Final Stretch, 26. Party Like It's 2099.

Niñatos. That is a Spanish term that, in one word, serves to describe privileged kids who have no sense of responsibility, and are selfish as hell. That word describes a great deal of the teenagers that went on end-of-school trips to Palma de Mallorca, where they cavorted to their hearts' content, and are now disseminating new cases of Covid all over the country.

There are a few that realize they are responsible for their actions, but just a few. One, a Galician, interviewed by La Voz de Galicia, declared that they had been at fault for attending a macro concert in Palma's bull ring, and various other parties, knowing that the pandemic is still there. Unfortunately, those don't get much air time.

The ones that do, are the ones that are angry that their trip has been interrupted. Over two hundred have been confined by the Govern Balear to a four star hotel on the city's ocean front. Of those, about sixty-two had tested positive by yesterday. These children and their parents are mostly complaining about their treatment, claiming that they have been kidnapped by the island's regional government, and that they're being mistreated. As examples, they cite the food, that some don't like, and one girl said that in three days housekeeping hadn't changed her sheets. (Because, of course, mummy would only cook their favorite dishes, and change their sheets every day.) They are demanding they be allowed to travel home in some cases, and to finish their stay the way they want, in others.

The regional government is trying to keep all those niñatos from spreading contagion any more throughout the rest of the country. Already, there are over 1,700 people infected from these school trips, both the kids themselves and friends and family members; the father of one of these students from Madrid is hospitalized, and one of the kids from Elche is in the ICU. This isn't a joke. 

But it seems to be just that to many of those confined in that hotel. Neighbors have been calling the police, complaining of loud music until well past five in the morning. Local bars have been selling alcohol to many of the kids, who have taken possession of it by lowering home-made ropes from the balconies. Some kids have escaped supervision, and left the hotel. One of those that did, came back, feeling unwell. Another one is still being searched for. Three fled and took a plane back to the peninsula, and are also being tracked down. Not all the kids confined to the hotel are irresponsible, though. One girl complained to reception, saying that kids that were Covid positive were going from room to room, partying with their friends. She was angry that, while she and her roommates put on a double mask just to step outside onto their balcony, others were being completely irresponsible. The receptionist told her that the hotel management couldn't do anything.

The thing is, most of these trips were not school-sanctioned, like they usually are. Various groups of friends got together and, with their parents' help, chartered the trips. Surely, the authorities in the Balearic Islands must have suspected what was about to be unleashed upon them. Kids don't change, and I remember very well how uninhibited we were on our school-end trip to Bermuda. That was in the 1980's, but teenagers will be teenagers throughout time, and teenagers today are not any wiser than we were. 

Of course, this is becoming a political issue. The extreme right wing wouldn't be what it is if it didn't take advantage of it. One of its regional representatives in the Balearic legislature said that the unaccompanied foreign minors (MENAS) here illegally, are better treated that the poor Spanish students who were simply trying to have a good time. Funny, I don't see any foreign unaccompanied minors here lodged in four star hotels that will be free to join their families in other parts of Spain at the end of ten days. 

With each generation that comes along, we say, "This is the generation that will be taught that we need to look out for each other. This is the generation that will learn there is a better way to live, in community and in peace." Well, it's not this one, yet. This isn't to say that there aren't good kids, there are. I have the pleasure of having some of them as students, and I am the proud mother of one of those good kids. But there are still so many out there that are taught to think only of me, me, me. They're taught that their rights are more important than anyone else's. What mean and small spirits their parents have. Unfortunately, unless something strong happens to those kids while still children, most likely they will grow up to be as egocentric as their parents, or more. 

I propose, that if someone dies from catching Covid from one of these kids, that the kid's parents, and the charters that allowed the partying, be sued so badly they won't know what tornado hit them. Some only learn by being touched on the wallet. 

Life continues.