It's time that Spain's running of the bulls during Pamplona's San Fermin festival be ended. Participants act as if they are doing something heroic by running through the streets with the panicked bulls, but they are participating in an event of animal cruelty. To suggest otherwise is to ignore what really happens during these bull runs.
Humans who participate knowingly put themselves into danger, although we question their mental capacity if they are making such a decision. A 27-year-old Spaniard was gored to death Friday and another 11 were injured on Sunday.
But the bulls don't have a choice in whether they participate. They are thrust into this event, and usually give their lives as part of this twisted celebration.
It's a sickening sight. The bulls are poked and beaten along the way, and their tails are twisted by participants to make them run faster. What it does is make them panic, and they crash into anything in their way, including buildings and the pavement. They often slip to the ground while turning corners and get injured by their falls.
To read the complete editorial, visit The Fresno Bee.
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