Why I Will Never Return to the Circus
This post was a particularly difficult one for me to write, because I haven't written much at all about social causes/issues on this blog.
However, as one of my blogging resolutions for 2014 is to be ruthlessly honest - I feel that I need to throw this out there.
--
Recently, over Christmas, I was spending some holiday time down at the coast with my family and we drove past a large, dusty field where a circus tent was being put up. The caravans of all the performers were lined around the outside as well as the cages for all the animals.
My sister and I had never been to a circus, so we decided that we wanted to go and see what it was all about the following day. In my complete ignorance, I had no idea of what to expect - but I was keen to experience this type of entertainment in the flesh - not willing to take Hollywood at its word.
As we drove up to the venue the following day there were about 5 or 6 young girls (probably in their late teens) handing out pamphlets at the robot with the headline:
"A lifetime of captivity for your entertainment!"
I didn't really think much of it at the time, just brushing it aside as we tend to do with most pamphlets handed out at street corners. We parked, paid for our tickets, and took our seats inside the Big Top - along with a few hundred other South Africans. Inside the tent, high fences circled the arena for the first act - the lions and the tigers.
The lights dimmed and the music began to play...
A lion tamer from the USA walked into the ring followed by a wide variety of large cats, including both male and female white lions and a feisty white tiger that definitely grabbed everyone's attention. All in all there were about 8 of these magnificent animals and they were paraded around for everyone to see. They jumped through hoops and 'waved' at the audience - performing small gimmicks for the delight of the little kids and the amazement of their star-eyed parents.
Yet, as I watched, something didn't sit well with me.
Everywhere those beautiful creatures walked, the tamer's whip followed closely behind, herding them into place and forcing them into the next trick. This sharp dose of pain was rewarded with a small treat roughly stabbed onto the edge of his long stick - to be enjoyed after each trick. With the whip following swiftly afterwards...
The whip and the treat, pain and reward, ruled their life.
Their eyes looked deep and weary, suffering under the whims of over-enthusiastic audience members - who were relishing the spectacle now, at this present moment, but would forget the entire experience the moment they left the tent and could get back onto Facebook and Twitter.
Yet, the animals would receive no such release. Carted back into the tiny cages which didn't allow more than 2 steps in any direction - to be used as 'entertainment' again for the next day's audience. My heart broke for these magnificent animals, breathtakingly beautiful but at the same time painstakingly weary.
The experience left a very bitter taste in my mouth, especially after witnessing some similar situations at the Shanghai Zoo, where I distinctly remember a huge male lion pawing at the confines of the 2x2 box he was in, growling with fierce contempt.
For an hour of entertainment, so easily forgotten, is it worth it?
Do we owe the wonderful animals of our continent a better life?
How do we change it?
--
Returning to the girls with the pamphlets at the robot - their approach seems like the most obvious way to enact change in this regard, to remove animals from the circus. Boycotting the entertainment is a classic economics move - by removing the demand, we force circuses to change their act. It seems like the most practical way to do it.
However, at the same time, perhaps we need to rely more on human empathy? I feel that even if a small boycott was successful, it is a temporary solution - treating the symptoms as opposed to the cause. Even as you reach people, a new wave of families come through and the cycle continues. You'll end up boycotting forever!
The fact that I actually went and saw the performance and felt for the animals, compelled me to write this post and to talk about the issue - something that would have never happened if I had simply obeyed the pamphlet and boycotted the circus - letting another willing family fill my seat. Maybe we need to let people experience that heartache in order to catalyse change?
Social Proof / Individual Empathy ?
I don't know, it's a difficult one.
What do you think?
--
Further Reading:
18 comments
Natalia ·
Great piece Barry! I totally agree with you about circuses being abusive towards the animals! I think it is very cruel and breaks my heart.As for the pamphlet girls, I think that what they are doing will indeed make a difference. Take for example a movie. If you want to watch a movie and a friend states their opinion before you get to watch the movie, you already walk into the movie, with some kind of opinion. You have a great chance of seeing it from their point of view and forming the same opinion. With the pamphlets, at first you may not think much of it, but subconsciously, the pamphlet will start a though process. You have a greater chance of feeling some heartache from the show, as the abuse is being pointed out to you. Without the pamphlet, you might not actually notice it as you get pulled into the show.Anyway,that was what I thought:) Thanks for sharing Barry :)
Barry Morisse ·
Natalia, thanks so much for your thoughts! You make a very astute point about the pamphlets, perhaps I wouldn't have reacted the way I did without first receiving their sub-conscious message. Interesting!
Carrie ·
Nicely written, as you saw it for yourself. The use of these angels to keep money money haunts me. We protested in Jeffreys Bay yesterday, not against them in particular but the continued use of animals to entertain people and make money. Its so sad. I am glad you saw it for yourself.
Barry Morisse ·
That's for sure Carrie, seeing it in person really brings the point home! How did your protest go? Did you have much support?
Carrie ·
Actually we really did, for a small town like ours, it was certainly a success. So even now, if they do go watch it, they have another side to think about, and that's where change happens.
Barry Morisse ·
I'm glad to hear that, good on you!
dawn rogers ·
It's so sad and positively heartbreaking to see these majestic animals reduced to performing circus tricks. The circus would be so much more fun if it consisted of people doing amazing things. The trapeze always got my admiration, the acrobats and the fire throwing people. Maybe one day there will be no wild animals in the circus.
Barry Morisse ·
Well said Dawn, couldn't agree more.
Robin Emslie Williams ·
Hi Barry, I was also part of the protest in Jeffreys. What a wonderful group of caring, good-natured people. We has a wonderful response from the drivers-by, hooting their support... really encouraging. Thanks so much for this blog. Natalia... thats what it's all about... awakening awareness, so that when the audience is faced with the gorgeous animals they will do what you did Barry... notice their eyes and their painful, exhausting, unnatural existence in prison. I am an actress, director and teacher and I KNOW that performers have enormous reserves of creativity and talent. The circus does not need animals to be superbly entertaining... I understand the human acts in the circus we protested are brilliant. Release the animals into reserves and game parks (they have 'done their time') and challenge those great performers to fill the gap... I guarantee you they will!
Barry Morisse ·
Fantastic to hear, thanks Robin!
Mel Skead ·
All change starts with someone somewhere thinking differently about something, then sharing those thoughts with others who sooner or later share with others. That awareness tends to grow, almost organicallyand before we know it, we start doing things differently. Before long, these ideas and behaviours become habits and then are taken up bylarger communities as 'culture'. Thats how change happens, with 1 girl and a pamphlet.
Barry Morisse ·
Spot on Mel.
Mariana Fernandes ·
Barry, congratulations and very well written. And very well observed. it is as you perhaps say,, that one day this heinous crime of being abused to perform and living in cages will end in South Africa as it has in over 30 countries and USA states in the world, by people that show empathy and concern. Our goals are to ban animal circuses in South africa out right. We are lobbying against these circuses in every avenue we have at our disposal. Handing out pamphlets have in fact turned people away in some cases; and informed others. Sadly there are not many people who are open minded like yourself who see the abuse as you saw it. Many people including the circus clan argue that the animals are in tip top condition. They fed and taken care of, but so would we be if we were locked up in prison. Law says we need to be fed and clothed but does that make us happy? No - it is a lifetime of slavery and captivity for these wild animals that belong in the wild, not doing tricks for human entertainment.So by supporting the circus, one in fact does contribute to this abuse. The circus clan argues that there is no abuse and they invite public to see them training the animals. Have you ever tried to train a domesticated cat to do tricks? I doubt that is easy and possibly impossible. Now try training a wild cat do so the same and worst. These cats are taken away from their families at a young age to break their spirit and get them to perform. yes it is a lifetime of slavery and abuse and it needs to end. We truly welcome your support and input on this and welcome you to join our group No Animals In Circuses. I am available if you have any questions. And once again thank you so much for being able to see through the glamour and lies the circus paints. Thank you!
Barry Morisse ·
Thanks for the comments Mariana and for the great work you are doing for the cause!
carina courtney ·
I realised exactly what you did 40 years ago being taken to the circus as a child by my parents, i was miserable watching the big cats being terrorised into performing and could see the misery and resignation in their eyes. This coupled with seeing the elephants chained on short tethers outside the tent and the other animals caged left me very sad and nauseated all the way home. Needless to say i never went to the circus and nor to any zoo and would love to see them all closed down and animals banned to use by humans for entertainment or any other human need.
Barry Morisse ·
I know the feeling Carina, thanks for reaching out.
Penny Kemert ·
Barry thank you for you're blog. I was part of the protest in Hartenbos . I wish that everyone that attended would reach the same Epiphany as you so that the demand for circus animals would disappear and the cages will be empty.
Aktionsbuendnis Tiere gehoeren nicht zum Circus ·
Hello Barry, thanks for sharing your experience. We are a group of activists demanding a ban of animal circuses in Germany. It's good to hear that those who are demonstrating against this form of animal abuse DO MAKE A DIFFERENCE !