¡Que Impactante!
It is 2am and I have just returned from seeing an incredible movie. For me, it was so touching. There are so many more words to describe the emotions this movie evoked, but if I say them, I might give it all away. I will refrain because their is a huge part of me that wants you to go see this movie. Pan's Labyrinth, or the original title El Laberinto del Fauno. This movie was made by a Latin man about the Spanish Civil war. [DISCLAIMER: It is a war movie people, there are things that are quite hard to watch! So don't take kids to see it K!]For those of you who don't know, I have been reading For Whom the Bell Tolls by Hemingway, which is about the same topic. I am fascinated by this war, or I should say fascinated by this history/story- in spanish they use the same word...Story-historia & History-historia.
Imagine a war where fascism versus a republic. In our minds as Americans, of course we assume the republic wins! The optimism we have for overthrows of corrupt governments goes without further discussion because we base our entire militaries existence on it. We fight to protect the republics of people who desire Freedom!
You see in Europe's history during the time of Hitler, there was a Fascist movement all over Europe. In Italy was Mousolini, Germany-Hitler, and Spain - Franco. Of course, we all know the history. America joined forces with the Allies and put an end to Fascism in Germany. Soon Italy's fell too. However, in this small mediterranean country, Fascism WON! Hard to believe huh! Franco the dictator of Spain ruled this country with oppression and mass graves of people who supported the republic. He ruled until he died of old age in his bed in the 1970's. This shocks me! I mean, I know this is still apparent in the world, but this is a "westernized" country. Its in Europe for goodness sakes!
As I was reading in another book called Ghosts of Spain, to this day, many people still have family barried in mass graves, but NO ONE has gone to find them. In the book, Tremlett explains that there is a -'pacto de olvidado'-pact of forgetting here. They choose to act like their past never happened! To this day, people still celebrate Franco.
Saturday, I was walking the streets of Spain with my friends Sam and Jaime. We passed through the center of town, where someone flew the flag of Franco proudly outside their window. To this day, people are still devoted to such a mindset.
It fascinates me! To be in a country, in a time when the oppression of people is not tolerated because we all feel a certain duty to speak our mind. However, they devote themselves to such intolerance and oppression. When on the other hand, they will tolerate you to believe whatever you want about religion, marriage, family, education, finances, etc. etc.
I truly don't understand. This is generations of people who never knew where their grandparents, aunts, and uncles were barried. Generations of people who allowed such brutality to lead them.
It is scary, but enlightening for one who has spent so much time trying to understand this culture. I try everyday to undestand why they choose to fight for some things and leave others under the rug. I want to understand why because I am a woman sometimes they will just write me off like I don't exist, but let me push a baby carriage, and cars will stop miles back just to let me pass.
This movie it has touched me just like Hemingway's book and Tremlett's book to understand more of the people of Spain. I want to know why in the end of their history the bad guy won, and upon his death, no one truly celebrated because of the fear they had upon the news of his death. Seriously, as many of us felt the world was ending when bad things happened to the US. The day Franco died, Spaniards thought it was the end. From where did this fear come? and How was one man so powerful to be able to sustain it to the point that people let him do the things he did?
I guess for me, I know where I stand. I stand on the winning side because I fight for Christ, but I wonder what is this fear that people have for allowing such bad to win in their lives? I guess this is the question God must ask himself everyday. I know when I face Him, I will have to ask him why we let fear prevent us from seeing the truth.
Imagine a war where fascism versus a republic. In our minds as Americans, of course we assume the republic wins! The optimism we have for overthrows of corrupt governments goes without further discussion because we base our entire militaries existence on it. We fight to protect the republics of people who desire Freedom!
You see in Europe's history during the time of Hitler, there was a Fascist movement all over Europe. In Italy was Mousolini, Germany-Hitler, and Spain - Franco. Of course, we all know the history. America joined forces with the Allies and put an end to Fascism in Germany. Soon Italy's fell too. However, in this small mediterranean country, Fascism WON! Hard to believe huh! Franco the dictator of Spain ruled this country with oppression and mass graves of people who supported the republic. He ruled until he died of old age in his bed in the 1970's. This shocks me! I mean, I know this is still apparent in the world, but this is a "westernized" country. Its in Europe for goodness sakes!
As I was reading in another book called Ghosts of Spain, to this day, many people still have family barried in mass graves, but NO ONE has gone to find them. In the book, Tremlett explains that there is a -'pacto de olvidado'-pact of forgetting here. They choose to act like their past never happened! To this day, people still celebrate Franco.
Saturday, I was walking the streets of Spain with my friends Sam and Jaime. We passed through the center of town, where someone flew the flag of Franco proudly outside their window. To this day, people are still devoted to such a mindset.
It fascinates me! To be in a country, in a time when the oppression of people is not tolerated because we all feel a certain duty to speak our mind. However, they devote themselves to such intolerance and oppression. When on the other hand, they will tolerate you to believe whatever you want about religion, marriage, family, education, finances, etc. etc.
I truly don't understand. This is generations of people who never knew where their grandparents, aunts, and uncles were barried. Generations of people who allowed such brutality to lead them.
It is scary, but enlightening for one who has spent so much time trying to understand this culture. I try everyday to undestand why they choose to fight for some things and leave others under the rug. I want to understand why because I am a woman sometimes they will just write me off like I don't exist, but let me push a baby carriage, and cars will stop miles back just to let me pass.
This movie it has touched me just like Hemingway's book and Tremlett's book to understand more of the people of Spain. I want to know why in the end of their history the bad guy won, and upon his death, no one truly celebrated because of the fear they had upon the news of his death. Seriously, as many of us felt the world was ending when bad things happened to the US. The day Franco died, Spaniards thought it was the end. From where did this fear come? and How was one man so powerful to be able to sustain it to the point that people let him do the things he did?
I guess for me, I know where I stand. I stand on the winning side because I fight for Christ, but I wonder what is this fear that people have for allowing such bad to win in their lives? I guess this is the question God must ask himself everyday. I know when I face Him, I will have to ask him why we let fear prevent us from seeing the truth.
posted by Jess at
4:39 PM
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