These unsettling and unusual places tell a vivid story about the unique way that Spain deals with its past – or fails to, says food writer and chef Abbas Asaria
It always amuse me how people think that just because someone go to a certain place then he should be a supporter of whatever the place represented in the past (for the present I might somewhat agree but still seems stupid most of the time).
Following your reasoning, we should demolish basically everything in Europe, almost everything could be linked to some not so nice past period or event.
These places are not historical. These are bars that have been filled with Francoist memorabilia to explicitly exalt the Dictator. Imagine a nazi bar chock-full of swastikas, the only book in the bookshelf is mein Kampf, and instead of a mirror you have a big picture of Hitler, all with the finishing touch of the radio playing Hitler’s speeches.
THAT is what is being referred to here. And yes, if you go to a place like that, you are a fascist
If I had a nickel for every francoist bar in Spain owned by a Chinese guy, I’d have 2 nickels. Which isn’t much, but it’s weird that it happened twice.
(The other one I know is called Bar Oliva, and it’s in Usera, Madrid)
No, but if you go to a fascist fan café, people will think that you are a fan of fascists. And there is a difference between historical monuments and businesses catering to fascists
No, but if you go to a fascist fan café, people will think that you are a fan of fascists.
If the café is run now by a fascist It can be true to some degree but it is a stupid way to judge people, there can be a lot of reasons why someone goes in aside being a fascist, for example it could be the only one near enough, not all places have tons of café nearby.
And there is a difference between historical monuments and businesses catering to fascists
True, but what we call historical ? Something from the 1920’s ? Older ? If I enter a palace built by the fascist regime in the 1920 it make me a fascist, even if now it is used for something else ?
The mar we are talking about is right in the middle of Madrid. Just three kilometers from the Prado and the city centre. It’s located in a busy neighborhood right next to several other bars and cafes. So please stop pretending that people are forced to go into that fascist place because there are no alternatives.
The mar we are talking about is right in the middle of Madrid. Just three kilometers from the Prado and the city centre. It’s located in a busy neighborhood right next to several other bars and cafes. So please stop pretending that people are forced to go into that fascist place because there are no alternatives.
Mine was just an example of a reason (the easiest one basically), I am sorry you did not understand that.
I am not defending anyone, I am just pointing out that there are a number of reasons behind the simple “he is fascist” if people go in a fascist place.
For years I had my lunch break at a place run by a hard core communist, in your logic this make me communist. The reality is that his meals were better than the other places near the office, I never cared about his political views (probably not even evet talk about politics).
Just imaging the folks going into such a bar
I sometimes go to a place that has Marxist symbols, doesn’t mean I’m a tankie. It’s just a nice place with chill people.
Does Marxist imply tankie? I was under the impression that some Leninism was needed for that.
Edit: yep. Marxists are not tankies
It’s 2026, everyone is either a Zionist, anti-semite, tankie, racist, misogynist or homophobe.
Let’s just say people see Marx and Engels and immediately jump to Stalinism.
It always amuse me how people think that just because someone go to a certain place then he should be a supporter of whatever the place represented in the past (for the present I might somewhat agree but still seems stupid most of the time).
Following your reasoning, we should demolish basically everything in Europe, almost everything could be linked to some not so nice past period or event.
These places are not historical. These are bars that have been filled with Francoist memorabilia to explicitly exalt the Dictator. Imagine a nazi bar chock-full of swastikas, the only book in the bookshelf is mein Kampf, and instead of a mirror you have a big picture of Hitler, all with the finishing touch of the radio playing Hitler’s speeches.
THAT is what is being referred to here. And yes, if you go to a place like that, you are a fascist
And btw, for the particular bar mentioned in the article, the owner is Chinese and not at all afraid of showing what it’s about:
If I had a nickel for every francoist bar in Spain owned by a Chinese guy, I’d have 2 nickels. Which isn’t much, but it’s weird that it happened twice.
(The other one I know is called Bar Oliva, and it’s in Usera, Madrid)
Coincidentally, cops seem to love it.
This one closed a few years ago, thankfully.
Oh, I didn’t know that. It’s been a while since I’ve been through there lol
But it’s good news at least
No, but if you go to a fascist fan café, people will think that you are a fan of fascists. And there is a difference between historical monuments and businesses catering to fascists
If the café is run now by a fascist It can be true to some degree but it is a stupid way to judge people, there can be a lot of reasons why someone goes in aside being a fascist, for example it could be the only one near enough, not all places have tons of café nearby.
True, but what we call historical ? Something from the 1920’s ? Older ? If I enter a palace built by the fascist regime in the 1920 it make me a fascist, even if now it is used for something else ?
The mar we are talking about is right in the middle of Madrid. Just three kilometers from the Prado and the city centre. It’s located in a busy neighborhood right next to several other bars and cafes. So please stop pretending that people are forced to go into that fascist place because there are no alternatives.
Mine was just an example of a reason (the easiest one basically), I am sorry you did not understand that.
I am not defending anyone, I am just pointing out that there are a number of reasons behind the simple “he is fascist” if people go in a fascist place.
For years I had my lunch break at a place run by a hard core communist, in your logic this make me communist. The reality is that his meals were better than the other places near the office, I never cared about his political views (probably not even evet talk about politics).