What About Cruelty Against Vegetables? Ever Considered That?

No, they're pushed aside and forgotten. It's all about the animals.

There was another kind of protest last Friday down our way - a band of nosey parkers trying to stop other people's fun.

What was it H L Mencken once said about puritanism? The haunting fear that someone, somewhere, must be happy?

Across the country some people who have got it into their heads that rodeos should be banned because bull riding, and making horses buck, constitutes cruelty to animals. This is the same mentality which thinks boxing is on par with thuggery. It's ignorance.

Undoubtedly there have been, are, always will be, individuals who are cruel to bulls and horses, whether they love the sport of rodeos or not. But these days vets must be in attendance. Standards must not be breached. It is rough and tough. Hard and fast. Sometimes animals are injured, just like on farms; in real life. And yes, it's cruel and painful - to the men and women crazy and gutsy and skillful enough to participate.

But a bunch of townies think this fun should be ended.

They won't stop at this, believe me. Once they succeed with rodeos, they will get polo banned. They will then move on to thoroughbred racing. Trotting and pacing. Then gymkhanas and pony clubs.

Why stop there? Take this to its logical conclusion and is it not cruel, in a do-gooder's eyes, to break in a horse to wear a bridle with a bit in its mouth, a saddle, nail iron shoes to its hooves, and put a human on its back with a whip, kicking its flanks and bending said horse to his or her will?

I loathe cruelty to animals - it's one of the finest examples of cowardice but these protestors are picking easy targets. Do we see them standing protesting outside the gates of gang houses where half-starved, unloved, non-exercised fighting dogs are chained up 24/7?

And is it nice to keep a dog cooped up in a high-rise apartment all day, let out to pooh on the balcony perhaps, occasionally feeling the grass under its feet if the owner has time a couple of times a week?

Perhaps not, but that's not my business. I don't like it but I'm not going to interfere in someone else's companionship when I'm fortunate enough to live on a farm.

If these busy-bodies don't like rodeos where no cruelty is taking place they should look the other way.

Quote of the day went to the rodeo organizer who said the protestors didn't even come from Wairarapa; they're out of an Auckland vegan restaurant, he said, wouldn't know one end of the bull from another.

And who knows how the veges feel about being killed and eaten? Remember, cabbages have hearts. Scarlet beans can run, and spuds have eyes. That's why my Dad always said never have a root in a tuber patch.