I have just read an article about the death of a young man in Pamplona, at the Festival of San Fermin, the Running of the Bulls.
The Running of The Bulls is held in Pamplona, Spain commencing on the 7th day of the 7th month, starting at 8am and lasting a week. As a kid traveling around the world years ago, I went to the Running of The Bulls with a group of fellow travelers. I had a fantastic time, although my enjoyment was more about the people I was with, rather than the activities we were there to witness.
At 8am, 2 cows are released from their pens, followed by 2 bulls, then 2 cows and so it goes. The theory is “the boys are going to follow the girls”. Then you have men who run with the bulls and hopefully remain uninjured. The run, through the local streets of the old part of the town, ends in the bull fighting ring. Condensing down from a wide road into a single tunnel entering the ring is usually where injuries and deaths occur. The bulls and cows run through the ring and the runners stay in the ring. One by one the bulls are let into the ring to be taunted by the revelers.
The bulls selected for the run in the morning are the same bulls used in the bull fights that afternoon. Without offending any bullfighting fans, I found the National Spanish Sport horrid to watch. The bulls have no chance of survival, it is exceptionally cruel and violent and I believe it should be outlawed.
If The San Fermin Festival is of interest to you visit:
http://www.spanish-fiestas.com/spanish-festivals/pamplona-bull-running-san-fermin.htm
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
As traditional and “fun” for some as The Running of the Bulls maybe, I think it is barbaric, cruel and cannot believe that is seen as entertainment. Why don't we just bring Gladiators back too?
Hi Christine
I really hate this sort of stuff . At the risk of offending others I couldn't give a damn about tradition or culture when it comes to cruelty. The people who participate in this stuff deserve to be injured and the people who enjoy being part of terrorizing an animal for their own enjoyment are not the sort of people that i would want as friends. I love life and I believe that we as humans have no right to torture animals for our own twisted enjoyment in the name of culture. It's barbaric and to censor my response and pretend i think it's ok is totally unacceptable. This is wrong and should not be allowed.
Michael
I realize it's not PC to criticize another culture, but I can't help hating animal cruelty. I don't care how “magnificent” the bullfighters are, they've got all the cards. Even if the bull defeats the matador it will be killed. I just don't like blood sports in any instance, but bullfighting is exceptionally cruel even among those.
Hi Nancy
You're so correct. How can it be a game anyway when the result is pre-determined (ie. the bull dies)? It's barbaric and unnecessary.
Hi Nancy
You're so correct. How can it be a game anyway when the result is pre-determined (ie. the bull dies)? It's barbaric and unnecessary.
Agreed! I appreciate it’s cultural and historical, but I just don’t think that’s a good enough reason
Agreed! I appreciate it’s cultural and historical, but I just don’t think that’s a good enough reason
Anyone who watches this for ‘entertainment’ should be ashamed of themselves.
Couldn’t agree more Rosie. I just don’t understand how it can be entertaining
Some Spaniards might be offended at being associated with bullfighting, I know several who are opposed to this monstrous event.In the same way that not all English support badger cull or baiting as ‘fun’, not all Americans are grinning inanely sat astride a ‘trophy ‘ of elephant or lion and not all Chinese believe that eating dogs will improve their prowess. Cruelty should not be associated with ‘tradition’ and we all should know better than to accept something based on ancient barbarism http://www.fact-index.com/b/bu/bullfighting.html
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