I would like to share my frustration regarding an incident with Shriner’s senior chairman Lionel Rowe, in a scuffle involving a member of Animal Rights Group, Ottawa Animal Defense League (OADL) member Len Goldberg.
As someone who’s personally had a brush with this same organization; several years ago when I brought my young daughters to the Shriners Circus at the St Laurent Mall, I know exactly the frustration Mr. Rowe must be feeling. (Well, everything but the being charged with assault part)
Evidently the OADL was finally successful in suckering someone into a fight; as I’m quite sure this was their intent all along with this upstanding member of the Shriners. The OADL tried the same tactic on me which, fortunately remained nothing more than a shouting match. (I made sure to remain calm and keep my cool)
The Ottawa SUN confirmed in an article yesterday that “The chairman of the Capital Shrine Club is to appear in court this month after a protester was allegedly choked outside a Shrine Circus performance at the RA Centre last year.”
The report went-on to say; “The OADL claims Len Goldberg was participating in a legal protest, sanctioned by a City of Ottawa permit, on public property near the RA Centre. It claims Goldberg was assaulted with a choke-hold that lasted about 30 seconds and only ended when the attacker’s hands were pried off”
During the incident I had with this OADL, my passage to the Shrine Circus was actually blocked by these so-called legal protestors handing out propaganda pamphlets. One member of the group told me (as I walked hand-in-hand with my daughters) that I should be ASHAMED that I was subjecting my kids to such animal cruelty!
Cruelty? I asked, as I went-on to explain to this individual that I was a supporter of the Shriners and all the good work they carry-out in their children’s hospitals.
We exchanged a few words but there was no reasoning with this bunch.
He would not listen to anything I had to say and went-on to berate me for my support of the Shriners. (One of my daughter’s was crying by this point) Feeling me heart-rate on the rise, I choose to push past the barking sound of his megaphone, but not before tossing a few pamphlets in the air!
Although I felt like tackling this individual to the ground myself, I knew it would get me nowhere and only serve to further their cause.
Evidently in the case of Shriner’s chairman Lionel Rowe, he was unable to keep his cool, allowing another misguided animal rights group another small victory.
Yes, in a twisted sort of way, lawsuits of this nature play right into their hands!
My thoughts go out to Mr. Rowe and the rest of the Shriners. May this one unfortunate incident NOT tarnish the image of an organization that donates millions each year to aid crippled children, at no cost to the families, I might add.
Whose needs are being served by the Ottawa Animal Defense League?
I have no idea…it certainly isn’t the animals.
Outdoorsguy