Bullfighting in Spain is deeply controversial. It is called a “fine art” by its supporters and a “blood sport” by its critics.
Years ago, during the famous bullrun, I had the opportunity to watch a live bullfight in Pamplona, Spain. I have always associated Spain with bullfights so it came as no surprise that I would want to watch a bullfight while being in Spain. I thought that I knew what happened during a bullfight, but seeing it live opened my eyes. After watching this gruesome ‘sport’ up close I will never recommend it or even condone it again.
So that you can decide for yourself whether you want to see one when you are in Spain I will tell you a bit about what happens during a bullfight.
The bullfight started with a parade in the ring where everybody involved in the bullfight presented themselves to the public. It looked like they were getting ready for a show. Moments later a door opened and the first bull entered and the spectacle started for real. It was cruel and I had to force myself to watch and not to leave.
The bullfighter entered on horseback, armed with barbed sticks. He then proceeded to tease the bull and stuck these small barbed sticks into the charging bull’s back. By the time the bullfighter had finished with this ‘ritual’, blood was dripping down the bulls back and you could see that he was in pain.
Next the bullfighter armed himself with a lance which he stuck into the flank of the bull. Only after the bull had been tired out and stuck full of holes did the bullfighter get off his horse and take up his muleta. A muleta is the red cloth that he used to coax the bull.
The bullfight ended quite bloody when the bullfighter used his sword to kill the bull. Personally I thing there is nothing noble or sportsman like about this.
Here are the Arguments For Bullfighting.
- Bullfighting is an art form that should be seen as an equivalent to dance, or music.
- It is a traditional in many areas and in places like Spain, it is living history. Bullfighting has existed for much of human history, and within Spain it dates back at least 1,000 years.
- Bullfighters are skilful and behind all the pomp and ritual, the bull is actually being killed in a very efficient manner.
- The bull is usually eaten after a fight, so its death is not in vain.
- Far more bulls are killed to be eaten by abattoirs than die in the bullring.
- In some places bullfighting is perceived as being an integral part of the regional culture.
Here are some Arguments Against Bullfighting
- The practice is barbaric. Essentially, bullfighting is ritually slaughtering an animal purely for fun.
- Tradition and recognition does not make it art. Other once-traditional animal sports, from the fierce lion-tiger battles of Ancient Rome to medieval bear-baiting and cockfighting, are now deem wrong,so why is bullfighting any different.
- As there is no competitive element, bullfighting cannot strictly be called a sport, but it is seen as an art form by its fans.
- It is not just the bulls who suffer, horses are also injured and suffer death (not to mention the bullfighters themselves, who can be maimed or killed as well).
- The death of the bull is extended and painful, making it unnecessarily cruel. The argument that the bullfighter kills the bull efficiently is clearly questionable, if anything, the customs of the spectacle demand that the animal’s death is drawn out, rather than quick.
- People who are for bullfighting play down the amount of bulls killed, but figures gathered by animal rights groups suggest that 2,500 bulls are killed in Portugal each year and in Spain the figure is closer to 30,000.
- Bullfighting inflicts unspeakable suffering on the animals, from the confusion and panic created by the crowd noise to the physical abuse the bull will sustain throughout the spectacle. The death might be quick, but the fight is barbaric.
Compassionate people understand that this cruel and bloody spectacle is needless and unjustifiable violence, and opposition to bullfighting is growing both within Spain and around the world. And each year there has been a decline in the number of bullfights.
What do you think?
Are you for or against bullfighting?
Against 100% percent the way they use and abuse animals for profit is heartbreaking, especially regarding bullfighting where the bull is purposely aggravated and angered to get a reaction from.
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It is shocking to see what they do and how they treat these animals. I understand why such a huge part of the Spanish population is against this.
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I went to see a bullfight too. It left me speechless and I was angry at the people who enjoyed it. I hope more and more people will start to feel empathy for those poor bulls. Bullfighting needs to be stopped.
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Ban bullfighting all together it just barbaric
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I agree with you 110%!! It should be banned, and any similar sports should also be banned.
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That is no art, it is plain murder. Few things give me as much joy as when I read the matador came off second best.
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That is quite true. It is not often, but every now and again the matador comes off worse than the bull.
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I respect all traditions but this has gone too far. Why kill bulls but now treat lions and other animals differently? Spain should rlly consider what they are doing and The United Nations needs to bring an end to this sickening sport. Ugh D:
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I definitely agree with you. There are a couple of different blood sports around the world that should be stopped. I know that animal rights activists are fighting hard for this, but it is a very difficult battle.
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Yes it is indeed. Since these are traditions and rituals (claimed by the owners of these sports) it is difficult for groups like the United Nations and governments to ban these sports but still, animal abuse should not be allowed either way.
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Tradition be damned, I am completely against the senseless torture of any animal. It’s sickening!
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I definitely agree. Just because it is a tradition, does not make it right!
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I too, have seen a bullfight, in Madrid, decades ago. I was appalled but in a way fascinated and took a lot of puctures so I could explain the ritual to people back home. I returned to Spain for a summer study abroad in 2010. In my final exam in Spanish, in the writing portion I was to write an argument for or against bullfighting. Apparently it has become controversial in recent years. Of course, I wrote in opposition to it. I do not approve of the killing of animals for “sport ” if there’s no sportsmanship in it. Like someone displaying a trophy of an animal that he killed while it was hibernating in its den, leaving its babies orphaned, it isn’t a sport without respect for the animal or pursuing it in its own environment. Bullfighting involves torture while the matador stands there showing off and the crowd cheers. Some people say Spaniards have “blood lust” but it seems opposition to bullfighting is growing. I hope Spain decides to stop this tradition. (I believe it may already be outlawed in Cataluña.)
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I agree, people take killing animals for fun and sport too far. These animals can not defend themselves so I do hope that these blood sports get banned.
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We had a similar problem in our country! It’s called jellikettu. Yes, it should be stopped. But it would definitely hurt cultural sentiments.
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Unfortunately a lot of people think because it is a tradition that makes it right….it is difficult to change peoples minds and to make them see the cruelty of what they are doing.
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I know. There were a lot of protests here when it was said to be banned.
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how sad!
make it a fair fight,
hand to hoove 🙂
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That would be very interesting….
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Agreed! It is a senseless blood sport!
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Unfortunately it happens in a couple of countries…..
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I know….😱
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I agree!
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And I hope that they will ban this quite soon!
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Against, definitely!
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I would think that all animal lovers would be!!
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AGAINST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Its hard to believe that some people are For it!
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Agree!
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My daughter and I were just talking about it. I didn’t realize how barbaric it is. I couldn’t watch.
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They always portray it as an art form on tv….but in reality it is very gruesome!
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Against, definitely against such cruelty. As much as I want to respect tradition, there’s a limit to those that should be followed.
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I agree, just because it is a tradition, does not make it right!!
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Absolutely. It should not continue on.
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I know a lot of Spanish people are trying their best to have this stopped. Lets hope they succeed soon!
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