So last week, a friend gave us tickets to the circus, and each of the kids got to bring a friend. Now, I knew in a vague way that the circus was icky to the animals, and I've never liked seeing wild animals perform. I just feel like it's dumb and ridiculous to watch tigers hop around or elephants stand on something tiny.
And PETA is so shrill and annoying that I tend to tune them out. Just so you know where I'm coming from, having had a loved one die of cancer, I can say that I would have personally injected a roomful of monkeys with just about anything in order to test some promising anti-cancer drug, so I can't really get behind the no animal research people.
But, I mean, Jesus, check this out. Eccch. So now, armed with the knowledge that the circus is not just slightly cruel but actually horribly abusive to the animals, what do I do with this knowledge? Do I share it with the kids and make them feel guilty for enjoying a nice night out with their friends? I know for a fact that both my daughters would cry if they saw the video on that web page. Which is not really something I want to happen. But, at the same time, if our ignorance and purchase of ten dollar bags of cotton candy help continue something we all find repugnant, shouldn't we all know this?
All considerations of animal cruelty aside, the animal acts are without question the lamest part of the circus. This is what I don't get--they fight like hell to continue with the part of their show that has the lowest entertainment value. I mean, you've got people getting shot out of cannons, you've got amazing acrobatics, you've got people spinning around in the air, and then you've got a tiger hopping. It just sucks.
For all that, we had a really nice night out. I suppose it would be easier if I was one of those people who didn't think at all. Or else one of those humorless activists with rock-solid convictions about everything. Here in the middle, it's squishy and uncomfortable.
