Of Babies...and Bulls

The New Wisdom
(by R.P.Edwards)

From your mouth
Into the air
Your moistened finger
Tells you where
The cooling side
The winds caress
Will show you which direction’s…best
So
Put away your compass…old
Ignore the words
From wisemen…told
Just wind and whim
Your trusted tools
Then quickly die
The death…of fools

“So far, about morals, I know only that what is moral is what you feel good after and what you feel immoral is what you feel bad after and judged by these moral standards, which I do not defend, the bullfight is very moral to me because I feel very fine while it is going on and have a feeling of life and death and mortality and immortality, and after it is over I feel very sad but very fine.”  From “Death in the Afternoon” by Ernest Hemingway. 

The subject is “Bullfights” and Spain’s--in the news--Catalonia region banning the practice (starting in 2012).  I thought a Hemingway insert might be appropriate and, finding a suitable quote, it appears above.  As a part-timer in wordsmithing one of my first thoughts (admittedly shallow) was, “Where are the commas?” But, since this fellow has captured the imagination of millions with his stories, I figure he knows (knew) what he’s doing.  Anyway, I was looking for a minor reference, but “Papa” got to the heart.

And so, animal rights activists rejoice that bulls will soon be free from the torture associated with the moves and manipulation of the matador.  No more pokes and piercing.  No more pesky picadors and bugging banderilleros.  No more taunting and toying with the noble beast leading, ultimately, to a death in front of a blood-thirsty crowd with the degrading shout of “Ole’!” still in its innocent ears.

Now, I’m not a fan of animal cruelty and certainly, in the eyes of many, the bull thing qualifies.  But, allow me to point out a bit of disturbing irony.  You see, the same month the bull huggers rejoice is the very same month that a new Spanish law goes into effect that allows unhindered abortions up to the fourteenth week. 
Once again; animals good, people bad.  Save the bovine, but kill the baby.

So, sure, be concerned about our animal friends.  But if you really want your compassion on display…save the human animal…first.  For, without question, if every bull, over the eons of time; if every bull that ever hoofed in the heather were to be slowly brought to a painful end it would fall far short of the worth of just one of the precious beings that are made... “in the image of God.”

The Shame in Spain
(by R.P.Edwards)

The shame in Spain
Is mainly from the brain
Thinking they’re God…when they’re not
So they cry for the bull
Till tissues are full
But for babies…they don’t shed a drop

Some comfort for my Spanish friends:  We, in America, when it comes to babies and beasts; “We” …are far worse…than thee.

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