First, thanks for posting Cali. I know that many other forgeiners are not posting because they fear to side the wrong side, or to give their opinions. Also, there are spaniards who don't post because they fear ETA and what they could do to them.

I'm not going to reply here to Ignacio, of who I think is a liar from the begining to the end. Really nasty, it made me sick what I have seen here. I will post in the Safety and Security section

Now, CaliBasco, I will certainly reply to you and share my point of view with you (in english, because this section must be conducted in english according to MadridMan's rules ).

"I neither defend nor oppose ETA's thoughts."

I oppose ETA with all my soul. It is NOT a separatist group, it is just a terrorist band, and as such, it has to be judged by the spanish justice.

"I do, however, understand why they do what they do."

I don't. I'm 23 years-old, so Franco was death when I was born. I've never feel lack of freedom. I've been in the Basque Country, have friends (some of them nationalists) which are basque and, though I can understand any point of view in regard of the relationship of the Basque Country with the rest of Spain (a region, an autonomous region, a federal state or even an independent country, why not) I will never understand why they (15-20% of the basques) try to impose their beliefs to the rest of their fellows and the rest of the spaniards. They have the posibility and the mecanisms to defend the same way of thinking by pacifist means, as there are other political parties which do so.

"As mentioned on the other thread, Franco created ETA."

Would I be more acceptable if I say that Franco was a disastrous dictatorship? Yes, that's what I believe. But, Franco didn't create ETA, ETA was created by some intelectuals who thought that the dictatorship had to end.

Do you know that some of the ones who founded ETA are now menaced and killed for opposing ETA? ETA has killed the same intelectuals which founded it. Why? Because ETA is not what ETA was. It has no longer any reason for existing.

"...the victory of "Spain" became the derrota of the Basques, the Catalanes, etc."

Which basques and catalonians? The 20% who supports ETA or the 80% who doesnt?

"If you're of any advanced age, you'll remember not being allowed to talk about your TRUE feelings for Spain's government under Franco."

Ok, I'm 23 years-old and now I can say whatever I want of my government. Without restrictions.

"Ikastolas were shut down, and only castellano was permitted."

Ok, now there are dozens of ikastolas available in the Basque Country, and the situation has reverse to a point where it is impossible to learn only in castellano (spanish) in the Basque Country. One reason less for ETA to exist.

Yes, you are right that Franco created the situation for ETA to form. But that situation no longer exists, and ETA continues to kill people, normall people, not Franco's people.

"1) ... The language, look, BIOLOGY (check a Basque's blood type sometime...) and customs are uniquely Basque."

The Basque Country has never been an independent country, it has always depended of the kingdom of Navarra.

The language? Which one? The actual euskera is a mix based upon a dialect called "batua". If you know the Basque Country you will find that it has a lot of valleys, in each of them a different dialect was developed. The nationalists created a unified language by mixing up those dialects and imposed it to all the basques, thus destroying the richness of a language, just for having a unified language to present for their independentism project.

Biology? So you think the basques are a race appart? Maybe the arian race? It is just a nazi argument created by them to show how different they are of the rest of us.

Customs: Ok, the basques are a unique culture, noone discuss it. But they are as different from the people of Madrid than catalonians. Catalonia defends its independentism by pacifist ways instead.

"2) Those who would seek the cooperation of the Basques throughout history have known full well that the way to a Basque's heart is by respecting his culture, laws and customs, NOT by repressing them. The monarchs of the past would come to Gernika and swear allegiance under the Gernikako Arbola to uphold the ancient Basque fueros. In return, the Spanish monarch would receive the oath of allegiance from the Basque leader. Franco was a fool, and now the families of countless individuals suffer."

Yes Franco was a fool, but we can't court him now, so who is responsible of all the killings? Whoever kills! And beware: The Basque Country had its fueros (specific laws and rights) fully reestablished when the democracy came.

"To close, I agree with others here that although you do not agree with EH's views, you do purport to live in a democracy. If that is the form of government you wish to have, then you must allow ALL people the opportunity to be represented. Squashing freedom of expression and speech just because you don't agree would place you in the same category as Franco and his facha henchmen."

I fully agree with you but, apart of what you have heard from very interested mouths, do you know why is EH (the only party who supports ETA) prosecuted and courted by the justice? First, it was not the party which was courted, they were its bosses. Why? Because they dare to show an ETA video propaganda in the space they had reserved to express theyselves in the elections. That's how ETA and its followers laugh at us democrats!!!!!!!