[TrappedInLiberalHell]

Perhaps I'm being facile, but it seems rather absurd to feel superior by bragging how you don't dress up animals to do silly tricks, all the while you and your fellow humans are dressing yourselves up to do silly tricks. I guess animals have a greater need for dignity than humans.

Yeah, I know, animals have no choice in the matter, people do, blah, blah, blah. If the animals are treated humanely and well fed, then I'd say they're getting a better deal out in the wild where they face the vagaries of being prey or dying of starvation.

[widowithfoursons]

The Circus de Soleil is fascinating to watch; the contortions and athletic skill is amazing. As a first for me, I actually agree that animal circuses are not fun. Being for free enterprise in any fashion, I went to a circus (hoping to enjoy/took my kids), and couldn't stand it. The animals looked miserable. Frankly, I would have preferred them decorating my wall, or using them as a rug as opposed to watching them go through their paces like they were on Prozac.

[demosthenes the elder]

I would not call what the acrobat/dancers of this troupe do "silly tricks"