at once, so why are they so upset about some of the pictures in a photojournalism display?
Which brings us to the core of this post. The extreme right in Spain hates history and hates art. You can not issue threats against a museum's director just because you do not agree with the content of two pictures in the body or work of a photojournalists. Photojournalism is supposed to capture reality with complete disregard for what the sides think or feel regarding any given picture, just like history where the hard facts are written in black and white.
But that is the quid of the question, the Spanish ultra-nationalism dictates that history has to be reshaped in order to make the Spaniards look good and the Basques (and Catalonians, Galizans and Guanches for that matter) look bad.
So, the members of the PP and the AVT (they are the same actually) go after a picture that depicts a Basque funeral and they start tearing their robes saying that it offends them. Well, how about The Guernica? Does that painting offends them too? Their ideology is one and the same with those who ordered and conducted the bombing of civilians in Durango and Gernika were hundreds of Basques were murdered in behalf of the One Spain Under God.
Or what is it, our dead ones do not count, our sensibilities do not count, our pain and suffering do not count?
How many Basque victims of Spanish nationalism before news outlets start counting us like they do with the 800 paragraph?
I second Mr. Vidarte this is sad, although, knowing well how idiotic the members of the extreme right in Spain are, I am hardly surprised.
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