Festival Weekend. Defend Culture, Culture, Culture!

This country (I don't mind whether you are thinking on Spain or Catalonia, the result is the same) is a complete shame: corruption, lies, manipulation and an undisguised attempt to destroy the rights of the "regular citizen". Don't want to go "higher" and write about the European Union, not after seeing how are they reacting after the Lampedusa drama, because to me is just embarrassing to think I once was a serious supporter of the EU ideals, now an unmasked bunch of miserable people trying to design, rule our lives in their own benefit... I need a weekend to take shelter and hide, and to do that the best option, at least for me, has always been culture. Culture and education are the answer, and are bound together, against the bastards. Both needed to be defended (we do have a villain to fight against you know, it's called Wert, and looks like a vampire from a very dark age on Spanish history, not that long ago). Defended by you.

And in that sense this weekend is an ideal one. Two amazing festivals are taking place in Barcelona. Yesterday the 11th edition of the Beefeater In-Edit began (yes, music films are back in town!), and tomorrow the second BIS Festival (a fantastic idea where local labels gather to show the world what they do and why) will open its doors too. Music documentaries and local independent music, what a powerful and exciting combination. Would you like to defend culture? Here's a double option. You only need to get up and join what's going on in your city...      

   

(My) Independence

Spain! Catalonia! I'm so tired of you two! Quino nailed it again.

It was bound to happen. I tried to stay aside from the current debate on Catalonia / Spain, but it's everywhere. I guess my choice wasn't very realistic and couldn't last long. So here's a very personal collection of thoughts...


(My) Independence

I want to be independent... from politics
From corrupted and vile politicians
The ones that brought us here & cut our rights,
but now have decided to hide their failures behind flags

I want to be independent... from media
From the miserable and evil majority of media
The ones that should be informing citizens,
but they are just manipulating us while serving the corporation that pays their checks

I want to be independent... from justice
From the paralysed and partial justice
The ones that should be defending our rights
but instead they just protect the unfair benefits and privileges of the richest and powerful

I want to be independent... from the Constitution
From the so sacred and untouchable Constitution
Many of us didn't vote it, but we all have the right to
decide whether it still fits us or not

I want to be independent... from democracy
From this ridiculous, false and deplorable idea of democracy
Where the ones supposedly chosen by us are only serving themselves
Where the ones we vote don't make the decisions, and the ones that do,
banks & greedy corporations, are free to keep their campaign towards social annihilation

I can't believe on a future leaded by the ones ruining our present. I want to be independent from a rescue I didn't provoke; from an economic model based on construction and tourism I didn't choose, and has obviously failed; from ancien régime institutions like monarchy, religion or capitalism; from conservative parties that call themselves liberals but are just fascists, and from left parties that forgot all their social aims while they focus on keeping their pockets full; from silly bipartidism; from corruption; from markets; from a EU that is sadly just another neoliberal economic club; from a criminal unemployment rate fostered by criminal an absurd neoliberal policies that I haven't voted; from people who still tries to use the language/s he/she speaks as a tool to divide people; from all nationalisms and anyone who tries to win an argument waving a flag. Behind any flag, there's people. That's what matters. This shouldn't be about Spain or Catalonia, but about the needs and rights of the citizens living on that territory. That's the sort of independence we should seek.