I had to go to SeaWorld, San Diego, today, and this blog entry should mainly server the purpose to remind me of all the reasons why I should not do this again - when it comes up the next time - and I'm sure it will.

There are many obvious reasons that speak against it like, high price (over 50 bucks now!), on the road for hours (coming from LA) and it is really dreadful for me now to drive 5 hours (to and fro), the kid is too young (what was the best at SeaWorld? - The playground!), and plenty of other things. But those reasons can easily be countered with others that speak for it - so that is not really good argumentation - it's opinion.

But I would see a problem arguing against how hypocritical this whole thing is. There is this drug company that kills many with its products and helps many more to stay in the gutter.

And this company puts this hugely expensive show on, sending the message to the audience that you can be whatever you really want - yeah, I guess even a drug company that make billions from doping people.

Normally the fact that behind shamu there is the beer bottle is kept pretty low-key and who does not know that the Anheuser-Busch behind SeaWorld is the same as the one behind Bud Light might not see the connection.

One slip I noticed today though. Our monster really wanted to buy a souvenir and one of the gift shops he checked out had hats for sale - Bud Light baseball caps. He just liked the hats but my questions if he really wants to do unpaid advertisement for beer, sank in quickly and we left that store.

But all this saving whales, dolphins, whatever, seems to altruistic and full of goodness, doesn't it? Sure, it might look like that, but looking at these Shamu's and unnamed dolphins I could not help notice that there was no honor left in them. Sure, they are taken good care off - I guess they even have their teeth professionally cleaned, but at what price? Making a clown of themselves for a few handful of fish.

Same mentality as with the beer, right - keeping them dependent so that you can do with them whatever you want. Reminds me terribly of human recipients of government handouts.

I wonder why I keep forgetting one of my impressions on my very first visit to SeaWorld - yes I have been there more than once: On the way out, it was already dark, we came by an 'attraction' with some dolphins, hardly any people left, and this dolphin swam around in circles, circles, circles - and I sensed a deep desperation in him - I mean it was nearly overwhelming.

At this time I made the decision not to go there anymore, but - er - did not have a blog then to write about it so that I can read up on it the next time I am tempted.