Barcelona <3's Boston
Trip Start
May 10, 2010
1
8
9
Trip End
Jun 19, 2010
Where I stayed
Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Monday, May 31, 2010
In the years leading to the American Revolution, Boston was the port that much of the British good came through. As a result, many of the revolutionaries sought the freedom of the port leading to the Boston Tea Party. The Americans rallied around Boston as the city to lead the revolution. The port was an easy access to others for easy trading and could become a major economic gain for America. The revolution was a push by a potentially self-sufficient country from a ruling government that had outwardly oppressed their freedoms. It was apparent not only to the colonist but also some of the people of Britain. When it was all over, America was successful in its independence run and became the United State of America.
It is Boston's role in the independence that one can find the similarities between Barcelona and pre-United States Boston. Aside from the fact that they are both major port cities, there is more commonalities than meets the eye. Barcelona is the center of Catalonia's desire to be its own country separate from Spain. Within Barcelona, Catalonia realizes its ability to be its own country in the terms of economics as the site of major port and tourism draw. Not only is Barcelona Catalonia's major economic center but also Spain's. Boston can be seen almost as a model for Barcelona, as the city that was successful in its push to be independent. As the Americans rallied against a major power, Britain, with overwhelming odds, they revolution movement was still successful. Spain is an established country with a reputation of power to the rest of the world; so many may see the Catalan desire for independence as a long shot. However with the example of Boston, the citizens of Catalonia especially Barcelona can hope that it is possible for Catalonia to become its own country.
With the presence of many things Boston in Barcelona, one may think it is an underlying sentiment to follow the example of the American Revolution. The organizers wish to expose the citizens to connections that can easily be made between the cities and one day have the same feeling of revolution that built up in Boston. In the end, there is no saying how successful the push for Catalan independence, but there is a scary resemblance between Boston and Barcelona, can it happen again?
