The town hall of L'Alcúdia del Crespins, in the Valencian region of La Costera, has decided to remove the name of the writer Isabel-Clara Simó from the town's secondary school, who died in 2020. According to the mayor, from the PP, such an illustrious, relevant, recognized, applauded, read, and beloved author “does not represent our neighbors” because, according to him, “her idea of the Catalan Countries divides.” He also says that “she was not a resident of the town,” because Simó, in fact, was from Alcoi. We are really splitting hairs, sir. It is true that Isabel-Clara Simó was a citizen of the Catalan Countries and a convinced independentist, but what even this mayor should understand is that she would also have “divided” if she had been a strong supporter of the unity of Spain, because all positions and opinions “divide.” But lo and behold, if she had been pro-Spanish, she would no longer “divide.” Even being born in Alcoi would surely not be a demerit either.The mayor and his government team fall into a true classic of the People's Party municipal politics, which is to try to erase the names of Catalan writers in municipalities where they govern. Joan Fuster, Vicent Andrés Estellés, Blai Bonet, Josep M. Llompart, Miquel Àngel Riera, Damià Huguet, or even Ramon Llull, to name but a few, are authors whose names have been tried to be erased from a school, a high school, a library at one time or another. Or a bust, a memorial, whatever, has been vandalized. On another level, the current Valencian Generalitat presided over by Mazón's successor, Pérez Llorca, decided, during this past academic year, to exclude Catalan and Balearic authors from the Baccalaureate curriculum, with the most idiotic argument that "they are not Valencian" and "they do not write in Valencian." All of this is always about the same thing: denying any form of recognition or visibility to writers who are part of their blacklists, and —even more serious— promoting misinformation and ignorance of Catalan literature among public education students (in private and subsidized schools, they already make sure that "what is appropriate" is taught). It is part of the same offensive against the Catalan language and public education that occurs with PP and Vox governments, both in the Valencian Country and in the Balearic Islands. Isabel-Clara Simó was a successful writer and a particularly distinguished figure of her generation, as well as a tireless defender of the language, culture, and independence of the Catalan Countries. Also a feminist writer, left-wing ("fiery red") and environmentalist, who always spoke out in favor of diversity and minorities. The decision to remove her name from an institute has nothing to do with the excuses given by this insignificant mayor, but is political and ideological. I had the honor of being a friend of Isabel-Clara Simó, and I dare to say how she would react to news like this: she would laugh, let out a curse, and remember that if they are like this, it means we are doing well. She worked, she never cried.
