| Beyond The Borders Of History | | Print | |
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Page 4 of 4 Yet, the Zapatero government does not just give lip service to achieving integration and assimilation; it had granted amnesty to 700,000 illegal immigrants. The government also established a timetable to halve state funding of the Roman Catholic Church and end the arrangement in which Spaniards can offer a percentage of their taxes to the Church, about U.S. $106 million (£54 million) a year. At yet another kabob house, this time in Madrid, I asked an Algerian waiter named Hassan about the changes Spain has been undergoing. As we switched between French and Spanish, Hassan admitted that problems exist in Madrid. Like his Iranian boss, Massoud, Hassan did not see North Africans as being a large problem. Yet, while Massoud, who is physically nearly indistinguishable from his Spanish counterparts, views the new wave of Colombians as responsible for a recent crime wave, Hassan insisted the wave would subside. Repeating statements from people like Massoud and Spanish judges presiding over criminal courts, Hassan countered, “Those people don’t know what it’s like to be physically identifiable and economically isolated. With help, it’ll work out.” Specifically having chosen to speak with Hassan because he stood out at a dark and broad 6 foot 3 inches, I knew he was no stranger to discrimination. Returning to my earlier questions, Hassan admitted to only having contact with two Spaniards. Then, he poignantly stated, “Look – here, I generally have the life I want. It’s not too bad and it’s getting better.” With our discussion of how the situation is getting better, I thought of Rasheed in Granada. When I’d asked him whether he had any non-Arab or non-Muslim friends, he said he had one – a customer with whom he bonded. I asked whether Rasheed and the customer actually interacted outside the kabob house. He replied that the two went out, hung out at each other’s places on occasion and generally talked about life. Like him, the customer only engaged with foreigners. “Why?” I asked. Rasheed responded, “Oh, he’s Israeli.” Let us hope that while Isabellian Spain fosters friendship between its marginalized Muslims and Jewish populace, that peace will not be splintered by the convivencia Zapatero seeks to create. ____________________ NEDA BOLOURCHI, MA, JD is currently stateless in the U.S. She will be joining Columbia University’s Middle Eastern and Asian Languages and Cultures program in the fall.
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