Cataluña

A note posted on the refrigerator door of my piso that I had left earlier in the week reminded me to “be present.” It’s easier said than done (of course) but there are little moments to take solace, to breathe intentionally, to take stock of one’s sense of place and surroundings such as the early morning metro commute; or walking through the rain and seeing Madrid’s parks in a different light. These past weeks have been incredible yet historical.

Though I have been present, I have also witnessed the conflict arising due to Cataluña’s cry for independence. I have sighed as separatist leaders pushed for Catalan’s independence. However, through conversations with actual people who identify as Catalan, I have learned that it is goes beyond the legal parameters. On a recent trip to Barcelona, a woman said to me "acamaron dormido, se lo lleva la corriente” a Spanish proverb translating to, “the shrimp that falls asleep is swept away by the current.” In essence, she associated sleep with the government's desensitization and blindness to their voice. She expressed deep pride for her cultural roots yet a sense of sadness for the conflict and violence on both parties.

Later that day, I emailed a close mentor of mine, Professor George, seeking to understand this situation in greater depth. He pointed out that the situation in Spain is also about the previous civil war and the Franco dictatorship. Many of Franco's people are still in power and, more importantly, separation is more about principle at this point then it is about feasibility. He says that what should have happened or should happen is some sort of reconciliation, but at this point it seems that separation might have to happen first. If Spain refuses to recognize sovereignty then it will be reaffirming what most separatists already believe, and that is that even though Franco is gone his power/project remain in tact and continue to dominate the peoples of the region.¨

After both conversation, my philosophy of life has evolved into one that values and engages in shared governance; a view that recognized collective decision-making and shared accountability in greater depth– which is particularly important for the implementation tackling problems like this one. I still need to read and thoroughly study the implications of such event but I now hope for dialogue and reflection.