Re: Basque Separatism
Well, so far we have had the opinion of one Basque in this thread, but I think it would be also great to add which idea of Spain did the most celebrated (funnily, even by separatists who most probably ignore great part of his works) Basque poet of the XIX century have. Jose Maria Iparraguirre (1820-1881):
Ara nun diran mendi maiteak
Ara nun diran zelayak
Baserri eder zuri zuriak
Iturri eta ibayak.
Endaian nago zoraturikan
Zabal zabalik begiak
Ara España... lur oberikan
Ez du Europa guziak!
Which with my poor English translates:
There they are my beloved mounts
there they are the meadows
the pretty, white, white caseríos*
the fountains and the streams
I'm in Hendaya crazy of happiness
with my eyes wide, very wide open
Here's Spain... there's no better land
in the whole Europe!
*Typical Basque small house
Note: You can easily appreciate nostalgy in that excerpt of one of his poems (Nere etorrera lur maitera), as it was written after years of living in South America.
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"Do not be suprised, my friend, that I long so much for remote lands in which people feel immensely rich with very little; it is true that I live in Rome enjoying a life of fame and prestige, but it is also true that I was born from Celts and Iberians."
--Marcus Valerius Martialis, Epigrammata
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