Animals are, unfortunately, used in “entertainment.” There are some instances, e.g., dogfighting, cockfighting, that are indisputably morally ghastly. Then there are instances where animal use is supposed to be of cultural import, namely, bullfighting. (In Pamplona, Spain this year, however, one of bulls got even in the annual running of the bulls.) But circuses are in a class of their own for a couple of reasons. First, people generally don’t associate them with animal cruelty. Perhaps many people think of circus folk, animals included, as one big family. And, second, circuses are so ubiquitous that people perhaps think that if some grossly negligent acts against animals were going on then someone would act against it. But circuses continue to operate in the US and elsewhere. And their treatment of animals is pretty much deplorable. PETA–you know, those assholes who just like stirring up controversy because they’re too bored and/or stupid to do anything else–have released footage from Ringling Bros. 2009 shows. Take a look at the video yourself.
Democracy is a form of government that substitutes election by the incompetent many for appointment by the corrupt few. - George Bernard Shaw
