Hey guys

I'm doing a presentation to several high school classes next week, and a topic I feel I am required to speak about is M-11. The events of that day really struck me hard..much harder than 9/11 due to the fact that I came very close to losing close friends and that I used to live very close to Atocha. I haven't really had anyone to talk to about all the events, and I suppose there are many emotions still trapped inside. When talking to a former teacher about the events the other day, I came very close to breaking down. I was wondering if anyone had confronted a similar situation, where they were forced to speak pubically to an audience about M-11. Let's face it..these teens are either unaware of the events, or viewed the attacks as "another bombing somewhere in the world," so their questions are going to be somewhat unforgiving just because they aren't going to know how to approach this subject delicately. I have no problem speaking in front of groups other than this issue. So, if anyone has any suggestions on how to approach this topic, and things that would help me keep my composure, I would really appreciate it. Also, if you have any idea of how to introduce the subject matter, it would be helpful. I'm doing a video/slide show type presentation, and I obviously don't want to show pictures of the attacks.

Why don't you want to show photos of the attacks? You say the students will react to it as "another bombing somewhere" and the photos really drive home just what it is you are talking about. They used to show photos and videos of car wrecks in Driver's Ed, I don't know if they still do, but it does make the point. Otherwise it is just an abstract "it happened over there" kind of thing.

I have been contemplating doing a MFA or PhD thesis exhibition on the subject as a way of spreading the word and also as a kind of self-therapy. The paper the other day said something like 60% or 80% of Madridellanos have some kind of psychological repercussion from the attacks.

I suppose I don't want to show photos because I find them very distrubing and difficult to look at. However, you do make a very good point about how they drive home the subject matter.

I'm not suprised to hear that so many people still have pyschological consequences of the events. They are saying the same thing about people in NY, so I don't see why Madrid would be any different.

I believe they show you the fotos/videos with gruesome detail in driver's ed to make you aware of what happens if you are not safe behind the wheel, or to see what could happen if you drink and drive, or what happens if you have an accident but are not wearing a seatbelt. These videos/fotos are shown to hopefully prevent similar accidents with the students. Yes, they do help make a point and let the students know of what could happen in certain instances. I am sure that fotos/videos of M-11 would also make a point. But it is more of a psychological or emotional point as opposed to an educational point. I don't know if I'm expressing myself how I'd like to....I'm not saying show it, and I'm not saying don't show it. I guess I'm saying think about why you want to show it, and ask yourself if it is in their best interest. Just my humble opinion, I'm sure some will disagree.

I have been going back and forth over whether or not to show some of the photos published in the media, and I have considered whether or not it is in the best interest of the students to show the photos. I turned the situation around a bit, and asked myself if I would show pictures of the WTC on 9/11 to high school students in Spain, and I would have to say no. However, I would show them pictures of memorials people set up in NY, or pictures of people greiving. The difference in the two is that one shows fear and something virtually unimaginable, while the second rings more personal and close to the heart. So by doing this, I have come up with some ideas of how to approach the subject visually. (thanks mencey) But, I'm still plagued by my emotional state. To make this real to the students, I have to talk about how I was affected personally...and its really not what I have to say, but how I feel when I'm saying it..the chills, naseua, tears... I guess I need suggestions as to how to not lose it in front of a crowd. For example, what do they say to journalists when they have to report a tragic event that hits home for them? I'm searching for the keys to composure.

Super Lau:
I think that if you want to tap into the social conscience of young people or even just get their attention, it’s important to engage their emotions. Plus, the brain remembers best those things that evoke emotion. Don't be afraid of your emotions. I wouldn’t go overboard with the pictures, but our teenagers need to know that war, terrorism, and death are not clean and clinical.

I was in Spain a couple of days after the bombings with a few of my students, and probably one of the most impactful things for them was reading the papers with the human interest stories about the victims, like the child in day care whose parents never showed up to pick her up because they died in the attack or the young woman who died after she had just gone to get fitted for her wedding dress,etc. That sort of drama is something that they identify with. I would absolutely recommend newspapers and magazines for your presentation. That really engages them, plus as an added benefit, there is a wealth of other cultural information that can be gleaned from the images in these sources, whether it be about the clothes that young Spanish people wear or a picture of the king and queen, etc.

Also, I think that it’s important not to put too much political spin in the presentation, because, in my opinion, they have already had a bellyful of spin about the “cowardly Spain” that turned tail and voted socialist when the chips were down. In reality, things are infinitely more complex than that, but that is the essence of the information that most of them garnered from news reports here in the U.S.

Buena suerte con tu proyecto.

I think that if you show your emotions, as far as speaking to the students is concerned, it is ok. In fact it is probably better than ok. As long as you are able to communicate with them, they will be understanding. If you cry uncontrollably, and can not communicate with them because you can hardly breathe, let alone speak, then there is an obvious communication problem. I think showing your emotions will impact them more than graphic photos, personally. I'm sure you'll do fine.

super lau, don't think your tendency to get emotional and lose your composure is necessarily bad.
From the moment I hear but the attacks until one day at the beginning of July I was totally incapable to shed a tear over anything I saw, heard, felt…. anything AT ALL, no matter how hard I tried t force it, even. And I'm usually quite "llorona'….

I'd definitely show the pictures, have you seen them? No images we saw on the press ever really came close to show the actual carnage that went on; the people decapitated, burnt, the MANY bodies separated from their legs and feet; besides, these horrible acts don't “deserve” that we cover them up with “make up”.

Hey!

I am new to this site but it is awesome. As a person who was in Madrid during the attacks the thing that touched me most was the HUGE manifestation in La Plaza de Colon the day after. THe pictures of 2 million people lining the streets was amazing. I have never seen anything like that in my life. Also pictures of the candles lining Atocha and La Puerta del Sol as well. I would recommend showing the support of the people in the attacks as we did the same during 911.

Hi

Yes, I am most definitely going to put in pics of Plaza Colon and the protests. I am planning on bringing in a map of Madrid, and show the students on the map where the protests extented from. I think it will help show how many people were in the streets and how great an area was overcome with people. I am very limited on news sources unfortunately, because I was here in the states on M-11. All I have is a Newsweek w/ the attacks as the cover story. It is pretty violent, so I think I will let the students make the decision to look through the pages or not. I've also looked on the net, and I can get pics that were published in Hola! and ABC.. I'm still sorting through which I want to use and which I don't. It may come down to a matter of time in a couple of classes. Also, I'm glad to know that I have support on the emotional aspect...and I will be telling personal stories to help make the event more relevant. Thanks for all the responses, and I'll be sure to post and let everyone know how the presentations turned out and how the students reacted.

Lau