The barbarity of Medinaceli

On this occasion, my cursor did not point to the immaculate white of Word to outline a dissertation on political or economic current affairs on the Mediterranean shores. However, without straying too far away, my retina did bring to my attention the savagery of the Toro de Júbilo of Medinaceli, which, it seems, has its origins in North Africa. Moreover, the Algeciras-born and great military vizier Almanzor lies in this town in Soria. 

Let me use my distraction to oppose accepting that the symbolism of a tradition destroys human values by mistreating animals in bloody rituals. 

We earthlings, who now number 8 billion, have carried out, and continue to carry out, major barbarities throughout the history of mankind. We compete to wipe out the planet, we persist in destroying each other and, as if that were not enough, we revolt, just for the fun of it, against animals. 

We should be more grateful to these creatures that were, and still are in many regions of the world, the driving force for the development of mankind. They have helped man in his own feeding and in his agricultural or industrial tasks, as well as in the transport of people or goods long before the advent of machinery. 

These living beings are being subjected to the most diverse and witty mockery, torture and premeditated deaths with the connivance of local, regional or state authorities. Official statistics indicate more than 20,000 popular celebrations throughout Spain. Rituals where bulls, cows, goats, lambs, etc. are mistreated. Few species are spared from our infinite stupidity. 

Despite their regulation, these festivities end up in savagery in the name of a supposed tradition, entertainment or both at the same time. It is in this way that human euphoria makes the dormant beast flourish in their subconscious, with no sanctions for the offenders. 

The Toro de Júbilo de Medinaceli is an unfortunate celebration that the Consejería de Presidencia de la Junta de Castilla y León declared "Espectáculo taurino tradicional", of regional touristic interest, on 18th September 2002. 

The images of the video of the bullfight of the past 12/11/22 continue to haunt our retinas. A bull, which had already come out of the box, bloodied and with its tongue suspiciously hanging outwards, ended up with its face burnt by the torches. Panicked, it would end up dead from insufferable anguish. To its great misfortune, it collided with the bell-oxen coming out of the bullrings, to whom the organisers doubtfully attribute the reason for its death. 

The ritual takes place in the presence of a veterinarian whose function is none other than to whitewash the violence done to the bull. This professional must know that the bull, like the rest of the animals, is tormented by fire and is completely unaware of the joke that humans are playing on him. That is why torture becomes inevitable and lethal. 

Organisers and defenders of these rites do not bat an eyelid at their unpunished crimes, while humanity is ashamed to have them as individuals. And, to make matters worse, they complain for the sake of complaining about the mortal groans of a terrified creature. Society must raise its voice and condemn such humiliation. 

If the belief at the origin of the Medinaceli celebration is that the martyrs of Salamanca were transported on the back of a bull, apparently from North Africa, it is inexplicable that these men of God should be honoured by mistreating the animal that helped to transport them. What a jubilation! Apart from denouncing violence against the bull, human ingratitude is also reproached, because it is ungrateful to be ungrateful. 

But popular festivities, in which animals are used and tortured, neither begin nor end in Medinaceli. Without going any further, the "Toro de la Vega" in Tordesillas (Valladolid) is celebrated, since only 2016, as a running of the bulls, that is to say, a running of the bulls through the streets without sacrifice, spears or spearing as was the custom in the past. Or the "Salto de la cabra", in Manganeses de la Polvorosa (Zamora) which, since 2000, has been forbidden to throw the animal, alive no less, from the top of a bell tower. Today, a stuffed goat is used instead. 

It is worth remembering that this noble animal has become one of the symbols with which Spain identifies itself. The bull is unofficially part of the Spanish flag. It is owed, above all, respect and not humiliation. 

It is used by the Navy command for NATO functions or stamped on the caps of the American marines stationed at the Rota naval base (Cádiz). Its presence is notorious and obligatory at any national event. And I am sure that it will fly, together with the flag, in the stands of the football stadiums of Qatar 2022 and wherever the Spanish national team plays and in any sporting category. 

The history of Hispania, as the Romans called it, is immensely rich in its diversity. Spain is that great country that is brimming with historical and cultural heritage in all its dimensions, tangible and intangible, and from all its corners, from north to south and from east to west and from diagonal to diagonal. In addition to its geographical beauty, its long history through the centuries and its accumulated cultural wealth, woven by the different peoples who inhabited it in the past, it does not need these infamous spectacles for its tourist promotion. 

The unreason with which human beings insist on acting against civility and common sense is astounding. It defies good taste, good manners, and the most primitive savagery. 

Einstein not only demonstrated his genius in the field of astrophysics, but also theorised wise maxims about society and human behaviour when he said: "There are two infinite things, the universe and human stupidity. And I am not so sure about the former".