Restoring a cultural tradition

A bullfight in Mexico

This tradition is bullfighting. This fight is to ban or not ban bullfighting between the supporters of maintaining this cultural tradition and the animal protectionists who fight to ban bullfighting. In June 2022, the courts in several states in Mexico (this country has 32 states) issued a ruling banning bullfighting. However, this ruling was recently overturned by the Mexican Supreme Court. So from now on, there are no more legal obstacles to continuing to organize bullfighting in Mexico.

Bullfighting first appeared in the 13th century. In the 14th century, Spanish colonists introduced this type of competition to Mexico and Mexico gradually became the place where bullfighting developed in the world after Spain itself. After several centuries, bullfighting has become a cultural tradition typical of Mexico, admired and responded to by many people. The Plaza de Toros bullfighting arena in Mexico has a capacity of more than 41,000 spectators, creating a passionate atmosphere like a big festival. In Europe today, bullfighting is still held in Spain, Portugal and France. Even in these places, there is a fierce struggle between animal protectionists who advocate banning bullfighting and those determined to maintain the tradition of bullfighting.

That is the legal issue in Mexico. But if we look more deeply, there are two other big issues. The first is the issue of cultural traditions that have been around for hundreds of years and the oppression of the modern world. Animal protection has long been a big issue in the modern world, very complicated and sensitive in terms of internal politics and society in many places in the world. People can agree or disagree with using the law to sanction everything related to animal protection for the purpose of implementing animal protection. The state and society, individuals and organizations cannot ignore this issue. That means that in this aspect, Mexico must accept and cannot avoid the conflict between continuing ancient traditions in the modern world and the demand from the modern world to end or change ancient traditions. The above ruling of the Mexican Supreme Court shows that the court here is biased towards ancient traditions. The inevitable consequence of this ruling is that Mexico will now be immersed in the old cultural battle but will again have to deal with pressure from the outside world.

The second issue is how to understand and approach the cultural connotation in the tradition of bullfighting and in the demand to ban bullfighting to protect animals. For people in Mexico and other places in the world where bullfighting is organized, bullfighting is a cultural activity and cultural tradition, reflecting both the history and personality of the people in those places. Therefore, bullfighting can exist and exert its effects for such a long time. Meanwhile, for those who demand to ban bullfighting and fight for the banning of bullfighting, bullfighting is an act of cruel torture and brutal torture of animals. So the question here is how to understand the cultural connotation here correctly.

LA PHU

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