Of bloodlines and birthright

By Johnny D. Symon

In the preface to his excellent book, "The Disinherited. The Exiles Who Created Spanish Culture," Professor Henry Kamen wrote,

"I have benefited from the riches of many lands and languages, but even within that richness, for which I have never ceased to be grateful, there has always persisted an inescapable feeling — which many readers will know only too well — of being somehow disinherited."

And throughout this superb work he proves conclusively that there's nothing new under the sun. Nothing, and no one, new under the sun.

From long and personal experience I can relate to the sentiments contained in his book, and even today, what he outlines from the past is yet prevalent in the present.

This week's discovery in Madrid, Spain, of a mini Watergate, and allegations that one segment of the ruling elite in the Conservative Counsel was spying on another, serves to further illustrate the divisive nature of Spanish political hierarchy. Madrid is a Conservative stronghold, the "Junta" headed by Gallardón, and the presidency of the "Comunidad de Madrid" is held by Gallardón's reputed opponent, or adversary even, named Esperanza Aguirre. Rumors are rife that Esperanza is behind the espionage ring. Her very own vice president, Ignacio González, was the chief target, and although many Conservatives have joined with the opposition to demand a public inquiry, Mariano Rajoy (PP Leader) prefers an internal one. Either way, it's yet another example of typical, and historical, top level Spanish style shenanigans.

While the Decree of 1492 concerned only the expulsion of the Jews, the present failed and failing still failures in government would have everyone believe that it affected Islam to boot. The Moors compared to the Jews arrived in Spain quite late in the day, whereas the Jews can be traced way back in time, to the founding of the city of Granada. Granada is Hebrew for pomegranate, according to Eliyahu Ashton, in "The Jews of Muslim Spain," and Granada is known to have been in existence before the first century. Now whether or not this is true is open to debate, but the point is that the Jews undoubtedly arrived first, then the Moors much later. Professor Kamen is comfortable in placing the Jews in 3rd Century Spain.

Since we're grazing over the early days of Spanish Islam, it might be wise to point out that the early Islamics were Moors not Arabs. They were a peculiarly gifted people. Strong, sound, fair and honest, and their creativity was and remains to this day unquestionable, for they left behind physical legacies of their golden handiwork.

Now the aforementioned expulsion decree of 1492 was indeed toward the Jews only, yet today the Spanish government have opened the floodgates to Islam and call it a "return." Logically one would expect "returnees" to provide genealogical evidence to prove their birthright, and it's common practice elsewhere, in places like Ireland and Israel, but somehow this process gets overlooked when Islam's concerned.

Some years ago in an ed I explained that I had a close friendship with a Moroccan Muslim called Mustafa. He was an old school Moroccan who one day decided to visit Spain, this time round with one purpose only, to trace his genealogical roots. After much work he arrived at a small Spanish village, spoke to the mayor, who provided him with free access to the village archives. Before too long he'd managed to trace and substantiate his roots, all the way back to the 15th Century, actually finding his ancestral home yet standing and in use.

Mustafa is the kind of guy Spain needs, though also he's a guy that Spain once had. He discovered for himself that Spain could be his portion, and yet he never officially returned, preferring to live in Rabat instead.

During the recent conflict between Israel and Palestine, many Palestinians caught the next bus or plane out to Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, and several other locations. They were able to take the trip because they were bona fide in those territories. The Palestinian thing, as with Spain's Islamic return, ignores all the common rules because it's rare for incomers to Palestine to have in their possession, or even asked for, proof of lineage. For while the Hebrews were hot on records, bearing in mind that the destruction of the second Temple also destroyed those very records, it's nigh on impossible to prove that your lineage goes all the way back to the wonders of the Philistines, and I cite a prime case in point, who went by the name of Yasser Arafat.

Okay, I know that I'm supposed to let sleeping dogs lie, for that's the old adage, right? but he was more than that, for in reality, at point of death, he could look back and remember that he was not just the world's oldest, richest, and gayest terrorist dog, or pig, but also that he was Egyptian, not Palestinian.

Those near eternal troubles could all be over in a flash if Palestinians were ordered to provide their lineage. Those who couldn't could be offered places elsewhere. I reckon once the process was over there'd be no more than a handful of people left, if that.

Though I digress, and return to the main point in hand ... disinheritance. Professor Kamen deftly picks out Spain and Russia as being, in historical terms, places where expulsion became habit forming. Both places became adept at forcing segments of their own people to become disinherited, thus wandering from place to place searching for a home, somewhere with more stability, a location where they could finally lay their hat. Many failed to find that home base. Their sense of disinheritance lasted a lifetime. Their sense became a reality.

Modern day Spain is no different to Spain of the Middle Ages in respect of the pogrom of disinheritance. The political realm is notorious for its strong divisions and insular nature, as ever they divide and rule in a peculiar fashion that prompts many of its most creative and productive peoples to head on out, and search for pastures new. Historically most of Spain's greatest minds were recognized as such in other nations, while their own country of birth shunned them.

Professor Kamen's book, Disinherited, comes highly recommended, for while it helped to catalyze and add to my strong knowledge of Spanish history, it also reminded me that there's nothing new under the sun.

What's going on today in our much touted "enlightened age" is just a mirror's reflection, a distortion, that tricks our mind's eye into believing that the Dark Ages have come and gone, and Everlasting Light shines out of our leaders' hinder parts, when in reality nothing's changed. Though through studying the history of other nations and their present condition too, we can in part relate to the present state of each, and in part see that our many differences are as fruit on diverse trees.

There's nothing new under the sun, but everywhere under the sun is that little bit different, and all around planet earth can be found many different types and sufferers in our world of disinheritance.

© Johnny D. Symon