Being the most "Spanish" or the most "Catalan" is declared in the income tax, not by buying the biggest flag "from the Chinese".
César Manrique hated flags. When they proposed that he design them, he made the ones of the Cosmos. And every day I feel more represented.
The two Spains have only brought tormented minds like Unamuno's, trying to bring sanity to the ignorance of the "Vivas"... and impunity so that Ortega Smith can trample the Roses as if it hadn't cost them their lives to bloom.
And within that division, subdivisions.
The two current Spains stand in a platoon facing each other. They take out their flags as an element of defense, but also of attack; as if it were a weapon ready to annihilate anyone who gets in the way. We must eliminate those who do not see the Spain that they see. Forgetting that we all have eyes of different colors. Like the flags.
It has always seemed curious to me to live in such a divided country.
A country that comes together when a World Cup is played or when a great tragedy occurs, like that of a little boy falling into a well.
But that unity lasts as long as a drop of sea in a glass of water in this country.
The reality is that Spain will never be a great nation, because division never achieves great things. And to be great, a lot of unity is needed. Unity that is only achieved with a lot of pedagogy and a lot of dialogue. Like the most solid relationships.
I don't have real friends who I haven't listened to carefully. I haven't had a boyfriend with whom I haven't debated for hours. And I haven't had favorite cousins with whom I haven't empathized when they tell me their problems.
Democracy is not making a decision unilaterally. But it is not sending someone to shut up without letting them speak either.
And on the other side, an astonished Europe that cannot believe it. And that feels weakened. Because Europe also seeks the Union, which is the integrating essence of its acronym.
There is no more manipulable feeling than belonging. There is no greater control device than a flag. And there is no greater ignorance than not reasoning or wanting to listen.
Because those flags do not speak; they spit rage. Not pride.
Spain has been more divided for 10 years than it was 11 years ago.
The esteladas have grown and become kilometers long, and that has been good to cover up all the corruption of the Pujoles and company who smile from their castles with the flag of opportunism from their windows.
As Chomsky says, media manipulation will make the masses forget what is really important and not even question the focus to which they direct their attention.
Flags in our country serve to impose opinions.
Because in this country flags are taken out as if they were swords, to impose one opinion over another.
Here the flags are not made of cloth, they are made of iron.
Here the flags do not play with the wind (and look how pure air does not like its freedom being invaded). In Spain, flags seem like bombs of hatred that are taken out to exclude. Because in those flags there is not even a hint of diversity.
And it is curious, because Spain has always been a country with many different sensitivities. The union of many peoples, which makes it richer. Spain has always been made up of many flags. Very different people, in different territories with varied points of view.
Spain is a fabric workshop of many colors. And that is beautiful. Because respect for diversity makes us a true GREAT NATION. Even if they want to impose the opposite on us.
Being a great Spaniard is not as simple as buying a flag from the Chinese (everything is very patriotic, but since you scratch a little... the pocket turns out not to be so patriotic, forgetting that being a great Spaniard or a great Catalan is declared in the IRPF).
Because it is there, where we see who truly loves their country.
Amalia M.Fajardo
