Of circus animals and men

Published in the MN Daily, Wed, Sept 26, 2007

According to your editorial on Sept. 24 the debate on a wild animal ban for circuses was a waste of the city council's time. I beg to differ. The enormous suffering human beings (human animals) inflict on (non-human) animals in factory farms, slaughterhouses,
circuses and elsewhere are a moral evil that has to be addressed. Moreover, cruelty to human beings and to animals is deeply interconnected. As early as the 13th century A.D. Saint Thomas Aquinas denounced cruelty to animals, "lest anyone by exercising cruelty towards brutes might become cruel also towards men", a warning that is reiterated by contemporary child psychologists.

Human creativity and fantasy are able to create extraordinary circus shows without wild animals. If you do not believe me, ask my 9-year-old daughter Sophie: The most fantastic circus by far for her is Circus Roncalli. It was founded 31 years ago by two Austrian artists and has never used any wild animals for its shows.

Kurt Remele
visiting professor