I don't really think that, and I'm really sorry for sounding bitter about it. It may take a while for the bitterness to go away, and I'm sorry for that.
Let me explain a little about why it's hard not to be bitter at this time. When I wrote this, it had been only a few days since the announcement. During that time and every day since, including today, I have been barraged with messages from people whose only concern is whether I can get them into a show for free or at an employee discount. I am also being asked repeatedly to grab Ringling property for people (props, jackets, anything with the logo on it) so that they could either have it themselves or sell it on eBay. This is my everyday life right now. People asking me for things. People trying to profit off of the fact that I will soon no longer have a job.
In addition, there have been people who don't realize that they themselves had a hand in letting animal rights make decisions about the circus for them. These are well-meaning and good people who say things like, "I want to save the circus!" or "I would have protested against animal rights." Well....but they didn't. When the circus needed to be defended in court and in city council meetings, where were these people? Why didn't they vote against banning the circus from their town? Why didn't they write to their council members to say, "I have the right to see the circus if I choose"?
In places like California and New Jersey and many other states and individual cities where anti-circus laws were voted on and passed, laws that literally prevent the circus from exhibiting animals as is their right by US law, it was the activists who showed up to vote on that legislation. The majority of people who might have wanted to see the circus did not show up to vote. Of all the people who have written me heartfelt messages saying that they disagree with what animal rights has done to the circus, while I'm very grateful for their kind words and commiserate with them, it's still a fact that very few of those folks actually translated those sentiments into action.
And that's totally ok, I understand that for most people the priority is to feed your kids and live your life. But just understand that knowing all of this, and getting barraged with "I want" messages constantly, my perspective turns bitter. When I look out into the audience and see that we're suddenly sold out, I am seeing things from the viewpoint of someone who is losing their job largely thanks to public opinion.
I know that the vast majority of people are just wanting to enjoy Ringling one last time. I will NEVER do less than my best, because everyone in that audience, whether they are activists or circus supporters or kids or businessmen or what, ALL of them deserve the very best I can give.
So again, I apologize for my attitude and hope that everyone who comes out to the shows has a great time. My attitude will change, I promise.
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Re: I'm so grateful
Date: 2017-01-20 09:57 pm (UTC)Let me explain a little about why it's hard not to be bitter at this time. When I wrote this, it had been only a few days since the announcement. During that time and every day since, including today, I have been barraged with messages from people whose only concern is whether I can get them into a show for free or at an employee discount. I am also being asked repeatedly to grab Ringling property for people (props, jackets, anything with the logo on it) so that they could either have it themselves or sell it on eBay. This is my everyday life right now. People asking me for things. People trying to profit off of the fact that I will soon no longer have a job.
In addition, there have been people who don't realize that they themselves had a hand in letting animal rights make decisions about the circus for them. These are well-meaning and good people who say things like, "I want to save the circus!" or "I would have protested against animal rights." Well....but they didn't. When the circus needed to be defended in court and in city council meetings, where were these people? Why didn't they vote against banning the circus from their town? Why didn't they write to their council members to say, "I have the right to see the circus if I choose"?
In places like California and New Jersey and many other states and individual cities where anti-circus laws were voted on and passed, laws that literally prevent the circus from exhibiting animals as is their right by US law, it was the activists who showed up to vote on that legislation. The majority of people who might have wanted to see the circus did not show up to vote. Of all the people who have written me heartfelt messages saying that they disagree with what animal rights has done to the circus, while I'm very grateful for their kind words and commiserate with them, it's still a fact that very few of those folks actually translated those sentiments into action.
And that's totally ok, I understand that for most people the priority is to feed your kids and live your life. But just understand that knowing all of this, and getting barraged with "I want" messages constantly, my perspective turns bitter. When I look out into the audience and see that we're suddenly sold out, I am seeing things from the viewpoint of someone who is losing their job largely thanks to public opinion.
I know that the vast majority of people are just wanting to enjoy Ringling one last time. I will NEVER do less than my best, because everyone in that audience, whether they are activists or circus supporters or kids or businessmen or what, ALL of them deserve the very best I can give.
So again, I apologize for my attitude and hope that everyone who comes out to the shows has a great time. My attitude will change, I promise.