Home > Opinion > Bonnie Erbe > Running of the Bulls in Pamplona Is Cruel, Sadistic, Outdated and Should End

Running of the Bulls in Pamplona Is Cruel, Sadistic, Outdated and Should End

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Running of the Bulls is cruel to the animals and also many injuries occur to humans. How is this still legal? This needs to be stopped immediately before any more blood is shed. In this day and age it's simply barbaric.

Ice of IL 11:14AM January 22, 2012

Tradition can always be changed. It is sad that people enjoy this type of "tradition". Unfortunately, the bulls have no saying in the matter. I am a Spaniard and I hate the running of the bulls just as much as I hate bullfights!

Payret of FL 7:43PM July 17, 2010

It was rather interesting for me to read that article. Thanks for it. I like such topics and everything that is connected to this matter. I definitely want to read more on that site soon. By the way, rather good design this site has, but what do you think about changing it once in a few months?
Mary Swift

female companions of AL 12:24AM July 07, 2010

"The nature of the world is cruel... all individual life ends, but species live on. I have run with the bulls four separate times and appreciate the lessons they taught me each time. I was prepared to die to learn those lessons and honor the proud, glorious lives those bulls lived. They lived well and died well and I can only hope to do the same."
Mark,
You are living in some crazy fantasyland. There is NOTHING honorable or proud about what happens during a bullfight or the Running with the bulls! The bulls did not live well and certainly do not die well. They are killed slowly through torture. They have no shot at making it through the event alive. If you need to see such cruelty to appreciate your own life, perhaps you have some issues of your own and should go see a doctor for some help.
Tradition is no excuse to continue this practice. The whole reason the running continues to take place is because of stupid tourists like you! If the tourists would stop supporting this event, they would have no reason to continue holding it.

Madhulika of IL 6:45AM July 01, 2010

No on is forced to run. It's a tradition that you can choose to take part in or not. Here is a bit on the history: http://www.sanfermin.com/index.php/en/encierro/historia
There are ways to view the bull run from above. There are companies that let you rent balcony spaces in order for you to view the run from a safe distance such as http://www.pamplonabalconies.com.
Again, you don't HAVE to run. If it doesn't float your boat, just don't go!

Erin of CA 4:47PM March 31, 2010

Nice story you got here. I'd like to read a bit more about this theme. Thnx for posting that info.

MarkRight of AL 9:57PM March 09, 2010

I believe that most people oppose the Running of the Bulls because they are uncomfortable with their own mortality. We will die, that much is certain. The Running of the Bulls is an opportunity to face our own mortality and see what comes out on the other end of it. The nature of the world is cruel... all individual life ends, but species live on. I have run with the bulls four separate times and appreciate the lessons they taught me each time. I was prepared to die to learn those lessons and honor the proud, glorious lives those bulls lived. They lived well and died well and I can only hope to do the same. I have retired this year from running, but will go back... there's something special about the atmosphere - it is visceral. I'll be watching from a safe distance on a balcony. If you want to join me and see for yourself, my friends at http://www.pamplonabalconies.com are making it possible. Don't criticize until you come evaluate it for yourself. There is meaning in the experience... meaning that translates into real value for our lives.

Mark of TX 5:28PM February 21, 2010

Maybe if more people were killed during the running of the bulls (I wish all the spectators killed) they would stop this barbaric, horrific display. This is a way to show their macho ism? These men should show how to be men by fighting for the animals right to die in a humane fashion. For the person that said this is Spain's issue, no, this is a world issue. I will never EVER visit such a backward, barbaric country. To say this is an old tradition is the same as saying, Spain has not come through the dark ages. Bulls are such a beautiful important creature. Without them, we would have no cows. God put them on earth to procreate so that we can have food on our table. Not to watch something so dark, and sinister. What the heck kind of people could get off on seeing this?

Nikki of IL 10:00PM July 27, 2009

Are you saying there is no difference between these two:
1. To be killed instantly, with a minimum of pain and fear.
2. To be tortured to death, slowly and with as much pain and terror and humiliation as possible.
Surely you do not believe that these are the same things.
I don't know much about what bulls experience, and I doubt that you do. The do feel pain, fear, and anger, though, just like you and me.
I don't know whether people should eat meat. Lots of animals do, and it may be a perfectly natural thing for people to do.
But what earthly reason is there to torture animals to death? Bulls in Spain, chickens in Ecuador, dogs in the United States.
People are, for the most part, stepping out of the Stone Age. We try to stop doing stupid, vicious, cruel things that we did before. Fox hunting has been outlawed in the UK -- even though it was a tradition.
If you are sitting in a cesspool, stand up and get out of it. Don't explain why you are allowed to stay in the cesspool.

Paul of CA 7:33PM July 14, 2009

Humans clearly have more efficient ways of killing an animal, but in nature, animals like these are torn apart by their predators in worse ways. I really don't find the level of "cruelty" to be much worse in the method used by bullfighters. Nature is far worse.
Anyway, this is Spain's issue. This is not a human rights issue where the US should voice concern, but a moral issue involving that country and it's laws.
I personally eat meat and wear leather. If one truly feels that bulls have a distinct ego and can experience the world and it's life to the full capacity that we can, and that life and death has meaning to the animal, then the method of killing is trivial. The proper stance would be not to kill animals at all.

david of CA 5:25PM July 14, 2009