Free-D

Salamanca university took the decision last week to rid itself (at least partially) of its “Doctor Honoris Causa a Franco”, which was bestowed in 1954. Rector José Ramón Alonso responded to calls by UNE to get rid of the dubious title, by holding a vote. The rather peculiar and some may say meaningless result of this vote was the rejection of the title but not its removal. The reason given for this was that the legal implications of such an action would be extremely complex. Well, if a thing’s worth doing eh? Of course, the region abounds with Franquista symbols. There is actually a law aimed at the removal of such traces (la ley de la memoria histórica), the intention of which is to supress any glorification of Franco and the civil war. Naturally, anyone in their right mind deplores rabid nationalism and dictatorship – but such deliberate erasing of the past seems not a million miles away from the kind of historical revision that a dictator himself would impose.

Thankfully there is a by - law in Salamanca which protects monuments and artefacts of cultural significance in the old town. While no one could be convinced of the artistic merit of the rather nondescript portrait, (who could make a masterpiece of such a prosaic countenance?), it certainly sits in a stimulating relation to the rest of the medallions on display. It’s also interesting to note that a number of tourist agencies describe the plaza as “displaying the portraits of many Spanish celebrities and Franco”, as if he somehow stood apart. Certainly he doesn’t stand apart visually. the majority of dictators enjoy a much stronger “graphic” quality – there’s Stalin with his luxuriant bushy moustache, Mussolini with his horrifically baby-like bald pate, and Hitler, obviously, with his single downwards dash of facial hair. If anything, Franco needs more exposure; we need to be reminded what he looked like - good lord, I’ve seen his face nearly every afternoon for the past year, and I still couldn’t pick him out of a police line up. While not condoning vandalism, I was almost rather grateful for the accusing daub of red paint slashed across his jowls that somebody used to thoughtfully apply now and again. It reminded you that he wasn’t just a very famous chartered accountant.

As to the university, perhaps that institution too should retain its link to Franco and keep its Doctor Honoris for good, as a mark, or rather a “blemish” of history, which no doubt it will, as it obviously can’t be bothered to go the whole hog.