The Circus

[MusicMom]

Yesterday, a little girl at church told me that she and her family had gone to see the circus on Saturday. She was very excited and I asked her if there were animals there or just people. She said they saw a lion, so I made some supportive comments and changed the subject.

However, it reminded me that my 11 year old DD has never been to the circus because of an experience I had before she was born. DS and I went with my SIL and her kids about 12 years ago. As I sat watching the elephants and other animals, I was overcome with a sense of revulsion. It bothered me that we had taken these animals out of their natural habitat and taught them unnatural tricks for our amusement. We dressed them up and made them balance on their hind legs or jump through hoops- for what purpose?

Anyway, I haven't had the desire to go see another circus show and was just wondering if anyone felt the same way.

[lindrusso]

I'm with you. The thought of the animals traveling around in those little cages, being trained to do things just to amuse us has turned me off.

That and I don't like clowns....so not much appeal for me in the circus. :D

We did take the kids a few times, but now that they are older and since I don't really like it, I've been successfully avoiding going.

Alysha :)

[SandyM]

I won't go, and I change the channel when I see anything on TV about a circus. It nauseates me.

[ChristyMarie]

As a kid, and most of my adult life I loved it. But, I had only been to the really big shows. Then a couple of years ago I was in some tiny town in Michigan and they had a circus tent set up. Seeing that dingy nasty side of it left a bad taste in my mouth - sure it is there in the big ones too but anyone with a good sense of denial can get past it since you really don't see the behind the scenes stuff.

My husband has a fear of clowns so I doubt it will even be an issue when we have children.

[KimK]

I can't stand the circus either - or the zoo, for that matter. I hate that the animals are there for our amusement. :(

[jtoepfert100]

Originally posted by KimK
I can't stand the circus either - or the zoo, for that matter. I hate that the animals are there for our amusement. :(

Ditto. Interesting that this should come up. I've always felt this way and people think I'm crazy, especially about the zoos. I feel the same way about dog races, horse races, rodeos, etc.

And, Lindrusso, I'm with you on the clowns. They're the source of many a nightmare for me. Ghastly, frightening characters they are!:eek: :eek:

[Grace]

I don't mind the zoo - the animals are mostly well taken care of there, studied, and in some cases (depending on the species) protected from extinction. I never complain paying the entrance and parking and exorbitant snack prices at the zoo because I know it goes for the animals.

But the circus! I can't bear to see it either. Why can't they do a circus with just human performers (like Cirque du Soleil)? When I was a kid I saw the Russian Circus once - they had these ADORABLE trained bears. From then on (until I became an adult, of course) I wanted to be a bear trainer (really). But now of course, I believe bears belong in their natural habitat, not swinging on swings or dancing around while on a collar and leash, being hit with something if they don't do it right. :( :( :mad: Makes my stomach turn. Why are humans so horrible? That's the question I really want answered....

[Laura B]

Ditto what Grace said. I see the value in zoos, but not in the circus.

[lindrusso]

I'm a little conflicted about zoos, but they do seem to have much more value than a circus which is there purely for our entertainment and where the animals completely taken out of their natural environment. If zoos can help with endangered species and help give kids a respect and interest in wildlife conservation, then they are serving a good purpose.

[tbb113]

I LOVE the circus (Ringling Bros specifically). We used to go every year when the boys were little (either their father or I would take them) and they asked to go a couple of years ago.

The majority of the animals that are in the circus are bred in captivity. They aren't going out in the wild and capturing them (any longer).

I also LOVE the zoo.

[SandyM]

Originally posted by tbb113
The majority of the animals that are in the circus are bred in captivity. They aren't going out in the wild and capturing them (any longer).

This isn't the issue for me. It's how the animals are treated, regardless of how they're bred.

Of course I know you can't believe everything you see or hear in the media, but I've seen enough in film and video clips to know that not everyone involved with every circus has the best interest of the animal at heart - it's all for the almighty dollar.

[tbb113]

Like I said, I primarily see Ringling Bros. I can't believe that a circus of that size and reputation, isn't investigated carefully to make sure that their animals are well treated.

I have also gone to Cirque de Solelil. While that is a wonderful show (I hesitate to use circus), it really isnt' appropriate for small children which is what a real circus is meant for. Would Ringling Bros be great for kids without the animals? Sure it would.

But do you feel the same way about the horse acts and the dog acts? Remember when circuses started it was a way for people in small towns (that didn't have access to a zoo) to see wild animals. Most people agree that seeing the animals is the first step towards conservation of the animals.

[Laurielee]

"I'm with you. The thought of the animals traveling around in those little cages, being trained to do things just to amuse us has turned me off."

I feel the same way about this and zoos. I used to love the San Diego Zoo, until there was expose that came out about 7 years ago that found out they breed cute little babies. ie, tigers and lions, etc beecause thats what draws people, but then once they are adults they have no use for them and are sold to hunting clubs to be hunted
:( :(


Laurie

[aggie94]

Originally posted by SandyM
This isn't the issue for me. It's how the animals are treated, regardless of how they're bred.

I generally feel the same way. As an analogy, DH & I went to an arts festival in Tempe this weekend, where apparently the participants are selected by the local arts community from thousands of entries across the country. One booth was "butterfly art," which was simply wall art created with pretty, dead butterflies. Their sign stated, "Created only with farm-raised butterflies," as if that somehow made it OK to breed butterflies for the sole purpose of killing them to hang on your wall as "art." I was horrified.

I hate the circus. It just makes me sad. Zoos make me sad too, if I start thinking too much about them, but I still go and can appreciate their purpose. Circuses, unlike zoos, are for pure entertainment, with no educational value whatsoever.

[MusicMom]

Originally posted by tbb113
Like I said, I primarily see Ringling Bros. I can't believe that a circus of that size and reputation, isn't investigated carefully to make sure that their animals are well treated.

Even if the animals are well-treated, it seems strange to me to see them doing tricks that aren't natural to them just because we think it would be funny.

Some zoos are ok. The Pittsburgh Zoo, for instance, is very nice. However, the National Zoo in Washington has too much concrete in some exhibits- especially the monkey "habitats."

But do you feel the same way about the horse acts and the dog acts?


Good point, and I've been asking myself this. Horses and dogs are a little different because they've been domesticated. The acts usually are related to their use- like horses used for cattle drives or hunts.

[tamawrite]

Originally posted by MusicMom


Horses and dogs are a little different because they've been domesticated. The acts usually are related to their use- like horses used for cattle drives or hunts.

Oh, I don't know about that. These days, most horses are used for pleasure and/or show, rather than "useful" tasks. And how many dogs do you know whose performance goes beyone "speak" and "play dead" to amuse their owners? Some, sure, but not the majority.

Yet we don't pity horses or dogs unless they're abused.

I feel the same way about circus animals. If they're well cared for and their job is to perform, fine. But if they're abused...watch out.

[wallycat]

As a kid, I wanted to go. We weren't wealthy enough for extra stuff like that so I never got a chance to go.
Now as an adult, I don't think I would enjoy it.
Even the stuff at the State Fairs with animals bothers me.
Oh, and I don't like clowns either :o :(

[MusicMom]

I guess I was trying to say that the tricks demonstrated by horses and dogs during shows are based on the historical uses of those animals. Horses in equestrian shows might not necessarily be used in an actual hunt situation, but jumping and galloping skills are still used to judge the quality of the horse, if that makes sense. I don't see that with the tricks taught to lions and elephants.

Anyway, I'm still trying to figure out why I'm uncomfortable with circus-type shows and not with horse shows or dog shows.

[badunnin]

Originally posted by jtoepfert100


And, Lindrusso, I'm with you on the clowns. They're the source of many a nightmare for me. Ghastly, frightening characters they are!:eek: :eek:

Says the woman with the clown as her avatar... ;)

[jtoepfert100]

Originally posted by badunnin


Says the woman with the clown as her avatar... ;)

Good catch! That was for Bob. I suppose that since he's semi-back up and running, I can get rid of the durn thing. Even Krusty gives me the willies if I think about it too much.:)

[HejazSunKat]

Originally posted by lindrusso
That and I don't like clowns....so not much appeal for me in the circus. :D

Does anybody actually like clowns? Think they're funny? I know alot of people are creeped out by them but I just think they're dead boring and I would think they'd scare little kids, the audience they're supposedly aimed at.

I'm with you on the animals MusicMom. Whenever I see a show with trained animals or am at the zoo I'm always sad for them because they don't belong there, they belong out in the wild. Even if for some reason they can't live in the wild there's no reason they should be wearing tutus and performing tricks. It's like it robs them of their dignity as God's creatures or something.

I've never liked the traditional circus but I do like things like Cirque du Soleil though I'd have to agree with Tyra, it's more adult oriented.

[LaraW]

I don't have a really strong opinion one way or the other on the circus, but there was an initiative on a ballot that Denver residents voted on last fall (I think) that would ban the circus within Denver city limits because of the animals. It would allow non-animal circuses though. The ballot was defeated, but it was particularly notable because the person behind it was a 12 year old girl who went through the whole process. I thought that was pretty good initiative for a 12 year old.

[TwinMom]

As far as the circus goes - we will not attend these. Our daughters know that they will not be going to the circus with us and why. I have a hard time seeing the animals being displayed in such an unnatural setting, plus the traveling is so stressful for animals that I can only imagine how hard it is on them...

With respect to zoos... I am so torn about them. Having read "Animal Underworld" by Alan Green, I know how zoos treat their excess animals, including endangered species. I see the benefit of the zoos (helping maintain species, awareness of animals to the public and how to help them, etc). However, knowing what is going on with the animals after they are past their prime or if there are too many at a zoo makes me so sad. I think one of the hardest things I have with zoos is that they hide behind the veil of being an "accredited zoo" and the organization and the lies they tell the public. I don't have the answers for zoos, since exposure to animals is so important to develop a love and respect for maintaining habitats, etc. but looking at the sacrifices and lives that zoo animals have is really hard to bear. But if they weren't in a zoo, where would they be? There isn't the habitat to support these animals at this time, so what would become of them? Having said that, our girls still go to zoos, but I am still in a quandry if attending zoos is okay...

Now that the circus thread is on a zoo sidenote! :)