I watched the SeaWorld press conference this afternoon and saw Jim Atchison President & CEO of SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment as he stood before a backdrop of supposedly happy killer whales swimming in their tank. I wasn't expecting him to announce that SeaWorld has seen the light and is going to free all of their whales from captivity. But I wasn't expecting to see such a callous man, who in so many words said, sure the death of a "trainer" is a tragedy, but the Killer Whale Show Must Go On -- and right away too -- profits must come before people! And it is business as usual! SeaWorld is open for business! And by the way, Don't blame the whale!
I don't blame the whale.
When asked by reporters what steps would be taken to avoid future accidents? How would Sea World handle the Killer Whale? Atchison's response in so many words was, I am not here to talk about that. I am here to announce that the gates are open and we are going to have a show right away. When some one hinted at SeaWorld's negligence in the death of the company's employee, Atchison snapped back, and in so many words said, Shut up!
Later this afternoon it was announced that two federal agencies are investigating the death of the "trainer." Her name was Dawn Brancheau. She left a family. She was a person. Yes, she seemed not to be as valuable to SeaWorld as the whale that killed her and two others before her death.
No, I don't blame the whale. The whale did what killer whales do. The blame belongs on the management of SeaWorld.
New Source: (http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/seaworld-restarts-killer-whale-show-tillikum-w... ),(http://jam.canoe.ca/Movies/2010/02/26/13040711-wenn-story.html).