The word "secession" evinces different reactions from different people. From people whose states in the US formed part of the Confederacy, the Civil War is known to them as "The War of Secession," while to northerners it is remembered as the "Civil War." Oftentimes "secession" is confused, comingled or conflated with "cessation," meaning an end to something.
Recently, a couple of secessionist movements have made the news. Catalonia, Spain's northeastern autonomous region, has sought independence for some time, while Texas has sought to secede from the US every time a Democrat becomes president or if the Cowboys don't make the Superbowl. Both regions have different reasons for attempting secession, but by far, Catalonia makes the better case.
This beautiful region makes up 20 percent of Spain's GDP and one-third of the total industrial production and exports. This is significant and Spain realizes the danger of losing this vital component of its very identity. Culturally, it has its own language and culture. The Usatges Laws are said to pre-date the Magna Carta and, more recently, its team, FC Barcelona are a world power. If the Uruguayan Eduardo Galeano's claim that 'soccer is the Esperanto of the ball' than FC Barcelona is quite fluent. The recent 60 Minutes special on FC Barcelona is testament to growing interest and recognition of Catalonia and what it is trying to do.
Texas does not offer anything as legitimate as the case made by Catalonia. It has no language other than Texas slang and its very existence can be attributed to illegal incursions into Mexico and a dubious 19th century war, long rangers. It would be ironic if the people pushing for secession decreed Spanish or even Spanglish the official language! Yes, Texas has its sports, mostly college football teams, but they do not even come close to matching what FC Barcelona has done.
For an excellent and prescient analysis of Catalonia's attempt at secession read Europe's Stateless Nations in the Era of Globalization: The Case for Catalonia's Secession from Spain by Josep Desquens. It was written in 2003, but makes many relevant points.
Catalonia can make many legitimate arguments for independence whereas the case presented by Texas smacks of pettiness and mean-spiritedness.
I have good friends who are Spaniards and those who are Catalans. If Catalonia secedes from Spain, what do I say?
Recently, a couple of secessionist movements have made the news. Catalonia, Spain's northeastern autonomous region, has sought independence for some time, while Texas has sought to secede from the US every time a Democrat becomes president or if the Cowboys don't make the Superbowl. Both regions have different reasons for attempting secession, but by far, Catalonia makes the better case.
This beautiful region makes up 20 percent of Spain's GDP and one-third of the total industrial production and exports. This is significant and Spain realizes the danger of losing this vital component of its very identity. Culturally, it has its own language and culture. The Usatges Laws are said to pre-date the Magna Carta and, more recently, its team, FC Barcelona are a world power. If the Uruguayan Eduardo Galeano's claim that 'soccer is the Esperanto of the ball' than FC Barcelona is quite fluent. The recent 60 Minutes special on FC Barcelona is testament to growing interest and recognition of Catalonia and what it is trying to do.
Texas does not offer anything as legitimate as the case made by Catalonia. It has no language other than Texas slang and its very existence can be attributed to illegal incursions into Mexico and a dubious 19th century war, long rangers. It would be ironic if the people pushing for secession decreed Spanish or even Spanglish the official language! Yes, Texas has its sports, mostly college football teams, but they do not even come close to matching what FC Barcelona has done.
For an excellent and prescient analysis of Catalonia's attempt at secession read Europe's Stateless Nations in the Era of Globalization: The Case for Catalonia's Secession from Spain by Josep Desquens. It was written in 2003, but makes many relevant points.
Catalonia can make many legitimate arguments for independence whereas the case presented by Texas smacks of pettiness and mean-spiritedness.
I have good friends who are Spaniards and those who are Catalans. If Catalonia secedes from Spain, what do I say?
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