Abertzale is not "patriot"
Dictionaries often lie to us. Even unintentionally. As soon as what we say from one language passes to another, it acquires a different meaning.
In recent years, attempts have been made to reconceptualize the pattern. Probably surprised by the use they give him in Latin America. On the other side of the ocean, however, it has a liberating and decolonizing sense, among other things, of the liberation of that colonizing homeland of Madrid. Useless effort. The designation reinforces the hegemonic meaning of the centuries.
The concepts of patriot, patriot, patriotism are actually exclusionary and chauvinist. Behind the Spanish flag there is no liberating claim; the only claim of those who gather on the Spanish flag is limited to fighting the Other. Against all those who do not enter or do not want to enter the We they have formed. Be immigrants, be they the citizens of nations that we want to be free from their claws.
Just as we do not base Basque identity on origin or place of birth, the concept of patriotism is very different from that of homeland. Because patriotism, above all, is a claim. That is, the demand for the collective right that our people have to be. Not better or worse, but if we are
According to this chauvinist concept of Patria, “We – the We identity who have formed – are better, because we were born alone and here”. And in politics, going to this kind of false self-esteem seems to have results. The peoples around us are not the only ones dedicated to this kind of activity. Also here, every time it is sold that “we are a little better than the Spaniards”, for example: the percentages of poverty have increased, but calm, we are better than the Spaniards; the waiting lists are getting longer and longer, but quiet in Spain they go much worse. Cheap chauvinism to cover real problems.
It is surprising that the Basques or the Catalans call them identitarians, Jonathan calls him Martinez every day, as if that were an insult or it matters to the Basques what the origin of the Basques is. Or call Rufian again and again to Charnego. The fact that eight Basque surnames or eight surnames are Catalan or not is only significant for the Spaniards.
And for us, just as we do not base Basque identity on origin or place of origin, the concept of patriotism is very different from that of homeland. Because patriotism, above all, is a claim. That is, the demand for the collective right that our people have to be. They're not better or worse, but we are. And we reclaim that existence that denies us, precisely, every time we lift symbols.
Joseba Sarrionandia said in the poem Herri proiektua that “when we have a homeland, we will turn the ikurriñas into rags so that, at the same time as Euskal Herria, it has the advantages of not being”. Then we will talk about the possible need to remove the limits when we have limits that we can remove.
The reason why the existence of Euskal Herria is proclaimed is not, or should not be, but identity. Despite the importance of identity – not misinterpreting it. Basque identity is not arrogance because it was born in a particular place, Basque identity is closely linked to our culture in danger, and when I said culture, understand that language is underestimated and attacked by its essential features, while we are within the borders of Spain and France.
The need to assert our right to exist should also be addressed from the position of the Left, of course. Because the real left has no doubt that collective rights and collective rights must be defended. From the right of self-determination.
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