Do most Basques support Basque independence?

[_Jumper_]

I heard on commentator say that about half of Basques did. Is this true? If so, shouldn't they have a right to self-deterimination?

[pollock]

1. Wouldn't it be a little like Alabama wanting to secede from the union?

[_Jumper_]

2. Yes

I believe that governments are created to protect the rights of individuals, not protect political boundaries. If a group of people wish to leave a country they have a right to do so, in my view.

[Sulldogg]

7. How large

How large of a group do you think you need to separate? What if everyone wanted to become there own country?

Ted Turner owns an almost unbreaking strip of land from Montana down through New Mexico. If he decided he didn't want to be an American, he could isolate teh East and West coasts form each other, does the government have no stake in preventing that?

[_Jumper_]

10. There is a difference between an individual and ethnic groups

n/t

[Sulldogg]

12. I agree there

But why do Ethnic groups have a right to cecede and not others? Ethnic groups are a very nuanced thing, definition wise, and if it is merely to combat oppression, then shy shouldn't other oppressed groups be allowed to break off?

[_Jumper_]

13. Any large group has that right

I just don't think an individual or a group of 100 people should be allowed to secede.

[Sulldogg]

15. Is it just arbitrary?

Is it 1000? or 500? or 250? how many people have to want to leave before they should be allowed to?

[wuushew]

14. Ireland and Northern Ireland is the result of religious division

Taiwan and China are the result of economic/idealogical differences.

[Sulldogg]

16. Ireland is more than that

Religious differences are the result of English Imperialism, the Irish Catholics were the inhabitants of Ireland before the British protestants attempted to conquer the island. The issue is still quasi-colonialism, not merely religous views.

[wuushew]

17. Right but if you were to meet your opposite number on the street

he might look the same, talk the same and enjoy the same type of beer you do. It just like Republicans here in the states, you only know they are assholes after talking to them.

Its hard to hide one's ethnicity and a a result the most frequent division is by race/language.

[Sulldogg]

18. Okay, good point n/t

[mitchtv]

3. Ibelieve Pais Vasco was there before Spain

as well as the Basque language- the one part of Spain not conquered by the Moors if my memory of history is correct.

[Astarho]

20. It would be more like the Sioux

or the Navajo or the Iroquois wanting to secede. The Euskaldunak are a unique ethnic group long predating the Spanish, Moors, Visigoths, Romans, and Celts in Spain.

They have been rulled by the Spanish since the 1500s and Basque nationalism began in the 19th century with Sabino Arano

[wuushew]

4. Does self-rule make sense in a united Europe?

The EU stresses common currency, open borders, police and military cooperation and common framework for laws and international relations. Besides ensuring the vibrancy uniqueness of language and cultural tradition duplicating unecessary governmental functions seems wasteful.

[_Jumper_]

5. The people should decide if they want a united Europe

I believe that when push comes to shoves, nationalism will defeat pan-Europeanism but they have a right to chose any course they want.

Does a united Europe makes sense? What is it based on? Geography? Racial solidarity?

[achtung_circus]

6. On CBC yesterday they were interviewing a Basque newspaper editor

He was saying that only about 10% of the Basques support ETA. There has been a movement in the last few years towards this thing called co-existence
FREEER MODE ON/ sounds like Commienusm to me FREEPER MODE OFF/
Much of the Basque imperative was due to repression under Franco and as the old generations die and memories fade that imperative becomes less important. Something similar happened with the Catalans. The Barcelona Olympics was a huge celebration of Catalan culture, something that would never have been permitted under Franco.

[_Jumper_]

9. ETA

It is true that only a minority support the ETA but a far larger number supports independence.

[scottxyz]

8. Only 25% do

Here's an article by a Basque professor in the US:

http://news.google.com/url?ntc=0M0A0&q=http://msnbc.msn.com/id/4517018/

[_Jumper_]

11. Thanks

:toast:

[K8-EEE]

19. Nope!

Most just want to push for more autonomy, representation etc...not independence. It's not very feasable at this point.

Hey all you L.A. DU-ers....make the drive to the Chino Basque Festival the Sunday of Labor Day (Sept...) TOTALLY GREAT GREAT GREAT OUTDOOR FEST! MUSIC & DANCING IMPORTED FROM SPAIN & FRANCE NOT TO BE BELIEVED PEOPLE WATCHING & FOOD!

Worth the drive I promise!