From Maria, in Madrid
JWN reader Maria, from Madrid, has posted a very moving Comment on last night's post.
Please, everyone read it.
Dear Maria, thanks for connecting with us and describing that wonderful interpersonal solidarity as you did, on what must have been such a terrible day for you.
... It is not only Spanish people who feel they were all on that train. I feel I was, too.
I have only been in Madrid once. I'm almost certain I rode the trains there. It was March 1993. I had been in Cuenca helping to organize the first-ever meeting between human-rights activists from Israel, Arab countries, Palestine, and Turkey. The meeting was very, very moving. (Cuenca had been a center for the Spanish Inquisition, a fact that kind of helped bring all our participants together.)
Afterwards, I had a day or two to unwind in Madrid. I went of course to see Picasso's Guerníca. I stood in front of it crying. Tears literally poured down my chest.
My friend Sylvia Escobar, who'd helped to organize the meeting, had told us how Picasso had said he'd allow the painting to return to Spain only after Spain became democratic-- and how its return in 1981 had given so many Spanish people the confirmation that this was really at last happening...
It took 44 years for Picasso's hopeful dream to be fulfilled. But it happened.
Maria, we are all with you, your family, and your community.
Having lived through September 11 myself (in NYC), my heart and prayers go out to the people who lost loved ones or who were injured in this horrific attack.