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Taking the Institute by the horns
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Excerpt from Roving Eye
From what one hears here and there, Leo Olivero has really stirred up public opinion with his article on the Instituto Cervantes planning to hold talks on bullfighting here in Gibraltar.
Though there may be many among us who agree with this so called sport and would no doubt like to know more about bullfighting in general, I think that generally speaking there is downright condemnation as particularly in this day and age, such horrific cruelty to animals is considered barbaric and should not be tolerated whatever the fanatics or aficionados as they like to call themselves think.
But we must remember that should the Instituto, after all that has been said, still carry on and hold these talks, it is us the public who has the last word. If none of us attend any lecture on the subject, then they may as well not have held the seminar as is was a complete flop and a subject not appreciated by the local population who are the people the Institute is trying to impress.
Referring once again to my opening statement where I mention what one hears here and there, some say that if the Instituto does hold these "cultural" (!) talks, will it be encouraged to also enlighten us on the cultural aspect of attaching torches to the bulls' horns, or perhaps tell us how much goats enjoy being thrown from the top of the highest building or tower in some Spanish villages?
Some Spaniards, or perhaps most is the better yardstick, do not take lightly to anyone criticising anything Spanish and in Internet, some of the comments and replies to Leo's article are not what one would say are in the best traditions of Cervantes himself. Some of these gentlemen argue and insist that bullfighting must stay as it is the national sport, a Spanish tradition which must be fostered whatever animal rights activists may say and worse of all, whatever the cruelty which is nobody's business but their own.
Some of these cultural and traditional most cruel pastimes enjoyed in many towns and villages throughout Spain are being condemned by growing numbers of Spaniards who see these acts of savagery for what they are and are now demonstrating in efforts to ban these forever.
That bullfighting is a cruel, barbaric sport goes without saying, that it is popular in Spain and that Spaniards in general want the corridas to continue, there is nothing more to be said, it is their sport and only for them to decide. However that seminars on this most despicable subject be held in Gibraltar, I most certainly object and I hope that others take up the pen and similarly object! What Spaniards do in Spain is their exclusive business, what they want to do in my country is most certainly my business and my concern!
14-05-12
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