2023 has been a year of rather dire news. To what the corny call the "chronification" of the conflict in Ukraine, now the Gaza massacre is added and, in general, the return to conflicts marked by what Western cynicism defined as "collateral damage" (which is nothing more than a lot of people dying unfairly). Decadent times give us very laughable images, such as that of a meeting of committed environmentalists to prevent climate change presided over by an oil magnate. The world is heating up at a brazier's pace and, in places where the climate tended to be temperate, one sees how the earth dries up while the phenomenon called rain only appears in movies. In Catalonia we have verified that the world is watching us, specifically because our students (that is, our adults) fail in early childhood education. Regarding politics, you will agree with me, it's almost better not to say a word.
Barcelona is not saved from this dire dynamic. As my very patient readers will know, I have a true devotion to my city; but unconditional love does not prevent me from noticing that, since I have been aware, I would say I had never seen the country's capital in such low hours. At this point, there is no choice but to refer to governance, basically (and briefly) to state that there is not a single politician in the municipal sphere who has a stimulating and ambitious project for Barcelona (the feeling, starting with the mayor's office itself, is precisely the opposite; everyone seems to live comfortably with a very low profile). I write it and repeat it for the hundred thousandth time: whether due to the unbearable increase in the cost of living or the lack of well-paid job opportunities, Barcelona is about to suffer an exodus of natives that can turn it into a city of simple visit.
That the world's major news is more for crying and that my country and my city are becoming the worst that an urban collective can become (namely, a rather extremely boring place) does not make me lose hope. Despite the authorities' efforts to turn it into a capital where it is more than difficult to live, Barcelona remains one of the most beautiful cities in the world and a great generator of talent. Due to life and work circumstances, I know a good group of musicians, writers, idea traffickers, and culture managers who could perfectly live off their art or command any world-class artistic facility. The problem is that, much to our regret, in Catalonia we do not have an industry in the field of culture. And this is how, day after day, I see dozens of young people from the city who go into exile in other places because there they have the small detail of paying them a salary.
Despite the authorities' efforts to turn it into a capital where it is more than difficult to live, Barcelona remains one of the most beautiful cities in the world and a great generator of talentThis situation is not governed by divine law. Barcelona suffers from a neglect that is not attributable to a single administration or to politics in general. Also, to be honest, it originates from our own laziness; after all, life here is quite good by just getting by and organizing some mega-party that puts you on the world map for a few days. business. And if we get bored, we'll always have trivial controversies like the postmodern nativity scene in Plaça de Sant Jaume or the overpresence of scooters in Ciutat Vella. In fact, and this is not a minor point, the public debate in our city is of an increasingly dismal and hard-to-digest quality. My optimistic friends say that all of this is a phase, that the Rosa de Foc will return soon because he always disproves his deluded gravediggers. As for me, what do you want me to tell you, every day it costs me more to see any crack of light.
From this 2023, a bad year, few joyful things can be counted. Let's hope at least that the change of digit on the calendar does not bring us an even worse future. The owner of this Punyalada, despite everything, wishes you a good irruption into 2024, hoping that you can receive it in the strictest privacy.
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