Isn't that also because of the tensions with the basque country?
And Franco of course.

I guess it is as Franco is still recent, but anyway, the flag of Franco is the one with an eagle. It's true that many people here like Franco, I know some of them, and other people are republicans, so as you say there is some tension yet.

Where I live you cannot ask for somehing in your language without being called retarded/cunt/whatever.

Oh, Catalonia, I just saw your profile picture. That's because you are famous as some of you want to become independent from Spain... But I think many people exaggerate, I know some people from there and they all aren't like that :S

Well, doesn't matter what my beliefs are (I can tell you, though, that we WILL be independent, and also very soon). What matters is, whenever I ask for something in MY language, there's 40 milion spaniards bitching about it. No offence, I'm not assuming you are one of this kind.

I'm not that kind, I don't give a fuck and I love people from Catalonia, but I don't think you will become independent that soon... and there are a lot of people from there who don't want to become independent

If you look at the latest CEO poll, you will see there's a 51% of the population who wishes that Catalonia becomes a new State. And raising.

I think it's more complicated than that, but anyway, I have always wondered one thing, why do you want to become independent?

Long-ass comment incoming!

1- Language. Every day a new law against Catalan is approved (this is obviously an exaggeration, but you get my point), and our Parliament (the Catalan one, I mean) doesn't do shit, although its president is "nationalist" (I don't know if it's your case, but Spaniards usually relate independentism with him, and I must say that I really hate him, and that a lot of us do).

2- Culture. Same as language, Spain won't let us do what we want, and our Parliament (what sickens me the most about it is that is a fucking joke of a Parliament) will fund the Barcelona's Feria de Abril, which is an Andalus tradition, before the Flama del Canigó, which happens to be ours.

3- Repression. Spain tries to convince the world that we don't exist, or that we are really few, but that's a very big lie. We cannot have sports Selections (only in sports Spain doesn't compete in, which means we have Korfball and that should be enough), every match our unofficial selection plays must be approved by Spain and is totally useless because we can't compete in official tournaments, even though half of the Spanish selection is composed by Catalan people (Catalan people who happen to forget where are they from when they play with Spain, because it's cooler)

4- Money. 12.300 milions a year is spoliation, let's keep it clear. Any other country of the world gives that percent of their PIB to the central Government (and I'm not even talking about Balearic Islands or Valencian Country, which happen to be more spoliated than we are).

4- We are a fucking colony since a lot of time ago, but the world fails to see it (even less Spain), and the whole colony-leaving (I don't know its name) forgot about us.

We are not Iberic, we are Mediterranian. We are not Spanish, we are Catalan. And we were Catalan before Spain itself existed (a real History-aknowledged person, no matter how much against Catalonia he is, should know this).

And a lot more, but text box is full.

The "Flama del Canigó" comes from a very old tradition, and there's a lot of literature around it (poem by Jacint Verdaguer for example)

A bit paranoid, aren't we?
1. It appears to me that it's quite the opposite: in Cataluña speaking spanish is being more and more restricted, such as laws forbidding signs in spanish and more.
2. If you grab a fuckin Constitution, and read the very first article you'll notice that Spain has a rich cultural diversity, and it all forms part of our national culture.
3. Spain has enough bullshit to deal with to try and create this horrible conspiracy you are speaking about. You don't have a national selection, right. Guess what!? It's because you are not a fucking nation!! Tadaaa!!
4. I'm not even gonna speak about your waste of money in such wonderful activities as unneeded embassys all over the world.
5. (You have two fours) Oh, guess what again?' Since a long time ago' vikings have raided villages and raped women! Let's keep that alive! Everybody has forgotten about that!! Not everything that is old is good or correct.

And your last paragraph is just nonsense.
Cheers from an andalusian.
Pic related, it is you.

And about the nation fact: WE ARE A NATION, we just don't have a state.

I'm not even gonna try arguing with you. You don't deserve it. Who is being brainwashed here?

Uhmmm ok, I will say what I think.

1. Language. I think that Catalan is ok as long as you don't speak it in front of people who don't understand you, I don't remember when once I saw one of you speaking in Catalan for the spanish television in front of people who didn't know a fuck about Catalan (your official language is Catalan and Spanish too). I'm completely in favour of speaking Catalan, but I think this is being polite, you don't speak in a language people won't understand you with if you know to speak their language. It's like if I went to England for example, and I began t speak in spanish knowing how to say it in English, they would think that's not very polite.
Hmmm you didn't make a thing very clear, you say that people relate independence with a guy who is nationalist and you hate him. Isn't it nationalism to want to become independent? If you weren't nationalist you wouldn't give a shit about if you are from Spain or not.

2. Talking about the language, considering that point of view a lot of places should become indepent, there are a lot of countries whose languages are not just one, and some places where they speak just that language, which is the case of Belgium for example, in the North they speak dutch and I don't remember which language more, and in the South they speak French (I think just a 33% of the population speak French, then that 33% of population should become independent).
Ok, I agree with the Flama del Canigó thing.

3. When does Spain try to convince the world that you don't exist? Barcelona is well known around the world, in case that's true, it's the first time I hear something similar.
I don't know very much what you mean about the Sports Selections.
And the other things, I will have to get some information as I don't know how to answer that, I'm not very into economy and I prefer to answer when I'm more informed, and now I don't want to look for it, it's too late and I'm too lazy xD

umm, just have to point out that im from finland, and this is actually the very first time i even hear about catalan, maybe i was a bad student at school and didnt pay attention, but asked a few friends about catalan and they didnt know anything about it either o.o especially the part that barcelona is the capital of catalonia got me confused, allways tought its just a huge ass city of spain o.o

See? That's the problem. We don't exist to most of the world, we are just a little part of Spain.

been reading about catalan/catalonia whole morning, still not sure which word to use. but really, from what i have read i really wish u get ur independence, since in my view you are another country inside a country, which is already kinda fucked up in my opinion. especially when i read ur comments it seems spanish people dont like you guys : / sorry for bad english etc.

Thanks for what you said, I really appreciate it! The words are: Catalan (Català, if you are speaking Catalan) for the language; Catalonia (Catalunya in Catalan) for the country.
And don't worry about English, mine isn't very good too.

what? where do you live?

Oops, two fours. The second is of course a 5.

I had a foreign exchange student from spain at my school last year and she said that if you flew the spanish flag outside your house you would get tomatoes thrown at you. I guess it is true

Yeah, well, Its like... This country only raises, fight and discuss about football, but when we are arguing other themes, nobody gives a fuck about spain or his flag. So sad.