Blue Estelada or Red Estelada?

Whether you are talking to a driver, a guide or a waiter, the subject of Catalonia Independence enters the conversation.  Most everyone tells us that their regional government is crazy to pursue this approach- yet what we see in the streets tells a different story...mass appeal for independence, or at least mass protest to perceived infringement of rights.  This crisis has created uncertainty for the region and is driving out companies and limiting investment and tourism.  In the same breath, all blame the Spanish central government for not entering into a dialogue before the actions polarized the sides so completely.  It is an obvious case of extreme positions, resulting from elected officials with extreme mandates from their power bases and lack of desire to compromise.  Sounds all too familiar.

When we walk around, we see the Blue Estelada (white star on blue background), the symbol of the independence movement and the “even more extreme” leftist red Estelada hanging from balconies or draped on peoples’ backs.  The original Catalan flag, the Senyera, may be one of the oldest flags in existence (four red bars and 5 gold).  It could be as old as the 9th century coat-of-arms of the Count of Barcelona, but is at least as old as the 15th century when the Count of Barcelona was also the King of Aragon.  The bars were oriented vertically on their shields.

Yesterday there was a planned rally on Las Ramblas where many Catalan speakers gave their reactions and call-to-action after the Spanish central government declared that they will take over some responsibilities of the Catalan government.  There was a later, spontaneous demonstration at the Catalonian Regional Government building that John and I happened to be walking by.  See what we saw…

This crowd formed spontaneously, as many decided to march from Las Ramblas to the main Catalan government building to watch a broadcast on their iPhones 

A hush fell over the boisterous crown when the broadcast started, punctuated with periodic applause.  Blue estelada or red estelada, it feels like there wants to be an estelada...too difficult to go backwards, except by force.  That may be the answer.  And we were there...but not for long.