Why You Will NEVER See Me (Or My Children) at the Circus

New startling photographs prove what has been known for a long time, that Ringling Brothers tortures elephants.  It is not ok to torture animals for our amusement!  My children have never been to the circus, and will never go as long as animals are abused in this way.  Don’t shut a blind eye to this. Please look at these pictures taken by a former animal trainer for Ringling Brothers.

Family Time to Lift My Spirits

Gadget Man has been off of work this week on vacation and since Eva started second grade on Wednesday, we decided to take Charlie on a family of three outing to the Shedd Aquarium in the big city. We were happily surprised to find a “dress rehearsal” of Fantasea, their new dolphin show which is so much more than a dolphin show now. Gone are the “don’t litter” lectures and the endless blabbing on of the marine biologists. What they have done is quite magical. Gadget Man and I speculated someone consulted Disney for this new show. Costumes, lights, a boat which flies across the pool and umbrella toting divers dressed in dolphin outfits appear a la Mary Poppins style and drop into the water unexpectedly. The belugas, hawks and penguins join the dolphins for this spectacular show. The only downer was a special pre-show film narrated by Bill Kurtis of how they had to fly the belugas to Connecticut for nine months while the the Shedd was renovated. I can’t believe they couldn’t find or build something suitable and it was better to fly the whales on a plane! I guess I’ve been watching too much Whale Wars and I’ve really come to love those guys. When Fantasea officially comes out go see it!!!

Jews Should be Vegetarians

Plug in "Kosher" on PETA's website to get the facts

I read this article a long time ago (3 years?), but I wanted to bring it some more attention. Richard H. Schwartz argues that Vegetarianism is a Jewish Value. I completely agree (though I still eat fish, I’m not that proud of it and perhaps someday I’ll stop). Indeed, even if all efforts are made to kill the animal humanely, there seems to be a “loophole” in the Kosher laws that says nothing about how an animal is kept.

PETA's Website will give you the facts

I’m not sure Jews who keep Kosher know this or really care, but since there are no requirements regarding how an animal to be served Kosher is raised and kept, the conditions are oftentimes just as atrocious as non-Kosher meat and poultry. I’ve gone on before about how just there mere raising of cattle does tremendous damage to the earth G-d left us to care for.

The “Cruelest Show on Earth” is Coming to Chicago

Ringling Brothers Circus is coming to Chicago in November. Because I am a “mommy blogger” I got no less than three different solicitations to advertise and even an offer of free tickets to the event. I told them I would NEVER support a Circus where animals are abused. I got no responses to my accusations, no denials of any kind. In their attempts to bring joy to their bank accounts (while claiming to bring joy to children) they bring terror to all kinds of animals. Go to Circuses.com to see a video of a circus Elephant trainer actually instructing trainers to get an elephant’s attention by digging a hook into their skin and making them scream. I couldn’t watch the whole thing because it made me sick to my stomach. Also on that site, you can see and hear the stories of cruelty from former Ringling Brothers employees who dared to speak out. PETA is sponsoring some protests and I encourage you to go:

What: Ringling opening night demonstration in Rosemont

When: Thursday, November 6, 6 p.m.

Where: Allstate Arena, 6920 Mannheim Rd., Rosemont (meet at the corner of Lunt Avenue and Mannheim Road )

What: Ringling opening night demonstration in Chicago

When: Tuesday, November 18, 6 p.m.

Where: United Center, 1901 W. Madison St., Chicago (meet at the corner of Damen Avenue and Madison Street )