TreeHugger.com: Spain Moves Toward First Bullfighting Ban
Dallas
· 7 months ago
Why not just use tranquilizers instead of spears? Yeah, it's not as good as a ban, but it also doesn't kill the culture as well.
Jason M. Bryant
· 7 months ago
Maybe I'm just a stupid American, but it seems to me like the interesting part of bullfighting is that part I'm most familiar with: tempting the bull to charge and then getting out of the way. Is that actually a significant part of bullfighting? If I went to Spain and saw a bullfight, they could just leave out the parts that hurt the bull and I'd be happy.
Anonymous
· 7 months ago
History (and even the present) proves that culture is a pretty weak excuse to allow stupid behaviour.
Sam Andrews
· 7 months ago
Once again this is an issue of whether older traditions/culture trumps modern ethical views or visa-versa.
While I personally don't like the idea of killing innocent animals for "fun," it is part of the culture & history of Spain. It employs people, provides entertainment for the general public and the meat from the bulls is donated to the less fortunate. In addition, there are thousands of people that are employed and make a livelihood from this tradition.
Although it is inhumane and unnecessary by American standards, at the same time - it is a tradition. It should not die because the rest of the world decides that what they do is wrong. The decision should lie in the hands of the Spanish people and only the Spanish people!
ecobore
· 7 months ago
Yes, indeed, a cultural institution, but so once upon a time was bear-baiting, and that is rightly illegal now.
We can't ban it outright, but let's see a fair fight without the picadors. At least the bull has a chance then!!! Or ideally a ban on the injuring and slaughter of the bull altogether and more games in the style of the Course Landaise. Which involve skill, timing and no bloodshed.
Carrie
· 7 months ago
I studied in Spain a few years ago, and it is a bit gut-wrenching to watch a bull fight from an animal rights perspective, and I'm not sure how I personally feel about the practice. I think it would be something Spaniards would solely have to come to a consensus about.
The most significant parts of the event, as I've come to understand it, are two-fold: the grace of the bullfighter and the symbolism of the event. It really can be entrancing to watch an experienced matador; it looks like an intricately choreographed dance with the bull. I was told the entire bull fight is viewed as a metaphor for life and death- for us, as for the bull in the arena, death is inevitable, unavoidable when your time comes.
Sometimes bull fighting can digress into mere spectacle, but I just thought I'd chime in that bull fighting is not merely the killing of an animal for sport. There is a lot of history as well.
Pro Bulls
· 7 months ago
Inhumane and ridiculous.
A waste of resources and promotion of cruelty to animals.
Not to mention how pussified those fighters look in tights. What kind of hard core fighter wears pink?
Obviously, someone is delusional.
Gloria
· 7 months ago
The first time I saw a bullfight I was a little girl. It was a terrible thing to watch and my heart ached for the bull. It is very cruel sport. I do hope it is banned, but I understand culture and the strength of it. If nothing else can they do what a person above suggested and use tranquilizers?
Luis
· 6 months ago
I am going to Europe on September for the first time and bullfighting is the reason i will not set a foot or spend a single Euro on Spain, I am sure I am not the only one that thinks these way so next time you think on how much money and employment bullfighting generates also think that you must be loosing money on other parts because of it.
I know that not all spanish people are for bullfighting but when the excuse for keeping these barbaric practice alive is because it is part of your culture and your government condones it then i guess i have to stay away from all your culture.
to those of you that are from Spain and against bullfighting as citizens make your voice be heard you are the ones that can change these.
david
· 6 months ago
I think human rights is an issue that crosses all boundaries. I think animal welfare is an issue of morality rather than ethics and should be decided by the culture of the country in question.
Here in America, we eat meat and wear leather. Saying meat is a necessity is a rationalization. The amount of meat we consume is glutinous and ridiculously unnecessary. If we use animals for our own unnecessary benefit, than it's hypocritical to have a stance that bullfighting is wrong. We can't stand behind a defense of killing with kindness. Either using animals for our benefit is right or it is wrong. If it is wrong, than bullfighting is wrong as is eating meat and wearing leather and even so far as animal experimentation.
Joe Locastro
· 5 months ago
I've seen bullfights on television and do not approve of this torture of such a beautiful animal. I always root for the bull....Joe
All Comments
Why not just use tranquilizers instead of spears? Yeah, it's not as good as a ban, but it also doesn't kill the culture as well.
Maybe I'm just a stupid American, but it seems to me like the interesting part of bullfighting is that part I'm most familiar with: tempting the bull to charge and then getting out of the way. Is that actually a significant part of bullfighting? If I went to Spain and saw a bullfight, they could just leave out the parts that hurt the bull and I'd be happy.
History (and even the present) proves that culture is a pretty weak excuse to allow stupid behaviour.
Once again this is an issue of whether older traditions/culture trumps modern ethical views or visa-versa.
While I personally don't like the idea of killing innocent animals for "fun," it is part of the culture & history of Spain. It employs people, provides entertainment for the general public and the meat from the bulls is donated to the less fortunate. In addition, there are thousands of people that are employed and make a livelihood from this tradition.
Although it is inhumane and unnecessary by American standards, at the same time - it is a tradition. It should not die because the rest of the world decides that what they do is wrong. The decision should lie in the hands of the Spanish people and only the Spanish people!
Yes, indeed, a cultural institution, but so once upon a time was bear-baiting, and that is rightly illegal now.
We can't ban it outright, but let's see a fair fight without the picadors. At least the bull has a chance then!!! Or ideally a ban on the injuring and slaughter of the bull altogether and more games in the style of the Course Landaise. Which involve skill, timing and no bloodshed.
I studied in Spain a few years ago, and it is a bit gut-wrenching to watch a bull fight from an animal rights perspective, and I'm not sure how I personally feel about the practice. I think it would be something Spaniards would solely have to come to a consensus about.
The most significant parts of the event, as I've come to understand it, are two-fold: the grace of the bullfighter and the symbolism of the event. It really can be entrancing to watch an experienced matador; it looks like an intricately choreographed dance with the bull. I was told the entire bull fight is viewed as a metaphor for life and death- for us, as for the bull in the arena, death is inevitable, unavoidable when your time comes.
Sometimes bull fighting can digress into mere spectacle, but I just thought I'd chime in that bull fighting is not merely the killing of an animal for sport. There is a lot of history as well.
Inhumane and ridiculous.
A waste of resources and promotion of cruelty to animals.
Not to mention how pussified those fighters look in tights. What kind of hard core fighter wears pink?
Obviously, someone is delusional.
The first time I saw a bullfight I was a little girl. It was a terrible thing to watch and my heart ached for the bull. It is very cruel sport. I do hope it is banned, but I understand culture and the strength of it. If nothing else can they do what a person above suggested and use tranquilizers?
I am going to Europe on September for the first time and bullfighting is the reason i will not set a foot or spend a single Euro on Spain, I am sure I am not the only one that thinks these way so next time you think on how much money and employment bullfighting generates also think that you must be loosing money on other parts because of it.
I know that not all spanish people are for bullfighting but when the excuse for keeping these barbaric practice alive is because it is part of your culture and your government condones it then i guess i have to stay away from all your culture.
to those of you that are from Spain and against bullfighting as citizens make your voice be heard you are the ones that can change these.
I think human rights is an issue that crosses all boundaries. I think animal welfare is an issue of morality rather than ethics and should be decided by the culture of the country in question.
Here in America, we eat meat and wear leather. Saying meat is a necessity is a rationalization. The amount of meat we consume is glutinous and ridiculously unnecessary. If we use animals for our own unnecessary benefit, than it's hypocritical to have a stance that bullfighting is wrong. We can't stand behind a defense of killing with kindness. Either using animals for our benefit is right or it is wrong. If it is wrong, than bullfighting is wrong as is eating meat and wearing leather and even so far as animal experimentation.
I've seen bullfights on television and do not approve of this torture of such a beautiful animal. I always root for the bull....Joe