The cruelest show on earth
When families and others go to circuses, they are amazed at the animal antics ("Animal antics," July 14). But it's behind the Big Top where the true "animal antics," better known as cruelty, take place. Ringling Bros. has been cited more than 70 times in the last several years for violating the Animal Welfare Act. That is why VISA, Mastercard and Sears have stopped sponsoring Ringling Bros after being shown video of animal abuse by handlers and trainers. When circus elephants are not traveling thousands of miles in tiny boxcars, they spend most of their day chained by one or two feet, unable to move more than a couple of feet. In fact, the single biggest cause of death for elephants in captivity is foot infections and arthritis caused by being chained most of the day. Chaining is so deadly to elephants in captivity that it reduces their lifespan from 50-60 years in the wild to 20-30 years in captivity.
Please don't be fooled by what you see under the Big Top. Any circus that uses animals is "The Cruelest Show on Earth."
Timothy J. Verret Austin resident
Third coast crime fighting
Dustin Stonecipher's column "Handguns 101" (July 14) completely missed the mark.
"College campuses are places to learn, not firing ranges," Stonecipher argued.
Yes - and restaurants are places to eat and malls are places to shop. Just the same, too many people have been assaulted and murdered at colleges, restaurants and malls.
Stonecipher asks, "Would we feel safe trusting our fellow students with our lives?"
Under the current law - we have nowhere to trust our lives. We are instantly a victim. Our lives are entrusted to the mercy of a gunman.
The fact is that there is essentially no difference between the east and west sides of Guadalupe Street as far as our rights are concerned. No matter where we go - we have an inherent right to protect ourselves - our property and person.
When someone has undergone the already tough process of getting a concealed handgun license - they've done more than enough to qualify to protect themselves in an emergency. No matter where that emergency might take place.
Arguments to the contrary are simply smokescreens put up by those who would rather we have less freedom - less liberty - and less personal security.
Tony McDonald Former Chairman Young Conservatives of Texas Economics and government senior
Back of the bus
First Ken Burns excluded Hispanics from his WWII Documentary, then the State Board of Education excluded Tejano History from state curriculum and now we have the hidden Tejano Monument.
If we allow this trend of exclusion to continue we will forever be, as the title of historian David J. Weber's book reads, "Foreigners in Their Native Lands." We are the descendants of the original inhabitants; our ancestors brought Christianity to this land.
After neglecting Tejano Heritage for over 150 years and after seven years of raising funds for the much-anticipated installation of the Tejano monument, we are now expected to accept a hidden location on the back corner of the capital grounds.
Call or write Gov. Rick Perry and other elected officials and tell them this is an outrage. We will no longer go to the back of the bus.
Dan Arellano Austin resident
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