This September has been a bit strange. On the one hand we began the month, remembering the tragedy of 11 September , on the other hand, if we read spanish news and we see or study the spanish situation is when I can afirm that this month has been pretty strange.
When I was child, and I was in the school, i had a subjetct named History. I could study that in the end of the XVIII Century, ( more or less, I think it was S XVIII , sorry if I am wrong) a new movement was born. It was called nationalism. New countries, new feelings .... but now in the XXI Century this movement has more strong. Cataluña, a spanish region or area, wants to do a referendum (elections) to decide if they want to separate of Spain. They don't want to be spainish but they want to be europeans citizens. OMG!!!! Terrible thoughts. Somebody can understand it? , Frankly, in the actual situation I think, and it's my opinion, we have a lot of stuff to do, to solve our actual situation, before attending these new movements. Another movement, 25 S is asking changes and solutions to our actual situation.
Are you agree with me that this month has been a bit strange?
It's only my opinion. Perhaps I am wrong or not , I don't know. But I think we have to solve our actual situation, involving and working all spanish people ( spaniards) together.
This September has been a little strange On ()one hand we began the month remembering the tragedy of 11th September, on the other hand, we read THE Spanish news and we see or study the Spanish situation WHICH I can confirm that this month has been pretty strange.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was A child, and I was AT school, I had a subject CALLED History I could SEE that AT the end of the XVIII Century(more or less, I think it was S XVIII, sorry if I am wrong) a new movement was born. It was called Nationalism. New countries, new feelings... but now in the XXI Century this movement has BECOME STRONGER. Cataluña, a Spanish region or area, wants to () HAVE a referendum (elections) to decide if they want to separate FROM Spain. They don`t want to be Spanish but they want to be European citizens. OMG!!!! WHAT terrible thoughts. CAN ANYBODY understand it? Frankly, in the actual situation I think and it`s my opinion, we have a lot of (PREFER THE WORD THINGS RATHER THAN STUFF" to do, to solve our actual situation before attending these new movements. Another movement, 25 S is asking FOR changes and solutions to our actual situation. DO you agree with me that this month as been a bit strange?
It`s only my opinion. Perhaps MAYBE I am wrong, I don`t know. But I think we have to solve our actual situation, involving and working all Spanish people together.
Very well written Javier.
We have the same kind of problem here, many Scottish people would like to separate and become independent, but many people are of the opinion that Scotland could not survive alone.
I agree with you. They alone never will be able to survive.
DeleteI think On the one hand .... on the other hand is correct. Yo corrected me and you deleted: On THE one hand. Why? Gramatically I think is correct ;)
ReplyDeleteor not? I don't know.
Yes Javier, you are completely correct!!!!! I have read your writing again and you are right.
ReplyDeleteOn this side of the pond we have the same thing happening with Quebec and Canada. And of course South Sudan just split off from the rest of Sudan. It seems to be mostly about cultural autonomy, to preserve language, religion, and ethnicity. And these forces seems stronger when the economic advantages of being part of a larger group diminish.
ReplyDeleteThe last time this occurred in the US was in the middle of the 1800s, when there was a significant cultural divide between North and South, and the South felt economically threatened by the anti-slavery movements of the North. That culminated in a horrendous 4-year civil war. Nowadays, even though we have a lot of cultural diversity in the country, everyone is all mixed up geographically, so there is little real talk of any kind of separation.
As to whether the separated groups could survive, it's not clear to me. There certainly is a worldwide movement towards economic union, but we also have the examples of Switzerland and Singapore.
Do you think the cultural autonomy is more important than the economic advantages? Without economy, the feeling autonomy may become a big disater. In my opinion, you can be part of a big country without leaving to be part of them. All efforts will help to the country and in effect to the part that you want. Is better few but strong than a lot of countries with poor economy or autonomy. Economy and Autony go together. Don't forget it! But are we coming back to the XVII Century???
ReplyDeleteDo you think the cultural autonomy is more important than the economic advantages? Without A GOOD/VIBRANT economy, the feeling OF autonomy may become a big disaster. In my opinion, you can be part of a big country without (leaving to be part of them)(?)(without losing your cultural identity, maybe). All efforts will help [] the country and in effect [] the part that you want. IT Is better TO HAVE A few but strong COUNTRIES than a lot of countries with A poor economy AND autonomy. A GOOD economy and autonomy go together. Don't forget it! But are we GOing back to the XVII Century???
DeleteWe may be going back to the period of nationalism in terms of the size of the political entities that came out of that. But that period was in fact one of consolidation from the previous city-states, so in that sense it was more like the economic unification efforts that we have seen in recent decades.