On respect

Catalunya has voted against bullfights and, as of May, they will be illegal on one bit of Spanish soil. Many are the reasons given for such a desition, either the desire of the Catalá to feel independent of Spain, or the lack of young followers, or their realization that animals have rights. No matter, it is still a victory for bulls and society as a whole. At least some people see beyond cruel obsolete ways of thinking and no longer consider it a cultural value worth protecting. Others may think more like me: that violence, no matter who gets it, is nothing worth admiring and is ultimately harmful, for everyone.

My home country, Colombia, is still one very attached to animal fights, dogs and cocks included in the list. Virtually every town, more than 1000 of them throughout the country, celebrates the annual festivities around cattle and men's abilities over the poor animals. Changing people's minds here will probably take centuries, but at least they no longer have the excuse of the \"motherland\" conserving those traditions. Finally, the Spanish teach us a useful lesson.