Spain's opinion on war

Yesterday, I spoke with friends in Granada that I have known for nearly 10 years. I called to finalize the details of my upcoming trip. I'm thrilled that my husband wanted to go there in the first place since it is our honeymoon and the man did not have much success with Spanish in high school or college. In fact, he has openly stated his dislike for the language. Frustration, perhaps? He is SO looking forward to the trip as much as I. I think I might have converted him after looking at countless pictures of my trips and seeing my glow when I talk on the phone, get email, or hear and/or mention anything about the Spain. Well, it's his opportunity to meet the people that have become an important piece of my life and the reason why I love Spain. Basically, It is important to him to finally understand my love firsthand

Getting to the point, ... my phone conversation yesterday shook me up. It really caused me to think. My friend recommended that I be extremely careful. He stated that Americans are not overly welcome or liked by some Spaniards because of Spain's decision to support the US in a war effort with Iraq. He suggested that I attempt to fit in as much as possible with the crowd and to remain quiet if someone asked about my nationality or feelings on war. I've never have a problem. why now? I understand that people regardless of location or nationality are going to have different opinions on what should happen. Anybody care to discuss? I think I might feel better if somebody has something to say. HELP!!

I am also very curious to hear from people in Spain, either Spaniards or Americans, on this topic. Other (travel or not) message boards I have been reading, this topic has been coming up a lot.

I am planning a summer trip to Spain (Madrid, Gijón, and places in-between). By then we may very well be at war and besides that stress, I don't really want the stress of feeling even more like an outsider. I will be spending most of the time with my madrileño boyfriend, but he can't be there to "hold my hand" all of the time. Honestly, I am not THAT worried about any backlash, nor am I afraid of being mugged or pickpocketed (I live in San Francisco after all, where crime problems exist probably even more but I'm not affected by them), but I am curious...

Granada94,

Do not worry .
I have to disagree with your friend's comment. Think about it, it just doesn't make sense. Why would a Spaniard have that type of prejudice towards someone born in the United States?, here the vast majority of the citizenship holds strong feelings against the war on Iraq (or so say all the polls), but sadly, OUR government is adamantly standing beside (or behind rather ) Mr. Bush and supporting the possible attacks. So, to assume that ANY American individual one may encounter is as eager to start the war as the US president seems to be, when it's clear that that's about the opposite situation we're experiencing in Spain these days would be a little silly.
(I hope to have made myself understood)

I fully agree with Pim, we don't eat americans for dinner (usually)

The polls say that 75% of the population is against war (obviusly in grades of opposition, from staunch opposition to conditional). One thing is international policy, in which people can discuss very heatly, and other to have hate for normal people (tourists in this case).

While I have heard bad words against Bush (and Aznar for supporting him) I think that is highly improbable for an american to have any problem in Spain motivated by the likely war. But be prepared because people will try to know what you think about it

Fernando

You won't have any problems at all. OK, perhaps you'll invite lively (but never aggressive) discussion in bars if you go around brandishing a US flag and singing God Bless America a la Celine Dion.
Most Europeans are against the upcoming war, but are at the same time ambiguous. Nobody likes Saddam, and everyone would be happy to see the monster go. It's just that we're not clear that an all out onslaught, employing the military might of the West, without exhausting other channels, is the best thing to do.
We're also deeply distrustful, as are most Americans I think, about Bush's motives and the terrorist-Iraqui link.
Having said that, you'll find you have more common ground with us than you might think:
eg. We all dislike Saddam
We'd all like to see the end of him
None of us wants to see innocent civilians, or even poor Iraqui conscripts killed as in Bush Sr's Gulf War.
Differences of opinion will be based mainly on what to do about it, and no matter what your opinion, people will respect you for arguing it coherently.
PS. If you do get into a lively debate, be aware of one cultural difference. Spanish people can be quite unruly when it comes to arguing! They'll shout over one another and at you. Don't interpret this as aggression! They get like that discussing paella too.
So, don't worry at all and enjoy yourself. And keep your fingers crossed that Saddam's nerve will fail and he'll go running into exile, thus avoiding the war.

Hi Granada94! Well having been studying here in Granada for close to a month now, I think I can shed some light on this. First of all, like everyone else said, I really dont think you will experience too many problems, certainly not anything that will hurt the spain experience! I have dark hair, and eyes, and most of the time can blend in pretty easily.

However, our international programs director has told us recently that we should not tell anyone we are americans (if asked), speak english on the streets (silly anyways since Im here to learn spanish!), etc.. So far I have not had anything but a couple nasty comments from random people on the streets (easily ignored though!), and a couple heated, yet still friendly conversations with a couple locals, including my host family! My experience has been that most locals are against the war (as am I), and will be very eager to discuss it with you if you are willing...

Good Luck!! I would not be too concerned with this at all. My time in spain has been nothing but wonderful. Most of the time, when people find out Im an international student from the usa (as hard as I try to hide it!!), it is met with simply a warm welcome. Gotta love spain!

Oh please-

Don´t be afraid at all to tell people you´re american. I agree completely with the "celine dion" comment. Most likely no one will care and if they bring up Iraq at all it will just be to ask your opinion. However, if you are for war, it´s probably not a good idea to say so unless you have some pretty convincing arguments. In any event, most likely no one will lynch you. I´ve been in Pamplona for the past 5 months and the consensus among the navarros has pretty much been "Jorge Arbusto es un gilipollas pero Aznar se la chupa." Hope you and your husband have a fantastic vacation and if you feel like coming up north don´t pay any attention to people who tell you you´ll be blown up by basque nationalists...

em

I've spent extended periods in Spain studying as both an undergrad and graduate student. Vacationing in Spain continues and will do so. I've NEVER had a problem. I've had my share of heated debates about politics and the way of life in the states. The discussions were certainly not ones that I initiated. I've never had a problem defending my view or listening to others even if shouting was the only way to be heard. I can't say that I was ever advised to keep quiet about being American. I'm proud and my friends (yes Spaniards) have never made a big deal out of my place of birth. In fact, their parents always refer to me as "hija americana". My last experience was while the Elian Gonzalez issue between the US and Cuba was occuring. WOW!! Talk about a heated issue.

Whoops.. sent that the previous without finishing in error. I have to thank Barry for a job well done! I guess it's all the important ones that make decisions in the world but don't consider the little people such as you or I that have to live with the consequences. Kelar-- be proud! I don't see a reason to hide your nationality. I would just be careful about sharing your opinion openly. In fact, I plan to stay clear of the discussion. I can't see my husband enjoying a "chat" on this topic when he does not know a word of Spanish. I can just imagine attempting to explain the sudden volume increase! jijiji. Thanks for your support!

In the "Non-Spain discussion" you will find a quite thriving debate about the war, where Americans and Spaniards have discussed a lot. You will "get the temperature" of our opinions on the matter, I think. Anyway, I would hate if anyone labelled me for being a citizen from the country where Asnar rules. That is plainly silly. Don`t worry at all about coming here!

I have to say that this is my third time in spain. I have never seen so much antiamerican sentiment. By the way I don't think that every country has to agree with the united states, But many europeans have no solutions to this conflict other than wait and see. I don't like Bush. When he got into office I pedicted that he would send our country to war. I returned from barcelona a week ago. I was there for a month. My friend approached four different girls that he liked in night clubs and they said flat out that they did not like americans. Some of the door men at the clubs would not let some of my friends into some clubs. We heard them say they are americans don't let them in. Everyone here thinks that all americans elected bush. They don't understand that not everyone in the U.S. is not for the war. For the most part no one will bother you. Get used to anti american graffiti though.

A good response for the current crisis would be: withdraw all the allied troops that are currently in the Middle East, stop the bombings (which never ceased since 1991) over Irak, and lift the blockade. And, if you really fear massive destruction weapons, then prompt a world conference on the issue, where dissarment can be reached all over the world in the same time...not in the country that the Pentagon chooses as a member of the Axis of evil.
I think it is regretable that any American individual can feel any kind of harassment due to the rogues that dwell the White house.

The war with IRAQ is a very difficult situation.
First of all, I have no doubt that Saddam Hussein is the Devil himself. He has killed his own people (Kurds), mistreated and killed people from his own cabinet and party whom he suspected were betraying him. Used biological weapons against IRAN during that war, invaded Kuwait and killed many people in that Government. Has launched Scud missles against Israel, and the list goes on and on. Again there is no doubt, that this dictador/criminal has to be revomed. No head of state who has killed innocent people should rule a nation.
Please understand that the majority of the citizens of Iraq, hate Saddam. They just do not have a say, because they get incarcerated or killed. They live under fear and torture.
The million dollar question is at WHAT COST ARE WE TO REMOVE SADDAM HUSSEIN FROM POWER??
Most people believe Bush is crazy for going to war again with IRAQ. I am not in favor of Bush, as a matter of fact I voted for AL GORE.
But what are we to do? Saddam is a menace to the world, specially that region of the middle east.
I personally believe that the US is in no danger of being attacked now or in the near future from Saddam. I think BUSH is out there to finish what his dad and other US presidents did not complete.
That is to remove once in for all Hussein.
Bush and his cabinet are paranoid that Saddam will attack US interests in one way or another.
Going to war with IRAQ is very, very dangerous. Why, because if we attack IRAQ and the world see's on CNN, Fox News that innocent people specially children are being killed by American bombs, not only will the world turn against us, but groups like Hammas, AL Queda and other terrorist groups can attack the US via suicidal terrorists. This war can back-fire, and that is my biggest fear.
- On the other hand we can remove Saddam and place a Democratic government, free elections and open up the embargo against IRAQ and it can florish.

- If we do not do anything, status quo, we take our chances, but the people of Iraq are the ones that will suffer for many years to come. We take the risk that in some way or other Saddam will use weapons of mass destruction against the US.

- So, we can unfortunetely lose some innocent lives now, so that a whole country can live in harmony or we can do nothing and let this ASSASSIN torture IRAQ and terrorize the world.

Spaniards have to understand that because we are the strongest country in the world, we have some obligation or duty to enforce the law of human rights among the nations and to remove dictadors from power like Saddam Hussein.
Think for a minute, what would you do if you were the President of the United States of America. The country that has the most powerful military in the history of human civilization.

TexMex
The following may sound strange to European ears, but the fact is, I think you are right: the US have earned the right to lead the world, just because they are the most powerful country. It is a fact, when Europe ruled the world, didn`t behave in a much fair way to the peoples of Africa and Asia controlled by our colonial empires.
The question is, what is the US doing with all the power that they have earned? Certainly not promoting peace. "Preentive strike" means nothing: in International law it has a much more specific name, that is "agression".
The inminent "war" can hardly be called that way: it is going to be a massacre.
If your computer can read pdf files, see http://www.internationalanswer.org/pdf/iraqfactsheet.pdf
By the way, I have just been sent an interesting link about the history of massive bombings:
http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=40&ItemID=3003

One more thing
Saddam is an evil man, a dictator. That is all; devil does not exist. He is not much worse than all the other leaders of the area, Ariel Sharon to begin with. Hussein of Jordania (he died peacefully and now his son reigns), who was a good friend of Western countries, unfolded bloody massacres against Palestinian refugees. The Saudi royal family is NOW running one of the bloodiest dictatorships in the world, a state where Christians get whipped and imprisoned, and you get beheaded if you publicly deny that God exists. Egypt is not much better, nor Pakistan (in Pakistan they don`t imprison rapists, they imprison VICTIMS OF RAPE). And so on and on...if we really tried to quit all the evil dictators of the world, we would get involved in WWIII

Great opinions...please continue this discussion at War on Iraq is Pointless , as this has turned from the initial direction of the post.

Sincerely,
CaliBasco, Wannabe Administrator ;P