Hold up now, Colombia.
In recent years, the South American nation of Colombia has taken steps to change its global image. And let’s be honest, they’ve needed a facelift. For most of the past 100 years Colombia has seen civil unrest, civil war, guerrilla war, terrorism and narco trafficking. The news coming out of Colombia has been… bad. But time moves on, and Colombia is ready to revamp its image.
In 2022 Colombia passed legislation guarantying a woman’s right to abortion until week 24 of pregnancy, and beyond in cases such as rape and incest, malformations or the health of the woman. They have declared their intention to preserve vast areas of their coastal and oceanic resources in the name of environmental health. They have opened new national parks in sensitive ecological area of the Amazon Basin. And, in May of 2024, they set into motion a ban on bull-fighting, which will take effect by the close of 2027.
Only a handful countries still allow the fighting and killing of bulls in a public arenas. With its new ban, Colombia will leave the company of Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Spain, France, and China. And while many see these fights as brutal and cry out for animal rights, supporters of bullfighting point to a long and carefully crafted tradition which merges bravery and skill into an artful dance. They add that, with thousands of spectators attending the fights, the economic impact of the fights cannot be underestimated. Furthermore, supporters point out, most bovine raised in captivity are ultimately destine for slaughter. Of course, there are points to be made on both sides.
I’ve never attended a bullfight, and while I’m sure it would be a fascinating look at a historic and deeply engrained cultural event, I wouldn’t choose to attend. I’ve read enough about the process to know how the animal is systematically embattled and injured, long before the matador begins his final dance. I am a hunter, and have no qualms about taking an animal’s life to put meat on my table. However, doing so after the animal has been encircled by thousands of bellowing onlookers, exhausted and bled half to death is, to me, the antithesis of an ethical kill.
But has Colombia taken it too far? What is to become of the pomp, the skill, or the economic impact of spectators? Is there no way to preserve this historic display of machismo? Maybe, rather than banning bullfighting, the rules could be modified somewhat to meet the spirit of equality?
Imagine:
Enter the bull. He is fresh and rested. No picadors on horseback to barb and exhaust him beforehand. No spears thrust deep into the muscles of his neck, no rivers of blood pouring down his side. Just a 1500 pound male bovine, bred for strength and aggression, in the prime of his life, thrust unwillingly into a strange and irritating environment.
Enter the matador, all 130 pounds of him. He arrives with all the pomp and celebration owed this cultural icon. Silly hat, sequin encrusted suit, sword, knife, and cape. A prince among athletes.
One on one.
Our matador may then do his best to provoke the animal, but whether to fight or not will be determined by the beast. If the bull remains unprovoked, or flees from the matador, the fight it over and both man and animal can leave upright. Let the matador claim a victory. He’s proven himself to be a bully, but one that still draws breath.
If the animal chooses to respond to the matador’s provocations, the fight is on, and should be allowed to run its natural course, whatever that might be.
Of course, honor dictates that the matador, having provoked the bull, is obligated to remain within the arena to the bitter end, or until the bull loses interest. The matador was, in fact, the only one of the two who actually chose to be in the arena.
Maybe the matador will get off easy. Or maybe, one of his severed ears will be presented to the bull as a prize.
