Basque Nationalism and Xenophobia

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#53

From: Carsten Agger
Date: Mon, 21 Dec 1998 00:00

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I would like to ask a question which may and may not be=20
controversial, namely: what, if any, is the relation between the
radical Basque nationalism and the xenophobia that is becoming
all too common in today's Europe?
    I mean: As far as I see the Basques as a people with an oppressed
(or, nowadays, at least strongly pressed) language and culture, I =
sympathize
with Basque nationalism in the sense that it is a struglle for =
self-determination,=20
for preserving identity and culture, etc.
    In this country (Denmark), however, I am often concerned with =
nationalism,=20
and when so, always to fight it: I am talking about xenophobic =
right-wing=20
nationalism.
    On the other hand, in Spain there is quite a bit of racism mainly =
against=20
African (Maghrebi) immigrants and Gipsies; the Gipsies are a minority =
culture=20
and often suffer severe discrimination at all levels. Now, for me, the =
ideas that=20
lead me to understand Basque nationalism would also make me sympathize=20
with a struggle to oppose the blatant discrimination of Gipsies (say) in =
Spanish
society.
    So: Are left-wing Basque nationalists in this respect as bad as =
Spanish nationalists=20
(normally with strong racist opinions against Gipsies and Arabs), or =
would they
be more like the anti-racist left? And would it be possible to imagine =
ethnic minorities
and Basque nationalism unite forces against Spanish nationalism as =
represented=20
by the PP?

    regards,

        carsten


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<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>I would like to ask a question which =
may and may=20
not be </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>controversial, namely: what, if any, =
is the=20
relation between the</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>radical Basque nationalism and the =
xenophobia=20
that is becoming</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>all too common in today's =
Europe?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I mean: As far as =
I see the=20
Basques as a people with an oppressed</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>(or, nowadays, at least strongly =
pressed)=20
language and culture, I sympathize</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>with Basque nationalism in the sense =
that it is=20
a struglle for self-determination, </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>for preserving identity and culture, =

etc.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; In this country =
(Denmark),=20
however, I am often concerned with nationalism, </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>and when so, always to fight it: I =
am talking=20
about xenophobic right-wing </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>nationalism.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; On the other =
hand, in Spain=20
there is quite a bit of racism mainly against </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>African (Maghrebi) immigrants and =
Gipsies; the=20
Gipsies are a minority culture </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>and often suffer severe =
discrimination at all=20
levels. Now, for me, the ideas that </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>lead me to understand Basque nationalism would also =
make me=20
sympathize </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>with a struggle to oppose the blatant discrimination =
of=20
Gipsies (say) in Spanish</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>society.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; So: Are left-wing Basque =
nationalists in=20
this respect as bad as Spanish nationalists </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>(normally with strong racist opinions against =
Gipsies and=20
Arabs), or would they</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>be more like the anti-racist left? And would it be =
possible to=20
imagine ethnic minorities</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>and Basque nationalism unite forces against Spanish=20
nationalism as represented </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>by the PP?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; regards,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;=20
carsten</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV></BODY></HTML>

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From: Carsten Agger <agger@POST8.TELE.DK>
Subject: Basque Nationalism and Xenophobia
Date: 1998/12/21
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