# My school cut the study-abroad program to Spain because Spain supports terrorism. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 7, 2005, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-school-cut-the-study-abroad-program-to-spain-because-spain-supports-terrorism/293329 "2005-03-07T06:55:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2005, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-school-cut-the-study-abroad-program-to-spain-because-spain-supports-terrorism/293329/101 "2005-03-09T05:34:15Z")
> [@milroyj](#): > > It’s their decision to make. Why do you find their decision “silly”? Is it because it’s based on something that isn’t true? ---
**Author:** ![Monstre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@Monstre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monstre)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2005, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-school-cut-the-study-abroad-program-to-spain-because-spain-supports-terrorism/293329/102 "2005-03-09T06:02:50Z")
> [@World Eater](#): > > Is it because it’s based on something that isn’t true? Ermmm… what exactly are you referring to? If it’s the line “Spain supports terrorism” – that’s just the title of the thread. The linked story does not say that the trustees made such a claim. Their cited reasons were the fact that Spain withdrew troops from Iraq (which is true, as far as I know). > [@milroyj](#): > > It’s their decision to make. Yep – and it may be a decision that comes back to haunt them, especially if this was a popular study-abroad program. And it’s **kimera** ’s decision as to whether she wants to take her business elsewhere – like to another school that still offers such a program. If it was a program that attracted many students in the first place, the college could end up losing some enrollment over it. Of course I don’t know whether it was a popular program or not. Or its effect on attracting students. Or its financial viability and whether the numbers of participants justified the continued existence of the program. Sounds like **these** are more important factors (along with safety of the students) that such decisions should be based on. **kimera** – If you can’t go with this study-abroad program to Spain, I really hope you manage to find another one that is workable and affordable. The one I did back in high school was a wonderful experience. If you do go, I’d love to hear about it! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Muad\_Dib](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/35a633/32.png) [@Muad\_Dib](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muad_Dib)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2005, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-school-cut-the-study-abroad-program-to-spain-because-spain-supports-terrorism/293329/103 "2005-03-09T16:27:53Z")
> [@Only Mostly Dead](#): > > Yep, those Spanish bastards are all [friendly with the Godless Terrorists](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madrid_bombings)! > > Asshole. And with a name like “Fuentes,” you’d think the guy might have a touch more tolerance for Spain. They were friendly when the capitulated to the terrorists by leaving Iraq. I am not sure how I feel about a school trip getting canceled but I do still feel that what Spain did was cowardly and irresponsible and I would personally avoid a trip to Spain because of it. ---
**Author:** ![Legolamb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4491bb/32.png) [@Legolamb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Legolamb)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2005, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-school-cut-the-study-abroad-program-to-spain-because-spain-supports-terrorism/293329/104 "2005-03-09T16:42:42Z")
> [@Muad'Dib](#): > > They were friendly when the capitulated to the terrorists by leaving Iraq. I am not sure how I feel about a school trip getting canceled but I do still feel that what Spain did was cowardly and irresponsible and I would personally avoid a trip to Spain because of it. Yeah, that’s right, don’t let [the](http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/europe/03/29/sprj.irq.spain/) [facts](http://www.laborstandard.org/Iraq/Michael_antiwar.htm) (as previously reported by **aurelian** ) get in the way of those sweeping assumptions you’ve been fed by Faux News, **Muad’Dib**. Or are you saying that 80-90% of Spaniards are terrorists? Only it seems to me that the only people who were capitulated to were Spain’s own people. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2005, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-school-cut-the-study-abroad-program-to-spain-because-spain-supports-terrorism/293329/105 "2005-03-09T16:49:28Z")
> [@Monstre](#): > > Just come here to Florida, and head down to the southern tip of FL. You’ll become fluent or die trying. Literally. > > Interesting, though. When I was in high school, I was signed up for a “study abroad” program for a summer trip to Spain – it was cancelled due to terrorism fears. This was back when Libya was the problem (mid 80s). I ended up getting on with a different program and went to Spain for in the summer and stayed with a host family for a month. In the original program, I was to take Spanish classes over there (in Salamanca) – in the one I went on, no classes. Just the stay. I ended up in a little town an hour away from Zaragoza. > > I guess your options are more limited if you’re trying to do this through your college. Hope you get a chance to go some time. Monstre, tell me you didn’t go to Tudela! We get quite a few exchange students here 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2005, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-school-cut-the-study-abroad-program-to-spain-because-spain-supports-terrorism/293329/106 "2005-03-09T17:34:23Z")
> [@Muad'Dib](#): > > They were friendly when the capitulated to the terrorists by leaving Iraq. I am not sure how I feel about a school trip getting canceled but I do still feel that what Spain did was cowardly and irresponsible and I would personally avoid a trip to Spain because of it. Great. You’re exactly the kind of asshole American that’s not needed or wanted in Spain. The we left Iraq had fuck-all to do with the terrorists and everything to do with respecting the will of the people vis-a-vis being accessories to an illegal and murderous invasion. Want vassals? Buy a poodle – or pet Blair. The Spanish one was rightfully fired. ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2005, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-school-cut-the-study-abroad-program-to-spain-because-spain-supports-terrorism/293329/107 "2005-03-09T17:35:55Z")
> [@Muad'Dib](#): > > They were friendly when the capitulated to the terrorists by leaving Iraq. I am not sure how I feel about a school trip getting canceled but I do still feel that what Spain did was cowardly and irresponsible and I would personally avoid a trip to Spain because of it. Great. You’re exactly the kind of asshole American that’s not needed or wanted in Spain. The we left Iraq had fuck-all to do with the terrorists and everything to do with respecting the will of the people vis-a-vis being accessories to an illegal and murderous invasion – combined with a Government that lied itself right into oblivion. Want vassals? Buy a poodle – or pet Blair. The Spanish one was rightfully fired. ---
**Author:** ![Muad\_Dib](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/35a633/32.png) [@Muad\_Dib](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muad_Dib)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2005, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-school-cut-the-study-abroad-program-to-spain-because-spain-supports-terrorism/293329/108 "2005-03-09T18:02:56Z")
> [@kimera](#): > > As an example of just how Conservative it is, I bring you Steven J. Frogue, who was on the board of trustees, holds anti-semetic views and tried to get a guest speaker to one of the colleges who said that Jews were responsible for the death of JFK. > > . What the living fuck does anti=semitism have to do with being conservative?! > [@zagloba](#): > > A major reason Spain voted out the previous government is that it _lied_ to them about the train bombings: the government blamed them on ETA. > > Even if one were to think Spanish politics is wrongheaded, as **kanicbird** does, cutting off contact with Spain is among the least effective ways to change opinions. If anything, you’d want more contact and understanding between the two cultures. 1. Everyone thought that it was ETA at first. When I saw the bombings on the news the first thing I thought it was funny that Spain is one of the few countries were you could not br sure it was islamic terrorists that did it. 2. So during the eighties you were against people breaking off contact with South Africa? ---
**Author:** ![Raygun99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Raygun99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raygun99)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2005, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-school-cut-the-study-abroad-program-to-spain-because-spain-supports-terrorism/293329/109 "2005-03-09T18:11:50Z")
> [@Muad'Dib](#): > > What the living fuck does anti=semitism have to do with being conservative?! > > 1. Everyone thought that it was ETA at first. When I saw the bombings on the news the first thing I thought it was funny that Spain is one of the few countries were you could not br sure it was islamic terrorists that did it. They did this _after_ they knew it was Islamic terrorists, which was found out before the election. ---
**Author:** ![aurelian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f4b2a3/32.png) [@aurelian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aurelian)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2005, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-school-cut-the-study-abroad-program-to-spain-because-spain-supports-terrorism/293329/110 "2005-03-09T18:37:16Z")
No, not everyone knew it was ETA - it completely broke with their _modus operandi_. On the day of the bombing, after I finished crying and worrying for my friends in Madrid, I remember starting to hear whispers of ‘ETA’ and some ‘Middle Eastern group’. Even in an emotional state, ETA didn’t fit. With some exceptions, they target politicians, and do not kill more than a few people at a time. I was teaching that day (I work at the University, in the Spanish department) and all the other professors and students had the same reaction - 'I really don’t think it was ETA." Based on what I read in the Spanish press in the days after the attack, Spaniards most certainly did **not** think it was ETA. **Muad** , how is it capitulating to terrorists when the Spanish population was against the invasion from day one, though their president decided to ignore their opinion? How is it that electing a president that reflects the views of the people is ‘capitulating to terrorists’? We now live in a country that has restricted civil and human rights, and is sending prisoners to other countries to be tortured…and you’re saying _Spain_ capitualted? You could just as easily argue that the US has capitulated by giving up those rights that make us an enlightened society (habeus corpus, anyone?) ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2005, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-school-cut-the-study-abroad-program-to-spain-because-spain-supports-terrorism/293329/111 "2005-03-09T18:48:03Z")
> [@Muad'Dib](#): > > TI would personally avoid a trip to Spain because of it. I’m sure Spain is more happy about this then you’ll ever know. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2005, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-school-cut-the-study-abroad-program-to-spain-because-spain-supports-terrorism/293329/112 "2005-03-09T18:51:55Z")
> [@Raygun99](#): > > They did this _after_ they knew it was Islamic terrorists, which was found out before the election. People, people. We can’t let petty things like \*facts \*get in the way of a good Spain bashing! ---
**Author:** ![Muad\_Dib](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/35a633/32.png) [@Muad\_Dib](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muad_Dib)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2005, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-school-cut-the-study-abroad-program-to-spain-because-spain-supports-terrorism/293329/113 "2005-03-09T21:13:37Z")
> [@aurelian](#): > > **Muad** , how is it capitulating to terrorists when the Spanish population was against the invasion from day one, though their president decided to ignore their opinion? How is it that electing a president that reflects the views of the people is ‘capitulating to terrorists’? Because the polls showed the incumbant winning by a comfortable margin before the attack. ---
**Author:** ![Avenger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de0a6/32.png) [@Avenger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avenger)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2005, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-school-cut-the-study-abroad-program-to-spain-because-spain-supports-terrorism/293329/114 "2005-03-09T21:16:22Z")
> [@Muad'Dib](#): > > Because the polls showed the incumbant winning by a comfortable margin before the attack. You missed the bit where the incumbent lied to the electorate about the perpetrators of the attack then? ---
**Author:** ![Muad\_Dib](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/35a633/32.png) [@Muad\_Dib](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muad_Dib)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2005, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-school-cut-the-study-abroad-program-to-spain-because-spain-supports-terrorism/293329/115 "2005-03-09T21:24:08Z")
> [@Avenger](#): > > You missed the bit where the incumbent lied to the electorate about the perpetrators of the attack then? Keep telling yourself that is why he lost. Maybe it will become true. ---
**Author:** ![Avenger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de0a6/32.png) [@Avenger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avenger)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2005, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-school-cut-the-study-abroad-program-to-spain-because-spain-supports-terrorism/293329/116 "2005-03-09T21:27:39Z")
> [@Muad'Dib](#): > > Keep telling yourself that is why he lost. Maybe it will become true. Perhaps you can explain why, if the Spanish electorate are so keen to surrender to terrorism, they haven’t demanded that their troops be withdrawn from Afghanistan? Or, indeed, why ETA are not currently ruling an independent Basque state? ---
**Author:** ![Raygun99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Raygun99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raygun99)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2005, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-school-cut-the-study-abroad-program-to-spain-because-spain-supports-terrorism/293329/117 "2005-03-09T21:34:20Z")
> [@Muad'Dib](#): > > Because the polls showed the incumbant winning by a comfortable margin before the attack. Some did. Some didn’t. Some polls showed John Kerry neck and neck with George Bush on the [eve](http://www.gallup.com/election2004/) of the 2004 election. What’s your point? ---
**Author:** ![mic84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@mic84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mic84)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2005, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-school-cut-the-study-abroad-program-to-spain-because-spain-supports-terrorism/293329/118 "2005-03-09T21:36:15Z")
> [@Muad'Dib](#): > > Keep telling yourself that is why he lost. Maybe it will become true. Well, God knows lying to the electorate didn’t prevent _other_ people from getting elected. But have you got any particular reasons to think that Avenger is wrong? I don’t see them here. ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2005, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-school-cut-the-study-abroad-program-to-spain-because-spain-supports-terrorism/293329/119 "2005-03-09T21:39:00Z")
> [@Muad'Dib](#): > > Because the polls showed the incumbant winning by a comfortable margin before the attack. …which, of course, if you had read the thread that you started titled " God-Damned mother-effing coward Spaniards", you would be aware that this statement has proven to be complete and utter bullshit, wouldn’t you? [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=4648911&postcount=312](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=4648911&postcount=312) > **[Spain's ruling party slips in polls](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/mar/05/spain.gilestremlett)** > > Support for the Spanish People's party government is ebbing away as concern about terrorism and separatism dominates the general election campaign, according to opinion polls published yesterday. ---
**Author:** ![Muad\_Dib](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/35a633/32.png) [@Muad\_Dib](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muad_Dib)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2005, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-school-cut-the-study-abroad-program-to-spain-because-spain-supports-terrorism/293329/120 "2005-03-09T21:42:32Z")
> [@Avenger](#): > > Perhaps you can explain why, if the Spanish electorate are so keen to surrender to terrorism, they haven’t demanded that their troops be withdrawn from Afghanistan? Or, indeed, why ETA are not currently ruling an independent Basque state? 1. Because they viewed the bombing as a result of being in Iraq. 2. So they stood up to one bully. Does that make it right to capitulate to another? > [@Raygun99](#): > > Some did. Some didn’t. Some polls showed John Kerry neck and neck with George Bush on the [eve](http://www.gallup.com/election2004/) of the 2004 election. What’s your point? They were neck and neck, are you saying Bush won by a landslied? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-school-cut-the-study-abroad-program-to-spain-because-spain-supports-terrorism/293329.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-school-cut-the-study-abroad-program-to-spain-because-spain-supports-terrorism/293329.md?page=7)