Good News! I subscribe to

Good News!

I subscribe to various email newsletters from so-called Animal Rights organizations, not (obviously) because I support them, but because I need to stay abreast of whenever they attack La Fiesta Brava. Today I got the second urgent and dire appeal for funds from one of them. I will not say which one, in case someone on the dark side finds this bit of unseemly gloating and wants to waste their money, but it is not a major one (although they are convinced that they are saving the whole world). It would be nice if PETA was on the rocks, but we will just have to keep praying.

Meanwhile, in spite of (or because of?) heavy animal nut propaganda, the bullfight is doing better than ever, with renewed interest in it from younger Spaniards, expansion in France and Portugal, and a new wave of talent that knocks the socks off of the matadores who were stars when I first got interested in it. I think that the animal nut propaganda, coming from distinctly Anglo-nordic philosophies, is striking a lot of Iberians as more cultural imperialism and we are seeing, for the first time in decades, young people who consider themselves leftists embracing the fiesta (in the old days, it was a very conservative art).

Similarly, as Portugal gets over its post-1974 obsession with American pop music, the Fado is rising to new heights. Also in Portugal a concerted effort, spearheaded by a government minister, is being made to preserve the siesta. All of this, combined with the stunning reception the Holy Father received in Spain point to some very good news for Europe and the Church: the Latins are reasserting their culture, and, inextricably bound to the Latin culture is the Catholic Church.