how manly is rodeo anyway?
Author:
Mike Rogozinski
Publication:
Coquitlam Now
Publication Date:
May 14, 2006
Yeehaw, it’s time to beat up some animals! In just over a week thousands of people will be herded like cattle through the gates of the Cloverdale Rodeo to watch so-called men beat, bloody and break some farm animals. Even though the rodeo is heavily promoted and advertised, my family won’t be there. Watching animals be abused and tormented
isn’t my idea of a good time.
Amid the drunken buffoonery and dusty air there will be bow legged cowboys swaggering around and bragging that it takes strength and ability to mount a frenzied bull. Maybe I have different standards or just prefer not to be in such intimate contact with an animal, but who in their right mind considers the ability to bounce up and down on the back of an animal to be an enviable skill? What’s even more disturbing is that bull riders often claim they ride bulls because they love animals. It’s one thing to show your dog affection by gently patting him on the head, but hooting and hollering while riding him around the living room crosses the line of human decency.
It’s bad enough that adult animals are groped and abused at the rodeo, but it’s even more sinister that the young ones get beaten as well. Like any infant, a baby cow would much rather be nuzzled up safely next to his mother but cowboys put him in a tiny pen and poke, prod and kick him until he runs across the arena in fear for his life. His little heart pounds in terror as he runs to what he desperately hopes will be safety, but within seconds a lasso constricts around his neck, his tongue flies out of his mouth and he gasps for air as the rope begins to squeeze. He is then grabbed and hoisted into the air, only to be thrown to the ground with a rib-cracking thump. Mr. Marlborough with the sparkly belt buckle then ties his little legs and like a schoolyard bully who has just bloodied the nose of a timid child he raises his arms in the air as though his act of cruelty is worthy of applause and admiration. I don’t get it. When did beating a baby animal become a sign of manliness?
You’d think one man beating on a calf would be bad enough, but there is also the team roping event. It’s just as pathetic and inhumane as the singles event, but the cowboys get to pair up with their good buddy and do everything short of tear the little cow in half.
How is that family entertainment?
The idea of beating up gentle cows doesn’t appeal to everyone so rodeo organizers thought it would be a good idea to bring in sheep. Nice, soft gentle sheep. For a small fee you can plop your child down on the back of a fluffy sheep and take pictures as the scared little creature tries her best to buck, or even walk with the weight of a child on her
sore and tired back. There’s a picture for the family album. Junior, who we hope will grow up to be a respected and contributing member of society, is being taught that it is acceptable to exploit anything or anyone who is weaker than him. Hopefully that little gem of a life lesson doesn’t take root and grow in his impressionable mind. Rodeos have a long and violent tradition, but it is time for their cruelty to be lost in the dark pages of history. I’m not against family entertainment, but I really don’t agree with abusing animals and claiming it’s just good family fun. I don’t care if cowboys ride bareback, brokeback or side saddle; just leave the animals out of it.
