Muchacha en una ventana (Salvador Dalí 1925)

sábado, 24 de noviembre de 2012

A VUELTAS CON EL BELÉN

   Aunque, en  mi opinión, el asunto de si en el hipotético portal de Belén, donde la tradición cristiana sitúa el nacimiento de Jesús, había o no buey, asno, pastores, estrella, etcétera, no está, ni de lejos, entre los principales problemas que actualmente tiene planteados la Iglesia Católica, parece ser que el actual titular de la Cátedra de San Pedro, Benedicto XVI, tiene una cierta predilección  por este tema, en el que, no sin cierta controversia, ya se ha pronunciado en diversas ocasiones.

   Con motivo de la Navidad del 2007, el papa Ratzinger instaló en el Vaticano un nacimiento que se apartaba diametralmente del concepto tradicional, situando el acontecimiento en Nazaret, en el seno de una familia tradicional de aquella época, desposeído de todos los ingredientes clásicos con los que este hecho se venía identificando en todo el mundo; asunto que causó gran sorpresa y abundante polémica. Ahora, con la reciente publicación de su libro “La infancia de Jesús”, vuelve a ahondar en el mismo tema, aunque cambiando algunos matices, para ser nuevamente tema de comentario en todos los medios de comunicación.

   Desde el respeto y la consideración que se debe a una persona de tan alta relevancia social, como lo es el caso del Pontífice, creo que, en este caso, está cometiendo un error de bulto. Tratar de modificar usos y costumbres tan arraigadas en el acervo católico, sin motivo ni razón para ello, es generar malestar sin contrapartida de beneficio. Si, subrepticiamente, lo que se pretende con ello es desviar la atención de los verdaderos problemas que aquejan a esta institución, no me parece que este sea el mejor método ni el camino más adecuado para conseguirlo.

 Nota.- Por lo relacionado con este tema, que ha vuelto a ocupar un lugar en la actualidad informativa, adjunto el artículo publicado en el diario” La Nueva España” de Oviedo, con fecha 12 de enero de 2008, bajo el epígrafe “ADIÓS AL BELÉN”.-

C. Díaz Fdez.
Oviedo, 23 de noviembre de 2012

¡ADIÓS AL BELÉN!       
        
Como lector habitual de La Nueva España, he leído con especial atención, y cierto asombro, el artículo que publicó este diario el día 27/12/07, en su última página, bajo el epígrafe: “El Papa revoluciona el belén”

En estos tiempos, en los que la ciencia y la investigación se han ido encargando de cuestionar, cuando no de desmontar, antiguos tabúes y creencias que, por estar fuertemente arraigados, formaban parte del acervo popular, y en cuyo inevitable e imparable proceso no pocas veces a estado implicada la Iglesia Católica, parece sorprendente que el actual máximo representante de esta institución,  Benedicto XVI, entre en esta dinámica, con la presunta intención de  modificar, no se sabe si los hechos históricos, pero si la tradición de siglos, el lugar y el ambiente que los católicos siempre identificaron como cuna de Jesús. Es cierto que, no pocas veces, fue cuestionado el nacimiento de Jesús en Belén, situándolo en Nazaret, pero también lo es el hecho de que no se posee ningún dato histórico que sitúe este acontecimiento en esta localidad de Galilea. Lo que sí es nuevo es que un Papa, por activa o pasiva, intente cambiar lo que hasta ahora se había dado por cierto y que está tan profundamente arraigado en la comunidad cristiana.

Es notorio, que tanto los relatos históricos conocidos, como los Evangelios, no son precisamente claros ni concretos en lo relativo al nacimiento de Jesús, tanto  en el lugar como en la fecha. El profeta Miqueas señalaba, en el siglo VIII a. J.C.,  que el Mesías nacería en Belén. Los Evangelios también contemplan a Belén como el lugar del nacimiento y, particularmente, el de Lucas 2,1 ss hace mención al obligado desplazamiento de la familia de Jesús a esta localidad por razones censales. En cuanto a la fecha, atendiendo a las obras históricas de Flavio Josefo, si es que debemos situarlo como contemporáneo del supuestamente vesánico Herodes el Grande, necesariamente hubo de producirse, paradójicamente, antes del inicio de la era cristiana. El astrónomo Kepler, que relacionó la denominada estrella de Belén con una conjunción astral visible en la Palestina del siglo I, sitúa este suceso en el año 7 a. J.C. La fecha del 25 de diciembre es también ampliamente cuestionada, tomando más fuerza, entre otras, alguna cercana a la primavera. 

Ante lo anteriormente expuesto, y dada la manifiesta confusión que existe en la interpretación de todo lo relacionado con este tema, creo, en mi modesta opinión,  que lo más oportuno y sensato sería dejar las cosas como están. Si desde tan altísima instancia, se sugiere que debemos desprendernos y olvidarnos, entre otras cosas, de los tradicionales belenes: pesebre, asno, buey, pastores, reyes, etcétera, incluidos, amén de aquellos entrañables villancicos que, por razones obvias, perderían su sentido, y que tanta devoción y emoción suscitaron, seguro que se herirá más de un sentimiento y tendrá algún coste en materia de fe; probablemente la virtud teologal de la que menos sobrada está actualmente la Iglesia Católica. Si, poco a poco, nos van a ir desposeyendo de esta tradición, me temo que acabaremos por  dar la razón a los que proponen, desde el laicismo más radical, que se cambien las celebraciones de la Natividad de Jesucristo por el “solsticio de invierno” (en nuestro Hemisferio Norte), volviendo a las costumbres de las antiguas culturas romana y celta que celebraban, en esa fecha, el regreso del Sol, antes de que la Iglesia Católica las cambiara por las presentes. Al menos, al ser este último un hecho astronómico incuestionable, no generaría polémica.

Constantino Díaz Fernández
Oviedo, 12 de enero de 2008

INSISTING ABOUT THE NATIVITY


   Although, in my opinion, the issue of whether inside of the alleged stable of Bethlehem, where the Christian tradition places the birth of Jesus, had or not a ox, donkey, shepherds, star, etc., is  not, even remotely, between the main problems that currently have the Catholic Church, it seems that the current holder of the Chair of St. Peter, Benedict XVI, has a predilection for this issue, which, not without some controversy, already had avowed on several occasions.

   On the occasion of Christmas 2007, the Pope Ratzinger, had installed at the Vatican a birth that was diametrically away from the traditional concept, placing the event in Nazareth, within a traditional family of the time, stripped of all the classic ingredients with which is identifies  this celebration throughout the world; issue that caused great surprise and abundant controversy. Now, with the recent publication of his book "Childhood of Jesus", returns to delve into the same issue, although changing some nuances, for to be again subject of comment in all media of comunication.

   From the respect and consideration that is due to a person of such high social importance, as is the case of the Pope, I think, in this case, he is committing a great mistake. Trying to change habits and manners so ingrained in the Catholic heritage, without an obvious reason for this, is causing much discrepancy without provide any benefit. If, surreptitiously, the aim of this is to divert attention from the real problems that have in this Institution, I think this is not the best method nor the best route to get it.

Note. - In connection with this issue, which has returned to occupy a place on the latest news, herewith the article published in the newspaper "The New Spain" of Oviedo, dated January 12, 2008, entitled "GOODBYE TO THE BETHLEHEM".

C. Díaz Fdez.
Oviedo, November 23, 2012


¡GOODBYE TO THE BETHLEHEM!   
       
   As a regular reader of New Spain, I read with particular care, and some astonishment, the article published in this newspaper, date 27/12/07, on its last page, under the heading: "The Pope revolutionizes the bethlehem."

   In these times, in which science and research have been commissioned to question, even eliminate,  some old taboos and beliefs that were deeply rooted in the popular tradition, and in which unstoppable process, not infrequently,  the Catholic Church has been involved, it seems surprising that the maximum current representative of this institution, Benedict XVI, wants to enter in this dynamic, with the alleged intention to change, it is not known if the historical facts, but if the tradition of centuries, the place and atmosphere in that Catholics always have identified as the birthplace of Jesus. It is truth that, not infrequently, was discussed Jesus' birth in Bethlehem, placing the happening in Nazareth, but so is the fact that there is no historical data for to place this event in this town of Galilee. What is new is that a Pope, for actively or passively, try changing what until now had been admitted by almost all, and that, moreover, is so deeply rooted in the Christian community.

   It is noteworthy, that the historical accounts known, and the Gospels, are not exactly clear and specific with regard to the birth of Jesus, both on place and at the date. The prophet Micah pointed out, in the eighth century. BC., that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. The Gospels also contemplate Bethlehem as the birthplace and, particularly, that of Luke 2:1 ff mentions the forced displacement of Jesus' family to this town for census reasons. As for the date, considering the historical works of Josephus, if we must place him as contemporary of the, supposedly pitiless, Herod the Great, necessarily had to occur, paradoxically, before the beginning of the Christian era. The astronomer Kepler, who linked the so-called star of Bethlehem with a visible astral conjunction in first-century Palestine, places this event in year 7 BC. The date of December 25 is also widely questioned, taking more force, among others, some most close to the spring.

   Given the above, and given the apparent confusion in the interpretation of all matters relating to this issue, I think, in my humble opinion, that it would be more appropriate and sensible to leave things as they are now. If from as high ecclesiastical level, it is suggested that we must let and forget, among other things, the traditional nativity scenes: manger, donkey, ox, shepherds, kings, etc., including  those endearing carols that, for obvious reasons, would lose their sense, and that such devotion and emotion elicited, sure it will hurt more than a feeling and will have some cost in terms of faith; probably the theological virtue less plentiful than the Catholic Church currently have. If, little by little, we are going to removing of this tradition, I fear that we will end up giving the reason to those that,from the most radical secularism, are proposing  change the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus Christ by the "solstice of  winter" (in our Northern Hemisphere), returning again to the customs of the ancient Roman and Celtic cultures, who celebrating, on that date, the return of the sun, before the Catholic Church would have changed it by current. At least, the latter being an astronomical fact unquestionable, will not generate controversy.

Constantino Diaz Fernandez
Oviedo, January 12, 2008





martes, 6 de noviembre de 2012

DIVERSIONES DE ALTO RIESGO



La tragedia vivida durante la celebración de la fiesta de Halloween en el recinto Madrid Arena, en la capital de España, en la noche del pasado 31 de octubre, en la que perdieron la vida 4 jóvenes muchachas y una más resultó herida de extrema gravedad, lo que sumadas a otras, como el caso de la discoteca Factory de Quito, durante un concierto de rock celebrado el 19 de abril de 2008, en la que hubo 17 fallecidos; el de una discoteca en la localidad rusa de Perm, el 5 de diciembre de 2009, con un balance de 109 muertos y más de 130 heridos, o el acontecido durante el festival de música electrónica Love Parade, celebrado el 24 de julio de 2010 en Duisburgo, Alemania, con resultado de 21 muertos y más de 500 heridos, por mencionar solo algunos de los sucesos recientes más relevantes, viene a poner en tela de juicio toda la normativa existente en materia de seguridad para garantizar la integridad física de los asistentes a estas macro concentraciones de personas, o, cuanto menos, el rigor en la exigencia y vigilancia de su aplicación, y exige, de una vez por todas, una respuesta social auténticamente eficaz y definitiva. 
Discoteca Alcalá 20 - Madrid
El incendio acaecido en la madrugada del 17 de diciembre de 1983, en la discoteca Alcalá 20 de Madrid, en el que perecieron 82 personas atrapadas en las deficientes vías de evacuación, causó una auténtica conmoción nacional que llevó a la necesidad de replantear todos los aspectos de seguridad relativos a los locales de pública concurrencia; pero, al día de hoy, a pesar de los muchos años transcurridos, los cambios legislativos, y una mayor disponibilidad de medios, los avances en esta materia, a juzgar por los resultados, no han sido suficientes. La superación del aforo permitido en estos establecimientos, la falta de control en los accesos a las instalaciones y en su interior, los defectos y carencias en las infraestructuras, junto con algunas imprudencias temerarias cometidas, la mayoría de las veces provocadas por estados de euforia derivados de la excesiva ingesta de alcohol, e incluso estupefacientes, suelen estar en el origen de estas tragedias. Evitar que hechos similares puedan volver a repetirse no es solo una necesidad, es, ante todo, una obligación; una labor en la que deben estar implicados todos los estamentos de la sociedad, sin excepciones. Si todos tenemos alguna parte de la culpa, entre todos tenemos que buscar la solución; por supuesto, cada uno en su medida.

Sin separarse del móvil
Situaciones extremas, como las anteriormente mencionadas, en las que la tragedia golpea de forma llamativa a muchas familias, y son portada en todos los medios de comunicación, ponen un plus en la tensión que se vive en el seno de los hogares cuando alguno de sus miembros acude a cualquiera de estos eventos, y acrecienta la particular y sistemática angustia que todos los padres sufren los fines de semana cuando ven partir a sus hijos para pasar la noche fuera de casa, con la incertidumbre de no saber con certeza hacia donde se dirigen ni la suerte que pueden correr durante su ausencia, mientras se mantienen de vigilia atentos al móvil; inquietud que solo encuentra el alivio cuando se escucha la llave en la cerradura de la puerta, aunque ello solo represente el inicio de otros 6 días de sosiego.


La problemática con la que se encuentran los padres para intentar evitar la exposición de sus hijos a todos los riesgos que representa su asistencia, hasta altas horas de la madrugada, a salas de fiesta,  botellones, etcétera, donde uno de los fines primordiales es el consumo de alcohol, cuando no se mezcla también la droga, es la de carecer de argumentos suficientes para convencer a los jóvenes, sobre todo cuando estos  vienen cumpliendo satisfactoriamente con sus deberes, de que abandonen una práctica que ellos consideran como normal y forma parte elemental de sus relaciones sociales. Este complejo y engorroso asunto, una vez que ha alcanzado las dimensiones actuales, no será nada fácil de erradicar, y la solución, sin duda, tendrá que pasar por generar un cambio en el modelo de ocio de la juventud. La cuestión es si estamos realmente convencidos de su necesidad y, sobre todo, dispuestos a poner todos los medios para conseguirlo.


C. Díaz Fdez.
Oviedo noviembre de 2012


AMUSEMENTS OF HIGH RISK



Halloween party (Madrid Arena 2012)
Love Parade (Duisburg 2010 - Germany)
   The tragedy that occurred during the celebration of the Halloween party at the Madrid Arena enclosure, in the capital of Spain, on the night of October 31, in which died four young girls and another have outcome wounded  extremely serious, and  that, attached with others happenings, such as the case of Factory nightclub, of Quito, during a rock concert celebrated on April 19, 2008, in which there were 17 deaths; that of a nightclub in the Russian town of Perm, on December 5, 2009, with a balance of 109 dead and over 130 injured, or the produced during the electronic music festival Love Parade, held on July 24, 2010 in Duisburg, Germany, resulting in 21 dead and over 500 injured, to mention only some of the most relevant recent events, have come for to put into question all existing regulations on security to ensure the physical safety of those attendees to these massive  concentrations of people, or, at least, the strictness and  demands in monitoring its implementation, and requires, of once and for all, of a response of society truly and definitive. 

Disco Alcala 20 - Madrid
   The fire that occurred on the morning of December 17, 1983, at the disco Alcala 20 Madrid, which killed 82 people trapped in the  deficients escape routes, caused a national commotion that led to the need to rethink all aspects of security relating to public places, but, to date, despite the many years, legislative changes, and greater availability of resources, progress in this area, judging by the results, have not been sufficient. Overcoming of permitted capacity in these establishments, lack of control to the access and control in their own facilities, defects and deficiencies in the infrastructure, along with some unwise actions committed, very often caused by euphoric states derived from excessive intake of alcohol, even drugs, are frequently at the origin of these tragedies. Prevent that similar events happen again is not just a necessity, it is, above all, an obligation, a task in which they should be involved all levels of society, without exception. If we all have some part of the blame, we all have to find the solution; of course, each one to the extent that corresponds.

The endless wait
   Extreme situations, such as those mentioned above, where tragedy strikes many family, and are  propagate in all media, increases the tension that exists within households when one of its members goes to any of these events, and feeds the particular anxiety that all parents have the weekends when their children come out to spend the night away from home, with the uncertainty of not knowing for sure where they go or how lucky can run in his absence, while keeping vigil with the mobile phone to the view; concern that only is relieved when is heard the key in the lock of the door, although it represents only the beginning of other six days of quietude.

Youth people given to drinking
   The problem than parents are finding when they try to avoid exposing their children to all the risks which represents their attendance, late into the morning, at night clubs, meetings of bottles, etc., where one of the primary purposes is the alcohol consumption, even also the drug mixture, is the lack of sufficient arguments to convince young people, especially when they are fulfilling their duties satisfactorily, to abandon a practice that they are considering normal and one part elemental of their social relationships. This complex and cumbersome affair, once it has reached the present size, will not be easy to eradicate, and the solution will undoubtedly have to go through about a radical change in the model of youth entertainment. The question is whether we are really convinced of its necessity and, above all, willing to use all means to get it.

C. Diaz Fdez
Oviedo November 2012

domingo, 21 de octubre de 2012

THE SPANISH NATIONALIST RESURGENCE


Obviously, within the frame of basic freedoms that should consecrate any democratic constitution, every citizen, personally, or through the participation mechanisms established, has the right to publicly express their views, opinions and aspirations, with the unique and inexcusable condition of respect and abide the laws in force. The strength of peoples depends precisely on the union of all its members, of mutual respect, in that there is not any cracks between public institutions, and is, in turn, prerequisite to achieve the necessary degree of confidence, internal and external, to overcome the difficulties and take advantage by the opportunities that exist in the globalized world in which we live now. When these assumptions are not met, the immediate result is the generation of internal conflicts and tensions, leading, inexorably, to the loss in the image projected abroad, and, if not corrected immediately and effectively, the consequences lead directly to the abyss of failure.
 
Movements Catalans separatist
In the Spanish case, the continuing and persistent gaffes of Catalan and Basque nationalists and, more modestly, the Galicians, which based on historical arguments pilgrims, beginning each one the story in the  moment where more suit them, with more interest to the ruling class and those who are always glued to power that for the common and current people, are putting a discordant note that could end up hurting, in serious form, to the whole State. Not is that the nationalist idea of these communities be new, but the inappropriateness of exacerbating this concept and talk openly of independence in a tender moment that Spain is passing as a nation, is a torpedo in the water line that can sink the boat in which we traveled all Spanish. The illusion that, without much success by the way, they want to transfer to the citizens of those communities, based on the idea that if they can get the independence will live better than within the Spanish nation, is false from beginning to end. The attempt to sell the idea that if they become independent states could be incorporated to the European Union as the such, when the reality is that this would require the acceptance of all current members, besides that the country in which secession occurs has veto power, the which, for obvious reasons, without hint of doubt, your project would become unviable. Without the synergy that provides Spain, and isolated in Europe, with weak structures to survive as sovereign states, the future looks not very promising; clear that, in all these situations, there's always someone that takes very good advantage, but, as usual, at the expense of many losers: those who always have to endure stoically all the hardship and scarcely involved in the benefit.

Inpossible dreams
No one should try to prevent nationalist sentiments of others, nor drown the aspirations of independence of any people, provided that all this is conducted through legal channels, in a timely manner, without causing damage to third parties and, of course, with bases, reasons and solid arguments and credible. What we must not to do is use tricks and fallacies to confuse the public and create statements of opinion made on purpose. Resorting to "historical reasons", or "differential facts", applied in the time and moment most favorable  for each, does not seem the most appropriate, nor fair, nor honest. All countries, states, regions, etc., at some point in their history, have had moments of splendor and decadence. If each people will use the more auspicious historical moments as an argument to claim what you think you are your rights, the row that could be formed for this purpose would be endless. At this time the Catalans, Basques and Galicians are trying to assert rights that are based on concessions, via statutes, that they achieved in the political system of the Second Republic, which was in force in Spain since April 14, 1931 to April 1, 1939, a period marked by several successive crises that led to the Civil War, with such disastrous consequences for the entire country and its people, of which, despite the passage of time, there are still some sequels now. The Catalans have the pretense of asserting the statute approved on 9 September 1932, then suspended by the events of October 6, 1934 and returned with the victory of the Popular Front in February 1936, and was finally repealed in February 1939 with the occupation of Catalonia by the troops of General Franco. The Basques want to focus on the statute that,  in full the war, the Republican Parliament approved the October 1, 1936, and have had so little time to enjoy. Meanwhile the Galicians, although with less intensity, have homesickness  for the lost opportunity to see their statute approved, ratified by popular referendum celebrated on June 28, 1936, and that, finally, could not be presented to the Parliament of the Republic for having been Galicia dominated by Franco's forces. All this without getting into childish language issues that, for sterile and remote from the needs of the real world we live in, don't  even deserve the briefest comment.

Times past
 Luckily that to this extensive chain of nonsense, deployed in the most inopportune time, don't are aggregated other communities that could also argue other historical reasons for feeding this deranged  controversy. What to say if, for example, Asturias will reclaim the lands gained in times of the death of Alfonso III (year 910), when the Astur kingdom included lands of Galicia, extending its borders to the north of Portugal to Coimbra, and Castile until the kingdom of Pamplona, at a time when the rest of the Iberian Peninsula was dominated by the Emirate of Córdoba, under the name of Al-Andalus? I sincerely believe that Spain, at this moment, is not for this kind of jokes, and which, united under the 1978 Constitution, is should strengthen unity among all peoples, without exception, raising the national consciousness over any other interest, direct or group, and try to push all in the same direction; without doubt that will be the only way to overcome the crisis and keep the way of progress. Remain out of time and place, staying anchored in reveries of the past, not lead anywhere, is as amazing as if someone pretend go to hunt dinosaurs, ignoring that these became extinct 65 million years ago  and that, besides, anymore will return.

C. Díaz Fdez.
Oviedo, October 2012