The Bullfighter and The Bull...

[MrScorpio]

santosha65:

This incredible photo marks the end of Matador Torero Alvaro Munera’s career. He collapsed in remorse mid-fight when he realized he was having to prompt this otherwise gentle beast to fight. He went on to become an avid opponent of bullfights. Even grievously wounded by picadors, he did not attack this man.

Torrero Munera is quoted as saying of this moment: “And suddenly, I looked at the bull. He had this innocence that all animals have in their eyes, and he looked at me with this pleading. It was like a cry for justice, deep down inside of me. I describe it as being like a prayer - because if one confesses, it is hoped, that one is forgiven. I felt like the worst shit on earth.”

http://shyboob.tumblr.com/post/116726900351/mushaka-santosha65-this-incredible-photo

[orpupilofnature57]

1. It' like the bull can sense his Epiphany, and sympathizes . n/t

[Scootaloo]

2. While Munero certainly did become an opponent of bullfighting, this is not a photograph of it

The posture shown in the photograph is not one of a torero collapsing or expressing contrition; rather, it's a common posture of desplante (defiance), a bit of showmanship in which the torero indicates his total domination of the bull by taking up what appears to be a dangerous position in front of the animal's horns. (Also, the quotation that accompanies the photograph was not spoken by Múnera; it is the work of Spanish writer Antonio Gala, who was not himself a torero.)

As detailed at The Last Arena blog, this photograph isn't a picture of Múnera at all, but rather a photo of some other torero.

Read more at http://www.snopes.com/photos/people/munera.asp#6yKED5oyZrL0Its9.99

Q: What was the decisive factor that made you an animal-rights defender?

When I went to the U.S. [for medical treatment], where I had to face an antitaurine society that cannot conceive how another society can allow the torture and murder of animals. It was my fellow students, the doctors, nurses, the other physically disabled people, my friends, my North American girlfriend, and the aunt of one of my friends, who said I deserved what happened to me. Their arguments were so solid that I had to accept that it was me who was wrong and that the 99 percent of the human race who are firmly against this sad and cruel form of entertainment were totally right. Many times the whole of the society is not to blame for the decisions of their governments. Proof of this is that most people in Spain and Colombia are genuinely anti-bullfighting. Unfortunately there’s a minority of torturers in each government supporting these savage practices.
Read more at http://www.snopes.com/photos/people/munera.asp#6yKED5oyZrL0Its9.99

So, still and all, good for him - I'm sure it takes a lot to step out of a rockstar position on the pull of ethics like that, and i wonder if most of us could do the same.

...And apparently being left crippled by a bull goring makes a difference too, in Munero' case...

[magical thyme]

3. my parents forced me to watch a bullfight in Spain. all I saw was a baby animal pleading

running for it's life, confused, in terrible pain, and pleading.

Disgusting. Heartrending. I have no love for bulls -- but they aren't fighting bulls. THey are torturing calves. Glad this guy finally woke up from his fantasy.

[procon]

4. I lived in Spain as a child.

My parents romanticized bull fighting and often partied with famous matadors of the days of the 'Mad Men' era. I think my mother even had an affair with one (or more, as my sister believes). They took all of us kids to the bullring every weekend and we always had the best seats. Sometimes a matador would toss his beautifully embroided cape up to my mom for her to spread out over the railing as a sign of his special favor.

The cruelty to all the animals -- the bulls, horses and mules -- was very traumatic for me as I loved animals very much. As a child, I had no choice but to attend, but the experience made me aware of the plight of animals who are mistreated by people who should be safeguarding their welfare.

[BumRushDaShow]

5. I saw a bullfight at the Plaza México in Mexico City about 25 years ago

If I remember correctly, the "performances" were held once a week on Mondays there. Like the rodeos here in the U.S., it was a big thing and as I understand, it's apparently legal in the U.S. in (where else) Texas... although they supposedly have "bloodless" shows.

It's all part of what the Romans once dubbed "Bread and Circuses". And I know a whole generation of boomers grew up with alot of this imagery in cartoons... generally where a bull (or even some other "bad" character) repeatedly scratches the ground to get ready to charge the main character, who then manages to whip out the cape. and dodge the charge...

and on and on...

Bull fights, dog fights, "cock" (rooster) fights and hell... even the "extreme fights" (where the rules are essentially almost non-existent) - the human obsession with "blood sport".

[n2doc]

6. Apparently this isn't real, at least the image isn't of that man

http://www.occupyforanimals.net/the-story-of-aacutelvaro-muacutenera-builes.html

[Faryn Balyncd]

7. Apparently you are correct. The real story, however, is also powerful:

The Snopes link describes how Álvaro Múnera converted to an animal rights advocate through an ongoing process that began before, and extended after, a goring accident at age 18 that damaged his spinal cord and ended his career. While it shows that neither the photo or the story of his in-the-ring conversion is genuine, Snopes quotes an interview of Munera that is quite powerful:

Q: Did you ever think of quitting bullfighting before that bull confined you to a wheelchair?

A: Yes, there were several critical moments. Once I killed a pregnant heifer and saw how the fetus was extracted from her womb. The scene was so terrible that I puked and started to cry. I wanted to quit right there but my manager gave me a pat on my back and said I shouldn’t worry, that I was going to be an important bullfighting figure and scenes like that were a normal thing to see in this profession. I’m sorry to say that I missed that first opportunity to stop. I was 14 and didn’t have enough common sense. Some time later, in an indoor fight, I had to stick my sword in five or six times to kill a bull. The poor animal, his entrails pouring out, still refused to die. He struggled with all his strength until the last breath. This caused a very strong impression on me, and yet again I decided it wasn’t the life for me. But my travel to Spain was already arranged, so I crossed the Atlantic. Then came the third chance, the definitive one. It was like God thought, “If this guy doesn’t want to listen to reason, he’ll have to learn the hard way.” And of course I learned.

Q: What was the decisive factor that made you an animal-rights defender?

When I went to the U.S. [for medical treatment], where I had to face an antitaurine society that cannot conceive how another society can allow the torture and murder of animals. It was my fellow students, the doctors, nurses, the other physically disabled people, my friends, my North American girlfriend, and the aunt of one of my friends, who said I deserved what happened to me. Their arguments were so solid that I had to accept that it was me who was wrong and that the 99 percent of the human race who are firmly against this sad and cruel form of entertainment were totally right. Many times the whole of the society is not to blame for the decisions of their governments. Proof of this is that most people in Spain and Colombia are genuinely anti-bullfighting. Unfortunately there’s a minority of torturers in each government supporting these savage practices.

http://www.snopes.com/photos/people/munera.asp

[DirkGently]

8. Not true, according to Snopes.

The photograph is not of the bullfighter who now opposes bullfighting, an epiphany he had after being paralyzed in the ring. This is apparently a picture of another bullfighter striking a "defiant" pose bullfighters take to show they are not afraid.

http://www.snopes.com/photos/people/munera.asp

Still good to know some bullfighters are realizing the cruelty of that supposed "sport."

[Liberal_in_LA]

9. ...