Sea World San Diego

As you know, I had mixed feelings about going to Sea World San Diego. I love nature and all of God's creatures--except for mosquitoes and fleas, because they just bite you and spread disease. At first, I didn't want to go to Sea World because of the conditions in which the animals are kept. But, at the same time, I didn't want to deny my kid a really great experience because of my beliefs.

So, we went to Sea World San Diego on our Great American Adventure. Jude loved it. He stood and watched the polar bear for almost an hour as it swam in circles and paced back and forth like a crazy person locked up in a padded room in the loony bin. Jude also spent about an hour watching the penguins swim, poop and sleep. He was in awe at the animals' beauty and grace. He loved it, but then again he's only 4.

I, on the other hand, was quite disappointed and almost horrified by the small enclosures the animals were forced to reside. The poor polar bear was pacing and walking around in circles like a demented, crack whore. The dolphins were kept in small swimming pools, like the ones you find at your local Holiday Inn. The orcas were also kept in pools the size of bathtubs. I felt bad for the animals. I felt bad that they were pinned up to live a life of circles, a life full of stupid humans gawking at them through 4 inch thick glass. I felt bad that they were fed after they performed a stupid trick for the stupid humans who were oohing and awing. I felt sick to my stomach as I watched God's most glorious creatures confined and asked to do things to amuse me! I felt bad for the animals. I felt bad for the hopeless look in their eyes. In fact, I still feel bad about it.

Some of the animals at Sea World are rescues. The manatees were scarred and missing flippers. I'm sure death was imminent had they not been rescued by the people at Sea World. So, I won't complain about them.

But the rest of the animals seemed lost, confused, bored, and crazy. I felt bad that I was even there. I complained throughout most of the Shamu Show and annoyed Husband. He begged me to stop, but I found it difficult to sit there and watch beautiful killer whales as they lifted their trainers into the air to be rewarded with a handful of fish. I felt bad that they were forced to do things to get food. I wanted to rescue the enslaved animals and release them into the wild. I wanted them to be free and enjoy God's grandeur. But instead of doing something about it, I just bought 89 souvenirs, 3 buckets of popcorn, 1 frozen lemonade and a few refrigerator magnets to remind me of the horror.

The polar bear, duh!

Jude watching the Shamu Show, doing a weird hand movement that's supposed to resemble flippers.

An orca doing a stupid trick for the stupid humans, me being one of them!

Jude watching the penguins, duh!

Jude and Husband walking under the shark tank. Jude got scared and started crying. I guess he's seen Jaws WAY too many times!