In Barcelona, there is a growing call for a Catalan "country," a separate entity and an act of distancing from Spain. In July 2010, more than a million Catalans showed up in demonstration of their desire have a greater autonomy, just short of independence from Spain. There was a strong expression of Catalan pride, apart from what is of Spain.
Then a day after that, Spain won the 2010 World Cup in South Africa for the first time. The whole country including Catalonia region celebrated the win of the biggest title of all team sports. The Catalan pride was somewhat subdued by the Spanish victory. How could Barcelona not celebrate when the core of the Spanish football team are players of the famed FC Barca (read as Barsa). It was a national feat shared by all in Spain and all that was Spanish.
Two weeks after that huge demonstration and World Cup celebration, I was in Barcelona. Conspicuous and hanging outside the buildings were Catalan flags and posters of the national footbal players. It was the peak of summer holidays. So many tourists came to enjoy what Barcelona could offer.
With an invitation from a friend, I joined him to watch a bullfight in Plaza de Toros Monumental. It was Sunday. From the Monumental train station, we walked to the popular bullfight ring arena. Just across the street opposite the arena, there was a group of protesters calling to stop cruelty to animals and bloodshed. Then on the other side along the arena, a group of supporters of bullfighting was gathered and heckling the anti-bullfighting protesters. Police officers stood on the street separating the two sides.
We went in the arena after paying 23 euros each. It was huge and an old structure. A band was playing when we got into our seats. Most of what I saw in the seats were foreigners with their camcorders and cameras. Many seats were still unoccupied when the ceremony started.
The first bull came out roaring, and looking for anything that got into its way. Bullfighters ran behind their safe cover. Except for one, he stayed and did what he was supposed to do - beat the bull and entertain the crowd.
I must admit that there were moments of excitement, thrill, suspense, boredom, and compassion. These were strong and intermittent feelings.
It was like watching Mike Tyson during his prime. We knew that Tyson would win, and yet thousands came to see him fight and millions watched him fight on TV. And thesepeople paid to see how Tyson would destroy and knockout his opponents.
Or it was like watching Michael Jordan during the Chicago Bull's championship run. We watched Jordan making shots after shots, including the game winning shots. When Jordan had the ball in dying seconds, our heartbeat rose and our breathing could hardly catch up.
In bullfighting, whenever the torero turned his back on the tired and bloodied bull in a very close goring range, I felt a certain stoppage of my heartbeat and breathing. I did not want to look, but I could not keep my eyes off.
I did not want the torero to get hurt, neither the bull. I just wanted to see the spectacle of man and animal in synchronized movements. The rising of emotions as man evades the goring attempts of the bull that keeps on trying and going. It is beautiful, sans the bloodshed. Ole!
It could have stopped at that moment. It should stop there. I did not come to see the harming and killing of bulls. I came to see the courage and grace of toreros in facing grave danger and risk, and the persistence of the determined bull to hit a target.
I would say that entertainment-wise, bullfighting tops other spectators' events. There must be a way to keep the spectacle without a bloodshed. There must be..
And I anticipate that it will come from Catalonia region. Then, libertad, from many things including cruelty to animals, will truly emerge in Catalan country. Libertad, libertad, libertad..
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