Opinion/Streetalk

ThiS ModeRn WoRld by tom tomorrow

Asked at downtown Sparks fireworks gathering

Hunter Seekins

Casino banquet worker Just getting over it by water—drink lots of water, staying in the shade.

Ally Edmonds

Student Not very well. It’s so hot. It’s ridiculous. I’m not used to it, and I’ve lived here all my life. I definitely think it’s hotter here than it used to be.

That’s entertainment How are you handling the heat?

There have been a few incidents of animal cruelty in the media lately, and many more that never make the news. All this makes us editorialists at the Reno News & Review feel as though we should insert our two cents.

The biggest incident, one of alleged horse shocking at the 2013 Reno Rodeo, captured on a cell phone video on June 28, has engendered massive Facebook and other social media commentary. Frankly, while the video seems to speak for itself, showing a horse being shocked inhumanely, it is truly not prima facie evidence. There’s just not enough context to a onesecond video. But do not let our hedging our accusations on that particular incident suggest that we think that rodeos are wholesome. Those animals, both adult and immature— like in the steer wrestling or calf roping “sports”—are there for inhumane purposes. Is there any doubt that these creatures are taken from familiar, if not comfortable, places, placed into situations with loud noises, bright lights, subjected to pain and fear, and then forced to perform for our amusement? As active, paying participants in rodeo, we know and accept this. And by paying for this entertainment, we are colluding with those who profit from animal cruelty.

We’re not trying to incite passions. We’re just stating the obvious. So allow us to ask the question once more: Is there any doubt that these creatures are taken from familiar, if not comfortable, places, placed into situations with loud noises, bright lights, subjected to pain and fear, and then forced to perform for our amusement?

There’s only one answer to this: No, there is no doubt. As humanity has matured, our species has tried to become more humane. We forbid fights to the death among humans, and many traditional forms of cruel entertainment that featured people and animals have been banned. For example, the great Latin tradition of bullfighting has been banned in most of the world. So too, has cockfighting. Both these forms of entertainment have ancient roots, far older than the heritage of the Old West to which the modern rodeo supposedly hearkens. Even in the realm of rodeo, many sports have been declared too inhumane to allow, like horse tripping, for example.

This acceptance of cruelty for entertainment should be beneath us humans. But truly, it is the smallest symptom of a sickness in our culture. We routinely treat even our own companion animals with no more concern than houseplants, discarding them the moment they inconvenience us. We destroy the planet’s resources both for ourselves and our fellow occupants of this planet without consideration for either, and then deny we’re doing it. We watch as our fellow humans starve or fight or war like they’re on some reality show for our entertainment.

We don’t expect any real change to come out of this editorial any more than we expect prosecutions to come from the Reno Rodeo’s investigation of that alleged public horse torture incident—or any explanation of why the rodeo is investigating itself but law enforcement is not (Nevada Revised Statues chapter 574 – animal cruelty). But it’s probably better for society not to pretend that we’re not colluding by only watching. Ω T.J. Lord

Retired soldier With lots of water. It doesn’t bother me. I love it. I just moved here from Texas, so this is good. I don’t like the cold.

Miriam Ingle

Purchasing clerk Going to the movies where it’s nice and cool. It’s too hot. I’m not used to it.

Bruce Wright

Retiree It’s pretty tough for me. I just came down from Alaska yesterday. It’s nice to have night time, though. Up there it was day all the time. It’s dry here. I stay in during the day. I don’t mind it. I lived in Arizona for 10 years, so it’s about the same.