Comments on: Bullfighting's Blood Brothers

60 Minutes Interviews A Star Matador, Who Is Then Nearly Killed In The Ring

[cruelsport]

If you are disappointed in 60 Minutes for not showing the cruelty side of Bullfighting please let them know.
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[rrdindenver]

I find it interesting that all commentators think the 60 Minutes episode is about bull fighting and not about the 2 brothers and their legacy. Seems to me they cannot see the forest for the trees

Bob Simon seems to be in love with hits blood ritual. This is second time he personally does a piece on bullfighting. The first one was on Oct of 2008. Bob, why not do a piece on what happens behind the scenes.

Behind the scenes, the bulls are given sulfur to induce diarrhea and dehydration, are beaten to sap their energy, their horns are ?shaved? to disorient them, and Vaseline is rubbed into their eyes to blurred their poor eye sight even further. By the time the brave matador faces the bull in the final round, the bull has already been stabbed in the back with a long lance for several minutes, 6 banderillas (sticks with metal hooks) have been plunged into its back, a ggod percentage of its blood has been drained, and has been exhausted and dizzied by 6 men for 10 minutes.

What 60 minutes has done is it has provided the bullfighting industry with a free 20 minute infomercial to encourage naïve tourist to attend at least one of these live horror shows.

This ritual is a relic of Spanish barbarism and a vehicle for sadism, acted out on the animals while corrupting the soul of the spectator.

[chico-2009]

I won´t argue if it is a barbaric tradition or not.... even in this century there are as much barbaric events as nations. I haven´t seen any bullfightin but I have seen how we feed and kill chikens and pigs in farms. After watching how cows or rabbits are sacrifed for our own consume, the only difference is that bullfighter is a public and paid event. Another shamefull public and paid event? A list that never gets shorter...

[cruelsport]

I expect 60 Minutes to air a story on the cruelty of Bullfighting in the very near future or they have permanently lost a viewer.

[BlakeNewman]

While I agree that Bullfighting is a barbaric sport reminiscent of Roman gladiators, I do not think that CBS should be bashed in. If nothing else, CBS is highlighting this sport to raise awareness and possibly cause a grassroots movement to shut the sport down. Most likely, the people who are commenting on this article have never gone to a bullfighting event. I have seen dozens of bullfights in Colombia - and I truly felt like I was in an ancient colloseum watching an ancient gladiator event. It was remarkable to watch the true ballet. Now that I have photographed it and witnessed it, I do believe that the sport should retire. But don't bash CBS, thank them for educating the world.

[iceponygodde]

Here's a list of other "sport" deas for your next show:

Vick killing dogs
Gang Bangers figthing dogs
Canned Hunts
China skining dogs alive
Rooster fighting
Horse Tripping
Rodeo ...the real truth
Pigeon Shoots
Horse slaugher in Mexcio
Animal Testing

For more info on the cruelty of bull fighting
http://www.sharkonline.org/?P=0000000423

Shame on CBS!

[iceponygodde]

SHAME ON CBS! Would you glorify dog fighting and Michael Vick? Bullfighting is NOT a sport! It's cruel and inhumane animal abuse. There is NOTHING brave about taunting and abusing an animal. What was the purpose of this story?

[rdgibboni]

60 Mins Staff-

The story Bob did last night about bullfighting was over the top. The European Community has no problem accusing the US of torture when we put an Al Quida fighter in a box with a caterpillar however they see bullfighting as a traditional "sport". It's hooky journalism like yours that shapes the world's values to accept this senseless torture of an innocent animal. It's times like this that I am ashamed to be a member of the human species.

I was rooting for the bull!

[chulablu]

I was colpletely disgusted w/60 minutes glorifying coverage of torturing an animal to death. why don't you do a detailed story on the process of bull fighting, tell the whole ugly story of what is done to these creatures. why don't you show that they are actually crying in there death? to glorify these arrogant jerks called matadores ,english translation "killers" is appalling. I can not believe such an act is still legal. The savages in the stands screaming with approval at such horror are equally guilty. Their justification is that, this is tradition. I can't believe you would make these guys out to be some kind of hero, you should be ashamed. Spain should be ashamed that have still allow such a practice to continue, but they're not, they're proud of their savagery. And apparently so are you. you better hope Andy Rooney lives a long long time, when he goes, so will most of your viewers.

[Firebird999]

I was shocked and dismayed to see CBS and Bob Simon do a segment that glorified the cruel and barbaric "sport" of bullfighting. Maybe it's a tradition in Spain, but it's high time that we all start to ask QUESTIONS about what our national and religious traditions are.
Shame on all of you at CBS who produced this piece. (And It was almost embarrassing to watch Simon act like such a sycophant.)

[megan25r]

I encourage viewers to share their disgust with 60 Minutes by emailing them at:

[e-mail]

I think 60 Minutes owes its viewers a public apology and it needs to do a follow-up story on the cruelty of bullfighting. and what people are doing to stop its practice.

[MalloryDavis]

Some people have control issues. Bullfighting is abhorrent to me, but many like it. Leave the Spainards alone.

[no_nonesense]

I'm appalled with this segment of 60 Minutes!! Like others, I too found the glorifying of animal torture upsetting and stressful. Why wouldn't children grow up lacking the ability to recognize cruelty and torture when they are indoctrinated from the cradle to believe that good looks, notoriety, and money at any cost are priceless compared to taking the life of an animal.

I'm shocked that these types even pray for their own safety prior to engaging in savagery against one of God's creatures. I know for a fact that the Lord does not condone such barbaric behavior nor does the Catholic religion. Perhaps they are praying to Satan? He loves gruesome behavior.

It is equally painful to see the joy on the faces of the spectators. It always makes me think that even Hitler had his share of admirers and supporters, and what about the joyous faces when Christians were fed to the lions. There is lots of joy at dog fighting events, at horse-shocking rodeo events, at chicken-killing **** fights, and what about the joy that bullying evokes, and the joy of profits from puppy mills. For the life of me, I can't figure out how a gruesome activity is chosen to be legal or to be unlawful.

Posted by talleysilver: "One must realize this is truly a part of the Spanish culture and is one that gives the bull a fighting chance. "These young men do have bullfighting in their blood and I can see why they are national heroes."

Gives the bull a fighting chance? In America, with our truth in advertising laws, I think a "bull fight " would have to be billed as a bull tormenting and killing event. And excuse me, it's not "bull fighting" in their blood that they have, it's more like a flawed conscience coupled with self-serving.

Posted by rlwtoreria "1. Fighting bulls live betweeen 4 and 5 years... ... and live an ideal life before going to the bullring. They have a much better life than domestic cattle that live 9-14 months..."

"2. The bulls ALWAYS go for meat directly after the bullfight.

4. "This bull is a completely different breed of animal than domestic cattle. Ban the bullfight and we lose this species."

rtwtoreria is a classic example of nonsense to support violence. And then there is the teacher who wants to teach it in her class room--heaven help society!

Let's face it, some traditions are just too cruel to perpetuate. Personally, I did not see any behavior deserving of an award. These brothers just add to the already high nunber of wothless morans. If you want a kinder, more compassionate world, it must be indoctrinated from the cradle.

[beepet9]

After reading all the above comments on your bullfighting feature, there isn't much more I can add. My husband and I have watched 60 Minutes faithfully for the past 25 years and have never been disappointed as greatly as watching two young men torture and slaughter an innocent animal and call it sport..
The two young men who 'risk' their lives to take pride in killing this animal shows me only that they are vane, conceited and use 'heritage' as an excuse to earn huge sums of money and favour of the Spanish people who do not display any sense of humanity in this barbaric act e name of 'sport'. By the way, what happened to the young man who got gored a second time? Did he survive? Did he retire? Or is he stupid enough to try it again after his wounds heal?

I no longer hold your program in the highest esteem. Andy Rooney is still worth tuning in and watching. Thank goodness for his old charm and candid features which please and lighten one's heart..

[mmotteler]

Several years ago while on a visit to Spain, my husband and I were offered an opportunity to attend a bullfight "on the house". Knowing what the final outcome would be for the bull, we passed. Animal cruelty in any form is despicable, but for the sake of entertainment, it is the ultimate in barbarism.

Tonight's segment should have contained a "graphic nature" warning. Sure, the bullfighter probably got what he asked for, but that was a bit too much shock TV for me. If that's what I was looking for, I would have tuned into another show on another network.

Why promote this awful "sport"? I've watched 60 Minutes since I was a kid. Glad this wasn't your story of choice then...and wish it wasn't now. Wake up 60 Minutes. Nobody won here.

[JoeRobinett]

60 Minutes glorifies the savage. Portrays the brave madidor, discussing his life in peril, all the while torturing a creature in the final moments of its life. Then he slides a sword through the top of its neck. Moreover; we see the hero madidor praying to his god, who created this creature, he prays to kill. Oh, those silly contradictions of life, huh, 60 Minutes, praying to the one who creates, so he can destroy it. As it is said, ignorance is bliss, 'but not for the bull.'

[leafygreenlinda]

Mr Simon, we were absolutely disgusted by this thing they call "sport". Yes, bullfighting is part of the long heritage of Spain, yes, this part of the culture of Spain is revered by many or most of those living there, and yes, we are vitally interested in the beliefs, traditions and customs of other peoples regardless of whether we agree with them or not. That said, my husband and I felt that watching this bloody and inhumane sacrifice for the purpose of entertainment did not pass the "felt dirty after watching" test. I actually felt like I'd watched a pornographic scene.
You, sir, and your producers are so very excellent at what you do however. I could not take my eyes away from the tale of these two brothers, much as I morally disagree, and my husband and I felt that the segment ended abruptly and without resolution. Did one brother retire? What happened after the second goring incident? Perhaps the producers would like to explain why you chose to air this brutal piece which literally insulted those of us who believe all creation's beings should be treated with respect.
Speaking of respect, for decades I've held 60 Minutes in the highest regard. Sadly, that has diminished today.

[sociallyautistic]

Gee, my only real regret is that the local station preempted this segment just as the younger Ordonez was getting gored ... yay, score one for the bulls! Sorry to say I don't know how he fared, but perhaps at least as well as his now-crippled friend with the severed femoral artery. I found this segment degrading and demoralizing. So what's next, Mr. Simon? Shall we set up a reality TV show with Michael Vick, perhaps strangling a few dogs for the camera?

And rationalizations ... do we have some rationalizations on here! Most attempt to deal with our "misunderstanding" of the culture. Perhaps there are a few cultures we misunderstand ... flying the Confederate flag. Plenty of rationales fly around to defend that. Further, how about lynching. Now there's a cultural statement if there ever was one ... here, here for our Southern heritage. People like to get a lot of mileage out of "it's always been that way." It stays that way until people take a stand and demand that it end.

And to make comparisons to other bloodsports, please ... how stupid can you be? What possible other sport enjoins the participants to main, cripple and otherwise handicap an animal before its dispatch? While I don't hunt, every hunter I know takes extreme pride in the "One Shot Kill", and none will tell you of gratification into the extended suffering of the animal.

60 minutes, what a disappointment. Does it have any effect upon you of the overwhelmingly detrimental tone of these comments?

[kilredna]

We sat horrified as the bullfight segment proceeded until we finally had to admit that one of our favorite programs had betrayed us. We kept expecting to hear some--or ANY indication that you had not fallen into the whole gory glory mess of animal torture.