Bullfighting Statistics Details
The most senseless and cheapest displays of human cruelty, selfishness and irresponsibility are those cases in which society, the government and the church approve of cruel entertainment involving animals, often under the pretext of defending tradition, without recognising that tradition, like most things, can be good or bad, sublime or despicable. Holding gladiatoral combats to entertain the public, throwing young women into volcanoes to appease the gods and burning heretics or witches are no longer acceptable traditions although they certainly were once. Of the disgusting "traditions" still in existence the bullfight is the worst.
I went to Spain on a teaching assignment and by chance I moved into an apartment directly across from the bullring in a beautiful city in the south. I had always looked at the bullfight academically and I understand the claims it had as a tradition. Although I had never found it interesting, I knew it had symbolic value in a country that had suffered continuous war for thousands of years. Spain, practically a natural bridge between Europe and Africa and an important strategic point for controlling the Mediterranean has always been subjected to invasions and the ravages of war. Until very recent times, Spain has never had peace and its many struggles include an 800 year religious war with the Moors. The constant threat of raids and the mountainous nature of the landscape made the villages extraordinarily cohesive units with strong bonds between the local people as well as a basic distrust for outsiders. In such an environment it is easy to accept a ritual where the bullring is a representation of the village and the bull becomes the invader the noble fighting men annihilate while the entire population cheers on. One of the most common justifications for the bullfight has always been the value it supposedly has for keeping the fighters in shape for war. In Spain this value has not been only physical, it has also been psychological and symbolic, so the bullfight caught on well and became a part of the reality of aggression that existed.
The most senseless and cheapest displays of human cruelty, selfishness and irresponsibility are those cases in which society, the government and the church approve of cruel entertainment involving animals, often under the pretext of defending tradition, without recognising that tradition, like most things, can be good or bad, sublime or despicable. Holding gladiatoral combats to entertain the public, throwing young women into volcanoes to appease the gods and burning heretics or witches are no longer acceptable traditions although they certainly were once. Of the disgusting "traditions" still in existence the bullfight is the worst.
I went to Spain on a teaching assignment and by chance I moved into an apartment directly across from the bullring in a beautiful city in the south. I had always looked at the bullfight academically and I understand the claims it had as a tradition. Although I had never found it interesting, I knew it had symbolic value in a country that had suffered continuous war for thousands of years. Spain, practically a natural bridge between Europe and Africa and an important strategic point for controlling the Mediterranean has always been subjected to invasions and the ravages of war. Until very recent times, Spain has never had peace and its many struggles include an 800 year religious war with the Moors. The constant threat of raids and the mountainous nature of the landscape made the villages extraordinarily cohesive units with strong bonds between the local people as well as a basic distrust for outsiders. In such an environment it is easy to accept a ritual where the bullring is a representation of the village and the bull becomes the invader the noble fighting men annihilate while the entire population cheers on. One of the most common justifications for the bullfight has always been the value it supposedly has for keeping the fighters in shape for war. In Spain this value has not been only physical, it has also been psychological and symbolic, so the bullfight caught on well and became a part of the reality of aggression that existed.
Bullfighting Statistics
Bullfighting Statistics
Bullfighting Statistics
Bullfighting Statistics
Bullfighting Statistics
Bullfighting Statistics
Bullfighting Statistics
Bullfighting Statistics
Bullfighting Statistics
Bullfighting Statistics
Bullfighting Statistics
Bullfighting Statistics
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