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Alvaro MuneraFormer bullfighter, current animal rights activist
Country:
 Colombia |
Content:
- Biograpy of Alvaro Munera
- The Life-Changing Accident
- Becoming an Animal Rights Activist
- Atonement and Criticisms
- The Future of Bullfighting
Biograpy of Alvaro Munera
Early Life and Career as a BullfighterAlvaro Munera was born in Medellin, Colombia, where he grew up watching bullfights from the age of four. He was raised in a pro-taurino atmosphere, constantly surrounded by the culture of bullfighting. At the age of 12, Alvaro decided to become a bullfighter, and his professional career began five years later. His interests were represented by Tomas Redondo, who took Munera to Spain, where he participated in 22 bullfights, until a fateful encounter with a bull named Tersiopelo on September 22, 1984.
The Life-Changing Accident
During the bullfight, Tersiopelo gored Alvaro in the leg, causing spinal cord damage and cranial trauma that left him permanently paralyzed. After the incident, Alvaro flew to the United States for physical rehabilitation and also took the opportunity to attend college. However, he felt like a criminal due to the anti-taurino sentiment in America.
Becoming an Animal Rights Activist
Alvaro's perspective on bullfighting changed completely during his time in the United States. Surrounded by people who could not understand the concept of torturing and killing animals for entertainment, he began to question his previous life as a bullfighter. Alvaro declared himself a defender of animal rights and devoted his life to fighting against animal cruelty. He has been actively involved in helping people with disabilities and advocating for the rights of animals.
Atonement and Criticisms
Many animal rights activists applauded Alvaro's decision, but there were also those who could not forgive him for his past actions. To this day, some still refer to him as the "culprit of mass murder." However, Alvaro remains committed to his cause and aims to continue his work until his last day. He understands the people who cannot forgive him for the suffering he caused to countless bulls but hopes to have a long life to make amends for his past actions.
The Future of Bullfighting
Alvaro sincerely believes that bullfighting will eventually disappear if the elements of torture and death are removed from the tradition. He sees a shift in values among educated young people who are increasingly opposing cruel traditions. He questions the support of intelligent and talented individuals like Ernest Hemingway, Orson Welles, John Huston, and Pablo Picasso, who were known to be supporters of bullfighting. Alvaro believes that true humanity and compassion lie in solidarity with all living beings and that those who find pleasure or inspiration in the torture and death of innocent animals are despicable individuals.
Alvaro concludes, "The willingness to follow goodness is what truly matters in the eyes of God."
