The massive demostration in the streets of Barcelona on September 11th has started a process that could end, in the not-so-distant future, with a secession of Catalonia from Spain.
While I respect the nationalist and secessionist feelings of a large part of the population of Catalonia, one of my concerns is precisely that it’s a feeling. A feeling can’t be argumented, I can’t argue over a feeling, you can’t convince me that your feelings are better than mine. I’d rather argue over ideas than flags.
I also think that secession is the solution to the wrong kind of problem, and sadly the political discourse and public debate has shifted from the severe budget cuts in healthcare and education to the national question. Nationalist politicians may be correct when they point out the inequality and injustice of the current financing and taxing system in place in Spain, but I’d call into question the timing of their complaints, which, in my opinion, has more to do with changing the subject of the public debate by invoking an external threat, one as powerful in the catalonian imagery as evil centralist spaniards, than about rightful demands for the betterment of their people.
But most of all, I find the whole national discourse a little bit outdated. I find myself more comfortable in a world of networks, of connections and bonds based on affinity, common interests and projects, rather than land, tongue, flag or culture.