BEHIND THE RED CAPE

Bullfighting is a sport involving a battle between a bull and one or more participants lt is fought in a large outdoor arena according to a strict set of rules and procedures! This is an innocent description that gets an angry response from animal protection agencies. Their own definition would be along the lines of. 'The murder of bulls disguised as entertainment and excused as bravery.
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Opponents of bullfighting are outraged that some people have not yet advanced beyond this brutal practice Those who defend It argue that it Is a clearly held tradition which has existed since ancient times in one form or another. For example, a tour thousandyear-old wall painting depicting a bull was found in Crete. it shows male and female acrobats grabbing the animal's horns and jumping over its back. To this day. the sport requires skill. agility. courage and a certain style of movement. Supporters also argue that rather than being a victim. the bull is a worthy opponent. deserving of respect.
Modem bullfighting ls a combination of ritual and primitive blood~letting with an attempt to gracefully guide the bull and kill itin a manner which seems courageous but without too much blood and gore. However. the malority of foreign spectators are so disgusted that they never return to another builiight after witnessing such cruelty. Usually. they leave the arena sickened halfway through the event. Unfortunately. though. they have already paid for the tickets and have. thus. supported this blood-thirsty industry.
Before an event. the bull has already suiiered considerably by being confined in darkness. with heavy weights around its neck it is also given tranquiiiisers. its kidneys are beaten and petroleum jelly is rubbed into its eyes to blur its vision Then the asonised bull is let loose into the brightly arena.
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As soon as the bulliighter. also known as the matador. enters thering. he attracts the bull by waving his red cape at it. In this way. he tries to bring the bull past him as closely as possible. After repeatedly stabbini! the animal. the matador llnally weakens the bull. He will often miss the heart so that the bull's sutierins is prolonged, showing no compassion tor the animal whatsoever. The bull may still be fully conscious when his ears and tall are cut oit as the iinal show of victory if the matador has done well. the president oi the bull ring may award him one oi thebull‘s ears. in some cases where his performance is exceptional. he is given both.
While bulls are the victims of this industry. matadors seem to be the heroes. Television and other terms of media glorify them and present them as true celebrities. They are seen as the stars of the show and wear elaborate costumes of silk and gold. These glittering outfits are referred to as “suits of light‘ and can cost several thousand pounds each. A top matadot must have at least six of them a season. Successful matadors can fight up to one hundred bulliights a year and through sponsorship some of them end up multimillionaires. Many. however. pay lor their tame by receiving several horn wounds in the arena. in factsome have even lost their lives. but who can blame the bull?