From the USS Maine in 1898 to Today’s Global Conflicts
History has a way of echoing across time. Circumstances change, leaders change, and even the nations involved may change. Yet the way events are presented to the public often follows patterns that feel remarkably familiar.
In recent days there has been significant discussion surrounding Spain’s decision, under Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, to refuse permission for the United States to use Spanish military bases as a launching point for attacks against Iran. Spain’s reasoning appeared straightforward. Allowing such operations could place Spanish territory at risk and potentially draw the country into a wider conflict.
During several conversations I had with different individuals, I repeatedly heard the same claim: that Spain had quietly reversed its position and had ultimately allowed the United States to proceed.
Yet when I looked for confirmation of that claim through international reporting, I could not find evidence that Spain had formally reversed its position. That moment prompted me to reflect on how often public perception can be shaped by the narratives that circulate within a particular country.
History offers a powerful example of this dynamic.
In 1898, the explosion of the battleship USS Maine in Havana Harbor shocked the American public. Newspapers across the United States quickly blamed Spain for the disaster, and dramatic headlines fueled a wave of public outrage. The phrase “Remember the Maine” became a rallying cry that helped propel the United States toward war with Spain.
However, historians have debated the cause of that explosion ever since. While early investigations suggested the possibility of an external mine, later studies raised the possibility that the explosion may have originated from within the ship itself. More than a century later, the exact cause remains a subject of historical debate.
What is clear is that the narrative presented to the public in 1898 played a powerful role in shaping how people understood the situation.
Many Americans at the time only had access to the information that appeared in their domestic newspapers. Alternative interpretations of the event rarely reached the same audience.
Today, the world is very different. Information moves instantly across borders. People can read news reports from Madrid, London, Buenos Aires, or Tokyo within seconds. Yet despite these technological advances, many individuals still rely primarily on the narratives presented within their own national media.
When we hear only one version of events, we risk missing important parts of the story.
This does not mean that one country always tells the truth while another always distorts it. Rather, it reminds us that international events are complex and that different societies often interpret those events through different cultural and political lenses.
History teaches us an important lesson: before forming strong conclusions about global events, it is wise to explore multiple perspectives.
When we do, we often discover that reality is far more nuanced than the headlines suggest.
History is not only shaped by what happens. It is also shaped by how those events are remembered, interpreted, and passed on to future generations.
And sometimes the most important step toward understanding history is simply taking the time to listen to more than one voice.
Edwin Ortiz
President, National Puerto Rico and Spain Initiative

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