The Human Factor

I admit it, the title of this article -'The Human Factor'- is from Graham Greene's novel, but it has nothing to do with his story about spies. I also borrow it from John Carlin, but I do not reach his level in describing how Nelson Mandela reconciled whites and blacks in South Africa in 1995, during that rugby World Cup.

Here I will not talk about spies, but yes, about a reference to the story Carlin described to us. Perhaps in some way, it is a form of reunion between Spaniards and if you allow me, between Alicante and Valencia, so close yet so far.

It is true that this reunion, this reconciliation or whatever you want to call it, occurs because a tragedy touches us deeply. We see through social media how the uncontrolled force of nature devours everything that humans have built, mercilessly and without restraint.

Those images, those screams, those voices, some asking for help others sending last messages to family and friends in case they do not survive until dawn have moved us in such a way that it has made what we had forgotten, our unity, our strength as a country naturally emerge with a force as overwhelming as the climatic earthquake.

The displays we have seen from all over Spain, spontaneously, have exceeded any calculation that could be made about the solidarity that characterizes us as a country. Solidarity has overflowed so much that we hear "please, do not send more donations in general and wait to be told what the needs are."

We also know about the difficulties in delivering all the contributions and how the administrations have been overwhelmed by the citizens. Public administrations that are not responding effectively to the needs of the citizens. I give an example: the subsidies granted by both the central and regional administrations require, and it is necessary, some requirements to access them. In these cases, officials from those administrations and the relevant areas should be put in place to help citizens access those resources as soon as possible. For example, urban planning to help recover their deeds, certifying ownership through the land registry, is perhaps a possible idea or not.

But I return to the topic, the citizens of this country, Spain, have shown that they have more political flexibility than any Administration. The decisions that must be made in these types of cases are quick responses to their needs, and they have done it and have shown what they want and by doing so, they have given a lesson in political action. But we have also obtained other types of lessons that we thought would never be shown with all their harshness.

They have taught us that the dividers are only there to intoxicate us and seek refuge in their fiction. They have taught us that together we are stronger. They have taught us that immigration, the good ones are with shovels and brooms helping, those always with us. They have taught us that there are those who neither pick up shovels nor brooms and also do not contribute, subtract to be gentle, those cannot be with us. They have taught us that we have Kings who are up to the task, morally and ethically in the face of a disaster like the one being experienced. They have taught us that Spain is alive, that it will not die no matter how many external interests exist. They have taught us that our administrative design is surpassed by the citizens, who do not understand obstacles between Spaniards and that surely when everything passes, there will be a need to reorganize.

The lessons that are beginning to emerge from this catastrophe are mandatory readings for everyone, because it is they, the citizens, who are sending the messages. Whoever can read all that information calmly and does so taking into account some red lines as if it were the geographical configuration of our country will make us even greater.

All the difficulties we know of this DANA do not prevent, nor have they prevented, understanding among the different. It has shown us more clearly than ever that Spain is made up of Antonio, Carmen, Iñaki, Itziar, Jordi, Montserrat, etc. but not by selfish politicians, those must go.

This climatic earthquake is also drawing another conclusion, mainly regarding communication offices. The truth cannot be hidden, it always emerges and puts, sooner or later, everyone in their place. The citizens together with the Monarchy have surpassed with much more 'savoir faire' the politics, that means there is nation, containment, and citizenship. To conclude a reflection by Jean Varnier (Theologian): "Life is a succession of crises and moments in which we have to rediscover who we are and what we really want."