The Iberian Peninsula with Spain and Portugal has been a popular territory for many different people for thousands of years. The Altamira cave in Cantabria for instance shows wall paintings tens of thousands of years old  made by early modern people and in Galicia has been found prehistoric Celtic settlements. It is believed that Iberia and Tartessos were names of the two most advanced societies around 5000 B.C.

The peninsula was visited by the Phoenicians, the Greeks, the Carthaginians, and some of the visitors stayed for good. But then came a regular invasion by the Romans and they took control over the entire peninsula which they named Hispania. The Romans stayed in power for hundreds of years but when the Roman Empire began to crumble savage Germanic tribes took the opportunity and raided the peninsula. The Romans then commissioned to their powerful ally the Visigoths to liberate Hispania. The Visigoths made a good job of it and as a result themselves stayed in power for a couple of hundred years.

Then in the early eight century the first wave of Moorish invaders from North Africa came ashore at Tarifa near Gibraltar with the primary purpose of raiding and looting the areas closest to the coast which they had heard was very rich. But in the end they came in many thousands launching a full campaign of war. They went as far north as southern France in the beginning but after a while they were pushed back as far as to the south of the Pyrenees. They never managed to occupy the areas facing the Bay of Biscay, like Galicia, Cantabria, Asturias, and the Basque Country. Some say that they probably thought the price would be too high as they were in for easy wins, low risk, and big rewards. They named their territory Al-Andalus and they were to have a profound influence on everything – language, architecture, science, technology, music, and you name it -for more than seven hundred years.

But beginning with the successful recapture of Córdoba (1236) the arab hold on Spain gradually was loosened by the joint christian kingdoms in the north. And in the end they were completely expelled from Spain by the united Spanish catholic rulers Ferdinand and Isabella and the last place they were forced to let go of was Granada with their precious Alhambra, the gem in the crown of Al-Andalus. The last Moorish emperor Boabdil left Alhambra in disgrace 1491 after having been utterly defeated.

With a history like that it is easy to understand that there are no typical cultural features like there still are for instance in Northern Europe. Some Spaniards have a Nordic look with pale skin and fair hair, others have Moorish features with olive colored skin, and brown hair and some have African features with dark skin and black hair but maybe with a European twist and others still have features from the native people of South America.

But even if the people of Spain is a blend of people from many different origins the awareness of being Spanish and the acceptance of common values and of Spain as a sovereign nation with clear boundaries is very strong among the people of Spain whatever their origin might be.

It has taken Spain thousands of years to become well-integrated. Yes, Spain is culturally diversified but that is not permitted to compromise the security and unity of the nation. The process of integration and assimilation thus requires many generations in order to succeed.

It is therefore very alarming to observe what is happening in Europe right now (2015) when, above all, German and Swedish politicians have made up their mind to let un-skilled people from medieval clan-based arabic and african cultures migrate in millions into the EU in a very short time.

The other day a Swedish minister said, regarding the chaotic situation with thousands of immigrants pouring into Sweden every single day, that it is “going to get worse before it is getting better”.

My fear is that it is going to be really bad for many decades to come if the official method of dealing with difficult problems is governed by feelings, open hearts, and tears instead of strong leadership and sustainable action.