Peace and Hope

We have a weekend place an hour and a half drive outside of Madrid in the Guadarrama mountains. This picture is from there. Seventy years ago this idyllic spot was one of the most fiercely disputed battle fronts in the legendary defense of Madrid, swept by artillery and machine gun fire. Many died here. Spain ended its civil war a wretchedly poor and broken country in the hands of murderous dictator... Time passed and today Spain is one of world's most prosperous countries with no death penalty, free health insurance for the entire population, gay marriage... even the possession of marijuana for personal use is legal... And a socialist government. Whenever you despair of ever seeing progress or peace, visit the Guadarrama mountains. DS