The End of an Era
Posted on January 15, 2017
We were sad to hear that “The Greatest Show on Earth”, the Ringling Brothers Circus will be closing down this May after 146 years.
We have no interest in discussing or debating animal cruelty as it relates to the circus. We simply want to state that all those genuinely concerned with animal cruelty and committed to social justice should be just as concerned now with what will happen to the animals and those who work in the circus and are losing their livelihood and family.
It is very easy to get behind whatever the popular cause is of the day, week, month or year. These days there is no shortage of causes. Being consistent in your passion and commitment when the story dies down and the reporters have left is often more challenging. Regardless of whether we agree or not, we always have more respect for those who share their passion regularly and not only when it suits their needs.
On an organizational level we would be remiss if we didn’t express our hakarat hatov and gratitude to all those at Feld Entertainment and Ringling Brothers Circus. Mitzvah Clowning otherwise known as Caring Clowning or Medical Clowning, a program we have run since December 2009, that has directly engaged more than 500 participants and brought smiles, joy and laughter to more than 10,000 including many senior citizens and those with special needs, has in many ways been influenced by the history of the circus. On a personal level, many of us have fond memories of attending the circus with family and friends, some of who are no longer with us. For us, those are important and powerful memories.
It’s the end of an era.
