Dear All,
My recent lengthy response to a pro-bullfighting comment within a message posted on another thread has apparently been deleted by the Moderator. (The original poster's message remains, as does a post from a third 'poster' also supporting this so-called 'sport').
My own message had challenged the stated view that a bullfighting feria would be 'fun' for expat. teachers in Seville!
I have no intention of campaigning directly within this forum on the issue of animal cruelty in Spain - clearly, that would be wholly inappropriate and discourteous to our hosts, given the purpose and subject of this site! However, it would seem to be reasonable that any member might respond to a comment contained within any message posted by another, here. That is what I did - with no flaming on my part, I'm certain!
In order to complete my contribution on this subject, therefore, following the Moderator's request made to all, by establishing a new thread here, simply to provide some links to sites which contain U.S. research evidence supporting the point I made, re. links between abuse of animals and abuse of humans!
Please note- after this new message, below, I won't be posting any more on this topic, although I do feel there is an issue which could usefully be discussed, re. the extent to which expats. should feel it necessary to embrace and accept, unquestionally, through courtesy, every aspect of a host country's cultural practices, however repugnant these might seem and regardless of any suffering caused - as a CELTA student, I was asked for my opinion on 'bull fighting' several times, within my teaching practice sessions - new 'anti- animal cruelty' legislation had just been approved by the Spanish Govt. - excluding 'bull fighting', so this was a current 'hot topic' in Barcelona at that time, where one of its two bull rings was being re-developed, due to a lack of afficionados, as a huge shopping mall!
So - if anyone here is, like myself, both a real fan of Spain and yet appalled and incredulous at the extent to which ritualised cruelty against animals is still so prevalent and legal, within this 21st century Western European country, you might be prepared to consider the U.S. research into issues of animal abuse linked to abuse of human beings - particularly women and children: (U.S. Police Forces now take account of these findings as do the various animal rescue orgs!):
www.latham.org (U.S. clearing house providing links to relevant info).
www.americanhumane.org (national resource centre on the link between such abuses and the abusers concerned).
www.hsus.org/firststrike (the Humane Society of the U.S.'s campaign on this issue).
Finally:
www.FAACE.co.uk (if you can bear to, please check out this site - especially if you plan to pay entrance money at a bull fight or to attend a 'blood festival' in Spain! As Tony Moore states, here on his site: 'we are not anti-Spain, but anti-cruelty!'
And so am I - in fact, I'm very 'pro-Spain, but also heartbroken at the sadistic treatment meted out to defenceless and uncomprehending animals, which will persist even longer if tourists and expats. pay to watch, applaud and support it!
Regards and thanks,
Zorrasabia
