Why do the Spanish seem to enjoy being cruel to animals?

Question

Last night on TV was footage from a village bullfight, where a blindfolded donkey was used as 'bait' in the bullring. Men were goading the bull to attack it. It had to just stand there and take it, because it couldn't see. It made me want to be sick, but the crowd were laughing.

I've heard of many instances of animal cruelty at village fiestas, and in everyday life. They seem to take pleasure from suffering, whereas the rest of us would just feel revulsion.

Do they not think this is cruel? Why not use something inanimate as a target?

A friend of mine told me that Catholics believe that animals don't have souls, and it's something to do with this. Is she right?

OK, Sorry. Why do SOME Spanish people etc.

OK, Sorry. Why do SOME Spanish people etc.

Thank you, Pachequit.

Ed Snow - now who's generalising? I'm a Christian. Many Christians spend their lives trying to be kind, as I'm sure many Spanish people do. And yet, things that go on at the fiestas... Nuns making darts to throw at the bulls, puppies & kittens put in flower pots & strung up high across the street to have rocks thrown at them by men on horseback to break the flowerpots..goats being thrown off church towers, and yes, I've read about hunting dogs being strung up for a slow death. I've been involved with IFAW since 1979 & these stories keep coming. I travelled through Spain in 1980 & met some lovely, friendly people but won't go again until this stops. You're right about other countries too, though.

Bullfights - tradition, spectacle, one man v. one bull; fair enough. Running of bulls in Pamplona - OK. BUT bullfights are not fair, there are many underhand practises - vaseline rubbed into bull's eyes so they can't see, horses' vocal cords cut so they can't scream. The horses are gored & sewn up repeatedly. The Spanish must find a way of continuing their tradition, without the cruelty.

Answer 1

There are two parts of this equation. On the bullfighting side, you need to understand that this is a centuries old tradition. Unlike our culture, they haven't had the "pc police" to whitewash all of the tradition out of their lives yet.

On the other side, the Spanish (and more specifically Mexican) culture is very machismo (IE macho) and the men consider showing tenderness to be the same as showing weakness. This is why dogs in Mexico are so badly mistreated.

Before some of the less astute among you start giving me the thumbs down, this is not a racial statement... it is a statement of fact concerning the norms and customs of another country.

Answer 2

I dont know whether you can generalize, but thats NOT necessarily the case.Some animal activists may say so, but going by their logic, the very concept of zoo is cruelty.There are some zoos which are quite money-minded and they are interested in attracting visitors rather than taking care of animals nor paying those hard toiling zoo keepers.At the smae time there are zoos which keeps animal safety as the first priority, the kind of cages , regular maintenance of cages.Some zoos make sure that animals are not deprives of their natural habitat by having the zoo in a natural environment.Zoos are vital to give people awareness about animals.So its trues that some zoos are cruel but it would not be fair to generalize.Regarding China, I would agree with you, they dont care a damn about animals.I dont have to elaborate how cruel they can be.

Answer 3

It is confined mainly to Catholic countries , Italy, Spain, Mexico, Portugal, and Latin American countries. The Catholic doctrine of supremacy over the animal kingdom forms the foundation for this mindless cruelty together with Roman `arena` connections. The killing of animals for entertainment continues under Christianity, just as it did under Paganism. There are other social factors involved, educational standards, the fragile self image of the Latin culture, and factors of poverty. Portugal is making some moves towards reducing barbarism, Spain and Italy have made small efforts. Throwing a live Donkey from a rooftop (some crap about Jesus) shows how religion poisons minds, and how education and science are ignored .

Answer 4

Until fairly recently, animal abuse was widespread. Cockfighting, bear-baiting and dog fights were standard forms of entertainment in this country until the end of the 19th century. Some traditions take longer to die out than others and many Spaniards still enjoy bull bothering and donkey squashing. These are gradually becoming less socially acceptable and they will probably die out in a couple of generations.

In Pamplona, the competition is more evenly balanced. They let the bulls run through the streets chasing a load of drunk loutish British tourists, and the bulls usually win. Now that's what I call entertainment.

Answer 5

On November 11, 2006 bulls were set afire in Medinaceli, Spain to honor the sadistic Toro Jubilo (Bull of Fire). Similar blood fiestas are ongoing throughout Spain, but unfortunately this is not the only country doing such things. Ghandi said that you can judge a country on how it treats its animals and I believe he was right.
If you or anyone else here is interested in animal welfare or would like to do something about this, please use the links below, they are very informative.
Another country that is going crazy at the moment is China: http://www.care2.com/c2c/share/detail/213855

Answer 6

Bullfighting has evolved as a part of Spanish culture, probably as a way of getting over the fear of working with the animals when ranching.

Rodeo is probably similar in the US - also to demonstrate ranching skills.

For some reason it's easier to see when another culture is being cruel to animals and harder to see when your own culutre is doing a similar thing.

Ask around the other countries, and I'm sure you'll find that there are many practices that people feel that the US does that are cruel to animals.

In fact, look at amnesty internationals website to see how the world thinks the US is cruel to its own citizens.

Answer 7

I do have mixed feelings about this, cruel well yes are you going to change what they are doing in there country and have done in there country for century's sorry but no you are not. Our you going to be able to change these peoples religions sorry but no you are not.
Here in America we have put in place the protection of critters for a good reason, however when it comes right down to it people can still practice there religion here (sacrificing critters etc.).
Bullfighting is what I have mixed feelings about. There is more to it then what one might think. I do not know about the donkey you saw, that did sound cruel.....I had a pet donkey and he was such a great pet!!
This is such a big, huge issue! It could be debated all day long...Hunting,Slaughter Houses,breeding facilities on and on....

Answer 8

I agree with you that bullfights are cruel and should be outlawed.This is why I will never travel to Spain or any other country that allows such abuse of animals.People who enjoy this sort of "entertainment" are sick morons.It reminds me alot of the barbarism that took place in the Colosseum in ancient Rome.

Answer 9

Whoa! It's not anything to do with Catholicism!
The Spanish are a wonderful, kind and socially sophisticated people. The social problems that blight the UK are rare in Spain.

Post Franco, the Spanish are maturing fast as a society. Already bullfighting is losing popular appeal. I'm sure it's only a matter of time that the incident you described will be consigned to history.

Answer 10

The liberal media continues to ignore the fact that the people of the United States are among the most humane and Earth, and you can tell the character of a country's people by the way they treat their animals.