Many countries value their heritage, culture, and traditions, and have incorporated them into everyday life. However, often, there is a  lack of understanding, or common ground, amongst individuals stemming from different cultural backgrounds. This remains true in the sports world. While the US watches football, Spain’s population is infatuated with bullfighting. However, this “art” has started to spark protests throughout the world because of what happens during the event. Interestingly, those that support bullfighting do not consider it a sport. Rather, it is considered an art. It is controversial because of the seemingly-unjustified killing of innocent animals.

Bullfighting has been a tradition and a part of the Spanish culture since 1726. During the event of a bullfight, two men called “matadors” stand in a ring and perform a variety of tricks to agitate the bull. When the bull becomes agitated, it starts to run after the men to try and attack them. By doing this, the bull becomes tired and therefore it is easier for the matador to kill it. The bulls that people are fighting are innocent and are only between four and seven years old. The matador, the killer of the bull, is only allowed to use moves that will fatally wound the bull, not ones that will just weaken it.

Caroline McGinnis ‘17, who is not an activist, but attended an event while in Spain that is very similar to it, comments on this topic as well. She said, “I would say it was the craziest and most violent thing I’ve ever witnessed, but it’s a traditional part of Spanish culture and a once in a lifetime experience I would definitely recommend to other people, even though it’s kind of scary.” Although it is violent, most argue that it is a part of Spanish tradition, so others who do not agree do not have a place to be able to change their culture.

While bullfighting is always the same event, these protests come in different forms. Most are just protesting in the streets with posters. These posters are sharing their reasons as to why they think the bullfights are against animal rights.

Amina Axelsson, decided to share her views a different ways. Towards the end of a bullfight that she was attending, she decided to run into the ring to comfort the dying bull. Obviously, this is a more extravagant way to protest. However, it worked. This model was able to make the news which helped spread the word on her views on bullfighting and how she thinks it goes against animal rights.

Some people protest the bullfighting saying that this has been a part of Spanish culture for a very long time, and they think it doesn’t belong in today’s society with the controversy over animal cruelty around the world. These animal right activists are saying that they understand that this is a part of the Spanish culture, but they do not want to make this about nationalism. Instead, they want to focus on the animals and how they are being treated unfairly in these countries.

The topic of bullfighting is something that will be argued over for quite some time. Activists believe that the bulls deserve better, and don’t deserve to die the way they do during a bullfight. However, it is still a significant part of Spanish culture. This topic is hard to settle because of the sharp contrast between tradition and culture with societal beliefs that not everyone can agree upon.