Barcelona

pre Madonna wrote: http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/03/catalan-spanish-european-mariano-rajoy-memories-civil-war

What I can't understand about Madrid and its citizens is, Madrid and Barcelona were the last places to fall to Franco in the civil war. From my limited knowledge of the war, the republican strongholds were the big cities and the rural areas were with Franco. How is Madrid now ultra nationalist when they were the last place to resist Franco?

FrankosHereNow wrote: pre Madonna wrote: http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/03/catalan-spanish-european-mariano-rajoy-memories-civil-war What I can't understand about Madrid and its citizens is, Madrid and Barcelona were the last places to fall to Franco in the civil war. From my limited knowledge of the war, the republican strongholds were the big cities and the rural areas were with Franco. How is Madrid now ultra nationalist when they were the last place to resist Franco?

Franco basically decided to besiege Madrid and not take it until the end. He could have taken it much sooner if he'd wanted.

FrankosHereNow wrote: pre Madonna wrote: http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/03/catalan-spanish-european-mariano-rajoy-memories-civil-war What I can't understand about Madrid and its citizens is, Madrid and Barcelona were the last places to fall to Franco in the civil war. From my limited knowledge of the war, the republican strongholds were the big cities and the rural areas were with Franco. How is Madrid now ultra nationalist when they were the last place to resist Franco?

I've tried to read a few books about the Spanish Civil war but it's hugely complex and confusing.

Interesting chat on Primetime last night about it. Basically said all sides got what they want from it.

randyrandolph wrote: zizu Kilbane wrote: FrankosHereNow wrote: pre Madonna wrote: http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/03/catalan-spanish-european-mariano-rajoy-memories-civil-war What I can't understand about Madrid and its citizens is, Madrid and Barcelona were the last places to fall to Franco in the civil war. From my limited knowledge of the war, the republican strongholds were the big cities and the rural areas were with Franco. How is Madrid now ultra nationalist when they were the last place to resist Franco? I've tried to read a few books about the Spanish Civil war but it's hugely complex and confusing. its a fascinating period. if you can find it, try and read "in green and red, the lives of frank ryan". It tells the story of Irish involvement in the Spanish civil war.  its also a shameful period in irish history considering a thousand odd paddies were out there fighting for Franco under o'duffy. supposedly they were a waste of space and couldn't handle the "oily food". No McD's back in those days...

Thanks for the kind words PM. 

pre Madonna wrote: FrankosHereNow wrote: Thanks for the kind words PM.  Not quite. You're one of my favourite posters, does that massage your ego enough?

PM  

That's what the EU have said anyway.

I don't know where I stand on Catalan independence. What's the logical distinction between Catalan nationalists and the Lega Nord? I don't see one. Spain is a federation of different ethno-linguistic subdivisions just as much Italy is with its 20 regions. There are plenty of Sicilians who can barely understand a word that a Venetia or Ligurian says, and vice versa.

Yet I doubt most of those here in favour of Catalan separatism would be in favour of Lega Nord's secession plan. It's the same deal: a rich part of the country has had enough with spongers elsewhere and wants its cake back, thank you very much. Just because the Catalans are leftists and the Lega Nord closer to fascists doesn't change much on the constitutional issue.

I can't see a distinction between their constitutional positions and I don't really favour either.

SuperDave84 wrote: I don't know where I stand on Catalan independence.

Another nation that would probably be better than Ireland in the UEFA qualifying pool