Abolish Bullfighting? That is the Question!

Dedicated to Miss Inge Ginsberg by Santiago Sevilla

Spanish bulls destined for the bullfight live five years in freedom,
enjoying green pastures, playing or quarrelling with their mates under
the trees, cantering to the ponds, and the river, to drink water. When
young, they pasture with the cows, their mothers, in peace and
pleasure. When reaching mature age of five years, they are killed in
confrontation with a man, the Matador armed with a sword. At some
occasions, they are spared from death, only when they have shown
great valour and bravery. The bulls have a chance to kill their
opponent in the onslaught. Other common cattle, such as bulls,
calves, cows, oxen and bullocks, which have been bred and tamed
over centuries, are exploited from early age on. They are often
slaughtered in early age, or castrated, -“better said”- gelded, milked,
bulls put to siring artificially, cows being artificially inseminated, and
in the end, killed with gas, or electric shock, or by a heavy blow on
the front head, administered by hidden executioners.
Opponents of the bullfight want the breed of the fighting bull to be
exterminated. Once bullfighting is abolished, the bulls, cows, calves
of the fighting breed will soon be extinct, because they are
dangerously intractable and would be useless. Like the rest of cattle in
the civilized world, they would be cowardly slaughtered. For these
brave animals this choice would be far worse, than their actual fate.
The point of view of the cows is rather important. They spend their
whole life in freedom. Only once in early youth they are checked on
their aggressive character, and, if they are very brave, they are
awarded never ending motherhood. They are the bearer of the ancient
genes of the aurochs which is the essence of the fighting bull. So,
feminists should think twice, before joining the party of enemies of
the bullfight.
The ancestral Spanish point of view in this matter is that the bullfight
is the Spartan, courageous, hardy, austere, stoical and rigorous school
for the Spanish young man, who would be revered by the nation.
Spain is a Mediterranean country that has kept a great deal of pagan
virtues. The cruelty of the bullfight is mutual, between the bull and
the man. The cruelty of the usual slaughter in the rest of the civilized
world is rather mean and utilitarian, executed treacherously.
The Spanish character sees the confrontation with the bull not as a
fight, but as a struggle, where the Torero has to proof his valour,
showing not only skill, dexterity, facility, but even more: namely
elegance, beauty, daring beyond temerity, and specially honour.
Honour means to be ready to struggle on, after being wounded, to
accept the chance of death, instead of showing cowardice or
hesitation, to accept the trophies with modesty and gratitude, to
receive expressions of admiration with grace and sympathy, to live a
life of sacrifice to reach the outmost fame.
“Torear” is not to fight, but to contend or strive with the bull. It is not
a sport, or a fight among equals, but an artistic game against the odds
of death. So, when the torero dies gored and wretched, it is not a
triumph for the bull, but a sacrifice to valour.
Usually the most cherished toreros Matadores marry the most
beautiful women of Spain, and become extremely wealthy.
The breeders of the wild bull are gentlemen of high rank. Their estates
are splendid landscapes.
All these fascinating aspects of the bullfight would disappear if the
foes of the bullfight reach their goal.
The Black bull itself is a symbol of Spanish nature, which has its
roots in the ancestral Numancia, and the inherited Virtus Romana,
where heroes were loved by the masses.
The value of courage in modern society is waning. Effeminateness is
far more popular. So bullfighting may be less appreciated than before,
and many Spanish intellectuals, men and women, are also against this
archaic celebration. In Europe, Spain has been hated, despised, and
misinterpreted, as a result of its exertion of power in the XVI and
XVII century. Queen Mary Tudor, poor old bloody Mary, may have
contributed to the way the English name the subjects of Spain, as
Spaniards, a subtle way of calling us Spanish bastards. Instead they
honour their dogs, for chasing pheasants, as Cocker Spaniels. So the
European anti-Spanish sentiment pinpoints now on the bullfights,
trying to turn and tame Spain into the same rather boring bourgeoisie
of the continent. Regarding Latin America, where the Spanish culture
has yet to be eliminated, there are many “ex-pañoles” who love the
Corridas de Toros, or bullfights, and face the same dilemma: Should
the bullfights be abolished? Do wait and see....