Ghosts of Spain: Chapter 1- Secretos a Voces
The title is so significant because it conveys precisely what is happening in Spain in regards to the civil war. It is like the elephant in the room that everyone sees, but no one addresses. The extent to which Spain buries their past is immense. I think it is doing the death of thousands citizens a dishonor, to disregard the past and the conflict between Communist and Socialist ideals that caused the events that would follow in the World War. It is a dishonor to not teach future generations about it either, while the history is unclear and subject to interpretation it should still be taught. I was so clueless about the details of the Spanish Civil War and this chapter was none the less enlightening and disheartening. I think part of the reason they don't bring up the Spanish Civil War is because of the fear that the continuous division will threaten national unity.
What is lost when you bury history to avoid pain; isn't it necessary to address it and feel the pain, in order move forward? What emotional toll does merely "forgetting" have on Spanish citizens?
Immigration and Welfare State in Spain
The increasing number of immigration flowing into Spain that has caused the need for change in the welfare system, clearly relates to the immigration disputes in the United States. Even though often the immigrants have a higher education, they are often delegated to low paying labor-intensive jobs that native Spaniards don't or wouldn't do. I found it interesting the way Spain allocates their funds, spending above average on retirement, and little on housing and family. I was surprised how fast the immigration population grew in Spain, and would be interested to learn how that compares to Germany and other European countries. It was interesting, but not surprising that the attitude towards immigrants shifted from positive/neutral to negative following the economic crisis.
I would be interested to learn how immigrant in Spain are treated. How do immigrants contribute to unemployment rate?
I think that the article discussing Immigration and the Welfare State in Spain would another interesting research topic. From my brief knowledge of the EU, immigration is a very controversial topic, mostly because of their relationship to economic pressure. However, I am also interested in the question you posed above about how immigrants contribute to the unemployment rate. I wonder if their influence is as controversial as it seems, or if they are becoming a scapegoat form the Spanish government with regards to their economy?
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