NO MORE BULLFITHING TO HAVE FUN
Throughout the time, humans and animals have been getting closer. Humans
and some animals have stablished good bond of friendship each other. We have
domesticated some animals as dogs, cats, birds among others, until the point we
live in the same house with these animals, we have called them PETS. But some
other animals are not considered domestic ones. So, they are used with other
purposes, but in many cases these purposes are not good ones. For instance,
some animals are used for cosmetic experiments, as hunting trophies, and some
others in cultural celebrations.
Cultural celebrations such as bullfighting, Coleo and others. In this
essay, I will focus on bullfighting. In this kind of cultural celebration bulls
are taken like objects. They are mistreated and most of the cases killed, just
to amuse people. If we are supposed to live in a civilized and modern world,
why are we still supporting violence against animals? Can this “celebration” be
taken as culture? Are this art? Animals are alive beings, why humans do not
respect their rights? From my point of view, there is no place for
entertainment which involves cruelty and violence against bulls.
Bullfighting has been taken as a cultural celebration for many years. According
to some historical documents about bullfighting, it has existed since 1215 in
Segovia and different cities in Spain. Bullfighting has been spreading around
the world during the years. At that time people believed this practice was
funny, they supported it. But what people did not understand is that murder an
animal is not culture but cruelty. But throughout
the years, people were changing the way they think. There emerged groups of
people who are against this practice, people who think and support that bulls
are alive beings and they deserve respect, not only in Spain but in every place
were bullfighting is practiced. If we are supposed to be in a civilized world,
why there are still people who think that it is funny to see a bull bleeding
out while it is repeatedly stabbed by a bullfighter until death? In this essay,
I also take into consideration the oppositive side. In my opinion, one big
reason and one of the most important that makes many people support
bullfighting is the incomes that bullfighting produces, bullfighting is a big
economy, and it is at risk.
According to Chilango.com:
“there are 7 reasons to be against the practice of bullfighting. Bullfighting
is not art, it is not an equal fight, the bullfighter always wins the battle,
this is not a war between bullfighting and anti- bullfighting people, there are
other many ways to have fun in this modern and technological world, this
practice shows the arrogance of humans, not only vegetarian people can be
against this practice.” (colaborador, 2013 ) .
First, this celebration cannot be considered art, because art is
creation and life, and clearly bullfighting is destruction and death. Second, bullfighting
is not an equal fight because bulls before being sent to the bullfighting arena
against the bullfighters, they are mistreated, their chubs are filed in case
they can reach the bullfighter they cannot cause so much damage. Third, the
only reason why people go to the bullfighting arena, it is because they want to
see how the bullfighter murder the bull. They are insensitive to bull’s pain
even when they can hear bull’s laments. But they get totally scared when the
bull hits the bullfighter. They called the animal “killer beast”. That is not
fair, that is ironic. Who is the beast in the bullfighter arena?
Fourth, people who are in favor of bullfighting, they have to understand
this is not a war between them and anti-bullfighting people. The ones who
support bullfighting say they defend it because it is a tradition, they are
supposed to base on cultural tradition to do it. But why only with animals? If
they based on cultural traditions, why they do not support female ablation? –
Female ablation is a cultural tradition where women are castrated since they
are children, this procedure is done without any medical care, it damages the
female genital organs for the whole life- people do not support ablation
because this practice goes against women’s rights to have a family. So, who
defends animal’s rights?
Fifth, we have plenty of technological devices such as computers,
amusement parks, the cinema, sports and others stuff to have fun. These are
reasons enough to be against the bullfighting celebration. We do not already
live in the middle ages. Sixth, the arrogance of humans is shown in
bullfighting. Being sensible, the bull does not want to fight against the man,
it begs for mercy, the animal is scared to be in the arena. There are many
videos on internet where bulls refuse to fight, they run around the
bullfighting arena looking for an escape. A proof of what I am saying is the
video of “little bird” (pajarito). Little bird was a bull that jumped from the
bullfighting arena to the stairs where the public was sitting down. This is the
link to go to the video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERVT9UMxRHM -
Seventh, for bullfighting people, it is ironic that non- vegetarian
people are against the bullfighting. They based on the fact that people who eat
meat are a different kind of killers. For bullfighting people, the difference
is that they kill for amusement and the others to feed themselves. They want to
justify bullfighting at all costs.
On the other hand, the incomes that bullfighting produces are really
big. Spain is one of the countries in the world with one the highest amount of
bullfighting celebrations. According to (LAMET, 2015) :
“In 2015, there were 1.145 bullfighting celebrations, this number was similar
to the one the year before, with a global
economic impact of more than 3,500 million euros and employing 199,000 people,
more than 1% of workers in Spain.” It is clear, bullfighting has good incomes
and the prohibition of this celebration can cause a bankruptcy for many
companies.
According to (LAMET, Expansión , 2015 ) : “Thanks to
bullfighting, tourism and hospitality earn 1,610 million euros per year. Nearly
three quarters of that amount is taken by hotels, bars and restaurants.” Provinces
as Malaga (27 celebrations in 2015), Sevilla (40), Huelva (18), Valencia (27)
and in the top of the list, there is Madrid (196 bullfighting celebrations),
those provinces are benefited by the bulls. Bull is a representative icon of
the Spanish culture.
The money produced thanks to bullfighting is the economic support of
many people. I have found some other reasons that can be used as a defense in
pro of practicing bullfighting. According to estudiantes.elpais.com: “there are some reasons why bullfighting
should be practiced. Bullfighting is the economic support of many
veterinarians, families that rise bulls, businessmen that buy and sell bulls
and because bullfighting has been part of the culture for many years, it
represents the history, etc.” (Olmos) First, if there is
not bullfighting many families and veterinarians are to bankrupt because their
economic supporting are the upbringing and care of bulls. Second, in the same
way people who buy and sell bulls can be affected. If there is not bullfighting
what they are going to do for living? They are used to earn money through
bulls. Finally, because bullfighting has been taken as part of the culture in
some countries since many years ago. Bullfighting represents a historical
legacy left by their ancestors. Above this strong reason I named before, and
why many people are in favor of the practice of bullfighting as a cultural
celebration, there are the rights of animals, that is a heavier reason why to
be against bullfighting.
According to The organization of the United Nations for education,
science and culture (UNESCO), just like humans, animals have rights. Since
1977, there is an universal declaration which is constituted by 14 articles
that are in favor of animals. Also, in 1993, the British council (Farm Animal
Welfare Council) established 4 rights for animal welfare and it is supposed to
be applied in the whole world. First, the right of live. Second, the right of
freedom. Third, animals do not have to be subjected to situations that generate
them pain. Fourth, animals should not be considered as a property.
In accordance with (Tele13, 2015) : “UNESCO has established 14 articles about animals’
rights.
·
Art.1
all animals are born equal in life and have the same rights to existence
·
Art.2
a.
Every
animal has the right to be respected
b.
Man
cannot claim the right to exterminate other animals or to exploit them, in
violation of that right, the man has the obligation to put his knowledge at the
service of animals.
c.
All
animals have the right to the attention, care and protection of man.
·
Art.
3
a.
Not
animal shall be subjected to ill-treatment or cruel acts.
b.
If
the death of an animal is necessary, it must be instantaneous, painless and not
generating anguish.
·
Art.
4
a.
Every
animal belonging to a wild species has the right to live free in its own,
natural, terrestrial, aerial or aquatic environment and to reproduce itself.
b.
Any
deprivation of liberty, even that which has educational purposes, is contrary
to this right.
·
Art.
5
a.
Every
animal belonging to a species that lives traditionally in the environment of
man has the right to live and grow at the pace and in the conditions of life
and freedom that are proper to its species.
·
Art.
6
a.
Every
animal that man has chosen as a companion has the right to the duration of his
life according to his natural longevity.
·
Art.
7
a.
Every
working animal has the right to a reasonable limitation of the time and
intensity of the work, to a reparative feeding and to rest.
·
Art.
8
a.
Animal
experimentation that involves physical or psychological suffering is
incompatible with animal rights, whether it is medical, scientific, commercial,
or other experimentation.
·
Art.
9
a.
When
an animal is bred for food it must be nourished, installed and transported, as
well as slaughtered, without being a cause of anxiety of pain.
·
Art.
10
a.
Not
animal should be exploited for the recreation of man.
·
Art
11
a.
Any
act that involves the death of an animal without necessity is a biocide that is
a crime against life.
·
Art
12.
a.
Pollution
and the destruction of the natural environment lead to genocide.
·
Art.
13
a.
A
dead animal must be treated with respect.
·
Art
14
a.
The
organisms of protection and safeguarding of animals must be represented at the
governmental level.”
In this case all rights cover the rights for bulls. Especially the Art.
4 that defends wild animals.
To sum up and in my
opinion, bullfighting is not a good cultural celebration. We are supposed to be
in a modern and civilized world in which every alive being deserve respect and
the right of living. This practice must be banned and punished. Because
bullfighting is cruel and it cannot be considered art. In this “cultural
celebration” an alive being is being murdered. This is not an equal fight,
because bulls are mistreated before entering to the bullfight arena and because
there are many other ways to have fun without murdering animals. Finally, I
think bullfighting must be completely banned and punished because this is
heartless, it is promoting violence against innocent animals and we have to
respect the right of living that animals have.
Bibliografía
colaborador. (7 de Febrero de 2013 ). chilango .
Obtenido de www.chilango.com:
http://www.chilango.com/ciudad/contra-las-corridas-de-toros/
LAMET, J. (24 de 10 de
2015 ). Expansión . Obtenido de La economia taurina resiste : http://www.expansion.com/directivos/2015/10/24/562b84dc268e3ed5358b462b.html
LAMET, J. (2015, 10
24). Expansión . Retrieved from La econmia taurina resiste :
http://www.expansion.com/directivos/2015/10/24/562b84dc268e3ed5358b462b.html
Olmos, R. R. (s.f.). estudiantes.elpais.com
. Obtenido de www.estudianteselpais.com :
https://estudiantes.elpais.com/EPE2015/periodico-digital/ver/equipo/2306/articulo/toros-ventajas-y-desventajas
Tele13. (10 de
Diciembre de 2015). Tl13. Obtenido de http://www.t13.cl/noticia/tendencias/ocio/cuales-son-derechos-animales
Presented
by: Juan Sebastian Escobar Polania.
20151133774
– Lic. en Ingles
Surcolombiana University – Neiva
Critical and Creative thinking
