Not a rodeo fan
When the Windy City Rodeo was happening I remembered a quote by Oscar Wilde, who wrote that “while sympathy with joy intensifies the sum of joy in the world, sympathy with pain does not really diminish the amount of pain. It may make man better able to endure evil, but the evil remains.”

The Windy City Rodeo is a member of the International Gay Rodeo Association. The IGRA makes it clear on its website that it trusts its bylaws to “strongly protect animals from abuse.” In reality, however, despite the best of intentions and bylaws, animal abuse is inherent in the “traditional rodeo events” like the rough stock (bronco and steer riding, etc.) and roping events that take place at rodeos, gay or non-gay.

Common sense dictates that chasing an undoubtedly frightened calf at top speed, roping it and yanking it to the ground is conducive to causing severe injury to the calf. It’s also safe to assume that having a cowboy or girl jump on a heavy-bodied steer and twist its neck and head until it falls into submission will quite likely harm the steer. And it’s just as reasonable to guess that a horse or bull isn’t bucking just for the fun of it or because what it’s feeling feels so good.

The fact is that horrendous injuries—trauma during transport, extension bruising, broken ribs and legs, crippling and painful death (not to mention the extreme fear the animals experience) are some very common consequences of rodeo activities. A simple internet-search of “rodeo abuse” will disclose the hurt to animals that rodeos do.

On their website, the IGRA also states that animal rights supporters try to infringe their beliefs on the LGBT community. Those supporters’ beliefs call for humans to treat other animals decently. Personal convictions that involve encouraging people to end brutality toward all living beings form the essence behind the most exemplary of humanitarian acts. If that’s infringement, then it’s an infringement of a noble kind.

Rodeos are popular forms of entertainment and enjoyable for many people. But even the best-intentioned ones are dangerous for animals. Just having sympathy for the abuse they suffer won’t suffice, though, because the evil of animal abuse there will still remain.

I believe that there’s a type of personal joy that comes from acting on compassion. Who knows, perhaps by increasing our “sympathy with joy”—in part by actively working together to shut down rodeos and to stop cruelty to animals wherever it occurs—we may inadvertently intensify the sum of actual, lively compassion, not just for other animals but also for each other, in the world.

Rich Wilson
Lakeview

More disappointment
I just finished reading Jennifer Vanasco’s column titled “Disappointment but…” (CFP Aug. 20).

I first became disappointed when I watched the 2004 U.S. Senate campaign debate between Alan Keyes and Barack Obama on WTTW. There was no doubt where Keyes stood on gay marriage and he spoke rather eloquently on why he opposed abortion. When Obama was asked about gay marriage his body language seemed to express how uncomfortable he was with the topic and he referred to his faith a number of times. He did give an unenthusiastic response similar to the one you quote in your column.

After his wishy-washy performance I decided not to cast my vote for him. We really didn’t have much of a senate race because running against Keyes was almost like running unopposed. If Jack Ryan’s ex-wife had not exposed his kinky side we might not even be having this discussion. By the way, has the good Sen. Obama done anything for Illinois that you can think of? Even Sen. Richard Durbin has tried to help with the mess in Springfield.

Speaking of the U.S. Supreme Court, didn’t Reagan nominate Sandra Day O’Connor? In my opinion, she turned out to be a damn good justice! Yes, it can be a crap shoot, but there are other variables involved. Our dysfunctional Congress also has a say in the matter. I cannot let a possible court nomination hold my vote for president hostage.

Are there only two choices? Maybe not! I might consider the Libertarian candidate for president.

John Foote
Lakeview