I was reading the newspaper on the train home tonight and a large photograph caught my eye. One of a matador in the act of being very much impaled by a bull's horn during a Spanish bullfight. I mean the picture literally showed the matador in mid-air with the bull's horn thrust at least several inches into his abdomen. The caption read:

"Spanish matador Israel Lancho is gored by a Palha's ranch bull during a bullfight at the San Isidro's fair in Las Ventas bullring in Madrid. Lancho was taken to the hospital and is reported to be in a critical condition."

Indeed, one's first thought is probably something like "wow, that guy's gonna need some serious medical attention". But take another look at the photo and you'll see something you might not have noticed the first time. The enraged bull, with 4 decorative spears stuck into and hanging off the skin of its back/shoulders, and a matador's dagger plunged a good 3-4 inches into its upper back/neck. Its back is drenched in its own blood as it fights to stave off its inevitable murder. Forgive me if my heart doesn't exactly go out to the sad little man who takes pride in such sick, barbaric "sport"; who has teased, tortured, and enraged an animal that attacks him out of instinct and self defense. A man who thinks it an achievement - a mark of pride and manhood - to engage in such activity. Granted, I should not wish on him the kind of pain and suffering he puts his victims through for sheer entertainment, excitement, and some sort of sick personal gratification. That would make me not much better than him. But if it means that he won't ever be able to treat another animal with such abhorrent disrespect and malintent, I personally won't mind if he never steps foot out of the hospital.

The man is not entirely to blame though. The culture is. A culture that glorifies the matador. The man that can take on a beast (albeit with various controls and bias in place) and survive while it dies. This kind of thing may have qualified as entertainment in centuries past, but perhaps they should get with the times. When will Spain realize that "tradition" is simply not a justification for barbarism and cruelty. But that is how they tend to avoid (or defend against) criticism. And they continue to instill in their children the "pride" surrounding the tradition. Boys are often encouraged to support and even participate in these events, notably an 11-year old who, earlier this year, boasted killing 6 bulls and no doubt has the admiration of his peers. In my eyes and others', he simply has the makings of a sad, pathetic little man-to-be, though again I largely blame the culture that encourages this.

Taken from a Spain tourism site, on a section about bullfighting:

"It is certain though that at the end of the show, the bull will die, yes, it is literally a show. The bullfighter has to demonstrate his skills to the audience in a dramatic and enthusiastic way. If he makes a good job of it and gets a good round of applause at the end he could be bestowed the ultimate honour by being presented with one of the bull's ears or its tail."

Many other tourism sites simply laud the "historic, traditional and grand spectacle of the great bullfight".

Sugar-coated, to say the least. Here's the essential breakdown of one video in particular I have seen of a standard bullfight (note I always use the term "matador", when sometimes the described action is performed by various assistants)...what the tourism guides *don't* tell you:

1) The imprisoned bull is tortured and deprived of food and water for several hours prior to the fight, causing it to become irritable and enraged.

2) The bull is stuck with numerous decorative spears in its upper back, slowly bleeding it while it runs around the ring.

3) Only after it is sufficiently weakened do the "brave" matador(s) come out and start prancing around in tights waving sheets, in a rather pathetic (and comical, if torture and death wasn't the name of the game) display, provoking and disorienting the wounded bull.

4) Once they are able to get close enough, the matadors lunge in and drive a dagger into its back/neck. This is done repeatedly, as the bull becomes more and more drenched in its own blood while futilely lunging at its attackers.

5) Finally, and usually at the point when the bull can barely stand (though the matadors continue to prance around like tools, thinking how brave and manly they are to be confronting this tortured creature), a sword is thrust into its neck, [usually] taking it down.

6) The matador cuts off an ear as a trophy, bull often still alive.

7) The often still living bull is roped and paraded around the ring, dragged by horse.

8) The bull is taken out back where, if it not yet dead, it's throat is cut and it is bled to death, occasionally with a helpful beating from assistants to speed the process.

9) The body is unceremoniously disposed of by forklift/tractor.

There are variations on bullfights, but ones exactly like this DO occur. I have seen videos. I can refer you if you really want to see for yourself, but they were frankly too graphic and disgusting to post.

Where I come from, real men compete against other real men in competitions where no one dies, and the reward is a fabricated trophy, not the severed body parts of a recently slain - or still living - animal. It's 2009 Spain. I'm sure your men can prove their status and brawn without the torture and slaughter of enslaved animals.

Disclaimer: I am aware that not all Spaniards condone bullfighting. I am lamenting that there are too many who still do, and that the nation as a whole has not banned the pathetic practice and put it in its rightful place.