I'm surprised to find that this hasn't been discussed here yet (a search didn't yield anything).

Have any of you come across the news articles describing how AMEX decided to partner with SeaWorld earlier this year? It's amazing to me that they would do this *after* the Blackfish documentary has put SeaWorld in a world of hurt, resulting in some pretty high profile and longtime partners dropping their business relationships with SeaWorld.

My own opinion on the matter aside, it seems rather strange to me that AMEX is going in the complete opposite direction from the general public sentiment, as millions of people have recently become aware of the controversies surrounding the captivity of cetaceans and other mammals at the SeaWorld theme parks. I tend to think of AMEX as a blue chip company that more often than not voluntarily and proactively exerts its conscience in a responsible manner.

The partnership seems to have been forged at a strange time, and there are currently over 26,000 signatures on a Change.org petition to American Express to sever ties with the theme park. At the end of last month AMEX responded to the growing campaign.

What do you fellow cardholders think about the partnership- great? horrible? don't care?