On Spain's conscience

I find it hard to tolerate bullfighting. I tried to find something on the subject that I could like but I failed to do so. The costumes worn I find ridiculous and the red cape used by the matador is exaggerated. The arenas would be rather pretty if you would visit them to see theatre or opera maybe, but this is an arena where bulls are killed which brings it down on the beauty scale to a slaughter house. Not a great place.

We also see the audience. A beautiful Spanish lady, dressed for an afternoon at the bullfights, transfers into an ugly Spanish lady. Sure! This is what happens, I think. I cannot find her attractive if this is where she's sitting. And the Spaniard sitting next to her was ugly from the point where he accepted the killing as a little boy. I easily accept the works of Picasso and I really like him. But I have seen a photograph of him taken on the arena. He's sitting on the stands looking down towards the action and he looks enthusiastic. I can't find any positive quality in this photograph.

The argument used by some Spaniards to defend this is, for example, that it is an old Spanish tradition. They could say that the bull is having the best of times before it is killed, It's all up to the people of Spain and no outsider should tell them how they should treat their animals, they might say. I'm not so sure. If you were doing something wrong, wouldn't you appreciate if someone tried to make you change? I would like it. I'm grateful for all the corrections I have received over the years. They must be thousands! Who knows how I would act if nobody ever corrected me? I never liked those who says: "Let it be. Do as you wish." A Spanish citizen who objects against the sadistic spectacle on the arenas is a handsome and attractive person. I think so.

You should not underestimate that feeling that there is something wrong. The Spanish people may very well have a feeling that there is something silly with the idea of killing a bull slowly on an arena, while people are watching. There is a bad taste to it. Even if they are brought up to accept the torture, it is still madness. It's no more sane because many say it's ok. I think that the Spanish soul have its eyes shut while being ashamed.

I hope that Spain will turn to the Portugese way of fighting bulls. The bull is not killed on the arena.

Tunedal
17 jan 2002