Proud of traditions
The Calgary stampede celebrated its 100th year of competition in 2012, and was attended by nearly half a million spectators this year, according to their website. The not-for-profit group that runs the event describes itself as a community organisation that preserves and promotes Western heritage and values.
However, I do wonder what angers the bulls [in Spain] so much that it has to leap and gyrate itself with great fury to unseat its rider. Some events seem cruel to animals, however, the stampede in my opinion at least appears to have some method to the obvious madness - not to mention a clear qualification process for competitive participants.
From Mr Leo O.
Banff, Canada
Animals take precedence
When it’s a question of human or animal rights against culture, right should always be respected. It is a simple idea that in modern a context, many culturally acceptable practises may be despicable. Consider Aztec human sacrifices as an example. History is replete with culturally acceptable practices, which we would abhor currently. Hence, whatever the current humane enlightened mindset is must take precedence over culturally right arguments.
From Mr Moiz Rajkotwala
Dubai
Strict laws needed
A strict law has to be imposed to stop cruelty towards animals in these traditions. Like in India, slaughtering of cows as a sacrifice has been legally banned even though it has its place in our culture.
From Mr Shlok Misra
UAE
A sensitive balance
In my opinion, traditions are important and must be preserved but at the same time, we need to be identifying what are good traditions and what are not. For traditions to continue we need to be asking if they benefit society at large, and more importantly, do they harm anyone, who is not willing to join in.
Just under the pretext of traditions, we cannot and we should not be allowed to harm or be cruel to others.
I can give you a parallel example from India, where I come from:
There is a bull taming sport, known as jallikattu, played in Tamil Nadu, India. For part of the rituals for the harvest festival, Pongal, this sport takes place. It is part of our traditions that has been observed for centuries.
The landowners and the workers ignore their class and caste differences. Everyone meets, enjoys and participates in the festival but because of the sport, a lot of bulls, participating members and the general public were getting injured and deaths were reported.
In May 2014, the supreme court of India banned the part of the celebrations involving the bull taming sport because of animal welfare issues. It didn’t stop there. Going forward, the specific law that was passed was, in fact, cancelled by the state government, to allow this sport.
From Mr Ghanshyam V. Vyas
UAE
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