The ongoing
struggle between Catalonia and Spain has divided an already politically
instable country, and furthermore it raises questions about Western governments
that perhaps we may not have previously considered – just how controlling are
they?
Spain
claims the independence referendum that took place at the Start of October isn’t
in the Spanish Constitution that has been in place for almost 30 years - thus making it illegal and invalid. That may
be correct but does that mean the protestors have no right to stage a vote despite
this?
You might
argue yes, it’s against the law, and mass congregations of people all over the
state, including cities such as Barcelona, could be seen as a major threat to
the security of people residing there.
And you could say that the shock has somewhat been caused just by the result - though that was after the police had intervened, and many ballot boxes were seized, so we don't really know how accurate it was.
However, on
the other hand, these protestors are only exercising their free right – to vote.
I mentioned previously that many people in ‘third-world countries’ such as
those in Africa, are ones without the simple right to vote.
If you used
the example of Spain, you would assume that European countries suffer from the
same dictatorial nature as those in Africa. Yet we do not.
And this is
precisely why this supposed ‘oppression’ by the Spanish government (the
violence that ensued in the aftermath of the referendum) has come as such a
shock to us.
In our
culture, so close to home, we wouldn’t have expected such a mess like this one.
It is
understandable in ways why the Spanish government has acted like they did. For
so much of the Spanish wealth emanates from Catalonia, and after the Great
Spanish Depression in 2008 (of which the effects are still felt now), they can
scarcely afford to be stripped of any more wealth.
Much of
Spain is plain land, that isn’t fit for crops and the subsequent wealth that
comes with it, the sweltering summer heat is another factor in this. This
renders lots of parts of the country effectively useless in terms of
money-making.
But
although I can see the reason for the force used, they feel they have to step
in, the way they went about preventing it became a bit excessive, and through
the power of social media, portrayed them in a bad light to the rest of the
world – hence the overwhelming support for the Catalans who want independence
so vociferously.
It is only
right that people have freedom of speech and expression, after all I have said
previously about governments in general I would be a hypocrite to not support
the Catalans in their attempt for a fair vote.
Seeing pictures
of civilians harmed in the days after the illegal referendum only make you
think further about the fact that these are innocent people, just looking to
get their fair vote.
Evidently
there is no conclusion to this saga in sight for now, but what ideally happens
now?
From the viewpoint
of any Spaniards, for the whole debacle to be brushed under the carpet would be
the best and most beneficial solution.
One would
hope that the Spanish government relents, from a democratic point of view that
is.
Because if
they do, that may be the clearest distinction yet that Western European
governments are some of the fairest around.
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