One week later

While IU students sunned themselves on the beaches of sunny Florida, Texas or Mexico during the past week, I've spent it reliving the aftermath of a terrorist attack.\nThursday, March 11, almost 200 people died as a result of terrorist bombings on four commuter trains in Madrid, Spain. At first, the government and people blamed a Spanish separatist group, but by Sunday, the word was out those responsible were part of al Qaeda. The attacks were al Qaeda's way of telling the Spanish government it wasn't happy about its support in Iraq.\nSince the attacks, Spain has responded in full force with its opinions and reactions to the attacks. First off, over 11 million people gathered across the country the night after the attacks to honor the fallen and speak out against the war. Madrid stood strongest with two-thirds of its population out at their manifestación (combination protest and vigil). It's astounding when 2.3 million people are all gathered for the same cause.\nThe manifestación truly humbled me. Holding a moment of silence among 30,000 people just in your part of the vigil is awe-inspiring. \nNever have I witnessed anything like it in the States. Banners lined the streets of the manifestación's route, with the most provocative claiming, "It's not raining tonight. The sky is crying," in response to the rain falling throughout the night. Cold and drenched, some without umbrellas, Madrid's citizens proclaimed their respect for more than four hours that night.\nThe most significant change in Spain was the shifting of power. On election day, with a 9 percent increase in voter turnout, the Popular Party lost the presidency, as well as numerous Congressional positions to the Socialist party. Within his first few days as president-elect, Jorge Rodríguez Zapatero has already promised to pull all the Spanish troops out of Iraq. While the Spaniards are in full support of this move, being that the culprit is most likely al Qaeda, the Americans wonder how long it will be before the anti-American support from around the world regarding both the attacks and Spain's plan to pull out troops has flooded the country. Wreaths, candles and books of condolences quickly appeared in and around Spanish embassies everywhere. These tokens of respect are nothing compared to what Madrid's people have created. \nThe Monday night after the attacks, my friend and I visited Atocha, the train station with the most deaths, to view the makeshift memorials created by mourners. Within minutes, I was one of those mourners. While the attacks weren't close to my apartment, the sheer volume of candles, flowers, signs and children's drawings depicting the incidents caused my heart to constrict and tears to stream down my face. As I walked around hauntingly beautiful memorials, I pondered the effect this had on my life, then realized it was nothing compared to the those of the madrileños (Madrid citizens). Most expected another attack to happen in London or some other city, but not Madrid. It was such a safe and happy city, but now it has a blanket of fear wrapped around it.\nSpaniards have gone on with their lives since the attacks, but the city will never be the same. People are hesitant to board the trains or the metro for fear of another attack. Anger toward President Bush flows freely, as does the sadness of losing 200 citizens. Security around the city hasn't increased, but the memorials at Atocha, El Pozo and Santa Eugenia increase every day. Americans say they will never forget Sept. 11, but we know it will someday fall into oblivion with only brief mentions in daily papers, such as D-Day or Hiroshima. I can say for sure Madrileños and Spaniards alike will never forget 11-M, as they call it, simply because of the shock and surprise it created in such a peaceful city.