Train Bombing in Madrid - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

**Sijuki** · 03-11-2004, 08:10 AM

I am sure some of you have heard of the train bombing in Madird, Spain. They suspect at least 173 people are dead.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4502950/&&cm=MainImageStandard&hl=]Here is the story[/url]

Do we know if anyone is in Spain right now?

iamlindoro · 03-11-2004, 08:15 AM

Yikes, if ever there was an excuse for renting a car... :greenguy:

Reading the BBC comments, an interesting point is brought up-- anyone know why American news organizations refer to them as Basque "separatists" instead of "terrorists?" It's not like we have anything against spain, sooo....?

**Sijuki** · 03-11-2004, 08:26 AM

Because they don't bother us, so they aren't terrorists yet.

This post has been edited due to comments by joan of arc

But they did say Basque Separatist terror attack... You want to give them a name right?

**joanofarc** · 03-11-2004, 08:39 AM

hey, i don't think you're allowed to use the "

" icon in this thread....

**Sijuki** · 03-11-2004, 08:43 AM

all fixed joanie, just for you.

**voyd** · 03-11-2004, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by iamlindoro@Mar 11 2004, 04:15 PM
Reading the BBC comments, an interesting point is brought up-- anyone know why American news organizations refer to them as Basque "separatists" instead of "terrorists?"* It's not like we have anything against spain, sooo....?

DUH! "Terrorists" must be bearded Muslims, right!

As they say, one man's "terrorist" is another man's "freedom-fighter" or "separatist."

It's interesting how the media portrays and subtly spins events with doublespeak. 2 classes sorely missing in American schools are "Learning How to Think for Yourself" and "Media Analysis and Interpretation." Right now, schools only train us to LEARN, but not to THINK.

iamlindoro - Can you link that BBC article here, please?

iamlindoro · 03-11-2004, 09:45 AM

You got it. Right here.

Anyone who does anything like this, no matter what their cause, their religion, race, or creed, is a terrorist.

Kalliber · 03-11-2004, 11:33 AM

I agree.
I don't think it matters what the cause behind it is. A terrorist, by definition, incites terror. The reasoning is unnecessary.
A terrorist is just a bully on a larger scale, who wants power and uses fear to get it.

I hate bullies.

**Sijuki** · 03-11-2004, 11:35 AM

Voyd, what is this crazyspeak you are talking about thinking for yourself?!?! No, no, not in the land of the 'free'. You can not think or speak for yourself, what if you came up with an idea or said something that the 'man' didn't want you to think or say. It might be a breach of security, then you might letting people who shouldn't know, know. Then people would know too much. You can't know too much. Cause if you know too much, then you are a breach of security. Yesh yesh, that's it.

Ah... the love of government intervention.

**voyd** · 03-11-2004, 11:47 AM

Word, bros.

See, "separatist" lends a bit of justification to their acts while downplaying their acts themselves.

By contrast, "terrorist" downplays their justifications while playing up their acts themselves.

But in reality, all "terrorists" have STRONG POLITICAL MOTIVATIONS that drive them to such extreme measures (not that they're justified). But depending on those motivations, our media decides whether to acknowledge them or not - subtly or otherwise.

Anyways, the gov only seeks to silence those with strong public sway. Therefore, due to my lowly pee-on status, I have nothing to worry about!

**joanofarc** · 03-11-2004, 11:49 AM

Quote:

all "terrorists" have STRONG POLITICAL MOTIVATIONS

here, here!

**Somnambulation** · 03-11-2004, 12:56 PM

I think groups that have a traditional homeland that is being occupied by another nation we tend to call seperatists, or rebels. The Chechen fighters are fighting to oust the Russians, so we call them rebels, as opposed to a group like al Qaida who terrorize for ideological reasons.

**voyd** · 03-11-2004, 02:14 PM

^ Actually, you're wrong. One of the causes that Al-Queda proclaims is the return of the "Palestinian" land that Israel took when it was created by the UN in 1948. Notably, Palestine wasn't and still isn't a member of the UN and had no say in the matter. They also want US military bases - whom they view as supporting that occupancy - out of Saudi Arabia. Now, one can argue about ulterior motives, extremism, etc etc - but I'm simply telling you that their beef is not purely "ideological."

Not to defend their acts or anything, but just correcting ya error.

Payce!

**Somnambulation** · 03-11-2004, 02:50 PM

Al Qaida sees the entire middle east as thier domain to establish thier brand of extremist Islam. Thier suport of other seperatist groups such as the Chechens or the Palestinian militants is based on the ideology of advancing Islam and destroying those who oppose them wherever possible. They can't really be described as 'seperatist' unless we want to talk about a huge portion of the Earth.

Now it appears that this bombing may have been perpetrated by al Qaida, which is bad news for us travellers. Al Qaida has no qualms about attacking foriengers and probably seeks out American tourists, while indigenous Basque groups beef is with the Spanish government and would not want the negative press that comes with killing foriegners.

**Carisia** · 03-11-2004, 09:18 PM

This is so terrible!

I wasn't aware of bombing till I read this thread... just terrible...

btw, Voyd, have you ever thought of running for office?

**AdamTheCultured** · 03-11-2004, 10:10 PM

My sister is studying abroad in Seville....She was at the airport in Madrid earlier that day...she also was on the exact train that got blew up a week earlier.....this event has scared me very much...I cant imagine losing the closest person in my life...I thank god she was not injured and hope that all the victims and victims family are ok....................Why wont terrorism cease.............

**Ozpacka** · 03-12-2004, 12:22 AM

'Al-Qaeda has claimed responsibility for the deadly series of train bomb blasts in Madrid. First reports state at least 190 people dead.'

Hmmm, so are they still seperatists or has media outlets upgraded them to terrorists?

**blinkchick2134** · 03-12-2004, 01:32 AM

I feel for you Adam. I remember being at the train station less han a year ago. I don't even want to think about friends that may have been there or have been killed. All I keep thinking about is that little boy that was begging me for money at the station and what has become of him. Damn female hormones!

**voyd** · 03-12-2004, 06:11 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Somnambulation@Mar 11 2004, 10:50 PM
Al Qaida sees the entire middle east as thier domain to establish thier brand of extremist Islam. Thier suport of other seperatist groups such as the Chechens or the Palestinian militants is based on the ideology of advancing Islam and destroying those who oppose them wherever possible. They can't really be described as 'seperatist' unless we want to talk about a huge portion of the Earth.

Well, they may want to spread Islam ideologically throughout the earth, but not by physically taking over all these countries militarily. That would simply be out of the question, even if they wanted to. It's the same thing as Christian evangelism - fighting for global "base," but with propadogma (not bullets) - except for some extremists bombing abortion clinics, etc. Terrorism is a poor man's war when you lack the power to mount a full-frontal assault. Again, their main turf war is simply over Israel. Now, there are some other Muslim separatists in other scattered corners of the world (eg - Xinjiang), but they're not necessarily affiliated with Al-Queda.

Carisia - Ha ha, no. I'm far too honest, blunt and politically-incorrect to ever get mainstream support! But thanks for the one vote of confidence!

phlipfudge23 · 03-12-2004, 07:10 AM

Actually, being

Quote:

too honest, blunt and politically-incorrect

would probably garner you alot of votes...at least among the college aged.