From Ignacio de Loyola to ETA: why does everything turn ideological in Spain?
By João Lopes Marques ( Eesti keel ) From King Midas we used to say everything he touched turn gold. About Spain we could use a small variation: whatever Spain touches becomes ideological. Well, I may assume this is not my definition. I heard it first time last month, voiced out by my good Spanish friend Benjamin. After reflecting a couple of minutes, I agreed. Totally. This is one of the reasons why this kingdom raises so much love-and-hate feelings. Everything there is polarized: just look at the Spanish Civil War. Why am I writing about Spain (being myself a Portuguese living in Estonia)? For several reasons. Among others, because my grandfather Joaquim played a military role in it: very young he decided to join right-wing Franco’s army to defeat The Reds (Republicans). Once again, the polarization that made a young Portuguese teenager join an ideological war; the American author Ernest Hemingway did the same in the other side of the trenches. More importantly, one of the most ...