Bull charges bullfight spectators (Mexico)

BBC ^ | Monday, 30 January 2006

[HairOfTheDog]

Bull charges bullfight spectators

At least two people are being treated in hospital in Mexico City after a bull leapt into a crowd during a bullfight.

The half-ton bull - named Parajito or Little Bird - breached the safety barrier and landed on the fans.

The rampage ended when a fight participant entered the stand and killed the animal with his sword.

Mexico City's bullring was built 60 years ago and is one of the biggest in the world, with a capacity of 48,000.

Television images of the bullfight showed the beast jump over the heads of journalists and into the most expensive seats at the capital's vast ring.

One woman spectator received a six-inch (15-cm) gash in her chest.

The bullfight resumed 30 minutes after the incident. Little Bird is the first bull in the ring's history to jump into the crowd.

[ahayes]

It's an animal. It doesn't understand pride and glory. I understand the experience may manufacture certain emotions in the spectators, but I think it is inhumane to use the animal in that fashion. If I were a dumb animal I'd take a bolt in the brain any day, forget "glory."

[Ditter]

It's not a job, it's a hobby. One of the kind of things you put money into and don't really expect to get any of it back. But he is 70 years old, has been doing this for 5 years and he is having a blast. It is helping to keep him interested and active and since he would die before playing a game of golf or tennis, it is a good thing.

[GeorgefromGeorgia]

I have been to bullfights in Mexico and Spain. I learned one thing, never take a woman to a bullfight.

I found the bullfighting somewhat interesting since on one occasion, I saw a matador taken out of the arena with nonfatal injuries. In effect the bull won the one on one encounter. Of course the bull eventually lost.
Proponents of bullfighting always say that the bulls are going to die anyway and that matadors are skilled at running the sword through their hearts. It is not always that simple, the Picadors ride in on horses and weaken the bull with picks. Then the bull is stuck in the neck with barbs (forgot their name). Finally, after the bull is tired from running around trying to kill the cape and picadors, the Matador ends it. Still, bullfighting is risky for any Matador.

I know that bullfighting is related to the Roman gladiatorial shows. The Romans justified humans dying in the arena by saying that the participants were captured war prisoners or slaves that were in effect already "dead."

Hemingway liked bullfighting, and I can see why, since it is dangerous. It is a very macho thing in a politically correct world. I expect that it may end up like the Portuguese bullfighting where the bulls are not killed.

[Abathar]

Why not? They decide to jump out of a perfectly good airplane for the fun of it, when something goes wrong who does he have to blame except himself? (OK, maybe the guy who packed his chute, but that's about it.)

[Publius6961]

In the interest of accuracy, I would like to say the "little bird" in Spanish is Pajarito.

[HairOfTheDog]

That bull hopped those obstacles with the skill of a mountain sheep.

I'm surprised people didn't scatter faster... some seemed reluctant to get out of the way, and the guy there at the end of the clip snapping pictures is one head tilt from getting gored.

[Betis70]

I saw a number of novilladas in Sevilla, but never a full corrida. It's hard to know your reaction going in--I thought I would dislike it (since I normally like animals), but found myself mesmerized.

Someday I'd like to go back for the Feria in April.

[najida]

While I strongly believe in the rights of the individual,
I think those who find these 'sports' enjoyable are,
erm,

Sick.....

And not someone I want to be around.

[Publius6961]

And not someone I want to be around.

I agree with you on this part, but not on the "sick" part.
I take it that you're also a vegan?

[tertiary01]

My dream is to buy a Reindeer Dippin embryo. He's only 60 miles from here.

[Safetgiver]

For temperment, I like the cow best.

[Ditter]

No I don't think most people root for the bull, they cheer the loudest when the rider makes the 8 second buzzer. Year before last we were in Las Vegas at the PBR Finals, we were sitting with a group of bull raisers and the lady sitting next to me (not one of the group) said it appeared we were cheering for the bulls. She was shocked when I said yes, we were. LOL

[cjshapi]

Well I hope he has a happy and fulfilling time with his hobby.

Personally I'd die of boredom with golf or tennis. I worked a 2nd job at a golf course the past few summers and all I could think was "boy, I'd love to ride my horse out here".

[Our man in washington]

I think Tom Lehrer summed it up pretty well. He's pretty politically incorrect. If that bothers anyone, please go to IfWeSingKumbayaLoudEnoughTheyWillKillUsLast.Com or some similar website. This is FR, the land that political correctness forgot. Anyway, here are the lyrics to Lehrer's class "In Old Mexico":

When it's fiesta time in Guadalajara,
Then I long to be back once again
In Old Mexico.
Where we lived for today,
Never giving a thought to tomara.
To the strumming of guitars,
In a hundred grubby bars
I would whisper "Te amo."

The mariachis would serenade,
And they would not shut up till they were paid.
We ate, we drank, and we were merry,
And we got typhoid and dysentery.

But best of all, we went to the Plaza de Toros.
Now whenever I start feeling morose,
I revive by recalling that scene.
And names like Belmonte, Dominguin, and Manolete,
If I live to a hundred and eighty,
I shall never forget what they mean.

(For there is surely nothing more beautiful in this
world than the sight of a lone man facing singlehandedly
a half a ton of angry pot roast!)

Out came the matador,
Who must have been potted or
Slightly insane, but who looked rather bored.
Then the picadors of course,
Each one on his horse,
I shouted "Ole!" ev'ry time one was gored.

I cheered at the bandilleros' display,
As they stuck the bull in their own clever way,
For I hadn't had so much fun since the day
My brother's dog Rover
Got run over.

(Rover was killed by a Pontiac. And it was done with
such grace and artistry that the witnesses awarded the
driver both ears and the tail - but I digress.)

The moment had come,
I swallowed my gum,
We knew there'd be blood on the sand pretty soon.
The crowd held its breath,
Hoping that death
Would brighten an otherwise dull afternoon.

At last, the matador did what we wanted him to.
He raised his sword and his aim was true.
In that moment of truth I suddenly knew
That someone had stolen my wallet.

Now it's fiesta time in Akron, Ohio,
But it's back to old Guadalajara I'm longing to go.
Far away from the strikes of the A.F. of L. and C.I.O.
How I wish I could get back
To the land of the wetback,
And forget the Alamo,
In Old Mexico. Ole!

[pcottraux]

What does PETA think of Mexicans? Worse than Americans?

I've seen PETA spokespeople speaking about bull fighting. I agree that it's a pretty barbaric thing, but when the spokesperson says that people who get gored by bulls "deserve no sympathy," I'm reminded of why I don't like PETA.

[Ditter]

Raindeer Dippin is an awesome athlete. I hope you get one someday.

[cjshapi]

I'd never be the type who would go to a bullfight, or at least the type that ends in a kill. The other might be very interesting.

I love to watch bullriding. The riders are pretty intense and the bulls are great athletes.

[HairOfTheDog]

when the spokesperson says that people who get gored by bulls "deserve no sympathy," I'm reminded of why I don't like PETA.

That's been said here... and I agree with it!

[The Dude Abides]

Your choice. But you're missing out. I'm cool.

mf

[najida]

No,
I'm not a vegan....I grew up on a farm, remember?

I do believe that anyone who gets pleasure out of watching something fight and suffer is twisted and sick.