To all, Headlines are reading that this is the last circus in Connecticut. Ringling has made it clear they will not return without the stars of the show - the elephants. Hartford Courant has editorialized AGAINST the circus. Though yesterday's headlines, sans the animal issue, read "Mommy goes boom...." , a story featuring toddler Skyler Miser, speaking of Mommy Tina....human cannonball. Refreshingly good circus press. Mommy Tina was on the front page in color, astride an elephant with the American flag.... Hartford Courant (predictably) cropped the elephant OUT of the picture. The numerous phone calls and letters to representatives and emails have caused some legislators to call Ringling just in the past two days. It seems they feel they need more information... Do you think?? It could be that our influence is kicking in. Keep up the calls and emails..... A massive demonstration against the circus will take place this evening (Wednesday - opening night) If you can spare some time tonight or any day/night this week....call me. I am required to keep a file of our volunteers with Ringling security. We are soliciting signatures on a STOP House Bill 7019 Petition at two places inside the circus venue. If you can help, we need you two hours prior to show time...but please call me to sign up~ As you might imagine, I will be at the venue most of the time this week. It's likely Email will NOT be a daily task for a few days. If you need to contact me, call my cell at : 860-833-7925 Sincerely, Gary C. Payne |
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
From Gary Payne
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7 comments:
State laws against the circus are nothing new, it's only the motivations for them that has changed. Try reading Stuart Thayer's paper "Anti-Circus Laws in Connecticut 1773-1840" in Bandwagon, Jan-Feb 1976, pages 18-20, available on-line at http://www.circushistory.org/Bandwagon/bw-1976Jan.htm
Any word on the "massive" demonstration that occured last night for Ringling's opening? Would love to know how it turned out and just how massive it was.
BG- Dallas
Can't say I enjoyed the two comments...WHY, don't you at least think about joining in and helping out...GARY PAYNE is presently the one who is carrying the water in CT..I could care less what Bandwagon had to say back in 76"...So, why don't you telephone, write a letter to the Hartford Courant/House and Senate/Committees. Before long the historian will have alot to write about and did nothing to stop the present anti-animal movement.. I'm finally getting to the point with some of these,"that was the way it was years ago BLOGS..." This is 2007 and the American Circus needs your help...GARY PAYNE could use some help tonight in Hartford. And YES Ringling needs our help...And not what it was like years ago....
I can’t speak for the other individual (anonymous)with the knowledge of state laws banning circuses. But I think I may have been misunderstood! The “massive” demonstration I was referring too and would like more information about was on the part of the so called animal rights activist outside the arena where Ringling Brother – Barnum and Bailey was appearing last night. Here in Dallas they have never been able to muster up more than about 5 or 6 folks to pass out their literature for their “massive” demonstrations here.
Bill Gowan
BG- Dallas
whatever may or may not have happened in the past is in the past -- the american circus needs every bit of help from every one of us to do anything we can if this great institution is to survive. the performers in Cirque shows are often awesome, but we need animals -- especially elephants. think what a show cirque would have with a cat act and elephants! gary is giving this everything he has 24/7 and we all should be supporting him as much as we can. we can win but we need everybody's help. the animal rights organiztions have millions of dollars to hire demonstrators, buy politicians, etc. we may not have the money but we have to do the best we can. anyone who doesn't try to help gary has no right to call themselves a circus fan or circus anything else. this isn't about how much ringling charges for sno-cones--this is about the survival of the circus. everybody needs to get involved.
I am certainly not the smartest guy on our planet, but it seems to me that this proposed legislation, not o0nly in Conn., but in other places where these animal rights people are becoming political that they are and the legislaters that are siding with them are leaving themselves wide open for a law suit if this legislation goes thru. You cannot stop a person from his or her way of making a living as long as they are working within the laws of society. The operators of animal shows are licensed with the Fedeeral government and the handlers and trainers are not guilty of any felonies that I do not believe has been brought to attention and any misdeamenors, especially to animal abuse have been reconciled. So if any ,or all of these legislators would inhibit a family oriented program to not be allowed to exhibit I believe could be held resposible and be subject to legal action. It is a form of discrimination in its highest degree. I would believe that these legislators would be aware of this fact and it would be inclusive for an exhibition of all types of people and especially animals. Also the people who continue to harass any of these legitamate, licensed and especially tax paying citizens of our great country should not be allowed any political influence. They certainly have the right to protest but should not be allowed any political influence in regard to passing any illegal legislation. That is a fact and all legislators should be aware of it. I do not believe the animal rights people can swing the vote of the people in any significant way, so what is this all about in th first place.
I must add that the whip and hook, plus other devices have been alegitimately accepted form of persuaision both here and especially abroad for centuries. If you are not convinced just watch thorobred horse racing when heading for the wire. I cannot recall any circus animal being beat to death. Wars and genocide have always been a scourge to all civilasation and I feel they should be addressed more than the topic of conversation and our legislators would serve the public in general by addressing that and equally important issues.
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