Why is bullfighting still a tradition that is practiced? The “point” of bullfighting is multifaceted, varying from cultural traditions to entertainment and spectacle, but ultimately involves the killing of a bull during a ritualistic performance. Some view it as a form of sport, focusing on the matador’s technique, and some people think it is a killing sport that kills too many bulls. 

Zoey: Hey Maxima, what do you think of the fighting of the bulls festival?

Maxima: I think that it is sad and depressing especially if you’re the bull. What do you think about it? 

Zoey: I think it is a cool tradition. 

Maxima: Why would someone like you think that? Is it because you love violence? 

Zoey: I think it is a cool tradition because it’s entertaining to watch.

Maxima: Well, that’s not cool. 

Zoey: Why don’t you think that’s cool?

Maxima: If you really think about it, we need those animals, and they help us survive.

Zoey: It’s not like we kill a lot of the bulls.

Maxima: Actually, they kill 1 -1,000 bulls, but sometimes bulls don’t get killed because they were good for the first two rounds, and they get to skip the last event.

Zoey: WOW, that is a lot of bulls that got killed. 

Maxima: And the bulls have to face a long, cruel death. Think about how the animals feel about that, or how their family feels when they find out that their family member is dead because of this event.

Zoey: I never thought it like that, as you say, that it is a little cruel and mean. And the people who are called Matadors sometimes get injured or killed. But do the bulls go through stress and pain when they are getting trained? 

Maxima: Yes, at least 500-600 matadors are killed or injured. Training the bulls, and it doesn’t help that they are trained to be aggressive, and the experience of being in the bullring and facing a matador can cause significant stress and pain. 

Zoey: Wow, I didn’t know a lot of people were killed just for the festival, that is so not cool.

Maxima: So does that mean that you still like the festival?

Zoey: Yeah, I don’t think it’s a cool festival.