> The "Spain" of 21st century cannot be
> considered the "Spain" of 1492-1900.
Try telling the King that. He would probably say "shut up", as he did to Hugo a year or two back.
It seems to be very hard for a nation to get over having once been Top Country. France and Britain and Spain all in their own ways retain an imperial mentality, even though their empires are long gone. Spain has been more successful than the other two in recognizing reality -- but then, their empire has been gone a lot longer.
How long will it take us Amurricans, I wonder. Centuries, probably. The Brits don't even seem to have awakened at all, yet, to the fact that their imperial sun has set.
The Italians seem more or less recovered -- after a millennium and a half or so.
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Michael Smith mjs at smithbowen.net http://stopmebeforeivoteagain.org