AFS Cinema
Shame, Nikolas and 'Chronicle,' for Not Standing Up for Animals
RECEIVED Tue., Aug. 26, 2008
Dear Editor,
Re: “Nikolas Wallenda” [Arts, Aug. 22]: I cringed as I read this story of one of the Wallendas returning to perform for Ringling Bros. Circus. Isn't he bothered that major corporations like Sears, Visa, MasterCard, and Denny's have stopped sponsoring Ringling due to a long record of violations of the Animal Welfare Act or that video showed handlers brutally beating animals during training? Doesn't it matter to him that major humane groups across the country, from the Humane Society of the United States to the Texas Federation of Humane Societies, oppose Ringling due to its cruel treatment of animals? To me, Wallenda now symbolizes someone who is willing to turn a blind eye to animal abuse in order to collect a fat check. Shame, Nikolas, for not standing up for animals but choosing instead to work for animal abusers. Like many conscious consumers, I always ask where my food came from or if any animals were abused to make this product or if this product was made in a sweatshop. It's time we all started asking: Were animals abused or forced to perform by this business? And why did the Chronicle support this circus by printing showtimes and how to buy a ticket?
Re: “Nikolas Wallenda” [Arts, Aug. 22]: I cringed as I read this story of one of the Wallendas returning to perform for Ringling Bros. Circus. Isn't he bothered that major corporations like Sears, Visa, MasterCard, and Denny's have stopped sponsoring Ringling due to a long record of violations of the Animal Welfare Act or that video showed handlers brutally beating animals during training? Doesn't it matter to him that major humane groups across the country, from the Humane Society of the United States to the Texas Federation of Humane Societies, oppose Ringling due to its cruel treatment of animals? To me, Wallenda now symbolizes someone who is willing to turn a blind eye to animal abuse in order to collect a fat check. Shame, Nikolas, for not standing up for animals but choosing instead to work for animal abusers. Like many conscious consumers, I always ask where my food came from or if any animals were abused to make this product or if this product was made in a sweatshop. It's time we all started asking: Were animals abused or forced to perform by this business? And why did the Chronicle support this circus by printing showtimes and how to buy a ticket?
Ernest Samudio