Over the weekend we saw "Blackfish," Gabriela Cowperthwaite's heart-wrenching documentary about killer whales, and how they are grossly mistreated for the amusement of theme-park goers, and to make millions for Sea World LLC. Although I've always had a problem with the treatment of animals in zoos and circuses -- and I've never even been to Sea World (I'm not a fan of getting wet in public) -- it's particularly disturbing when you learn more about orcas, incredibly intelligent and deeply emotional creatures who suffer deeply when being torn away from their children and held in tiny swimming pools. Their dorsal fins fall, their life spans are reduced by decades. That so many former Sea World trainers were willing to speak out against the place they once believed was nirvana is very telling. "Blackfish" focuses a lot on Tilikum, who has killed three people (two trainers and one drifter). Sea World has spent millions trying to put a spin on the dangers of keeping killer whales in captivity -- the legal scenes will leave your jaw on the floor -- but what's even more shocking is learning that killer whales that are NOT held in captivity interact with people wonderfully, and have no history of killing at all.
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If you want more, former Sea World trainer and hottie, John Hargrove, was Bill Maher's first guest on this week's Real Time.
I know -- WHY do you think we went to see the movie? :-)
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