First, let me be clear I do not defend or speak on behalf of the Calgary Stampede, (but) to compare the Calgary Stampede with bullfighting is dead wrong.
The whole intend and purpose of the (bullfighting) activities described here is the death of an animal in the end of the game.
This is in total contrary of the Stampede. All animals at the Stampeded are very well taken care of. Participants love their animals and are considered family by them just as one would for our pet dog.
Me too, love animal. All animals domesticated and wild!
This is why you will see me at Stampede at 4:30 every morning taking care after a few animals. And yes, that includes shovelling manure. But I will not shovel this type of (bullfighting comparison) manure.
I see what is going on behind the scenes. I dare to say that all farm animals in Alberta and even in Canada are better off than many people elsewhere in the world. There is a much bigger issue in the world than just let the Stampede fade in the past.
Do I sense in this article, the same attitude towards our wonderful Indigenous people in the past, try to let them fade a way, by sending their children to residential schools? I like to suggest that Sara come to the Stampede. See for herself of what Stampede is all about.
She might learn something about our heritage. Our Indigenous peoples. How pioneers struggled and started to farm and cultivate the beautiful black soil of Alberta. How our everyday food is produced that benefits all. Even people in a big city of Toronto.
About 1,800 people die each year in car accident in Canada not to mention the serious injuries. There are numerous deadly collisions with wildlife on Canadian roads. Dead, beautiful animals Should we let automobiles fade away?
In Toronto, it is estimated that one to nine million migrating birds die annually from collisions with buildings. Should we let Toronto fade away? We have much bigger problems in the world then Stampede.
May I suggest that Sara and people like here put her efforts on resolving the real problem in the world.
Respectfully,
GP Gary Kooistra
Cochrane, AB
