He who calls a person a fascist for opposing independence is not

"He who calls a person a fascist for opposing independence is not only wrong but putting themselves on the same level as those who call us Nazis for wanting independence." – Carles Puigdemont

Hear these words, O seekers of wisdom, for they are forged in the fire of conflict and tempered with the wisdom of restraint. When Carles Puigdemont, the exiled leader of Catalonia’s independence movement, spoke them, his voice rose not as the cry of a partisan, but as the warning of a statesman. He spoke of a great danger — not the clash of nations, but the corruption of discourse, the moment when the struggle for freedom becomes poisoned by hatred. His words remind us that when we trade reason for insult, we descend from the high ground of truth to the mire of ignorance.

In the storm of political struggle, the easiest weapon to wield is accusation. To call another a fascist or a Nazi without cause is to forget the sacred weight of those words. They are not names to be thrown like stones; they are the echoes of the darkest chapters in human history. Puigdemont’s wisdom lies in his recognition that the righteous cause of independence must never be tainted by the same fanaticism it seeks to escape. The moment we demonize our opponents, we lose sight of the freedom we claim to defend.

History, in its endless turning, offers us many warnings. Consider the French Revolution, born in the name of liberty and equality. At first, the people rose with noble fire to break their chains. But soon, suspicion became law, and insult became justice. Neighbors turned on one another, and the guillotine silenced not the tyrants, but the very voices of the revolution itself. In the end, freedom devoured its own children, and France fell from idealism into terror. So it is that Puigdemont, knowing the perils of division, cautions his people: do not let anger masquerade as righteousness.

For in every age, the path of freedom is beset by two perils: tyranny from without and intolerance from within. The first enslaves the body; the second corrupts the soul. When those who seek independence begin to mirror the hatred of their oppressors, their victory becomes hollow. To fight oppression, one must not become the oppressor; to seek justice, one must speak with justice. Thus, Puigdemont’s words are both shield and mirror — they defend against the corruption of the spirit and reflect the truth that civility is not weakness, but strength refined.

The wise understand that independence is not merely political; it is moral. It demands discipline of the tongue and purity of purpose. To stand for a cause is not to crush all dissent, but to allow disagreement to shape truth. Freedom without respect is an empty flag, fluttering over the ruins of understanding. Puigdemont calls upon his people, and upon all humanity, to remember that dialogue, not denunciation, builds the nations of tomorrow.

Let this teaching guide both the leaders and the led: do not trade truth for outrage. When you hear words you disagree with, answer not with insult but with reason; for reason is the weapon of the free. Guard your words as you would guard your honor, for they shape the world as surely as swords shape battle. To speak with respect, even to an adversary, is to honor the very freedom of thought you claim to defend.

Therefore, take this lesson to heart: never descend to the level of those who use hatred as their shield. Whether you fight for a nation, an idea, or your own dignity, let your struggle be noble. Stand firm in your beliefs, but keep your heart free of contempt. For as Carles Puigdemont reminds us, to fight for independence is not merely to seek freedom from others — it is to rise above the darkness within ourselves. Only then can liberty endure, pure and undiminished, lighting the path for generations to come.