This is hardly the first time we’ve mentioned the important Basque presence in Argentina. So now it’s time to “narrow the spotlight” and point it right at Macachín, a town in La Pampa where the Basques have left an especially important mark.
Now, this town, with about 6,000 people, and the Basque culture it’s steeped in, have become a point of interest not only in Argentina, but also in the Basque Country and throughout the Basque community world thanks to a video published a well-known YouTuber, Nacho Z, who is a content creator focusing on topics related to culture, travel, adn personal experiences.
His video, shared this week by almost 30,000 visitors, has received 8500 likes on Instagram.
This report about the Basques in Macachín has generated a ton of comments of all sorts. Among them stand out those for whom the word “Basque” provokes a shockingly strong reaction.
We imagine they fight against the concept of “Basque” in the same way they fight against the earth being round, or the theory of evolution. It’s always the same principle of “if something bothers me or I don’t understand it, I’ll deny it, or lie so one can ever know the truth.” They can’t let reality screw up their preconceptions.
We can read those who affirm that:
- «Deberían de mandarlos a su país si no se adaptan a las costumbres argentinas a tomar viento que no vengan a imponer su cultura! Que se han creído estos».
(“They should send them back to their own country if they don’t know how to adapt to Argentine customs! They can eff off, don’t come to impose their culture! Who do they think they are?”) - Que los vascos tienen el apodo de «vascos» porque hay «vasco franceses» ya que de otra manera serían «gallegos».
(The Basques have the nickname ‘Basques’ because they are ‘French Basques,’ because otherwise they would be ‘gallegos.’) - Y, como no, también ha salido el comodín de ETA o del terrorismo, en un país donde la dictadura y el terrorismo pueden dar lecciones al mundo.
And, of course, they played the ETA or terrorism card, in a country that could give the world lessons on dictatorships and terrorism.
In any case, most of the comments are positive, from people who know the Basques and what they’ve contributed. As for us, we do need to comment one niggle. The Basque Country is so much more than just the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country under Spanish administration. In the terms being used in Macachín, they’re referring to the whole of the Basque Country, with its seven territories on both sides of the Pyrenees, as depicted on the map on the frontón wall (though this map and shield depict Lower Navarre as integrated into Navarre).
No one who knows the Basques’ history could argue against the idea that the Basque community abroad and its way of organizing not only serves as a way to preserve culture and traditions thousands of miles from home, but also serves as a meeting point for solidarity and shared work that allows it to become a pillar of the community.
As the Lehendakari asked Basques everywhere:
“May the Basques be, in their adopted homeland, among all, the best citizens.”
And Macachín is a paradigm of what the Basques are: responsible and active in the community. Good Argentines and good Basques. So yes, they’re truly home, 6,000 miles from their other home.
Last Updated on Feb 18, 2025 by About Basque Country