[Menydh]

Originally Posted by Dux

I've debated this with Mynydd not long ago. His vision is romantic and has its potential, undeniably.

Much on the contrary, it is a vision that rejects the myths and errors of romanticism and that sticks to a realism that's been hindered for too long.

Iberia or Hispania, whatever you prefer, is a very complex region. Yet is a region of Europe, and shares many similarities with cousin regions all hewn of the same Europe.

Take no offense, but on this part of the Peninsula we stress more the differences with other parts of Europe, than we stress any similarities. This is, again, due to a vision of realism since we are Peninsular, not Continental Europe. There is, in my opinion, a clear hint of jacobinism in this excess stressing of similarities, which sets itself apart from a clear idea of nationalism.

Explaining the view of Portuguese independence its easy for an Irish or a Norwegian or a Slovenian to understand.

Of course. The less they know, the easier that it can be presented as natural to them.

Spain is a multi-nation state. Portugal is by far homogeneous.

The differences between the Braccarensis Galicians (N. Portugal) with Algarve or Alentejo (S. Portugal) is one of the more extreme in Iberia. If not the most the most extreme of all, since the Reconquista in all the other kingdoms (read states) of Spain (read nation) was realized over longer time because of the needed demographic growth in the northern kingdoms that provided the input for repopulation in the re-conquered territories. Resulting in a north-south homogeneity that is actually unparalleled.

A nation (Spain) was fragmented by cause of an invasion, and in the attempt to reconquer this nation new states (kingdoms) were created. It is dishonest to call a multi-nation state what is actually a multi-state nation.

Yes, it may fit in a Great Iberia, in the Spanish view. It doesn't fit so well in the Portuguese concept of State.

Now we are talking. The idea of "nation" that you portray is based on a state. We've known that all along, haven't we?

That's my opinion and that's the overwhelming sentiment in the collective psyche of Portuguese.

I don't consider the collective psyche of the masses as authoritative. It is highly influenciable. Especially not in these modern times. And you shouldn't either. Thinking must be qualitative, not quantitative.