Posted on 11/05/2003 2:48:04 PM PST by Land_of_Lincoln_John
The circus arrived Tuesday bringing clowns, elephants, high-wire acts -- and a more aggressive attitude against animal rights protesters.
Dogged by activists for years -- and pretty much taking it -- Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey is defending its handling of animals in brochures distributed to circus fans, at its Web site -- www.ringling.com -- and by incorporating fightin' word language in first-strike press materials.
Tonight, the circus is allowing media to tour its animal stables at the Allstate Arena, a first.
In advance of the circus' arrival, in a letter to Chicago media, Ringling's local publicist warned of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals protesters "and other extremist groups'' who are "armed with an arsenal of sensational stunts, manipulated facts and altered or misrepresented video.''
The protesters "pose as people who are looking out for the welfare of animals, but now use emotional rhetoric in an attempt to mislead the public and dictate to people what to eat, what to wear and how to spend their free time,'' wrote Bonni Pear of Miller-Pear Public Relations.
Typically, PETA protesters leaflet outside circuses, sometimes using publicity-seeking gimmicks such as female models painted like tigers huddled in cages or videos of elephant abuse.
"These groups are trying to tear down an institution,'' Kenneth Feld, president of the company that owns Ringling Bros., told Chief Executive Magazine. "Before I let something happen to this great institution, I'm going to come out swinging.''
For its part, PETA has filed suit in Virginia alleging Ringling, using a former CIA official, infiltrated and conspired to disrupt animal rights groups. PETA operates its own Web site, www.circuses. com, detailing alleged abuses. Ingrid Newkirk, the founder of PETA, has, in her last will and testament, reportedly left one of her fingers to Feld -- her "pointing finger'' of blame for what she says is the mistreatment of circus animals.
Ringling's information campaign includes brochures for circus fans called "Caring for Animals at the Greatest Show on Earth,'' which touts Ringling Bros.' treatment of the creatures, describes them as "family'' and suggests that circus elephants may live longer because of the intellectual stimulation they get from performing.
Lisa Wathne, a spokeswoman for PETA, said Ringling's efforts "don't deter us at all. It gives us hope.
"Circuses are on their way out. No amount of PR is going to change that.''
I've got a finger for PETA. Care to guess which one? :=)
Give my knees to the needy
The blind can have my eyes
The deaf can have both of my ears
If they don't mind the size
I'm thinkin' a buck fifty a pop on the midway...
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