catalans

This means that, legally, Catalans cannot be distinguished from Spaniards.

Take sports, for example, where Catalans have repeatedly showed that they would support them participating internationally [3].

Last 11 of September, at very least 600000 Catalans over 11km protested in favor of a referendum for their independence.

During the last few years Catalans have seen how the Spanish Government is trying to change this model, including the language.

As you can see, independence would simply allow Catalans to decide about all these things.

Many Catalans feel this as a violation of their identity and right of nationality.

[2] * Catalans cannot participate in international events as Catalans.

On top of that, Catalans see that this has been the case for decades and, if anything, it looks like it's getting worse.

For many Catalans remaining in Spain is simply not an option anymore.

Or is there another way to make sure that only Catalans vote?

I guess you are siding with the Catalans that want to be an independent country, then.

I also take issue with you claiming that all Catalans feel this way, that's largely untrue.

Yes Catalans haver no problem with the "x":) but it's just with the name that is mispronounced due to the Castillan overlap.

I'm not saying that the op's article is not biased, nor that there's nothing more about this issue than just "poor oppressed Catalans", but I don't find your referred article "more balanced" by any means.

First of all, even though the independence debate is very important, the current stage of the "conflict" is whether Catalans have the right to, not simply decide about this, but to voice their opinion (in a non-binding way) on this.

> most people - even natives - pronounce Xavi badly, due to...the lack of the "sh" sound in Castillan Catalans seem to pronounce "caixa" fine, so I think they _could_ say "Shabi"...

Castillan language and identity were forced upon Catalans, Galicians an Basques, that hold grudges for that even now.

Basques with even less population (and less L1 and L2 speakers, even in % than Catalans) are also among the wealthiest.

Catalans know they are very important in the Spanish economy.