This incredible photo marks the end of Matador Torero Alvaro Munera's career.* He collapsed in remorse mid-fight when he realized he was having to prompt this otherwise gentle beast to fight. He went on to become an avid opponent of bullfights. (The look on this bull's face says it all for me. Even grievously wounded by picadors, he did not attack this man.)
Torrero Munera is quoted as saying of this moment: "And suddenly, I looked at the bull. He had this innocence that all animals have in their eyes, and he looked at me with this pleading. It was like a cry for justice, deep down inside of me. I describe it as being like a prayer - because if one confesses, it is hoped, that one is forgiven. I felt like the worst shit on earth."
"Cows are amongst the gentlest of breathing creatures; none show more passionate tenderness to their young when deprived of them; and, in short, I am not ashamed to profess a deep love for these quiet creatures." so said Thomas de Quincy. Alero Munera quotes him and goes on to talk about ChiquilÃn, another repentant bullfighter, who claims to have seen bulls weeping. He says that he cannot kill even a fly nowadays. "I take my hat off to that man," says Munera. "He’s a real hero who learned his lesson through reason and thinking."
With many thanks to Maries van Den Plas who sent me this photograph and commentary for the English Blog.
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