-PC Wins: The Circus is Closing Forever

It is the end of an era that has lasted for nearly 150 years. Political correctness has won out and the animal rights folks are claiming a victory. Ringling Bros. Circus is closing down permanently in May. Here’s the story from the Blaze:

After 146 years, the curtain is coming down on “The Greatest Show on Earth.” The owner of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus told The Associated Press that the show will close forever in May.

The iconic American spectacle was felled by a variety of factors, company executives say. Declining attendance combined with high operating costs, along with changing public tastes and prolonged battles with animal rights groups all contributed to its demise.

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Response: Sad news, a traditional part of growing up in America will soon disappear. The PC crowd and animal rights activist have won out against families, whole careers, and reality itself. Even the animals they claim that they want to protect may be worse off when the circus closes.

I remember seeing the circus for the first time when I was 5 (1952) and it was still in a huge tent at the time. Several years later when I was in 2nd grade the circus visited the small town we lived in at the time (Ellensburg WA). Our teacher marched us down to the railway station and we watched them finish unloading and then parade down main street elephants and all including lions in cages on trailers with a clown playing the calliope. I will never forget that day from a bygone era and now never to be experienced again.

My wife and I use to have fun telling folks that our daughter ran away and joined the circus. She is a stage lighting tech and head electrician for Broadway shows now and also is a Vet Tech graduate. She did a tour with Ringling Bros. a few year ago doing their stage lighting and helping with the animals. Here are her comments on the circus closing:

…hundreds of employees are not only losing their jobs but also their homes. There are many circus families who have lived with the circus for multiple generations. Many of these people I had called friends.

Many of them don’t even know what it’s like to be in one place. Many won’t be able to find jobs since few places hire daredevils, high wire acts, tiger trainers, etc… they have been trained to be and do since birth. They know no other life, and some are to old to make another life. There is Vegas but I doubt Vegas will have openings for 500 of these people.

I feel real lucky to say I was apart of this and happy to have many memories with the circus. In my time with them I never saw any mistreatment of animals. I only saw warm and caring people. I talked to the elephants everyday, especially Asha and Rudy who were only babies at the time. I’m hoping they find a home since not all the elephants could fit at the conservatory. There was only so much room.

Praying that all these people find a new way to survive.  (My husband)…knows several of the musicians on the shows. In fact we both almost ended up going out with it less than 2 years ago. It was offered …but we turned it down for various reasons. So this could of been us.

The last time we saw the show it was in Anaheim CA when our daughter was working for them. We took two of our grand children who loved the show but making our way through all of the animal protestors telling us not to go see it really spoiled the experience for us especially since we had inside information about how well the animals were actually cared for.

The PC crowd wins again and I am really getting tired of all of the false claims and the press who publicize and support it all. I feel like a part of my fondest childhood memories are being ripped away and called evil by activists who make a living pushing their agendas on the rest of us.               *Top