Ringling Brothers Closing: How We Have Been Blinded For 146 Years | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

Ringling Brothers Closing: How We Have Been Blinded For 146 Years

The curtains are finally closing after 146 long years.

16
Ringling Brothers Closing: How We Have Been Blinded For 146 Years

After 146 years, the ever-famous Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus will be closing their curtains for the last time this upcoming May. Due to the high operating costs and steady decline in ticket sales, CEO Kenneth Feld of Feld Entertainment claims that the circus has become an unstable business for the company.

For centuries, the circus has been under deep scrutiny for its endless animal cruelty and high performance costs. Animal activist groups have almost become a part of the circus, with protests popping up at nearly every Ringling Bros. show.

As a child, I, as I'm sure many other naive children did, genuinely enjoyed the circus. Evidently, I was blind to the criticism that the organization was receiving even then. It all felt so magical, watching the animals perform and seeing the acrobats soar effortlessly through the air. I'd always admired the animals and thought that they were just as talented as the people performing. But the mistreatment that these animals endure is finally coming to an end.

This is a major victory for animals and their lovers everywhere. Activist groups such as PETA have been raising awareness about animal cruelty for years, exposing cruel facts about what the circus elephants have been experiencing for far too long.

From tearing baby elephants away from their mothers to keeping elephants in boxcars during travel time of up to 100 hours, the barbaric practices of the circus has rightfully earned it the fitting title of "the cruelest show on Earth." Regardless of how overworked these creatures are, they are merely sprinkled with Wonder Dust so the show can go on.

And the elephants are not the only animals in the circus undergoing such cruelty. The big cats of the show, the lions and tigers, are also carted around from city to city in small, cramped cages. Their basic survival needs of socializing, exercising and roaming free are stripped away from them as a result of the captivity. Often trained through food deprivation and punishment, 126 captive cats and 25 humans have died in the past 25 years in the United States alone since 1990.

Although the CEO claims that animal cruelty is not a reason for the circus' closing, it is obviously a major player in making this landmark decision. President and CEO Wayne Pacelle of The Humane Society of the United States is applauding the decision "to move away from an institution grounded on inherently inhumane wild animal acts."

Well, so am I.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Relationships

10 Facts All People In A Large Family Can Confirm During The Holiday Season

The holiday season can be the best and most stressful time of the year, especially when more people are involved.

963
kids jumping

The holidays are full of lights, sweets, sweaters, and your favorite movies. There's nothing quite like this period from the beginning of December through January. Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Years. The fun of it all.

I don't know about you but with my large Italian family something is always going on during this season. It can be the most wonderful time of the year while also being the most hectic. These are a few things you know if your family is anything like mine during this time.

Keep Reading...Show less
10 things that happen the second Thanksgiving is over
reference.com

To those who celebrate, you just spent an entire day cooking an elaborate meal with all of your favorite foods. You probably ate your body weight in pumpkin pie and mashed potatoes. What happens now? Oh yea, Christmas. It’s time to take out all of the decorations and Christmas themed things that have been sitting in the attic since last year; it’s time to make a reappearance. So, here are 10 things that happen the second Thanksgiving is over.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

18 Things I Want To Do Now That I'm 18

I'm technically an adult, so I'm legally required to live a little, right?

4298
Happy Birthday Cake

For the entirety of my high school career, I was always seen as the goody-two-shoes. I never got in trouble with a teacher, I kept stellar grades, and when I wasn't doing extracurricular activities, I was at home studying. Even when I did go out, it was usually with a bunch of fellow band geeks. The night would end before 11:00 PM and the only controversial activity would be a fight based on who unfairly won a round of Apples-to-Apples when someone else clearly had a better card (I promise I'm not still holding a grudge).

Now that I'm officially an adult, I want to pursue some new things. I want to experience life in a way that I never allowed myself to do prior to entering college. These are the years that I'm supposed to embark on a journey of self-discovery, so what better way to do that than to create a bucket list?

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics

The holiday classics that shaped my life

2643
10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics
Flickr

The holiday season is full of stress, debt, and forced conversation. While we rush through the month of December, it's important to take a step back and enjoy the moments before they're gone. Most families love to watch Christmas movies, but these beloved films provide more than entertainment. Here are 10 life lessons that I've learned from the holiday classics we watch every year.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

202014
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments