I did not go to Portugal this weekend because it looks like next weekend is a better candidate due to the holiday on Thursday, which is Spanish Constitution Day. Many people take off on Friday and turn it into a four-day weekend, so that might make more sense. Maybe.
It is amazing to think that Portugal and Spain were under dictatorship until 1974/1975. Francisco Franco was the Spanish Head of State for 36 years, and Salazar was the dictator in Portugal for 38 years.
In Italy, Benito Mussolini was the prime minister for 21 years early last century. Saddam Hussein was the President of Iraq for 24 years until he was deposed, captured, imprisoned, and brutally executed last year. Fidel Castro ruled Cuba for 47 years before transferring responsibilities to his younger brother last year.
We may joke or grumble about the Bush family in the presidency for a combined 12 years, but we Americans really don't have a clue what it must be like to live under the same regime, in the same political atmosphere for years and years and years. Since I was born, there have been eight U.S. Presidents. Each transfer of power was non-violent and the result of a democratic process. We know that no matter what, George W is leaving in about a year and someone else will step in. For me there is something comforting in this: that our country is structured for change, and that this change will come peaceably.
With all the tapas and tourists and the booming economy, I tend to forget that Spain is still relatively new to modern democracy. In fact, you could even say that it has surpassed America in its approach to certain social issues. Same-sex marriages have been legal here for over two years, and allows full adoption rights to gay couples.
Now that's something to celebrate.
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