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| Catalonia tales: 'I can't see anything but a hypocritical interest in independence' | Catalonia tales: 'I can't see anything but a hypocritical interest in independence' |
| (10 days later) | |
| It's not very easy to meet people in Catalonia who are happy to talk freely about their opposition to independence. The pro-independence discourse tends to dominate the media and much public conversation. As Donal Quinn, who lives in Barcelona and works at a business school here, puts it, those who do object to such radical change "feel under threat from those pushing for change. This makes them a lot less vocal – especially if they feel independence will happen anyway, and there might be some kind of backlash against those who went public on their opposition to it". Here are some who will speak up: | It's not very easy to meet people in Catalonia who are happy to talk freely about their opposition to independence. The pro-independence discourse tends to dominate the media and much public conversation. As Donal Quinn, who lives in Barcelona and works at a business school here, puts it, those who do object to such radical change "feel under threat from those pushing for change. This makes them a lot less vocal – especially if they feel independence will happen anyway, and there might be some kind of backlash against those who went public on their opposition to it". Here are some who will speak up: |
| Silvia Galup, a 38-year-old "typical middle-class 'Barcelonina gal'" | Silvia Galup, a 38-year-old "typical middle-class 'Barcelonina gal'" |
| "My background is proper Catalan, and proud of it. I'm Catalan too – but to be honest, I don't think it defines me more than being Spanish or even European. In fact, I like to think that my leftist political views define me more than something as random as the place where I was born. | "My background is proper Catalan, and proud of it. I'm Catalan too – but to be honest, I don't think it defines me more than being Spanish or even European. In fact, I like to think that my leftist political views define me more than something as random as the place where I was born. |
| "At the moment, I watch all this pro-independence furore with a mix of sadness, anger and frustration. Sadness because I can't understand how my people can forget the dramatic consequences of this economic crisis for the sake of a flag. Anger because I can't see anything but a hypocritical interest in independence from [President] Artur Mas and team (they win: nobody is talking about corruption, cuts and social pain in this campaign). And frustration because I have to deal all day with separatists: if you are not with them, you are against them. (On the other hand, as a Catalan I feel insulted by Spanish nationalists who accuse Catalonia of lots of sick things). | "At the moment, I watch all this pro-independence furore with a mix of sadness, anger and frustration. Sadness because I can't understand how my people can forget the dramatic consequences of this economic crisis for the sake of a flag. Anger because I can't see anything but a hypocritical interest in independence from [President] Artur Mas and team (they win: nobody is talking about corruption, cuts and social pain in this campaign). And frustration because I have to deal all day with separatists: if you are not with them, you are against them. (On the other hand, as a Catalan I feel insulted by Spanish nationalists who accuse Catalonia of lots of sick things). |
| "I feel embarrassed when I hear friends of mine – intelligent, cultured people –talking about Spanish "oppression", and Catalonia's pressing need for freedom. But I also feel embarrassed when I hear Spanish hardcore nationalists talking about Catalonia like a land with no freedom. It's insulting, actually, that people who grew up in freedom and democracy talk of a lack of freedom – especially when you think about the suffering under Franco's dictatorship. Catalonia is a wonderful country; Barcelona is a beautiful city. But it's not fun any more and it's not easy to think different. And I hate to say that." | "I feel embarrassed when I hear friends of mine – intelligent, cultured people –talking about Spanish "oppression", and Catalonia's pressing need for freedom. But I also feel embarrassed when I hear Spanish hardcore nationalists talking about Catalonia like a land with no freedom. It's insulting, actually, that people who grew up in freedom and democracy talk of a lack of freedom – especially when you think about the suffering under Franco's dictatorship. Catalonia is a wonderful country; Barcelona is a beautiful city. But it's not fun any more and it's not easy to think different. And I hate to say that." |
| Pau de Chica, corporate communications specialist working at the Catalonia Centre for Research and Innovation | Pau de Chica, corporate communications specialist working at the Catalonia Centre for Research and Innovation |
| "I am absolutely against the independence of Catalonia, but I am for a federal organisation of Spanish regions. 'Independence' is not a new topic in politics in my country, but why now? Easy: although political opportunism is the key factor – instead of addressing the economic crisis, the party in power realised that focusing the debate on something emotional like identity and sovereignty was the easiest way not to lose control – it is true that the current Spanish model does not work anymore. This situation needs to be resolved, and the economic crisis is pushing things in that direction. | "I am absolutely against the independence of Catalonia, but I am for a federal organisation of Spanish regions. 'Independence' is not a new topic in politics in my country, but why now? Easy: although political opportunism is the key factor – instead of addressing the economic crisis, the party in power realised that focusing the debate on something emotional like identity and sovereignty was the easiest way not to lose control – it is true that the current Spanish model does not work anymore. This situation needs to be resolved, and the economic crisis is pushing things in that direction. |
| "For me, Catalonia is a region with stronger feelings of identity than the other regions of Spain. Yet it is just one of many different Spanish regions, all with different identities. As tensions between these regions continue to rise, and the current system is clearly inadequate to solve this internal conflict, it is clear we need change – and every citizen sees the upcoming elections as a really important debate on identity, sovereignty and the current territorial model of Spain. In my opinion, now is the time for a new territorial model that will give Catalonia the chance to be more self-sufficient in terms of governance – but without breaking relations with Spain. That's how I will be voting on Sunday." | "For me, Catalonia is a region with stronger feelings of identity than the other regions of Spain. Yet it is just one of many different Spanish regions, all with different identities. As tensions between these regions continue to rise, and the current system is clearly inadequate to solve this internal conflict, it is clear we need change – and every citizen sees the upcoming elections as a really important debate on identity, sovereignty and the current territorial model of Spain. In my opinion, now is the time for a new territorial model that will give Catalonia the chance to be more self-sufficient in terms of governance – but without breaking relations with Spain. That's how I will be voting on Sunday." |
| Maria Gonzalez, recently returned to her native Barcelona after spending several years in UK | Maria Gonzalez, recently returned to her native Barcelona after spending several years in UK |
| "I am a Catalan who lived in the UK for a few years, and came back to Barcelona 18 months ago – but I am ready to leave the country again. The recession plays an important part in this, but nationalism (or jingoism) is a very big chunk too. Since ethnological background is so important in Catalonia these days, I should say I was born a Catalan but my parents come from other parts of Spain. They've been living here for 50 years. Our voice seems to be not as important as the voice of "pure Catalan". Disgusting as it might sound, that is a term I have been hearing lately: saying a word against the independence of Catalonia and being attacked because your surname is Sánchez or López. | "I am a Catalan who lived in the UK for a few years, and came back to Barcelona 18 months ago – but I am ready to leave the country again. The recession plays an important part in this, but nationalism (or jingoism) is a very big chunk too. Since ethnological background is so important in Catalonia these days, I should say I was born a Catalan but my parents come from other parts of Spain. They've been living here for 50 years. Our voice seems to be not as important as the voice of "pure Catalan". Disgusting as it might sound, that is a term I have been hearing lately: saying a word against the independence of Catalonia and being attacked because your surname is Sánchez or López. |
| "Not that the nationalist Spanish parties have not helped. This is a situation that has been fed back by both sides. But the Catalan nationalists have played their part well. They have managed to extend a hatred of Spanish nationalism (any nationalism should be hated!) to hatred of anything Spanish. And then they appealed to the pride of the Catalan poble [people]. | "Not that the nationalist Spanish parties have not helped. This is a situation that has been fed back by both sides. But the Catalan nationalists have played their part well. They have managed to extend a hatred of Spanish nationalism (any nationalism should be hated!) to hatred of anything Spanish. And then they appealed to the pride of the Catalan poble [people]. |
| "As an ordinary citizen, who could not care less about nationalism, this is exasperating. Definitely, I am not raising my children in a country full of hate and jingoism. I am just very sad that most of the population of Catalonia (which could not have less in common with that concept of "pure Catalan") supports these ideas. People change, regions change, and culture is in constant movement. Trying to cling to a 'pure' concept of a culture is very, very dangerous." | "As an ordinary citizen, who could not care less about nationalism, this is exasperating. Definitely, I am not raising my children in a country full of hate and jingoism. I am just very sad that most of the population of Catalonia (which could not have less in common with that concept of "pure Catalan") supports these ideas. People change, regions change, and culture is in constant movement. Trying to cling to a 'pure' concept of a culture is very, very dangerous." |
| Carlos Martinez, 38, born in Barcelona and lived in the city until 2005 | Carlos Martinez, 38, born in Barcelona and lived in the city until 2005 |
| "I was born in Barcelona in 1974. My mother is Catalan and my father was born in Andalucía, though he and his family moved to Barcelona at a very young age. The arguments I have against secessionism are both personal (I feel Catalan and Spanish; I'm a native speaker of both languages; I consider both cultures intimately linked and mutually enriching) to more 'rational'. | "I was born in Barcelona in 1974. My mother is Catalan and my father was born in Andalucía, though he and his family moved to Barcelona at a very young age. The arguments I have against secessionism are both personal (I feel Catalan and Spanish; I'm a native speaker of both languages; I consider both cultures intimately linked and mutually enriching) to more 'rational'. |
| "I think an independent Catalonia would mean going against the unifying process we have seen in the EU – trying to reach common ground on economic, tax and social policies – and instead give more weight to differences. | "I think an independent Catalonia would mean going against the unifying process we have seen in the EU – trying to reach common ground on economic, tax and social policies – and instead give more weight to differences. |
| "I recognise some cultural differences and distinctive historical development between Spanish regions, but that hasn't been a problem until very recently. Then some Catalan nationalist politicians started seeing the rest of Spain as a state that was exploiting and stealing from the Catalans and depriving them of their historic 12th-century rights as a kingdom. | "I recognise some cultural differences and distinctive historical development between Spanish regions, but that hasn't been a problem until very recently. Then some Catalan nationalist politicians started seeing the rest of Spain as a state that was exploiting and stealing from the Catalans and depriving them of their historic 12th-century rights as a kingdom. |
| "The situation has deteriorated quickly as a result of the global crisis. Catalan nationalists claim a big majority of Catalans want to be independent, but the truth is that from September 2009 polls have shown just a 20% average turnout. The huge pro-independence demonstration in September shows how politicians and subsidised media are manipulating people. People in general are reluctant to get their own information and rarely compare sources. This, combined with radio, TV stations and newspapers that are loudspeakers of the regional government, has disabled their judgment. Try to oppose them and soon you'll be a facha [fascist]-like Franco supporter." | "The situation has deteriorated quickly as a result of the global crisis. Catalan nationalists claim a big majority of Catalans want to be independent, but the truth is that from September 2009 polls have shown just a 20% average turnout. The huge pro-independence demonstration in September shows how politicians and subsidised media are manipulating people. People in general are reluctant to get their own information and rarely compare sources. This, combined with radio, TV stations and newspapers that are loudspeakers of the regional government, has disabled their judgment. Try to oppose them and soon you'll be a facha [fascist]-like Franco supporter." |
| Javier Asensio, economist at the Autonomous University of Barcelona | Javier Asensio, economist at the Autonomous University of Barcelona |
| "Devolution of political power to Catalonia since 1980 has been very wisely used by the ruling Catalan CiU party to claim that the reason for all problems here is always central government. CiU was never overtly pro-independence before. In my view, what Catalan nationalists cannot stand is that other regions in Spain have the same political power as they do –like the privileged fiscal agreements in the Basque Country and Navarra, under which they collect their own taxes – and the real failure of Spanish governments to stop calls for Catalan nationalism has been not to be able to resolve this clearly unfair regime. | "Devolution of political power to Catalonia since 1980 has been very wisely used by the ruling Catalan CiU party to claim that the reason for all problems here is always central government. CiU was never overtly pro-independence before. In my view, what Catalan nationalists cannot stand is that other regions in Spain have the same political power as they do –like the privileged fiscal agreements in the Basque Country and Navarra, under which they collect their own taxes – and the real failure of Spanish governments to stop calls for Catalan nationalism has been not to be able to resolve this clearly unfair regime. |
| "I believe independence would do much more harm than good. Catalonia would earn a fiscal surplus, but it would lose more in trade terms, plus the lesser efficiency and competition effects of being a smaller country. Also the economic benefits of independence would not be shared homogeneously; there would be winners and losers." | "I believe independence would do much more harm than good. Catalonia would earn a fiscal surplus, but it would lose more in trade terms, plus the lesser efficiency and competition effects of being a smaller country. Also the economic benefits of independence would not be shared homogeneously; there would be winners and losers." |
| Victor Casal, from Reus near Tarragona | Victor Casal, from Reus near Tarragona |
| "In my opinion nationalism and separatism is just the populist's way to heighten emotion in politics. Nationalist politicians have put the Catalan collective identity above individuality, strengthening each little native difference and restricting all those common Spanish things that we share. Nationalist politicians have created a kind of 'we-ness' of Catalan patriots, but also a 'they-ness' that they can blame for everything. | "In my opinion nationalism and separatism is just the populist's way to heighten emotion in politics. Nationalist politicians have put the Catalan collective identity above individuality, strengthening each little native difference and restricting all those common Spanish things that we share. Nationalist politicians have created a kind of 'we-ness' of Catalan patriots, but also a 'they-ness' that they can blame for everything. |
| "If you try to convince a nationalist friend that Artur Mas or Jordi Pujol are not such good guys as he thinks, you probably would be called botifler (traitor to Catalonia), fifth columnist or Spanish colonist. I also think independence wouldn't be better for Catalonia, because it would lose the competitive advantage of being a region of the country that is still the main market for its products." | "If you try to convince a nationalist friend that Artur Mas or Jordi Pujol are not such good guys as he thinks, you probably would be called botifler (traitor to Catalonia), fifth columnist or Spanish colonist. I also think independence wouldn't be better for Catalonia, because it would lose the competitive advantage of being a region of the country that is still the main market for its products." |
| Nuria Mejias, from Barcelona, is one of the few still undecided | Nuria Mejias, from Barcelona, is one of the few still undecided |
| "I am a person who does not feel comfortable choosing one or another option. Sometimes I feel that people make me choose, and that makes me uncomfortable. Or maybe that if I want to be a person who wants the independence of Catalonia, I have to want this above all else. I do not like people who despise Catalan feeling, as much as I do not like people who despise Spanish feeling and put Catalonia above all, without seeing that there are more important things that should be taken into account. | "I am a person who does not feel comfortable choosing one or another option. Sometimes I feel that people make me choose, and that makes me uncomfortable. Or maybe that if I want to be a person who wants the independence of Catalonia, I have to want this above all else. I do not like people who despise Catalan feeling, as much as I do not like people who despise Spanish feeling and put Catalonia above all, without seeing that there are more important things that should be taken into account. |
| "I do not like extremes, and I feel that nowadays all those politicians who talk about independence want a free Catalonia before anything else. They are making people become like them, and I think that is definitely not the way. I love Catalonia, and I would not mind to see an independent state. Moreover, I think I would possibly say 'yes' in a referendum for an independent Catalonia. But not if we follow this way, that some people as well as politicians have, of being selfish and pretending everything is going to be perfect if Catalonia becomes a state." | "I do not like extremes, and I feel that nowadays all those politicians who talk about independence want a free Catalonia before anything else. They are making people become like them, and I think that is definitely not the way. I love Catalonia, and I would not mind to see an independent state. Moreover, I think I would possibly say 'yes' in a referendum for an independent Catalonia. But not if we follow this way, that some people as well as politicians have, of being selfish and pretending everything is going to be perfect if Catalonia becomes a state." |
| • If you have a story to tell, know someone Jon should talk to or live somewhere you think he should visit, please contact him via email at jon.henley@guardian.co.uk, or Twitter @jonhenley (the hashtag for this journey is #CataloniaTales | • If you have a story to tell, know someone Jon should talk to or live somewhere you think he should visit, please contact him via email at jon.henley@guardian.co.uk, or Twitter @jonhenley (the hashtag for this journey is #CataloniaTales |
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