nPostednon December 6, 2016
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nNevernforget that it can happen anywhere, at any time…
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nInnthe 1930s, there was a hotly contested election in Spain. A coalitionnof right wing groups lost – but just barely – to a left-leaningnPopular Front. A group of generals tried to overthrow the republic –nwhat’s called a coup – but they failed. Still, the attempt wasnenough to throw Spain into a bloody civil war.
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nHalfna million dead folks later, a winner emerged. It was the right-wingngeneral-led side that won the war, but the only general left from thenoriginal group was a man named Francisco Franco. And Franconestablished himself as lifelong military and government leader. Hencalled himself Caudillo, Leader in Chief. n
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nThenpeople who had supported Franco and his armies were the Nazis innGermany and Mussolini’s forces in Italy. So…yeah, bad guys!
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nFranconruled with violence, cruelty, concentration camps, forced labor,nexecutions of political enemies. n
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nAndnFranco ruled Spain for 36 years!
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nWhennhe finally died, in 1975, the successor he appointed was King JuannCarlos I. But Carlos led Spain to becoming a democracy. After anreferendum (popular vote), a new constitution was adopted on thisndate in 1978.
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nDon’tnforget, fascist dictators, military coups, civil wars, andnpropaganda-spewing demagogues have happened in many places and allnthrough human history. Don’t let it happen in your country!
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nIt’sna happy thing to celebrate the anniversary of a constitution after anperiod of human rights abuses! Here are more happy things in Spain:
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nInnValencia, the science museum, planetarium, and aquarium are sleek,nmodern architectural wonders:
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nThenSpanish islands are beautiful!:
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nTherenare many small, charming villages. This one is Pampeneira:
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nAnd Arcosnde la Frontera is…scary!:
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nAlsonon this date:
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nMiners’nDay
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nFinland’snIndependence Day
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nAnniversarynof the completion of the Washington Monument
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Plannahead:
Plannahead:
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nChecknout my Pinterest pages on:
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nHistoricaln anniversaries in December
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nAndnhere are my Pinterest boards for:
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nJanuaryn birthdays
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