Me either, I've seen Cirque du Soleil. I was pointing out that the argument could be reduced to animals doing tricks vs. people doing tricks. To me it's not unlike the people who would save a few fish while ruining the lives of scores of farmers (as in the Klamath River fiasco). I have a great appreciation for animals, and I admire the deer that pass through my yard without having the urge to kill them, but let's not elevate them to a status greater than ourselves.
It seems to me it's MORE ethical to coax animals to do tricks, while treating them humanely, than it is to kill and eat them. So, unless each and every PETA member is a strict vegetarian, they aren't being terribly consistent. I think they just like to hear themselves beat their chests every now and again. Kind of like Al Gore or Bill Clinton. Some people just don't feel important unless they can feel superior to someone, somewhere.