Zoos are an absolutely necessary part of the modern conservation movement; we’d have lost dozens of additional species if not for zoo-based breeding and reintroduction programs (and relocation of existing wild populations).
I would say the same to everyone that is deadset against circuses though and I am not even a fan of circuses. I’ve seen nothing so far that convinces me in the slightest that Ringling Brothers needs to be shut down.
BTW: PETA does have ties to animal-rights terrorist organizations that are real. ELF and ALF connections are real and proven.
Oh, yeah, I forgot about the sea kitten things and I did change the subject, for which I apologize. But since you mention them, how about the sea kittens that are displayed in aquariums? Should they all be set free? I presume PETA must have an interest in them are they wouldn’t have come up with the name ‘sea kittens.’
I object to the name “sea kittens” on the grounds that it infantilizes fish. Fish grow up and have lives too, and even if those lives mostly involve swimming in schools and making bloopy fishy faces, they deserve to be regarded as adults.
You had to ask.
Jettboy,
While I do think that circuses should leave animals the fuck alone, PETA is mainly comprised of a bunch of self-important douchebags. My reaction, if I were there with my kid going to his first circus would have been similar to yours, thus I share this tactic I sometimes use for douchebag groups like PETA and CodePink: I immediately agree—passionately. I ask them how I’d go about joining the group, etc. (Already I’ve sucked up his or her time and prevented them from harassing and infecting others.) I then ask if I can help by handing out some of that literature. Whatever I get goes into the trash can and doused with some soda. and off I go to enjoy my day.
Possibly you are feeling the rage of chickens and terror of cattle that you ingest?
I don’t like PETA and I see some dark humor in what you suggest but mostly it makes you sound like a dick with too much time on his hands.
No more than the horror and the despair of the cabbage I chopped up last night. I don’t waste a lot of time considering the ‘feelings’ of the tomato in my salad or whether the eggplant I’m battering up and deep frying had it’s life ended humanely. I don’t put all that much thought into my food, it’s life, it’s feelings, it’s potential pain. Would it give me comfort to know that Mr. Chicken, Mrs. Cow and Señor Swine lived a fulfilling life that was relatively pain-free and ended humanely? I suppose so, but only just a little bit. I’m not all that concerned with how it died, how it lived or much else beyond “is it clean and safe?” and “how am I going to prepare it?”
This was a joke was it not? Please tell me it was a joke.
IIRC, Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros. stopped touring due to animal cruelty charges.
That cite mentions three incidents – once involving a tiger. And it also alludes to a trainer who was accused of cruelty but then acquitted, yet somehow suggests that the cruelty was true anyway.
Which is why you favor abortion protestors with their signs showing dismembered fetuses, right?
The OP raises two issues: is it appropriate for an advocate for a political position to attempt to convince a young child of that position? And is circus exhibition of wild animals per se cruelty?
No. And no.
I have protested the circus here in Sacramento with an organization called Born Free USA. But we are told specifically NOT to give the literature to children, for obvious reasons. We give it to the parents only.
FYI, Barnum and Bailey will be in court on Feb. 3 aginst Born Free USA, the ASPCA, the Animal Welfare Institute, and the Fund for Animals in a lawsuit alleging charges of mistreatment of their elephants.
Can you hear the cries of the carrots? You see, Reverend Manyard, tomorrow is harvest day, and to them, it is the holocaust.
Would you please be kind enough to report back to this thread the results of the upcoming trial. It sounds like your group has a case but of course it is all from the side of your group. I am interested in what the court determines.
I suppose I’ll be nice and just write that comment off to pure, unadulterated ignorance on your part.
And I agree with Jett - regardless of what message the idiot was trying to broadcast, it was totally inappropriate for him to approach a small child like that. Sounds like he took lessons from the Jehovah’s Witnesses with that never too early to learn the truth bullshit.
Oh, good grief. Here’s one headline off that page:
'Nuff said.
Let’s get serious for a moment, if we can.
Has any REALLY HOT GUY ever posed nekkid for PETA?
Mr.Chicken, Mr. Cow and Ms. Circus Elephant are Earthlings, and they were not put here to be used by humans.
I’m grateful for PETA. Something needs to be done. Billions of livestock slaughtered each year, rivers of pig shit, zoos, pet breeders, vivisection – it’s pretty awful if you lift the veil.
We did not weave the Web of Life.
Your group’s complaint includes the basic claim that, under the law, elephants cannot be captured or used in circus performances of any kind.
Call me crazy, but on this claim, I do not believe they will prevail.