The Greatest Show on Earth was meant to amuse and amaze, and was most popular as a distraction from hard times, economic or otherwise. It was accessible to nearly everyone, despite class, and gave you something you don't see every day. People could file in the tent, find a common purpose with the other lookyloos, and leave their troubles at the door. It did not enter their minds what happened backstage. That elephants were goaded with hooks, tigers whipped to perform tricks on cue, lions de-toothed. What they saw was the glitter, the spectacle. What they heard was the authoritative ringmaster explain each marvel. Sound familiar?
The Greatest Show on Earth was meant to amuse and amaze, and was most popular as a distraction from hard times, economic or otherwise. It was accessible to nearly everyone, despite class, and gave you something you don't see every day. People could file in the tent, find a common purpose with the other lookyloos, and leave their troubles at the door. It did not enter their minds what happened backstage. That elephants were goaded with hooks, tigers whipped to perform tricks on cue, lions de-toothed. What they saw was the glitter, the spectacle. What they heard was the authoritative ringmaster explain each marvel. Sound familiar?