The Spaniards have always had a sense of themselves. But the rest of the world has little sense of who they are.
For centuries the French had an expression "Europe stops at the Pyrenees," meaning the country on the far side of the Pyrenees Mountains - Spain - wasn't part of Europe. But non-Europeans knew a European country when they saw one, and it looked a lot like Spain.Even in the "New World" the Spaniards became the odd nation out as a dozen Latin American nations struggled fiercely for personal identity.
And now in Utah, "Los Espanoles" are out to establish their individuality again with La Casa de Espana - the House of Spain - an organization dedicated to getting the word out about the land of Don Quixote.
What are the group's goals?
"You mean besides becoming millionaires and reconquering the Americas?" says Maite Bastida, one of the organizers.
Yes, besides that.
"Well, we want to educate people about our culture. Then we want to help the 300 Spaniards who are already in Utah. Eventually we plan to hold celebrations and raise funds for a building."
A celebration was held at the state Capitol last week to kick things off. And for Baldomero S. Lago, one of the group's founding fathers, the moment was especially sweet.
"It must have been two years ago that I was at the Office of Hispanic Affairs and didn't see anything representing Spain," he says. "I found out there was nothing official for us. Then by chance I met the Spanish consul in Utah and asked about forming an organization for Spaniards. He thought it was a good idea and gave me some direction."
And like Bastida, Lago sees education as an important tool. Partly because many Americans have always thought of Spain as the land of gypsies, guitars and bullfights. But according to Bastida, such things are just one ingredient in the cultural "paella."
"Those things are mostly in the south," she says. "Other parts of Spain have their own folklore, traditions and even a different genetic make-up."
One thing, however, seems to be true for all Spaniards. The country's history is never far from their minds. From the Spanish Empire of the 15th century, through the days of the Spanish Inquisition (Spain was the one European nation without a Protestant Reformation) down through the Spanish Civil War of the 1930s (think Hemingway) and then the ironfisted rule of Francisco Franco, Spanish writers, thinkers and politicians have constantly reworked the themes of their past for material.
"We believe that understanding our history is one way to know who we've become," says Bastida. "We've had a bloody past, that's true. But then so has almost every country."
"History is indeed important to us," adds Lago. "But so is tradition and culture."
And he and others will be trying to establish some Spanish traditions in Utah. As Bastida said in her speech at the Capitol last Saturday:
"In the last 15 years I've lived in approximately 30 different places. I've had the good fortune of traveling to other countries, meet people from other cultures and live in places outside my city and native country. That has helped me gain a broader vision of the expansiveness of the world and of the great diversity of cultures, and how culture can support the enrichment of individuals and entire communities. . . .
"Let's be proud to be the pioneers of The House of Spain, whatever work it will costs us. Let's be players, not just spectators."
All Spaniards who wish to join the team should call 267-7326.