Show G Political Bull 1 J 4 R W 5 by f Christian 1 I am happy to know Mitt Romney an and l the folks at The Salt Lake Organizing Committee decided not to cave in to pressure from animal animal animal ani ani- mal rights advocates asking to cancel the Olympic rodeo Though I support the welfare and humane treatment of animals I take issue with the extreme views and policies policies policies poli- poli I cies of such groups as People i for the the Ethical Treatment of Animals and nd the Utah Animal R Rights Coalition To cancel the rodeo would be a shame ignoring a apart apart part of Utah's heritage and western cowboy culture F The Olympic rodeo is scheduled as a three-day three competition between the best f cow cowboys and cowgirls from from r the USA and Canada A similar similar similar simi simi- lar rodeo was vas held in Calgary during the 1988 Winter Olympics with great success drawing sell out crowds through its entirety Current ticket sales- sales ranging in price from 35 to 75 are early signs of a similar similar similar simi simi- lar success in 2002 To cancel the would be financial event a blow to K Not only are there financial ramifications j in involved with canceling the rodeo but the opportunity for fort t our international guests to experience a truly exciting and legitimate piece of our culture would be lost as well Rodeo has strong ties tiesto tiesto to rural Utah where ranching and herding are still a way of life Many Utah high schools even have rodeo teams who compete for state champi- champi i Our own Salt Lake Community College has hasa a a competition rodeo team with witha a faculty advisor To say this sport has no cultural value is a misrepresentation of our citizens citizens citizens citi citi- zens who choose not to live along the Wasatch Front And rodeo is a sport although the Utah Animal Rights Coalition would have you think other other- wise It is a sport where the theil ther r J F l i J J utmost respect and care for animals are maintained Several rodeo events such as calf roping steer wrestling steer roping team roping and barrel racing are collaborations between en a rider and a horse working in tandem tandem tandem tan tan- dem to accomplish a task Ask any of these cowhands about the animals and you'll hear words of adoration adoration adoration ado ado- ration and devotion The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association sets strict guidelines guidelines' for the handling and treatment of rodeo animals claiming only one half of one percent of rodeo animals are injured Horns and ankles are wrapped for support against injury Routine and surprise inspections of the animals nim ls ensure the well-being well and comfort of the animals while on the circuit When not on 01 the circuit circuit circuit cir cir- cir cir- the animals enjoy living on expansive ranches where they are free to roam and are attended to by dedicated pro pro- People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals would have us believe rodeo animals are mistreated and forced to live in substandard conditions These are also the same people who if they had their way would make it illegal illegal illegal ille ille- ille- ille gal to fish hunt or even raise animals for food I find it inconsistent and somewhat ironic when the gifted and talented figure skater Scott Hamilton asks SLOe to cancel a rodeo based on cruelty to animals yet remains silent about Olympic skiing events held at areas where trees are bulldozed and surely displacing hundreds of animals from their habitat Thank you Mr Romney for obliging these extremists their due voice and nd for carrying on with what is surely to be a successful and popular cultural cultura event A 6 |