Gibraltar

Tercentenary Celebrations - 300 Years of British Rule !

Photo © Jack Cox - www.TravelPicsPro.com

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On the 4th. August 2004, the British Colony of Gibraltar marked 300 years of British rule.  The isthmus was captured on the 3rd. August 1704 by Anglo-Dutch feet during the war of the Spanish succession. The Spanish garrison on Gibraltar serenaded and officially handed over control of The Rock the following day (4th.August).  The terms of the surrender were generous.  The Spanish solders were allowed to leave with whatever possessions and provisions they could load on to carts.  The Spanish citizens were given the choice to go in peace or to stay.  Those who chose to remain and become free British citizens where grated full rights and privileges.

300 years on you would think the Spanish had got used to the idea.  They don't make all this fuss about Portugal and you certainly do not see Britain making a fuss each 4th.of July when America celebrates its independence.  But Spanish foreign policy has failed to grow up since the days of General Franco' dictatorship.  

I had spoken to many British people about Gibraltar, and most had said "let Spain have them, they're not British". I wondered why the Gibraltar people had this reputation. Was it deserved? Personally I found them warm and charming. Yet they seem to fall into two camps, there are those who look British and speak English by choice. The other type, whose families have been Gibraltarian longer (perhaps since before 1704) are of mixed blood and speaking Spanish amongst themselves. I wondered whether these wanted to keep their ties with Britain, more for financial reasons than because of any deep rooted sense of cultural identity.

Gibraltar has been influenced by its much bigger neighbour in matters of culture and language. The Rock has become a hybrid community and this could prove its undoing in the eyes of the mainland British. Maybe if they crave mainland support, they will need to make up their minds. Perhaps if they declared their allegiance to Britain with their everyday activities and language, not just with flags and banners, they would get more of the support they require. 

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Gibraltar forms the eastern shore of a bay that has been of commercial importance from earliest times. It has been claimed that the port of Tharshish, to which the fleets of Solomon resorted, was situated here. Certainly the Phoenicians recognised the advantages of its protective geographical features; they founded the colony of  Melcarthos (Carteia) on the north shore during the 9th century B.C.

Gibraltar has a long history. It was ruled by the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans and Visigoths but remained uninhabited until the invasion of the Iberian peninsula by the Moors from North Africa in 711 A.D. The invasion was let by Tariq-ibn-Zeyad. It is from this Moorish warlord that Gibraltar gets its name, Gibel Tariq or Tariq's Mountain. This is where we need to remember that the Moors took Gibraltar from the Visigoths, not from the ancestors of modern Spaniards

The predominantly Christian, European Spanish race, who are now claiming Gibraltar, are but newcomers on the scene. And what do they have to offer? Crippling Social Security, even if you don't earn you have to pay. Imprisonment without trial, sometimes for years! The Spanish system is still based on the long outdated Napoleonic model. Even membership of the E.U. has not spurred them to update their thinking. The predominantly Christian, European Spanish race euphemistically call their ousting of the Moors the "The Reconquest" although they were not taking Spain "back" they were invading Moorish Spain!

The Spaniards finally captured Gibraltar from the Moors in 1462 and retained it until 1704.Ever since then it has remained in British hands. So in Gibraltar's long history it was only Spanish for a mere 242 years. Britain has now held it for 300 years so we would seem to have the strongest claim !!!

Spain also holds two enclaves in North Africa; Ceuta & Melilla, which Morocco would dearly love to have back but the Spanish have no intention of returning these territories. Yet they expect us to return Gibraltar.

In talks with Morocco over these contested territories, the Spanish government have 
repeatedly emphasised the principle of self-determination. Yet they totally disregard this corner-stone of democracy in their attitude to Gibraltar. A very big double standard, don't you think? 

Remember the Falklands? Where are the Gunboats and Sea Harriers to defend Gibraltar? Maybe we Brits have some double standards too !!!

Yet the most puzzling thing of all is why do the Spanish want to take over Gibraltar in the first place? One would think they had enough problems with the Basques without making the same mistake here!