By Doug Draper
My daughter never liked clowns.
Clowns can get nasty too.
We placed one in her bedroom when she was a baby and wondered why she was frightened at night until we finally – stupid us – figured out that it was the clown.
This July 12, members of Niagara Action For Animals – a group of volunteers advocating for animals in the region – found out just how un-fun clowns can be when one swore at them outside the Niagara Falls’ old Memorial Arena as moms and dads were bringing their kids in for the Shrine Circus, held annually in these parts by the Shriners to raise money for ‘sick children’.
Now, I don’t understand why the Shriners can’t maybe just have the clown jump through a hoop of fire and leave the animal tricks out of it. I’ve never been a fan of carting elephants and other animals all over the country for people who can’t seem to get enough amusement just staying at home in front of a TV watching wrestling or hockey, if it is possible to figure out the difference between the two.
All you have to do is a little research of your own to find out what circus trainers often have to do to these animals to make them submissive enough to perform tricks on our behalf. If the children saw that, their parents might opt for the swearing clown.
As for the swearing clown at the July 12 Shrine Circus in Niagara Falls, that’s one video that may have the potential to go viral on Youtube.
Allow Niagara At Large to assist by sharing the following link for this clown’s antics, along with the voices of animal advocates determined to end the exploitation of animals at circus events. Here is the ling for the swearing clown video – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1yYqmphZ28
(Click on Niagara At Large at www.niagaraatlarge.com for more news and commentary on matters of interest and concern to residents in our greater binational Niagara region.)
I was present at the demonstration, heard the clown’s obscenity & saw him lunge at the camera man. He also said that he was a police officer. Another Shriner told us that we should take care of the “whores”in downtown Niagara Falls. The word “whore” was said in the presence of children.
I watched the video. Certainly the clown should not have used foul language. But the animal rights protesters were very unprofessional. They were unconscionably provocative, also in the presence of children, and then smirking, self-satisfied, about the result as if the clown’s cursing justified their very unprofessional picketing. It all got very off topic. Virtually ad hominum. They should be supporting the rights of animals and not provoking old hot fat human clowns on a hot and sticky day – in front of little kids. They did animal rights – and little kids – a wrong.
Notify the editors of the Oxford English Dictionary, the word “provocative” has been redefined to mean: Peacefully standing on a sidewalk.
Mr. Hogg, the clown in the video was approached with a pamphlet as I tried to defuse a situation wherein he hurled a derogatory remark at a female protestor. This happens year in and year out, and typically happens whenever there is an absence of male protestors around. It is misogynist and disgusting. The video speaks for itself. If the circus returns next year I would urge you to dawn a sign and understand what it feels like to be on the other side. Laughter is a much better response than violence, which in some absurd way you are condoning here. If this is the Shriner’s attempt at cleaning up this PR mess then it’s a shame. Of course all of this is completely unnecessary, much like the Circus itself.
“Unprofessional picketing” says Mr. Hogg …really??? and what might ‘professional picketing’ be??? My great uncle lost his life, my grandfather years of his life and my uncle virtually lost his sanity – 3 in 3 wars to protect my (& your) right to peacefully protest, freedom of speech and assembly ….I am proud to speak up for animals – human & non-human alike – the clowns behaviour was not appropriate, especially in the presence of children and him claiming of great concerns for children…..
If a protest is not peaceful but inflammatory and raucas it could be a riot,Canadians are by nature a peaceful nation and people, we should beware of the professional protesters as they have another agenda ,to see blood on the side walk. Our protests at Queens Park of the N.H.S was peaceful and well organised, but because it was peaceful did not get the media attension it should have gotten.Media loves the rowdy protests.