I do not know for sure if I am FOR or AGAINST the Running of the Bulls, and Bullfights in general. I agree it is cruel. I also agree that the bull is going to lose, even if it temporarily might dominate any one single human opponent or even several, the bull will die. On the other hand, the constant attempts to "sissify" society is rather a disturbing trend in itself.
A
REAL bullfighting bull has never seen a human being on foot, only on horseback. So when you are suddenly faced with a real one, just immediately released from his dark box of a cage into the bright sunlight with you and several thousand idiots undulating nervously in front of him -- trying to guess it's next move -- life becomes uncertain. The bull will sometimes charge headlong into the crowd bouncing people aside or tossing them asunder or launching them skywards like bowling pins making one happy that one was not standing "just over there" with those people. Since up to a dozen are released at one time, the plaza becomes a dangerous place to be, and one does not have much time to feel sorry for the less fortunate in the moment.
Ten or fifteen minutes later, as the bulls tire out, there is time for cruelty. I have seen a bull that was killed -- I do not know how for certain because I came upon it already down, but I assume by a large knife or machete -- surrounded by a crowd of teen-to-mid-20-somethings poking at it's still twitching carcass with pocket knives or anything they might have had handy. This not near the beginning, when the bulls are fresh and angry (or scared) but nearer the end when they are winded and tired and confused by the mob.
I've also seen almost every local businessman who was able to participate and some who were obviously past their time in that plaza taking part -- especially in the early '90's before it became "cultish" to say you had done it.
There has been pressure since I came here over 20 years ago to stop the Running of the Bulls. My old friend Phil Roettinger's daughter Susan was maybe the number one proponent of stopping it. She did tons of volunteer work for the Red Cross, and had a point that the COST in injury and cruelty was something a "civilized" town should not shoulder. Perhaps. But Susan was also not Mexican. "If the Mexicans themselves want to stop it, that should be their choice, shouldn't it?" I would counter, and she would look at me like I was a total idiot. But Susan and I got along well, all the same.
When San Miguel was declared a "Heritage City" about 4 years ago by the U.N. (yes,
THAT U.N.) one of the stipulations was that they STOP the running of the bulls in the "Historic Center". So, it stopped. However, there is no denying that the event brought in a LOT of tourist dollars. Bars and Hotels were full, and Ice Cream Stores (like mine) didn't suffer either as long as the boss didn't get hurt out there.
Two years ago there was a big meeting to have the event again starting just outside the "Historic Center" and in fact starting just in front of my Ice Cream Store which is 3 blocks from the "Historic Center" and just outside the line drawn by the U.N. as the "Heritage" part of the City. The town had a big meeting wherein most participants stated they WANTED the event back, although several City Hall types and the "Ecology" department and the "Historic Heritage" department were dead-set against it. Being the owner of a store immediately in front of the proposed starting route (which would end up in the Hotel Real de Minas Bullring, something like the Pamplona run ends in a Bullring), I was asked my opinion. I stood up and stated that I was for the idea, IF proper security for spectators and non-participants and store-fronts could be insured as it had been in the past with the construction of proper barricades to keep the action contained.
"As a foreigner" snorted one of the City Hall types, "I question your qualifications to opine." I noticed he was a young-un, and smiled at him.
"I've run with the Bulls 5 or 6 times," I replied, "many times amongst my friends and neighbours here who have seen me do it. I do not recall seeing YOU in there ever. Perhaps it is you that is unqualified to opine?" Scattered applause around me indicated a more-or-less direct hit on the enemy position. In the end, a pretty much unanimous vote was obtained to return to hosting "The Running of the Bulls" here in SMAGTO.
However, both last year, and this year as well (just last month it was announced) the City Fathers have decided that it is in the best interests of the community to forego the event. Reasons stated: we don't want to antagonize the U.N. .
I personally do not give a fig about the U.N., and I don't think they should have a say. However, I think the Mexicans should have a say in what they do in their own country and their own communities. In my personal opinion, there is probably at least a 50/50 chance that we WILL return to hosting the event, but not until a new City Administration arrives in late 2012, making the earliest you could see it here to be September, 2013.
If it does return as an event hosted here, that will be fine with me. If not, well, if that is what the Mexicans want to do, that's fine as well. However, every vote so far indicates that they seem to want it back. Should they host it, and any of you come down to see it, please get in touch with me. Rooftop balconies and windows are sold to the tourists at outlandish prices while the locals just use them for free. You can sit on top of my Ice Cream Store (with me, probably) and watch the spectacle from above and bemoan the S&W's we don't own but would like to while we watch it.
On the other hand, almost every year after I broke my ribs that I went in, I was SURE until the last moment that I wasn't going to do it anymore. But when your friends and fellow businessmen come by -- already with courage laced by tequila and wearing their white shirts and the red bandanas they had bought from the scarf girls (or more correctly been GIVEN by some female admirer from the crowd, the traditional way to earn one)...well, off you go again I guess.
Photo; Young Mexican friends of mine and I photographed in 1998 in the foyer of the Hotel San Fransisco just off the City Square about an hour before the start of the mayhem. I always tended to wear black shirts instead of white, just to muck up the mix. The red scarves the runners wear are already in place...rather proudly I'd say. Alcohol is "VERBOTTEN" and widely available served in red plastic cups almost everywhere. Liquid courage, but best avoided because once the event starts there is no where to go to the bathroom out there and you might see things that really make you want to.
and then there is the guy with the umbrella wow.
