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H O
N O L U L U WEEKLY
Vol.
14 , No. 24
July
10 - 16, 2002
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Letters
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Rodeo Counterpoint
I sure wish you hadn’t run a story on the rodeo as a Hot
Pick (“Bucking Good Time!” HW, 7/3) and that you hadn’t
given it even more prominence with a photo of a bull on your
cover with the word “Rodeo.” Or I wish you would have
considered a simultaneous counterpoint article.
This article tries to pander to our pride of Hawaiian
heritage by describing a paniolo rodeo championship in
1908. What began in the late 1800’s as a skill contest
among cowboys has become a show motivated by greed and
profit. Rodeos are promoted as “rough and tough” displays
of human skill and courage in conquering the fierce and
untamed beast.
In reality, rodeos are just manipulative displays of human
domination over other animals, thinly disguised as
entertainment. The article boasts of events including
“bronc riding, barrel racing, team roping and double
mugging.” The animals used in rodeos are captive
performers, most of whom are relatively tame but
understandably distrustful of humans because of the harsh
treatment they have received.
Many animals are not aggressive by nature, and must be
physically provoked into “wild behavior” so the cowboys will
look brave. Electric prods, sharp sticks, caustic ointments
and other devices such as tail pulling or twisting are used
to irritate and enrage the animals. The flank or “bucking”
strap used to make horses and bulls buck is tightly cinched
around their abdomens, where there is no rib cage
protection. Tightened near the large and small intestine
and other vital organs, the belt pinches the groin and
genitals. The pain causes the animals to buck. This was
shown in a study conducted by the U. S. Humane Society.
In 1999, a terrified young horse burst from the chutes at
the Can-Am Rodeo and within five seconds slammed into a
fence and broke her neck. Bystanders knew that she was dead
when they heard her neck crack, yet the announcer said
everything was “all right” because a vet would see her. In
San Antonio the same year, another frightened horse snapped
his spine. Witnesses reported that the horse dragged
himself, paralyzed, across the stadium by his front legs
before collapsing.
Sadly, incidents like these are not uncommon at rodeos.
Calves roped while running up to 27 miles per hour routinely
have their necks snapped back by the rope, often resulting
in neck and spinal cord injuries, paralysis, bruises, broken
bones and internal hemorrhages. Are we having fun yet?
Animals are not “things” to be used by humans for
entertainment, food, clothing and product testing. Animals
are beautiful creatures who have an intrinsic value, totally
apart from any “value” humans put on them, i.e., a good pork
chop, a leather jacket or purse, or a chicken sandwich. All
sentient beings are self-aware and value their lives, feel
pain and suffer just like humans. What makes humans think
they are justified in imposing suffering on animals
incidental to our cruel use of them as nothing more than
property? Years ago, this mentality allowed the institution
of slavery to flourish. Think about it.
-
Pamela Davis
Honolulu
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