I happen to be an animal lover, and to me, this tradition seems very barbaric. In previous Spanish classes I have taken I have learned about bullfighting, seen pictures and videos, and I've never been able to support it. Even when I attempt to rid my mind of my beliefs, I cannot see the sense torturing living beings. Last year, for my FYS, I read a book about the Hmong and their traditions. They were known to sacrifice animals for religious ceremonies and healing ceremonies. I am able to understand this practice even though I am not religious. I can easily see why people would practice this tradition. However, bullfighting is not sacrificing an animal for any type of ceremony. Today, it is used purely for entertainment. Not only that, but the bulls are degraded in the process and parts of their body are used as trophies.
As I further researched bullfighting, I discovered that there are types of bloodless bullfighting in California and in France. What I found even more interesting, however, was that while Spain has gotten rid of laws that allow cruelty to animals, this law does not include bullfighting. Many animal rights activists protest bullfighting and even though the majority of people oppose it, bullfighting still continues to this day. Estimates show that about 70% of those who attend bullfights are tourists. Perhaps people of other cultures feel the need to view one of the most well-known events when they visit countries, such as Spain, which allow this tradition to take place.
"Bullfighting." Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. 27 Nov. 2007.
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