tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27941559.post5067594040330071293..comments2024-03-13T18:03:14.612+01:00Comments on South Of Watford: Basque Vote Is Ruled OutGraemehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05948656158638818739noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27941559.post-47511945586721229452008-09-16T17:41:00.000+02:002008-09-16T17:41:00.000+02:00Blood groups come behind genetics now, and accordi...Blood groups come behind genetics now, and according to an internationally recognised source (Wikipedia), that places the Basques as being rather closer to the Spanish than some of them might like to be.Graemehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05948656158638818739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27941559.post-30198867195037846332008-09-16T17:31:00.000+02:002008-09-16T17:31:00.000+02:00Tom, I don't think anyone in the Basque country ha...Tom, I don't think anyone in the Basque country has made such claims for many decades. <BR/><BR/>Different origins of people do of course exist, though; it is any over-emphasis on these, or in particular any claim of superiority, which causes problems.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27941559.post-81978830332234837382008-09-16T16:26:00.000+02:002008-09-16T16:26:00.000+02:00@John - no more or less absurd than in much of the...@John - no more or less absurd than in much of the Basque country, surely? Any racial claim of any sort is inherently stupid.Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06562902749398922096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27941559.post-40843718130838157352008-09-16T13:57:00.000+02:002008-09-16T13:57:00.000+02:00Tom, I have never, once, heard any Catalan claim a...Tom, I have never, once, heard any Catalan claim any kind of racial difference between themselves and Spaniards, let alone any kind of superiority resulting from such a difference. Even if there were those who believed this at some stage, which I doubt, the fact that Catalunya is now made up of people from, and descended from, so many places would have made this already-erroneous assertion even more absurd.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27941559.post-11094108427857357632008-09-16T13:17:00.000+02:002008-09-16T13:17:00.000+02:00I think the idea that different regions can have d...I think the idea that different regions can have different levels of autonomy was built into the system from the beginning so that Cataluña and the Basque Country could have more extensive powers whilst other regions could choose.Graemehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05948656158638818739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27941559.post-31581477227484031922008-09-15T17:44:00.000+02:002008-09-15T17:44:00.000+02:00Graeme's answer is correct, though I believe that ...Graeme's answer is correct, though I believe that some Catalans would claim to be racially different to Spaniards, many of whom clearly have more 'Arabic' DNA than 'Visigoth' DNA. Naturally, this is probably rubbish. All concepts of racial purity or superiority are completely subjective and based on very little actual science. In many ways, anyone who claims racial purity should probably be sympathised with, given that they would clearly be inferior to those of us with of a more mongrel make up.<BR/><BR/>Also, I'm not sure I understand what's the problem with Andalusia and Catalonia sharing similar <I>Estatutos de Autonomia</I>. Surely that makes more sense than all the <I>comunidades</I> having different deals with Madrid?Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06562902749398922096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27941559.post-46803329797800069352008-09-14T22:53:00.000+02:002008-09-14T22:53:00.000+02:00I don't think most European nationalisms have that...I don't think most European nationalisms have that much to do with race Lenox, it's more to do with linguistic and cultural heritage. Racially, the Spanish are a mixture anyway.Graemehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05948656158638818739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27941559.post-81562586501157531202008-09-14T12:19:00.000+02:002008-09-14T12:19:00.000+02:00The Basques can argue that racially they are diffe...The Basques can argue that racially they are different from the Spanish. The Catalans can't do the same (can they?).<BR/>Not that I'm in favour of Basque separatism but that it's not always right to consider the different strands of nacionalismos as being the same.<BR/>Now, on the subject of Andalucía... ¡Viva Almería Libre!Lenoxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12933569673776013122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27941559.post-42838392936392178892008-09-13T09:58:00.000+02:002008-09-13T09:58:00.000+02:00Organise a referendum on it David, you might not h...Organise a referendum on it David, you might not have the chance for much longer.Graemehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05948656158638818739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27941559.post-17531452061827203252008-09-12T19:46:00.000+02:002008-09-12T19:46:00.000+02:00Always the same - if the Catalans get it, we Andal...Always the same - if the Catalans get it, we Andaluzs have to have it too. Like spoilt toddlers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com