Spain - Children & Bullfighting

​www.theguardian.com/world/2018/feb/08/un-panel-urges-spain-consider-banning-children-bullfights

A UN committee is reportedly pushing a ban on children's involvement with bullfighting in Spain. Insisting that bullfighting was not considerably suitable for children, they suggested restricting minors from attending bullfighting school or being spectators at bullfighting events. Children over the age of 14 are currently allowed to learn some aspects of bullfighting through bullfighting schools and can attend the events as well.

Now, before I go into the main reasons why this is not appropriate for children, let me address bullfighting. Tradition or not, it is literally a blood sport that lures, aggravates, tortures, and eventually kills bulls in captivity. There is no more sickening thing to think of than watching an animal being goated into danger and harmed. Bulls suffer immensely during these fights and it is so disturbing to think that anyone would pay money to watch that sort of thing. It's a very sadomasochistic sort of thing to me, enjoying watching pain being inflicted on another living creature, just weird and gross.

Children are super susceptible to influence and this sort of unnecessary violence is not something any child needs to witness or learn. What they see is their own dominance over a big, strong beast. They see animals as lesser beings, things that can be manipulated and utilized at will. They see entertainment in animals, degrading them to nothing more than props. They see people hurting animals and loud cheers as a response, painting a picture of what is acceptable behaviour. All of these things are very wrong.

Children leading into their teens are especially impressionable because they are just starting to come into their own and are looking to be accepted / regarded. Witnessing these acts of violence and bloodshed contributes nothing if not bad intentions to a preteen / teen. Harming animals or having a desire to harm animals typically starts at a young age, and subjecting children to this sort of violence is certainly going to awaken those urges if they're there. 

At the end of the day, it instills in children a lack of respect for animals. That is the opposite of what they should be taught. Respect of all living creatures is something every child should be taught and this sport works against that thought process. A lack of respect for anything is never a healthy situation.

What are your thoughts? Is the UN on the right track with banning children from bullfighting? Will Spain agree to these restrictions or continue to promote their tradition? I want to hear from you guys!

HAPPY VEG