Spain's October 12 Debate: Pride vs Shame Over Colonial Legacy

October 12: Between pride and shame of being Spanish

Every October 12, while the United States celebrates Columbus Day with flags and barbecues, a wound that seems unable to heal reopens in Spain. A message in an economic forum summarizes the discomfort of part of the population: "Every October 12 I live here in Spain, I am ashamed." The phrase, launched amid controversy over Spain's role in the Americas, unleashes a storm of reactions ranging from absolute contempt for Hispanic heritage to the vindication of a millennia-old civilizational legacy. At the center of the hurricane, an uncomfortable question: why has a date that should unite us become a cultural battlefield?

The trigger for the latest episode was a tweet mocking the inability of a public figure—whose name is irrelevant—to "go take a hike" and stop suffering. The spark caught fire in a forum where the discussion quickly shifted to the meaning of October 12 and the Spanish heritage in the Americas. What began as a derogatory comment about a specific person ended up becoming a settling of scores with history.

The Spanish legacy in the Americas: civilization or plunder?

The controversy over October 12 is not new, but in recent years it has acquired unusual intensity. In the forum, positions are radicalizing. On one hand, there are those who argue that Columbus's arrival in the Americas marked the beginning of globalization and an unprecedented cultural exchange. "Not everything was bad; the largest Globalization in History began," writes one participant, recalling that in Peru there are workshops explaining how good the Incas were. Another adds, with irony, that Spaniards took the best of their culture: "THE SYPHILIS." Indeed, syphilis was one of the diseases that crossed the Atlantic in both directions, although its exact origin remains a subject of debate among historians.

At the other extreme, condemnation is frontal. "Damn the hour that that Genoese of Jewish origin, Christopher Columbus, arrived at those damned lands. It was and will continue to be the ruin of Spain," states a message reflecting a visceral rejection not only of colonization but of national identity itself. The harshness of these words contrasts with the more nuanced view of those who defend that Spain has been a victim of a subversion operation to undermine its image. "They have been undermining Spain's image for at least 200 years. It is a ceaseless subversion operation," affirms another intervenient, linking this phenomenon to the loss of colonies and foreign power influence.

The shame of being Spanish: complex or realism?

The core of the discomfort expressed in the initial message seems to reside in a feeling of shame towards things Spanish. "Deep down, what she is ashamed of is being Indian and not white with blue eyes," points out a comment, suggesting that behind the criticism of Spain lies a poorly managed inferiority complex. Others go further, accusing certain sectors of having internalized a narrative that presents Spaniards as privileged simply for being born in Spain. "They are already starting to call us privileged for being Spanish and not being born in their pigsties," complains a participant, flatly rejecting that label: "We are not privileged: we are members of a millennia-old civilization."

The discussion shifts to the situation of Latin American immigrants in Spain. Some messages, loaded with hostility, urge those criticizing Spain to leave for their countries of origin. "Then let her remigrate to her country. We are not holding her back like the MENA (unaccompanied foreign minors) in Ceuta," says one. The aggressiveness of these interventions reflects a social tension that goes beyond October 12 and relates to coexistence, identity, and resource distribution. However, there are also those who try to lower the tone and point out that the person who started the controversy "is just confused," although that condescension is met with mockery by others.

October 12 in the economic context: a drag on the 'Brand Spain'?

Beyond the cultural noise, the debate over October 12 has economic implications. Spain's image abroad, especially in Latin America, conditions trade relations, tourism, and investment. A country unable to agree on its own history projects an image of division that can be exploited by competitors. In the forum, some participants link this fracture to the loss of Spain's geopolitical weight and to the influence of foreign powers that, according to them, have fostered the "Black Legend" narrative. "The bean-peddling lobby was behind the fall of all the colonies. From Philip II to our days," states a message that, although conspiratorial, reflects a real concern about the loss of sovereignty.

The discussion also touches on the issue of flags and national symbols. "Your flag is practically the same age as theirs, and it serves the same purpose," snaps a participant, to which another responds that flags are symbols that, when they become self-referential, "are nothing more than rags." This devaluation of national symbols is seen by some as a direct consequence of the lack of a shared narrative about the past.

What is really celebrated on October 12?

October 12 commemorates Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas in 1492, an event that changed the course of history. In Spain, the date has been celebrated as Hispanic Heritage Day, although in recent years it has been renamed National Day. For many, it is a day to vindicate the Spanish legacy; for others, a reminder of colonization and its consequences. The controversy is served every year, and this has been no exception. While some ask that it stop being celebrated, others defend that it is an opportunity to claim shared history.

In the forum, the discussion drifted to other topics, such as liberation theology, Latin American communism, or the situation of Spanish military units. One participant joked that the mountain hunters had not gone to the parade, which gave rise to an analysis of the suitability of these troops for asymmetric warfare. The conversation, as usually happens, jumped from one topic to another without order, but the residue left was that of a society divided in its relationship with the past.

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In the end, the question hovering over the entire debate is whether Spain can afford to keep being ashamed of its history. Economic data say nothing about this, but the perception projected abroad does have consequences. While some celebrate October 12 with pride, others experience it as a day of mourning. And in between, a silent majority that perhaps would prefer the date to pass unnoticed. The analysis gets stuck here: there is no single answer because the problem is not historical, but identitarian.