Bullfighting is to Spain what baseball is to America. Yet bullfighting was banned in the Spanish province of Catalonia July 28. The Catalan bullfighting ban takes effect in 2012 in this northeastern coastal region of Spain. Animal rights activists cheered when the Catalonian parliament in Barcelona passed a resolution banning bullfighting. Numerous believe that the bullfighting ban was not about animal cruelty. It was a political act of Catalon nationalism as the province tries to set itself apart from the rest of Spain.
Catalonia bullfighting ban doesn’t care about the bulls
The Catalonia bullfighting ban appears to be more about politics than animal cruelty. NPR reminds us that there were only 15 bullfights within the one Catalonian bullring each year anyway. Those against bullfighting said it was very cruel when those for it said Spanish Culture was at stake. Numerous think breaking from Spanish tradition is a good thing because it will set Catalonia apart from the rest of Spain. The bullfighting ban in and around Barcelona is expected to have little effect on the suffering of the bulls. Spain has about 1,000 bullfights a year.
Anti-bullfighting drives a wedge between Catalonia and Madrid
Spanish conservatives and fans of bullfighting were upset with the Catalonia bullfighting ban. The Associated Press reports that the center-right Popular Party, which vigorously supports a unified Spain run from Madrid, sees a stinging anti-Spanish rebuke in the grass roots, anti-bullfighting drive which started in the region last year. Catalonia has always been one to separate from the pack considering their own language they have also as the culture that is separate from the rest of Spain. Many in Spain have seen the pressure here for a bullfighting ban as a political statement by Catalonia to stand out from the rest of the country.
Bullfighting ban just a rebellion
Damian Corrigan, Spanish travel blogger, the Catalonia bullfighting ban had nothing to do with bulls that die in the sport. Writing for About.com, Corrigan said Catalonia’s self-indulgent struggle for independence is illogical and irrelevant in today’s Europe. Really, all that Catalonians want are less taxes going to Madrid. Rebellion is unimportant when your political stance doesn’t matter either.
Additional reading
NPR
npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2010/07/28/128817532/bullfighting-banned-in-spanish-province
Associated Press
google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hoSaaIUwsevwg2RB34sY8mHh7tNAD9H82A704
About.com
gospain.about.com/b/2010/07/28/barcelona-bullfighting-ban.htm
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