Todo Concostrina – “Acontece que no es poco”

Resumen 1. “Vivo rodeado de ratas”. Señores que antes fueron calles

Date: July 10, 2024
Host: Nieves Concostrina (A), with Marta (B)
Podcast: SER Podcast

Main Theme

In this engaging, characteristically pointed episode, Nieves Concostrina revisits the season’s key stories about infamous Spanish historical figures whose names still grace the country’s streets. With sharp wit and critical humor, Concostrina highlights the slow, controversial process of renaming streets whose namesakes were associated with fascism, dictatorship, or extreme right-wing ideologies—posing a stark contrast with the immediate “denazification” that took place in postwar Germany.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

Season Recap & Approach (00:42)

• As the season ends, Concostrina proposes a summary of infamous figures previously discussed, focusing this year’s “ratas” (rats) on “señores que antes fueron calles”—men who once were just people, and then street names.
• Quote:
  • “Vamos a repetir la fórmula de los dos años anteriores, recordando y resumiendo detallitos de lo peor de cada casa […] Este año las ratas van a ser otras, las ratas.” – Nieves Concostrina (00:42)

Antonio Vallejo-Nájera, “el Mengele español” (01:29)

• Vallejo-Nájera, described by Nieves as “un franquista peligroso, médico psiquiatra, abuelito de una MasterChef”, was notorious for his pseudo-scientific attempts to eradicate left-wing ideology (“el gen rojo”) from Spanish society through eugenics.
• The Madrid street originally named for him was changed in 2017 to honor his son, a superficial change that Concostrina blasts as absurd.
• Quote:
  • “Hace falta ser idiota para creer que la ideología va en los genes y que los españoles somos una raza.” – Nieves (01:38)
  • “Es como si los aliados hubieran quitado la avenida Adolf Hitler de Berlín y la hubieran cambiado por avenida Adolfito Hitler.” – Nieves (02:11)

Satirical Reflection on Idiocy (02:49)

• Insert of a satirical audio clip, lampooning the prevalence of idiocy and pseudo-science in Spanish history and thought.
• Quote:
  • “Todo el mundo tiene un porcentaje de idiotez en su genética.” (02:58)

Law of Historical Memory & Street Name Changes (03:20)

• Concostrina contrasts the slow, incomplete application of the Spanish Law of Historical Memory with the swift actions of postwar Germany, critiquing Spanish democrats’ hesitation versus fascists’ decisiveness.
• She details how the right-wing mayor of Madrid removed plaques honoring executed republicans at Almudena cemetery—an act she finds scandalous and illustrative of enduring fascist influence.
• Quote:
  • “O a los antidemócratas se les anula de cuajo, o les das tiempo para que se disfracen de demócratas, reaparezcan y la vuelvan a liar.” – Nieves (03:38)
  • “Los fascistas sí que saben eso hay que reconocérselo.” – Nieves (04:14)

Eugenics and Francoist Policy (05:45)

• Vallejo-Nájera’s actual program: executing men, isolating women, and giving children to right-wing families, aided by clergy and complicit doctors.
• Quote:
  • “El plan consistía en fusilar a los hombres, aislar a las mujeres, quitarles a los niños y dar a esos niños a familias decentes de extrema derecha. Y así se hizo.” – Nieves (05:52)

Names That Persist: Ministro Ibáñez Martín (06:11)

• Despite efforts, many Francoist street names remain—including “Ministro Ibáñez Martín”, key architect of catholicized education and purges of secular teachers.
• Ibáñez Martín’s infamous decree: “Queremos una ciencia católica… nuestra ciencia quiere ser ante todo católica.” (08:01)
• Historian Julián Casanova is cited: During Ibáñez Martín’s tenure, thousands of teachers were sanctioned and Spanish education turned into the regime’s “botín de guerra.”
• Quote:
  • “Vaya rosario de gilipolleces. Inaugurando un centro científico.” – Nieves (08:09)
  • “Lorca. Qué vergüenza, lorquinos, que tengáis el nombre del tipo que purgó a maestros y destrozó la educación.” – Nieves (09:21)

More “Señores”/Streets: José María Pemán & Rafael Beca (09:55)

• Pemán: Celebrated by the post-dictatorship establishment, despite his misogynist, ultra-conservative, and anti-Semitic positions—Concostrina reads his words denying women’s political agency.
• Quote:
  • “La expresión de las opiniones políticas requiere una independencia que es difícil en la mujer, sobre todo en la mujer casada. La mujer casada debe abstenerse por completo de una intervención activa en la política. La mujer cristiana debe sumisión al esposo.” – Pemán, cited by Nieves (10:20)
  • “Y animaba a la lucha contra el judaísmo, motor de todas las catástrofes y todas las vergüenzas que se hacen padecer a los pueblos.” – Nieves (10:56)
• Rafael Beca: Land developer who profited from fascist policies, refused to sell land to Andalusians (deeming them lazy), and whose name still adorns streets in his home region.
• Quote:
  • “La ignorancia es la madre del atrevimiento.” – Nieves (11:52)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Vamos a cerrar temporada por todo lo alto, ¿No?” – Marta (00:38)
• “Dejaron el mismo nombre con la excusa de que era el hijo mal comparado.” – Nieves (02:05)
• “Mientras unos debaten, viene el alcalde de Madrid de extrema derecha, Martínez... y ala, a tomar por culo, vámonos. Este arranca por su cuenta las placas...” – Nieves (04:23)
• “O les das tiempo para que se disfracen de demócratas, reaparezcan y la vuelvan a liar, que es lo que ha pasado en España...” – Nieves (03:43)
• “Vaya rosario de gilipolleces. Inaugurando un centro científico.” – Nieves (08:09)
• “Lorca. Qué vergüenza, lorquinos, que tengáis el nombre del tipo que purgó a maestros y destrozó la educación.” – Nieves (09:21)
• “La ignorancia es la madre del atrevimiento.” – Nieves (11:52)

Timestamps of Key Segments

• 00:42 – Episode theme and format explanation.
• 01:29 – Profile on Vallejo-Nájera.
• 02:49 – Satirical interlude on idiocy/genetics.
• 03:20 – Commentary on the slowness of Spanish historical memory efforts.
• 05:45 – Vallejo-Nájera’s eugenic program detailed.
• 06:11 – The persistence of names like Ibáñez Martín in public spaces.
• 08:01 – Direct quote from Ibáñez Martín on “ciencia católica.”
• 09:55 – Pemán’s and Beca’s ongoing public commemoration.
• 10:20 – Pemán’s misogynist statement.
• 11:44 – Rafael Beca’s story and critique.

Tone and Style

Nieves Concostrina’s delivery is incisive, irreverent, and rooted in documented critique. She doesn’t shy from provocative analogies or sarcasm, often voicing outrage at the enduring public honor granted to Spain’s most problematic historical figures. Her co-host Marta provides brief, supportive prompts, letting Nieves’ narrative drive the episode.

Final Remarks

The episode closes with a brief, lighthearted exchange between Marta and Nieves, promising more engaging history and critique in upcoming episodes.
“Mañana más, mañana más.” – Nieves (12:21)

This summary is designed for listeners seeking an in-depth, organized digest of the episode, highlighting its most relevant historical anecdotes, pointed criticism, and the memorable quotes that capture Concostrina’s unique perspective.