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Catmac's avatar

Hola Purple Man. I agree that Spaniards were easily fed the narrative: all the media had to do was threaten them with killing their beloved abuelos and they immediately complied. But unlike North America, it’s not virtue-signalling in Spain. Their unquestioning obedience is more likely a relic of the intergenerational trauma of franquismo. Spaniards of that heavy era learned to shut up and keep their heads down to stay alive because the ones who didn’t, didnt. So the survivors passed on their coping mechanisms to their children and grandchildren without ever telling anyone the reasons, the stories too painful and dangerous to tell. There is a lot of residual pain and frustration in the Spanish social consciousness, but I am very grateful to live here and feel it healing.

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Purple Man's avatar

Thank you, Catmac.

This is not the first time I heard this reasoning about some kind of subconscious mechanism after decades of dictatorship. I did not lived those times, and there are several ways to interpret those historical events, but yes, there could be some truth to your argument.

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MLL's avatar

I thought about the Franco 'legacy' but was afraid to mention it. I agree with you. I also believe that the Catholic mindset so bent on obedience sets the stage for unquestioned compliance.

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Laurie Lynett's avatar

Catholisim has been a wolf in sheep's clothing. Bringing us God while denying us His wisdom. The word of God, seldom taught can be found in the Bible and not through religion, more and more. They should not be confused or assumed to be the same. This chess match goes way back to Genesis 3.

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