I want to be English
The more deplorable the national circumstances we face, the more this writer wishes to be able to transform himself into something more worthy or at least more peaceful. For example, a citizen of an England which at this time of forced globalisation still dares to claim to be its own master, whether by keeping its own currency or debating whether or not to consult its citizens on their continued EU membership. This is something impossible to imagine in our backward, subservient Spain, which is capable of any shameful act in order to enjoy the increasingly doubtful privilege of being considered part of an artificial and ever more unstable Europe.
Unlike the Spanish, who are faint-hearted and full of complexes from the president down to the last citizen, polls show that growing numbers of English people support the idea that the Scottish should clear off and leave them in peace. And as for Gibraltar, a likely point of conflict which, sooner or later, will end up exploding between the two shores of the Mediterranean for religious, cultural and demographic reasons, who do you prefer, dear reader, as the first line of defence? A proud nation which has the resources and will to defend itself, or a nation which is eternally disputing about its essence and existence?
But there are other things besides politics. Things that are much more serious and cleaner. The Vaughan Williams Society, for example, explains on its web page that its goal is to pay tribute to and disseminate music “notable for its power, nobility and expressiveness, representing the essence of Englishness”. Such envy! It is difficult to imagine an equivalent among us in Spain, as nobody here would dare to demand anything strong and noble and, much less, which represents the essence of the Spanish. And perhaps it is better that way, because we would be taking the risk that somebody would do this with Bisbal or La Pantoja. Separatism owes so much to this phenomenon! And also to the fact that whereas the English have James Bond and his “shaken, not stirred” cocktails, here we are condemned to Torrente and his vulgarity.
El Diario Montañés, 18th July 2014