In the list of official messages from Catalonia in Spain, President Isla's "don't be afraid of Catalonia" from yesterday in Madrid occupies a paradoxical place.
If at this point there's any Spaniard who's afraid of Catalonia, it can only be someone who's swallowed the message from most Madrid-based news outlets and radio stations, which is to make people believe that here we leave children who speak Spanish in the schoolyard without dessert. When Catalanophobia serves to gain audiences and votes, frankly, there's not much, if any, fear to be seen. The promoters of the cava boycott didn't seem too scared, so to speak. When the minister responsible for Renfe boos the Catalan deputies who demand explanations, he's not afraid. He's more like telling you who's in charge.
Nor will the Spanish companies that aspire to sell us their products be afraid. In Catalonia, there are millions of consumers and a purchasing power higher than the Spanish average.
The presidential message clearly had another intention, that of solemnizing that a new era of legal security has begun in Catalonia, under socialist leadership, and that no company should have to move its registered office outside our country.
It was a missed opportunity to ask why Madrid didn't listen to President Montilla warning of disaffection, nor to then-Mayor Maragall when, just back from Lausanne, he said that "what's good for Barcelona is good for Catalonia [message to Pujol] and what's good for [the country] is good for [the country]." And we're still here, asking that they not fear us.
