Running of the Bulls

[RecycleMichael]

Today was the running of the bulls in Pomplona. It was the first of eight runs. Each last about four minutes.

I know this is exciting and all.

But...according to news reports...

Some of the bulls fell and two ended up running on their own. One of those became disoriented, trying several times to turn around and go back toward the starting point. But herders waving sticks eventually guided it to the bull ring where the course ends.

Inside the ring one black bull fell down and stayed there for nearly a minute, as jubilant runners scampered about.

Isn't this animal abuse? Is it different from the Professional Bull Riders show we just booked? How about bull-fighting?

Is it wrong to cheer for the bulls?

[Ed W]

Long, long ago, my Spanish professor said that he'd run with the bulls in his youth.  He said it was fairly safe whenever the bulls stayed together in a group, and obviously, if you were one of the runners, you did not want to fall.  Also, there are people standing along the route who reach out and touch the bulls with a newspaper or magazine as they run by.  These are the people who get gored most often.  

But the running of the bulls isn't the cruel part.  That comes later in the corrida.

[santalar]

The Matador (2005) starring Pierce Brosnan and Greg Kinnear was an excellent motion picture comedy. It had a fairly bloodless bullfight towards the beginning of the movie.

[sauerkraut]

I believe that first movie "City Slickers" had a scene where they went to run with the bulls. I forgot the details of it. For me, I'd rather walk with the bulls than run with them.[}:)]