Thanks for the cattle!

June 4, 2002 10:51 AM

Thanks for the cattle! As a follow up to This Thread, This site was inspired by the New York Times article about the Masai village in southern Kenya who donated 14 head of cattle to the US in sorrow over the 9/11 attacks. This is a place where you can say "thanks" to the villagers who made the donation. "There are three cherished things that a Masai can offer as a gift -- a child, a plot of land and a cow, which is far more than a source of meat and milk to a Masai." Source.
posted by Blake (17 comments total)

It's a shame they didn't set up an account to donate money to the Masai village directly.
posted by revbrian at 11:12 AM on June 4, 2002

via PayPal
posted by Hankins at 11:21 AM on June 4, 2002

What a nice idea. It adds reality to a story you'd otherwise just read about in a magazine.
posted by Modem Ovary at 11:34 AM on June 4, 2002

This is really nice. Can we get them
cows?
posted by ParisParamus at 11:59 AM on June 4, 2002

"There are three cherished things that a Masai can offer as a gift -- a child, a plot of land and a cow, which is far more than a source of meat and milk to a Masai."

It's a good thing they didn't decide to give us children :)
posted by Witold at 12:56 PM on June 4, 2002

Yeah, I wouldn't want the children, either, but I tell you, the fact that these villagers would offer us, a rich nation, *any* of what they have made me teary eyed. I mean, really, if that's not compassion, I don't know what is!

This is the first I've heard of this story and I think we should try to give them some cows or money or something for their very sweet, very caring gesture.

I wonder what they would want??
posted by misangela at 2:09 PM on June 4, 2002

I wonder what they would want??

[cynicism]To get you to ask this question, perhaps? [/cynicism]
posted by rushmc at 2:33 PM on June 4, 2002

Heh. Indeedy, RushMC. Who's richer -- Americans, with endless amounts of materialist commercial shite, or the Maasi, with their firm understanding of the importance of cows?

I vote the Maasi.
posted by five fresh fish at 2:39 PM on June 4, 2002

rush- I'll take even calculated sympathy over the open hostility that marks so much of the rest of the world.

Heh. If people will actually be grateful after the fact, and pleasant before the fact, and bear us no ill will- I'm happy to enage in reciprocity. Or even outright giving.

I'll undergo a "willing suspension of cynicism" here.
posted by dissent at 2:44 PM on June 4, 2002

Maasi, with their firm understanding of the importance of cows?


I thought Americans like Cows too much, and the environmental impact of having too many cows was part of the problem. Both sides are better off without shuffling any cows around.

The gift seems inappropriate to me. The attempt is depressing.
posted by thirteen at 3:30 PM on June 4, 2002

I venture to guess that the Maasi aren't interested in "environment impact" of cows. Instead, it seems that they made a touching gesture. Much more meaningful than arafat or castro donating blood after the attack.

I was taught that you accept a gift in the spirit that it was given.
posted by Juicylicious at 5:25 PM on June 4, 2002

The Maasi like Cows too much, too, thirteen. They've started keeping so many that they're overgrazing; and to increase the grazing land, the Maasi are having to destroy their forests. This, of course, reduces the available non-cow food supply, plus their source of firewood.
posted by five fresh fish at 6:30 PM on June 4, 2002

I was taught that you accept a gift in the spirit that it was given.
I was gracious when I got a ceramic bear kissing another ceramic bear as a gift when I got married. I agonized over throwing it away , as I know the person who did that to me meant no harm. I think I am done with that sort of thing now.

The Maasi like Cows too much, too, thirteen.
Cows are the devil.
posted by thirteen at 7:17 PM on June 4, 2002

And here I thought that I should be concerned about terrorism, the economy, the possibility of nuclear war, and whether my house will sell at a profit. But, now I realize that it is cows that are the true evil.

From now on, when I drive by a pasture of lazy cows grazing (or more likely plotting the extinction of man) I will give them the finger and yell out of my car window "this is from 13!"
posted by Juicylicious at 7:43 PM on June 4, 2002

I'm working my way through the surplus cow population - one cow at a time.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 7:26 AM on June 5, 2002

I'm working my way through the surplus cow population - one cow at a time.

You are my new hero. (>;->)!
posted by dissent at 8:04 AM on June 5, 2002

From now on, when I drive by a pasture of lazy cows grazing (or more likely plotting the extinction of man) I will give them the finger and yell out of my car window "this is from 13!"

Well, Juicylicious, Know Your Enemy: A Field Guide To Cows.When I worked at the Amazon warehouse, this was a favorite find.

From The Table of Contents:

(The 3rd and 4th chapters may be of value)

Tips on proper clothing and equipment for cow viewing

Information on the best times and places to see cows

Techniques for sneaking up to cows

Rules of cow etiquette

Scores of illustrated cow facts

A special section on famous cows in history

For the dedicated cow watcher, a life checklist of breeds

Here's a review.

And wouldn't you know it: A Field Guide To Pigs by the same author. One good idea deserves another. My experience with pigs, however, suggests that sneaking up on them is not a good idea.

posted by y2karl at 8:45 AM on June 5, 2002