This article in El Pais – English version is very silly in
many ways… A Spanish Colonel and historian, Esteban Vicente Boisseau says that the
mysterious entity called “Hollywood”, is making a concerted effort to
smear Spain and Spanish people by perpetuating the so-called leyenda negra. The leyenda negra was the bad
press Spain received in the 16th century and later when they were top dogs in
the world. When you're on top, everyone wants to shoot you down.
First off, really Colonel ? Are we six years old? Who cares
what Hollywood thinks or says?
Second, I am really sorry to have to report this to you, but
“Hollywood” (whoever they are) does not think about Spain one way or another
very much. The only thing Hollywood thinks about is making money. If Spain
crops up every once in awhile to be used in movies - then fine.
Third, I also have to report to you that movies aren’t real,
they are not an historical record and I think most everybody knows it. I am not
sure why you would be taking silly movies so seriously but you should probably
knock it off.
This military guy, Boisseau, also seems to hold particular
hostility toward Theodore Roosevelt. I guess he is still pissed about the
Spanish American war. He is very concerned that Roosevelt was portrayed
positively in that serious cinematic vehicle “Night at the Museum”. Well, I
don’t know about you, but I get all my historical facts from Ben Stiller movies.
