I have been thinking about Spaniards since 3/11, but particularly since Sunday's elections. While it was true before the attack that there was majority opposion to the war in Iraq it was also true that the government was likely to be returned to power. That is until the trains stopped running.

My question pertains to Spain: Have they caught the Old Europe disease of soullessness? Spanish voting results reflect a strange pacifism to the horror of 3/11. My experience with human nature posits that you fight for what you believe. If you have lost confidence in your culture, your country, or yourself it is a simple matter to raise your hands as you drop your arms.

It is obviously a different response than America's to 9/11. I can't believe we Americans are different because we are 'cowboys'. It goes deeper. We still believe in something. You may call it patriotism or flag-waving or pick your term but I think, in America, our soul still stirs at the words liberty and freedom. It is not an act, it is a soul.

Bob Baker