In class, I say:
“By the 1890s, Spain was a crumbling old Empire that was barely managing to hold on to the remnants of its imperial possessions. However, at this time, there was a country that had accumulated enough economic and military resources to enable it to declare its intentions to become the new world power. This country attacked the Spanish Empire in a highly symbolic gesture that inaugurated the beginning of a new world order. This country would become a new empire that will dominate the politics of the XXth century with its imperial aspirations. What country am I talking about?”*
The only students in both sections who knew the answer had names like Esteban Garcia and Josefina Vasquez. The rest of the students suggested Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, and Russia.
Draw your own conclusions.
* I know the language sounds bombastic and very different from the way I normally speak. But the lecture was in Spanish, and I’m trying to translate what I said as closely as possible to the original.
Clarissa's Blog 
Leave a comment