Dawn

Dawn

Friday, March 01, 2013

I believe I'm on record here saying that the only sure outcome of the EU horsemeat imbroglio was that the opportunity would be taken to increase prices. So I wasn't too surprised to read Tesco's statement that “The horse-meat scandal will hit profit margins and may force up prices for consumers.” The use of 'may', I contend, is disingenuous.

My friend Alfie B Mittington recently took another friend Anthea to task for repetition of the view that all was hunky-dory during the Convivencia of Moors, Christians and Jews down in Islamic Spain a while back. Specifically Alfie wrote: “That is a silly myth, brought into the world by 19th century liberals who wanted to prove that Islam was superior to Christianity. The Cordoba Caliphate, for all its splendour, was military machine grafted onto a slave-society. It was no better, and no worse, than its Christian contemporaries.” In this, Alfie is supported by the scholar Richard Fletcher, who takes the same line in his excellent introduction to Moorish Spain, called – aptly enough – Moorish Spain. Of which one reviewer has written: “[This] is a refreshing tonic against the plethora of books on Islamic Spain idealising the supposed Convivencia. Fletcher avoids the tendency among many scholars who wish to find an apt, hopeful (albeit unrealistic) Christian-Islamic modus vivendi for Europe's present-day demographic predicament based on a romanticised model of medieval Spain. Presented in a well-researched, matter-of-fact fashion, the 'good' is presented in the context of the 'bad and the ugly'.” Indeed. Highly recommended to at least everyone who lives down south, among the fabulous reminders of those centuries critical in Spain's cultural development.

But back to the ugly present - Opinion on the EU has reached a new low, at least in Ireland - "The Troika has done more damage to Ireland than Britain ever did in 800 years," said David Begg, head of the Irish Confederation of Trade Unions.” Worse than the British Empire, bloody hell. That's some going. “At least the IMF officials are willing to admit they have been wrong but the EU officials are total ideologues." Mr Begg added, alongside a comparison with World War I donkeys masquerading as generals.

Two 'emblematic' Spanish companies have declared vast losses this week. Firstly, there
the new bank, Bankia, formed from 7 or 8 savings banks (cajas/caixas) a few years ago. Its loss was the biggest in Spain's corporate history. Secondly, there was Iberia, whose performance is a huge drag on that of British Airways within the company (IAG) which owns both of them. Is it any wonder attempts are being made to cut costs in this hitherto feather-bedded operation?

There was a letter in El País or El Mundo today in which the writer labelled herself a mileurista. This is someone earning around a thousand euros a month. The word was in common use at least a decade or so ago. If anyone who was a mileurista back then is still one now, they'll have been hit very hard by inflation rates which have doubled the price of most things. A latent revolutionary?

Finally . . . As I lay on the sofa this evening suffering the nasal effects of a cold, I could hear an unusual sound coming up from the city. I finally realised it was drummers practising for the Semana santa processions. When we get to see a lot of folk dressed up in eerie costumes which put those of the Ku Klux Klan to shame. I do hope we have a new Pope by then. It won't be Holy Week without one.

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