by [email protected]
Q: Let me start by saying, I am NOT an opposer to groups
such as yours. I am very sympathetic to the rights of animals; HOWEVER,
I attended the Ringling Bros circus with my 2 yr old daughter this past
weekend. When we came out, a CLOWN was handing out COLORING BOOKS to
CHILDREN. Luckily, I looked at the book after I snatched it from my
daughter. Appauled is not strong enough a word for what I saw. Like I
said, I appreciate the opinions of those opposing the circus, etc. This
coloring book,
geared towards children, was very graphic in showing the elephant being
tortured.
Giving these books out to children is HIGHLY
inappropriate. Perhaps these groups should rethink their strategies. You
are talking about 2 & 3 yr old kids seeing these violent portrayals.
That is ridiculous!
A: Dear _______,
The images in those coloring books pale in comparison to
what REALLY goes on behind the scenes at the circus, and we believe in
telling children the truth about animals for whom they have a natural
affinity. Lying to them about "happy elephants" and other performing
animals only perpetuates the
abuse by denying that it exists. Give them the real story and let them
decide if they want to be part of the "cruelest show on earth."
As responsible parents, we have an obligation towards
our children to teach them the truth. If we fail to do this, a
responsible society is forced to take on this obligation. It is best
done by a Mom or Dad though. It seems obvious that you have failed in
this obligation because you say on the one hand that you are sympathetic
towards the rights of animals yet on the other hand, buy tickets to an
animal circus! Next, this coloring book is not very graphic at all. To
the contrary, it is a very toned-down representation of the actual
horrors that go on behind the closed doors at the Ringling training
facilities (as testified to by employees of Ringling itself). We could
not present a more non-graphic depiction of the abuse that these animals
suffer at the hands of many of the trainers and handlers without
portraying
an inaccurate representation of the cruelties. What are we supposed to
put in this coloring book -- mountain streams and butterflies? Also,
projecting one's own emotions or ignorant beliefs upon a child as you
have done is unfair, at best, to the child. Furthermore, at these
educational demonstrations, I have personally witnessed very young
children who have watched the actual real graphic footage of the
beatings, open wounds, and bodies of animals in Ringling and circuses
like Ringling on our FaunaVision
kiosk without signs of trauma. Not only did these children watch with
complete attention and curiosity, but the ones who were a bit older (5
or 6) often asked questions. All this, while their parents were with
them. In some of these engagements, it was the child who stopped to see
the footage and the parent then stopped and watched also, but in other
engagements, it was the parent (with child in arms on occasion) who
stopped and then approving of the truth, watched with their child (not
projecting their own emotions or ignorant beliefs upon their child, but
allowing the child to see what the child would have seen if Ringling
didn't hide the ugliness from them). Ringling has specifically targeted
our children with their lies -- why would you not find this shameful and
dispiteous or despicable -- you didn't mention anything about this?
Finally, if a child suddenly becomes saddened or upset after looking
through the coloring book (which has never happened from my experience
all these years), I must contend that a little shock or hurt is not
always a bad thing. You can't own a child's mind and continually force a
child to see a view that only you want to see. Preventing a more serious
trauma to the child later on when they find out that their own parent
has been lying to him/her or has been disingenuous with him/her by
presenting a less serious trauma to them now, is called being a good
parent. Here in the 21st century, we, as Moms and Dads of children
growing up in this new era, have a further duty towards our children;
that is to teach them that their entertainment should never come at the
expense of violence and that this should never be tolerated and that
compassion is the way to go.
I hope this helps you. The tendency is that, no matter
how non-graphic the coloring book is (or whatever literature or
message), as long as there is a message that the parent doesn't want to
accept, the coloring book will become the thing that is 'bad' as opposed
to the thing that is actually 'bad' -- in this case, the abuse of
animals.
Go on to A Message
From Robert Redford
Return to 3 June 2001 Issue
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