I was not as enthused, I have never loved the circus. The clowns are creepy, the ring master looks like some mustached lothario straight out of a 70's porn movie, and the animals, those poor animals. I just have a hard time with wild creatures out of their natural state, performing for us.
Despite my apprehension, I went along. I decided to keep my opinion to myself in the spirit of supporting what should be a childhood pleasure - cotton candy, lights, the big top, families clapping and laughing in awe of the spectacles. The Greatest Show on Earth, right?!?
We were barely out of the car, the first thing we saw were protestors with poster size photos of tortured elephants. Great. All of the fears about the circus thatI had floating in my head were now spilled out into the parking lot of the Cow Palace, being paraded in my kids faces. I told Charlie and Gregory to keep walking, don't look at the pictures.
'Why Mommy?'
Just keep walking till we get inside, I said.
We were just about in the ticket door when a woman stood just outside the entrance, looked at my boys and said, "Ringling Brothers hurts the elephants. They do."
Fortunately my kids weren't familiar with the name Ringling and didn't give it a second thought. However my own feelings toward the circus were immediately choked down by my rage toward this woman. I understood her and what she was doing and I even admired her passion. But to bring my kids into it and hurt them in the process, was it really all for the greater good? How are my kids nightmares about the elephant with the big 'bandaids' on his bloody toes going to stop this? Talk to ME, beyotch, I'm the one with the wallet.
Almost as an act of defiance, we bought our tickets. Charlie of course asked what the signs were about. I told him, some people believe that animals at the circus are not treated properly and that they shouldn't be kept in cages or forced to perform. Other people think that the circus is a fun place and that the animals are happy and treated well.
Oh, was all he said.
I was amazed he stopped it at that. It was probably the snow cones in the white bengal tiger shaped plastic cup calling to him, or those spinning globes on a stick that flash colored lights. Despite Charlie letting me off the hook so easily, this was a really difficult moment. I had to separate my personal beliefs from my desire to protect my kids. No matter how much I agreed with the protestors, I deplored their method of using innocent children to get to me. They should know better.
We took our seats and watched the clowns and the Cirque du Soleil style acrobats perform. The high wire act was amazing, Charlie was certain they had some kind of super glue on the bottom of their feet that kept them from falling. We were having the experience - we smiled, ate cotton candy, and big soft doughy pretzels as flaming bowling pins were juggled in front of us. Gregory clapped like crazy. Charlie stared up with awe and wonder as the human catapult was set ablaze and launched skyward. Cool.
When it was over, Brian and I decided we would not be returning to the circus, and it wasn't because there was no longer a motorcycle act or the absence of a big top. It was indeed the animals that put a damper on our fun. The boys seemed equally unimpressed by them, they preferred some form of fire in their entertainment.
Was it the protestors, you ask? I don't think so, though they were always in the back of my mind. Watching a man taunt a bunch of tigers with a whip so they would snarl and claw and hop in the air seemed cruel. The zebras running in circles were ridiculous. And the elephants looked sad. I know, like I could really tell, right? But if you ever read Water for Elephants, that book showed elephants to be highly sensitive creatures, capable of showing depths of emotion similar to humans.
As my children get older, these situations will continue to arise. War, abortion, organic produce, whatever the subject, the kids will ask me what I am for and what I am against. My guess is they won't let me off as easily next time. But I will tell them what I believe, when they're ready to listen. My hope is that Brian and I give them the tools to form their own opinion and be able to defend and debate that in a civilized, open minded manner.
I am happy that my children attended the circus. And I even see the silver lining to the protestors, provoking our thoughts and asking me to take a stand. However, if they ever touch or talk to my kids again, I'll go all Barnum & Bailey on their ass! Leave the parenting discussions to me, that's my job, not yours.
