From enthusiasm to strength

Diari Ara

It is somewhat paradoxical, if not perverse, that now that the independence process is politically on the right track, those who want independence seem to be demoralized, their ambition for independence on the wane. It’s true that in some cases, when you are scrutinizing collective moods, it’s hard to tell the difference between what is reality and what is fiction. It could well be, simply, that with the fact of not being in an excited state, not being immersed in a campaign, that serenity is being confused with resignation. But it could also be that, precisely because things are going well now and the difficulties are clearer, the awareness of the magnitude of the challenge is intimidating the more hesitant wills.

One of the reasons cited to justify the supposed flagging steps in the push towards independence is a disappointment in the institutional political response. Vicens Villatoro suggested different possible turning points: Pujol’s confession, 11 September, 9 November, the aftermath of Mas’ conference, or that of Junqueras, Pablo Iglesias’ visit to Barcelona…and you could still add the aftermath of the Mas-Junqueras ceasefire that cleared the way for the calling of the 27-S elections. It turns out that we successfully overcame all the threats from the State, that we weren’t deterred by external adversaries, only to now be intimidated by internal difficulties.

I have to admit that, to me, the response of institutional politics to the drive of the pro-sovereignty civil society is not a surprise. On the one hand, because they have responded positively to these aspirations. Remember that just over two years ago, the majority party with 62 seats still trusted in a future political pact with the PP government. Or that a little less than eight years ago, pro-independence forces in Parliament still trusted in the possibility of a regional reform of the Catalan Statute. It was not easy to hope for so much in such a short period of time. But on the other hand, I’m not disappointed because I believe very clearly that the great difficulty of the political leadership of the independence process is that it has to be carried out by people who know, or intuit, that they themselves will have to give everything up. You have to build a new country with old tools. That which is new has not yet been born, and that which is old not only refuses to die, but must stay strong to reach the finish line.

So expect no miracles. Particularly, until after the municipal elections, we should let the parties make their own way, and I think they deserve our trust and understanding. However, in the meantime, there is a lot of work to do, and there’s no room for discouragement of any kind. Only a bare eight months remain to give all the reasons that justify the aspiration to independence, and to study well the means that will allow us to overcome any foreseeable difficulties.

Let’s be clear: the path of militant, and at the same time festive, enthusiasm is exhausted. Demonstrations have strength, but they are also frothy. If anyone deflates, it’s because they were inflated. The decision to vote in favor of a new state is final and cannot depend on a fickle mood nor even on a sensational electoral campaign. We’d be on a bad road if we achieved independence because of a state of collective enthusiasm.

In short, to get down from the frothy high caused by big demonstrations is not only not negative, but rather necessary for undertaking the next stretch of this path towards social and national emancipation. We must arrive serene, loaded with strong arguments, with enough strength to endure the latest and greatest difficulties. And above all, we need an almost somatic trust in our capacity to build the country that we want.

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