"The vigils succeeded in galvanising a high turnout as a rebuff to the attack on democracy. But in other ways the election showed that terror did indeed succeed in de-politicising the election. The predominant attitude expressed was one that wants to shelter from a violent world."
I don't know...given the many alternatives: hard swing to the right, repression of Arab citizens, etc., the results of the Spanish election: a significant gain for the socialists in parliament, vocal opposition and criticism of the govt by millions of people on the streets seems like a good thing. Is anything short of total revolution, bad?
The effect of 9/11 in the u.s. was far more bigoted and headed in the opposite direction. Why should one not want shelter from a violent world? Why is pacifism never considered a radical enough solution? What is Spain supposed to do? Declare war on the U.S.?
Joanna