Guernica and La Rielera

On April 28, 1937, Picasso’s ‘Guernica’ painting was inaugurated in the Spanish Pavilion at the Paris World’s Fair. The painting is a protest against war, in particular, the Spanish Civil War (1936-39).

General Franco, attempting to overthrow the elected Spanish government, bombed the village of Guernica in northern Spain with the aid of the Germans. This bombing was a cold-blooded mission designed to test tactics and equipment, and to terrorize the people. For over three hours, bombers dropped bombs until Guernica was reduced to rubble. 1,600 defenseless civilians were killed or injured.

80 years later, we continue bombing mostly innocent people around the world with excuses of ‘democratizing’, or because the beliefs of those people there are different from ours… The reality, I think is far from this, our actions, through those who represent us, are due to the desire to control others and expand our might, and for economic power.

If we are against bullying in our schools and at work, why do we accept bullying other people in other countries in our name? Will we ever change our ways?

I believe that Picasso would have approved of my inserting the Rielera figure on his painting for the sake of peace.