Clifford John Williams, Sta Luċija
Oh what a circus!
I read in The Times (November 26) that the circus is taking court action against the Education Department. They say the department's ban on organised school visits to the circus implies cruel treatment to the animals, which is not true.
These animals are forcibly taken from their natural environment and imprisoned in cages for the rest of their performing lives. If that isn't cruelty then I don't know what is. Perhaps, if these circus people were to spend some time in one of their cages removed to an alien environment and forced to perform they might change their minds on what cruelty means.
In fact, only recently on TV, someone who'd spent some years in prison said: "The most precious thing in life is freedom." One question I would like to ask the circus is: What happens to these animals once their performing days are over due to illness or old age? I would really appreciate reply as no answer would lean me fearing the worst.
As for their case against the Education Department, as far as I can see they have every right to run their department as they see morally fit. They are not telling the children themselves or their parents not to visit the circus but only that the schools/Education Department themselves refuse to support what they and many others consider is morally wrong.
Last year, there was an animal-free circus. I and many others went to see it and enjoyed it. Why not this year?
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Joe Xuereb
Dec 5th 2009, 18:08
Well, there are 'almost' happy families - there are always glitches - and there are families that play 'happy families'. And of course there are those who are 'ferhanin ghax c...c' (living in a fool's paradise).
I reckon human performers - trapeze artistes, acrobats, clowns, etc. - provide a lot of fun but they have to be found, trained, insured, paid, accommodated and so on. Animals, on the other hand, are comparativly low-maintenance. A bale of straw, a pat on the back when the obey, and that is about it.
It is inhuman for humans to expect animals to do human things. And humans need to learn to behave like humans and leave animal-behaviour to animals. I think I've got that right. Maybe, I need more training. Anyway, you know what I mean. Circus acts can be dangerous but the performers are in control and always have a choice. Not so the animals.
c j williams
Dec 4th 2009, 21:28
@ Mr Borg
I enjoy rugby (and football) because the players have a choice in whether they want to be there or not...... animals don't have that choice. In the circus it is the animals who are being imposed upon. In your opinion they don't count, but to me animals too have rights and that includes the right not to be exploited unnecessarily in the name of entertainment. (and profit) As for 'indoctrinated idiots'....... who's the one resorting to name calling?
I agree fully with your motto 'Live and Let Live' as long as it iapplies to animals also!
adrian aquilina
Dec 4th 2009, 18:35
good letter..i agree..and to the people saying they will take their kids its better you teach them compassion and love for animals and humans..we own nothing on this planet.we share it but some people think they own the animals that share the planet..non animal circuses are more enjoyable and have better shows,,bring the circus of horrors here,its awesome.instead we get the horror that is a circus of abused animals doing unnatural things
J Farrugia
Dec 4th 2009, 12:47
@ Robert Callus - dont worry about the education authorities who dont want to take our children to these circuses. We will take the children to the circus ourselves and the children will have the same fun if not more since we will be all united in one big happy family.
Robert Callus
Dec 4th 2009, 12:16
The lack of freedom, stolen from the wildreness is what makes all circuses wth animals automatically a severe act of cruelty.
However, it rarely stops there. These animals are regularly beated in order to obey, or subjected to other methods of torture. For example a way ro teach bears how to dance is putting them on a hot plate while repetitively listening to the music they should 'dance' to. To alleviate the pain the bear starts jumping so his legs are temporarily freed from the hot plate. By time it starts to associate the same music with jumping even if there is no hot plate. It looks like dancing while we clap at the performing bear and his opressors.
All animal lovers, there is one way of stopping this cruelty - Boycott all Circuses with animals.
A big thanks to the education departement for excluding an orgy of cruelty from 'education'
J farrugia
Dec 4th 2009, 12:05
May I humbly ask Franco Farrugia if he has ever seen foreign documentaries about safeguarding wildlife, the journeys they make? You are not distinguishing between man and beast. Principles mon ami, where are your principles? Muddled?
Herman Borg
Dec 4th 2009, 12:01
because even I have a right to enjoy an animal like you have a right to enjoy an animal free circus. I enjoy a game of football you enjoy a game of rugby. Live and let live. I dont impose on you - you dont impose on me. But if you try to impose your will on my pastime, that is another question. Your freedom and rights stops where mine begins. Do we understand each other? is it fair that you have a right to entertain yourself the way you want without damaging others, while I cannot entertain myself without damaging others. And I dont mean animals. They are in absolutely no danger at any time. I have my rights just like you have yours. And you have no right to call me names if I attend such entertainment. Like indoctrinated idiots did three years ago.
Franco Farrugia
Dec 4th 2009, 10:15
Has anyone ever taken his/her pet to the vet, by car? Would you agree that the experience was rather stressful and tense? That's because the animal does not like changing its abode and habitat all too frequently.
Imagine these circus animals - spending much of their lives, trussed together, on journeys here and there, even on sea! But, of course, as long as you are not the person suffering, or perhaps, perhaps, your loved ones, ... why should you care? Well, I care!