More than once I have regretted not being born in the sixties and witness those historical moments of popular struggle. The existing apathy, the advancement of ideologies such as the "end of history" or the "clash of civilization" together with neo conservative expressions, generated a gloomy feeling. However, slowly but firmly, the world is changing.
The first signs of change came, paradoxically, from the North, when in November 2008 Obama broke with the reigning apathy and led thousands of young people to the ballots and we saw how "yes we can" could be more than a simple campaign slogan. Suddenly, taking almost everybody by surprise, the Arab world, considered backward, fundamentalist and conservative, rose up first in Tunisia and then achieving the impossible in Egypt.
It seems that "at last happiness comes to everybody" and the Tahrir square moved to Spanish lands where thousands of citizens tired of lies, corruption and apathy took the squares under one banner "real democracy now!" The old Europe, which seemed to be sleeping, woke up realizing that the system in crisis will not fall so easily. Spain is showing us the way and the hope of following the example is not anymore a simple utopia.
A system based exclusively in economic success as the only thing that matters, dominated by the financial markets, were an honorable job, adequate housing and health coverage are becoming luxuries, is an inhuman system which has to be transformed. Not through total destruction but by constructing on top of the existing bases a system with more solidarity, were social justice is not a sign for Workers' Day but a central value which represents the pillar of society. The production of wealth does not contradicts the sharing of wealth, both can and must be pursue together, one on behalf of the other is not worth it. It is time to transform the existing values and start educating towards solidarity and justice.
When the political class has been corrupted in such manner that politicians become accomplice of the system or are impotent in their attempt for reform, the answer is not the abandonment of politics but rather the conquest of politics. When you do not have any candidate to vote then go to the ballots and annul your vote, do not give it to the best of the worst. Democracy is a human creation and as such it must be evaluated and improved constantly. Do not let the owners of power disguised as democrats dictate your lives. The Spanish spring has already shown that a different world is possible.
To observe the squares full of young people, children, adults and old people committed to take the future into their hands, with the compromise of fighting together in solidarity, then the "yes we can" has sense. Which will be the outcome of this protest? It is difficult to predict. Nevertheless, something has already changed and the foundations of this inhuman system are trembling. Changes do not come from one day to another; it is a slow and painful process which has already started.
Citing one of the several popular expressions in Madrid: "let the whores govern, their sons showed they do not know how to do it." Let the Sun of Madrid continue to shine over us and never forget that "joy comes at last" and it will arrive.
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