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A Separate Catalonia? Spain is fascinating because it is not a country, but at least five countries
American Thinker ^ | 01/03/2016 | Mike Konrad

Posted on 01/03/2017 8:37:10 AM PST by SeekAndFind

I am not Spanish, but I am following in the path of other Americans -- such as Washington Irving, Ernest Hemingway, and Orson Welles -- who find Spain absolutely fascinating. Recently, Spain has revved up its always impressive offerings of Hispanic chaos, and the cacophony has spilled over into France.

Spain is fascinating because it is not a country, but at least five countries, possibly more: the Basque country, Catalonia, Galicia, Andalusia, and the interior where the hated Madrid bureaucrats live. The closest equivalent might be the United Kingdom. If so, the Basque history of armed insurrection finds its closet equivalent with the Irish. The Catalans find their equivalent with the Scots, with a mix of present legal wrangling and a past of armed resistance. Wales might be similar to Andalusia, in that Andalusia, similar to Wales, is not really able to go it alone.

Galicia is quite surprising. It speaks a dialect closest to Portuguese, and claims a genetic heritage with the ancient Celts, before they left for Ireland about 2,000 years ago. There is no equivalent analog to the UK.

Despite centuries of forced centralized intermingling, and Franco's quasi-genocidal policies to force a unified Spanish identity, separatism is alive and well, and threatening not only Spain, but all of Europe.

Right now, Catalonia is going ahead with a referendum for separation in 2017. Unlike Scotland's push for independence in 2014, the Catalans have laid a strong foundation for separation. Thanks to the local school system, the Catalan language has roared back; and Madrid is furious that Castilian Spanish is being successfully contested and de-emphasized.

"Among those under 25, only 3% do not speak Catalan. Those who can speak the language are 84%, while the remaining 13% understand but are not able to speak it." -- Nationalia.info

(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs
KEYWORDS: catalonia; secession; spain; spainhistory
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1 posted on 01/03/2017 8:37:10 AM PST by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

If the Catalans support EU Membership, then what’s the point? They’ll just be trading Madrid Bureaucrats for ones from Brussels.


2 posted on 01/03/2017 8:42:27 AM PST by dfwgator
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To: SeekAndFind

No, Spain and Britain are countries. They have a national identity, a flag and a shared culture, even if there are some regional differences. The idea that they are all seperate countries in a union is a narrative petty nationalists like to push to generate grievance and push the idea of shattering the country into fragments.


3 posted on 01/03/2017 8:44:01 AM PST by sinsofsolarempirefan
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To: SeekAndFind
and Madrid is furious that Castilian Spanish is being successfully contested and de-emphasized

Meanwhile, in the Dis-United eStates, Mexican supremacists rabidly insist that all Gringo children must learn the Sacred Spanish language.

Except the version they speak doesn't resemble what you hear in Spain (which is actually pleasant to listen to).

And since ancient Spanish people and ancient Britons are related (the famous Atlantic Modal Haplotype), what to make of Protected Status for "hispanics"? Does this mean that White Britons who happen to have taken Spanish in high school should now qualify for special preferences under Federal Equal Opportunity regulations?

4 posted on 01/03/2017 8:48:06 AM PST by Regulator
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To: sinsofsolarempirefan

No different than Belgium with the Flemish and Walloons.


5 posted on 01/03/2017 8:49:31 AM PST by dfwgator
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To: SeekAndFind

If you go to Barcelona and speak Spanish, and they know you’re from Spain, they won’t talk to you. But if they know you’re not from Spain, they’re more than happy to speak Spanish with you.


6 posted on 01/03/2017 8:50:45 AM PST by dfwgator
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To: SeekAndFind

Spain is a lot like the United Kingdom . . . a union of various historical nations. The only difference seems to be that the language of one is called “Spanish” rather than “Castilian” and the language of the other is called “English” rather than “British.”


7 posted on 01/03/2017 8:50:50 AM PST by Zionist Conspirator (Viriycho sogeret umesuggeret mipnei Benei Yisra'el; 'ein yotze' ve'ein ba'.)
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To: sinsofsolarempirefan

the Catalans have unfinished business with the Caudillo.


8 posted on 01/03/2017 8:54:40 AM PST by RitchieAprile
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To: SeekAndFind

Sounds like Italy.


9 posted on 01/03/2017 9:17:48 AM PST by Pietro
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To: Zionist Conspirator

‘British’ would be a Brythonic Celtic language similar to Welsh or Cornish. Though most of its dialects no longer exist, other than Northern Welsh and Southern Welsh. The Cornish language is the only other known dialect of the British language, though it is only known amongst academics and is functionally dead.


10 posted on 01/03/2017 9:18:32 AM PST by sinsofsolarempirefan
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To: RitchieAprile

Where would FC Barcelona play?


11 posted on 01/03/2017 9:19:47 AM PST by dfwgator
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To: sinsofsolarempirefan

However, there are two rival Cornish Language societies that spend all their time arguing over the correct pronunciation and grammar. Only in England!


12 posted on 01/03/2017 9:33:35 AM PST by proxy_user
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To: SeekAndFind

Don’t forget that the Islamics still call it Al-Andalus and think of it as Muslim land that must be reclaimed. Similar to Israel.


13 posted on 01/03/2017 9:58:14 AM PST by FreedomPoster (Islam delenda est)
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To: SeekAndFind

Wilfred the Hairy would be proud.


14 posted on 01/03/2017 9:58:51 AM PST by freefdny
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To: dfwgator

Belgium is like one of Randy Newman’s Short People - it’s got no reason to live.

Give Wallonia to the French, and the Flemish to the Dutch, and call it good.


15 posted on 01/03/2017 10:00:06 AM PST by FreedomPoster (Islam delenda est)
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To: FreedomPoster

And the Muslims will get Brussels.


16 posted on 01/03/2017 10:01:19 AM PST by dfwgator
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To: FreedomPoster
Belgium is like one of Randy Newman’s Short People - it’s got no reason to live.


17 posted on 01/03/2017 10:02:57 AM PST by dfwgator
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To: dfwgator

All too likely.


18 posted on 01/03/2017 10:17:52 AM PST by FreedomPoster (Islam delenda est)
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To: Zionist Conspirator

If George Washington had not defeated Lord Cornwallis in Yorktown we would still be speaking English in this country.


19 posted on 01/03/2017 10:30:27 AM PST by outofsalt ( If history teaches us anything it's that history rarely teaches us anything)
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To: SeekAndFind; dfwgator

Invasion, riot, african, immigrants
Location: Catalonia, Spain -2015

Read more at http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=754_1439713190#aVRExxe6opBKXV1m.99

Here’s how they behave once they enter Spain. Assaulting Spaniards and fighting policemen in riot gear. Hitting white people and acting insane. They smash and destroy and ruin a beautiful town.


20 posted on 01/03/2017 10:32:35 AM PST by Beautiful_Gracious_Skies (Happy New Year -'45 will be the best ever.)
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