I was incredibly saddened to hear of the train bombings in Spain that killed 199 people. As a New Yorker, I know that raw feeling after blinding violence. As a citizen of the global community, I join them in mourning. I was even more moved at the 2.3 million people that marched on Madrid, their president leading them, to show solidarity as a nation for the families of the victims , to "reject violence" and to promote the notion of peace.

It will be interesting to see how their government reacts in the coming months to this horrible terrorist attack. The president has vowed to catch the terrorists responsible for this bombing, but it will be interesting to me to see to what lengths he is willing to go to avenge his nation, given the precedent that the USA has set with our war on terrorism. If the culprit is say, France, and Canada is presumed to be a friend and aid to France, does he launch a preemptive strike on Canada? Does he decide to invade France and give them a new government that promotes freedom and a government structured the way Spain decides is best?

Or will this leader find a way to keep his country together, in this provoked unity, and find a way to get justice in a peaceful manner? Is that possible? Does violence have to beget violence? I say it doesn't. I say there is a way to bring those responsible to justice without upping the stakes and calling for more bloodshed from innocent people. Seeing the 2.3 million people of Spain marching for peace gives me hope that there are people in the world that get that too. Hopefully they can set a precedent of dealing with terrorism without promoting terrorism.

If you want to read more, Millions in Madrid Protest Train Attacks

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