One Bull Fight is Enough for Me

Watching the death rattle of a slain bull to the delight of a stadium full of sweaty patrons is something you can't really unsee.

I'm not quite sure why, as somewhat of an animal lover, I went to a bull fight during San Fermin.

I knew beforehand each bull that enters the ring is killed, but I did not really understand the extent of the sport's brutality, and I have always had a philosophy that if you are going to disagree with something, and I do disagree with bull fighting, you should expose yourself to it at least once so that you know exactly what you are disagreeing with.

And now I know without a shadow of a doubt that bull fighting is not for me. I understand this sport is as much a part of Spanish tradition as baseball is in the United States, and I do have a greater understanding for the subtleties of bull fighting. For example, if the crowd does not approve of the matador's handling of the bull, the spectators will turn their backs on the ring. Displaying a bravado bordering on disdain for the bull, typified with throwing out a carefree hip or even turning his back on the bull completely, is important for the matador to execute well to win over the crowd, and when a bull is stabbed repeatedly, both by the horsemen and the junior matadors sticking colorful pins into the animal's back, it is not the weaken the bull for the matador, but to correct any leaning the animal may have when charging. Bull fighting is also as much as a social event as a sport with spectators bringing champagne and homemade dishes to share potluck style among each other in the stands.

However, when a matador decides to end the fight with his bull, the already blood-covered, panting animal's death is brutal and unforgiving with what is hopefully a single sword thrust into the bull's back and spine. If the matador misses, he must try again, and if he fails to cleave the animal's spinal cord, a junior matador finishes the job with a hand knife, and the bull is hauled around and out of the ring by a team of horses.

It is not my place to judge another country's traditions as wrong nor right, however, bull fighting is not something I'd not care to see again. Just as foreigners are free to think baseball is boring, I think bull fighting is a bit too brutal.

I've included a video if you would like to see what bull fighting looks like. The video does not include any violence.