I understand what your saying about ruling by force.

I don't think you do,...

But what i dont understand is how a small group can say they no longer want to be part of a whole.

How can I be part of a whole unless I consent to the arrangement?
You are presuming that the whole has a right to use violence to maintain it's control of the masses.
Catalonia just wants to be left to do their thing.

What happened to "we are strongest when united".

Evil wasn't resisted and now it is exposing it's self.

Until 'we' stop 'consenting' to be ruled by force this is what we get.