Austin Motel
Animal Abuse Is Not Entertainment
RECEIVED Tue., Aug. 26, 2008
Dear Editor,
I applaud circus acrobats like the Flying Wallendas walking the tight rope [“Nikolas Wallenda,” Arts, Aug. 22], but I don't applaud animal abuse that is unfortunately the cornerstone of Ringling Bros. Circus. Humans have made the choice to perform for the circus, but animals have no choice in the matter. They are torn from their families in the wild and beaten and verbally assaulted into submission, all to perform acts that go against their natural instincts to roam free. When not performing, circus elephants are chained, causing them ailments that cut their life spans in half. And then the circus leaves, and elephants are shoved in boxcars to travel thousands of miles to their next hellish show. That is not entertainment; it's just cruelty to me.
I applaud circus acrobats like the Flying Wallendas walking the tight rope [“Nikolas Wallenda,” Arts, Aug. 22], but I don't applaud animal abuse that is unfortunately the cornerstone of Ringling Bros. Circus. Humans have made the choice to perform for the circus, but animals have no choice in the matter. They are torn from their families in the wild and beaten and verbally assaulted into submission, all to perform acts that go against their natural instincts to roam free. When not performing, circus elephants are chained, causing them ailments that cut their life spans in half. And then the circus leaves, and elephants are shoved in boxcars to travel thousands of miles to their next hellish show. That is not entertainment; it's just cruelty to me.
Timothy Verret
