I was quite sad all day yesterday after I learned that the rights of a Hindu family in a small town in upstate New York had been trampled upon. It seems that in every direction that we gaze these days someone else in America is losing a fundamental right that our founding fathers believed in and bled for. In this case it is the right to bear cows for protection. The New York Times recently reported on this gripping story:
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The Voiths lament on their front porch. Their cow may now be fifteen minutes away, but they still have their faith and each other. |
To Stephen and Linda Voith, keeping cows at their home on Main Street in Angelica, N.Y., a tiny rural village, is a central facet of their Hindu beliefs.
To local officials, though, keeping the Voiths’ growing herd outside village limits is a matter of law, not religion.
The Appellate Division of State Supreme Court in Rochester recently agreed, upholding a lower court ruling that prevented a lawyer for the couple from raising the issue of religious freedom when the village won an injunction against them. In 2003, an acting State Supreme Court justice found the Voiths in violation of a law against keeping livestock on parcels smaller than 10 acres.
“We’re being denied our right to practice our religion, because it seems like such a threat to the status quo in this country,” Mr. Voith said, calling attention to a dairy farm across the street behind their home.
The village attorney, Raymond W. Bulson, said the law does not single out any religion and described the dispute as a quality-of-life matter.
“You move to a village because you want the amenities,” Mr. Bulson said. “If you move there to have those amenities, you don’t want a cow next door. I’m sure their religious beliefs are sincere, but that was never an issue…” [Link]
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p>Bigots. They aren’t even ashamed. They just come out and say it. “You don’t want a cow next door.” I guess it doesn’t even matter to Mr. Bulson that the cow in question is both young and in love. This isn’t just a story about religious discrimination but also one about forbidden love.
The dispute began after the Voiths bought a house in 1999 on two and a half acres in Angelica, about 80 miles southeast of Buffalo. They initially boarded their cow, Chintamani, on a neighbor’s farm, partly inside the village but exempt from the livestock ordinance because the farm predates the 1986 law.
In 2001, after Chintamani was impregnated by one of the farmer’s bulls, the Voiths took her and her offspring to their house and leased a 12-acre field down the street for grazing.
The Voiths and their cows soon became a frequent sight on Main Street and in the village square. Some neighbors complained about odors, while the Voiths said they were harassed for their religious beliefs. [Link]
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p>Ahhhh, now it becomes clear. You guys can see the bigoted subtext here right? The local all-American bull impregnates the smelly “idol-worshiping” cow and the God-fearing townsfolk want none of it. Bullshit I say. Deepa Mehta needs to bring THIS story to the big screen next instead of some story about a ship full of Punjabi immigrants in Canada. Luckily both the Hindu American Foundation and the World Hindu Council filed amicus briefs on behalf of the Voiths.
The couple has kept the cows in accordance with the Hindu belief of goraksha (cow protection) and for a religious procession known as a padayatra. In traditional Hindu society, bovines are kept on private property only for agrarian purposes. Cows which are used for religious ceremonies are housed in special constructed goshalas or cow protection shelters…“The purpose of HAF’s efforts in these proceedings was to ensure true religious freedom for all faiths, including Hinduism,” said Nikhil Joshi, Esq, member of the Hindu American Foundation Board of Directors. “The governmental restrictions that have severely limited the Voiths’ right to foster and protect their cows casts an unconstitutional prophylactic blanket upon the Voiths’ ability to espouse freely their religious beliefs…” [Link]
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p>We may have suffered a temporary setback in the battle over California textbooks, but THIS battle isn’t yet over, not while “unconstitutional prophylactic blankets” are being cast about with impunity, and not while there is a drop of milk in Chintamani’s udders or a drop of blood in the fingers that I use to blog awareness about this issue.
If any of you drive through Angelica, N.Y., roll down your window and yell “Mooo.” Yell for all of us.
Funny stuff Abhi. I still can’t bring myself to write ‘LOL’ but I would if I could. I don’t know what to make of this. If they’re genuinely saying that cow protection means they have to keep a cow then I could say I need to keep a live human on my front garden because my religion tells me not to kill.
Anyway, we could chew the cud all day but I guess the point is moo. I’ll leave you to ruminate on this bull – I’m off tipping.
http://www.nomoreinjustice.org/
wow, looks like it’s hindu day on sm. yippeee!
Don’t have a cow, man.
Whose God is it anyways —
er…are you threatened by hinduism? just wondering.
From that web-site:
  Cynthia Petito
I have been the owner/operator of the Angelica B&B Inn
on Main Street for the last eight years. I have known and
been friends with the Voiths since June, 2001.
In July, 2001, I entered into a verbal lease agreement with
Stephen and Linda Voith, granting them use of ten acres
of our parcel for the purpose of grazing their cows.
Since that time the Voiths have utilized the leased property on
a regular basis, and I have personally witnessed their cows
on our property many times.
On April 24th, 2002, I formally entered into a written lease
agreement with the Voiths. We have a month-to-month lease
agreement, granting them use of twelve (12) acres of our
139 acres for the purpose of grazing their cows.
On 9/11/01 The Voiths came to my home and anxiously asked to
use the phone in order to call the police because they said
that their daughter, Gloria and her calf, Bhima, had nearly
been hit by a pickup truck during a prayer vigil on their
way to graze the cows at the leased property. At that time,
Linda Voith did phone the State Police with a request for
police help, but the police did not respond during the hours
that the Voiths were at my home that afternoon.
I then escorted the Voiths and their cows back to their property
(via High Street) with my own pickup truck to prevent any
further harassment.
I always found High Street to be very clean, and not at all
as described in Jan AylorÂ’s petition (which stated
that cow pies were left deposited all over High Street.)
I one time witnessed one of the VoithsÂ’ cows leaving
droppings on my driveway, and Stephen and his stepson Jason
immediately took all measures to clean up the mess.
I have been on the VoithsÂ’ property, and have seen that
it is very nicely kept, free from cow pies, odors, flies,
etc. They obviously treat their cows and goat as dear family
members, and that fact is certainly reflected in the gentle
and playful demeanor of the animals.
On the subject of cows in the Village of Angelica, the Cairns
have a large farm in the same area, with anywhere from 20-40
cows, and 30-50 goats.
The CairnsÂ’ cows have gotten out of their confines many
times; I have found their cows on my property and phoned
Maurice Cairns to inform him of this. We even have a photo
of one of their bulls right down on our driveway (which
is on Main Street in the business district).
We have geese and other residents in the village also have
farm animals. Some animals are permitted, whereas others
are not.
I saw the VoithsÂ’ calf, Bhima, pulling a cart many times
in the village. I saw him on Heritage Days, pulling a cart
with Kaitlin Voith in it down to Park Circle. Passersby
all seemed to appreciate this historical display
I accompanied Stephen Voith and the Voith children to Alfred
University on September 12, 2001 for an ‘Ox Workshop.’
I used my truck to transport Bhima the calf, and the family
and I spent several hours with Bhima on Campus. The Voiths
set up a table with much literature, as well as videos on
subjects such as vegetarianism, ox power, cow protection
and Krishna Consciousness. They also freely distributed
a large quantity of delicious vegetarian foodstuffs that
they prepared at their home. The students were greatly appreciative
of this generous cultural display and it was enlightening
to me as well.
I have invited the Voiths on many occasions to bring their
cows to my Inn for the benefit of visitors and tourists.
My guests have been very happy and eager to see the cows
and the ox cart. In my experience it is a popular attraction
for tourism in this area. We have photographs that some
of my guests have sent us from these experiences.
“Whose God is it anyways — er…are you threatened by hinduism? just wondering.”
actually quite the opposite, Lavanya. i was trying to be sarcastic but clearly i failed 🙂 blog topics on widowhood, sati, ayurveda, now cows – all in one day – it’s a veritable bonanza of exotica! (trying to be funny but i fail i know).
perhaps if the voiths had been accused of using the cows as a terrorist tool to infect Americans with toxin-laden milk and had been arrested, this rather hilarious take on their situation might have also included some other pertinent facts about their case, such as questionable legal manouevres by the judicial system (which have elicited such sympathy from sm in other cases), some rather “hilarious comments” about the Voiths’ choice of faith etc. but hey, that would take all the fun out of it.
the students were greatly appreciative of this generous cultural display and it was enlightening to me as well.
In my experience it is a popular attraction for tourism in this area. We have photographs that some of my guests have sent us from these experiences.
I hate to be a killjoy on every forum where I point out the political and capitalist mindset of “multicultural” America, but….
Another example..AMERICA is a CHRISTIAN NATION.
At least they are cows and not some other creature, like stinky goats and filthy hogs.
Gai are lovely animals. True to the Hindu tradition, they offer us five essentials for our daily lives: butter (cooking), milk (drinking), dung (fuel), and urine (medicinal properties).
It seems that in every direction that we gaze these days someone else in America is losing a fundamental right that our founding fathers believed in and bled for.
I doubt that Georgie et al could foresee that one day, followers of a religion called “Hinduism” were going to take root in America. They fought for that fundamental right feeling pretty secure and smug that the majority of “Amreekans” was going to remain Christian (in all of its denominations).
p.s. and yes i have a sense of humor.
Do pray tell, what are the medicinal uses of cow urine? Don’t cite the junk on the Internet, give me some real clinical evidence. Because I hope you haven’t fallen into the trap that the BJP did, they wasted hundreds of crores researching a TB treatment based on cow urine. It’s a lot of hocum, just like homeopathy. Although I’d rather drink water than piss.
I want a bear cow. Sounds like some gnarly hybrid.
Bong, I’ll go get my “cloning kit”. Any other requests?
Moo.
Really, Moo.
Yes. I would like a bar-fly, a hog-wash, a bear-naked lady, a bird-brain, a wholly cow, a cat-meringue and a corn-dog. Thank you please. (No kangaroos please joey)
Do pray tell, what are the medicinal uses of cow urine? Don’t cite the junk on the Internet, give me some real clinical evidence. Because I hope you haven’t fallen into the trap that the BJP did, they wasted hundreds of crores researching a TB treatment based on cow urine. It’s a lot of hocum, just like homeopathy. Although I’d rather drink water than piss.
Bong Breaker–
You really shouldn’t break your bong— use it to chill out!!
That little bit I wrote up there was an attempt to be amusing. I remember some former Desi politician who used to drink urine every day, claiming that it was “purifying”. No, it wasn’t Bobby Jindal. A former PM of India. Shastri? And yes, some other joker from the BJP.
Cool CAD, I get jittery around people talking crazy science. Glad you was just joshin’.
Here, make fun of Jains as well: http://www.jainsamaj.org/literature/bovine.htm
I didn’t believe it till I checked it but go to the US Patent Office search http://patft1.uspto.gov/netahtml/PTO/srchnum.htm
Look for patent #s 6410059 and 6896907
Here is a comment from a friend who read this article.
Cows on the street are cool. I like cows. a LOT. They’re beautiful and peaceful, not like yapping dogs, for example. yes, they (NY Courts) went too far. This is a VILLAGE they were talking about, 80 MILES from a proper “city” and I think the voiths should appeal.
I think she hit the nail on the head. What do you think?
I too would love to know the medicinal properties of Cow urine, and the 5th essential, you only listed 4.
Bong. I didn’t know you were follicularly inclined. I guess you won’t be taking it to the car wash and waxing it!
I don’t want to start any rumors, but maybe Bobby Jindal does drink urine every morning before going to his office!!
Cows on the street are cool. I like cows. a LOT. They’re beautiful and peaceful, not like yapping dogs, for example. yes, they (NY Courts) went too far. This is a VILLAGE they were talking about, 80 MILES from a proper “city” and I think the voiths should appeal.
This is bullshit. If “cows on the streets are cool”, then they should be able to roam the streets even in “proper cities”, like in India.
I propose that we unleash herds of cows onto the busy streets of NYC. It would be sooooo cute to see these “beautiful and peaceful” doe-eyed creatures jostling right next to taxi cabs, driven by our Desi bhaiyas. I’m sure they’ll feel like they haven’t left India at all 🙂
Ovvie–
You’re right. I did only list four. Hmmm… I think the fifth one might be yogurt. I’m not so sure. But no Desi meal is complete without dahi, so it may very well be the fifth essential.
CAD:
Well yes, quite literally.
I have one last thing to say on this matter. I really love steak. Night night.
This is bullshit. If “cows on the streets are cool”, then they should be able to roam the streets even in “proper cities”, like in India.
I propose that we unleash herds of cows onto the busy streets of NYC. It would be sooooo cute to see these “beautiful and peaceful” doe-eyed creatures jostling right next to taxi cabs, driven by our Desi bhaiyas. I’m sure they’ll feel like they haven’t left India at all 🙂
No, its cow shit. Anyways, her point was that this is a Village, not a City. How does your argument that we unleash heard of cows onto the busy streets of NYC play into what she said. I personally think that you are racist against brown people evidenced by your last comment jostling right next to taxi cabs, driven by our Desi bhaiyas. I’m sure they’ll feel like they haven’t left India at all Not very fair to those taxi cab wallas that are trying to make an honest living.
Bong Breaker: I have one last thing to say on this matter. I really love steak.
Here we are talking about the protection of cows because we Hindus hold it close to our hearts, guaranteeing religious freedom in the United States, and the woeful fate of our fellow Hindu Americans the Voiths.
And you’re going to go eat a steak. BESHARAM!
I personally think that you are racist against brown people evidenced by your last comment jostling right next to taxi cabs, driven by our Desi bhaiyas. I’m sure they’ll feel like they haven’t left India at all Not very fair to those taxi cab wallas that are trying to make an honest living.
Whoa, calm down Gagandeep. I was just kidding! I wasn’t trying to be racist. I was only proposing to recreate a Desi atmosphere 🙂 I’d quite like it myself, it would remind me of my trips to India. Don’t take #23 seriously. And anyway, how can I be racist against brown people? I’m brown as hell myself. And I don’t come from a Desi yuppie background either.
How does your argument that we unleash heard of cows onto the busy streets of NYC play into what she said.
Sheesh…should I write all of my responses in thesis form? 😉 My response had been playful, not written for an academic conference.
http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/cowswithguns.php
Gagandeep:
I now see how my attempt at being funny can be interpreted as being racist and insensitive. I truly apologize. It was not my intention to be mean. I have the utmost respect for “taxi cab wallas that are trying to make an honest living” and their predicament– working their asses off and getting paid very little for it– is one I can fully relate to. They are exploited, and jokes about how jostling right next to taxi cabs, driven by our Desi bhaiyas. I’m sure they’ll feel like they haven’t left India at all 🙂 is mean. Once again, I apologize. Mane maaph kar.
Re: my argument about letting herds of cows roam the streets of NYC, I can see how you are confused. I think it’s me who’s confused, though. I’m confused re:This is a VILLAGE they were talking about, 80 MILES from a proper “city” and I think the voiths should appeal.. Explain??????
Holy Cow. Speaking of which when I went to visit some friends who live in bumfuk PA last summer the local news story one night was that a “cow in heat had strayed into the village square and blocked traffic because she refused to move from where she could see a mate” No I swear I’m not making this up.
Cowabunga dude!
I sent this article to a bunch of my friends. The point was to gauge if they agreed with the NY Courts decision enforce the ban on cows in the Village. My friend wrote that since itÂ’s a Village they shouldn’t have such a ban since the City is 80 miles away from where the Cows would roam. Finally, she thought that the family involved in the case should appeal the ruling of the Courts.
Regarding your apology, apology accepted!
Cynthia Petito’s statement is very touching actually. These people might be looked upon as “capitalist” freaks by some or just plain fanatical and weird but holy shit it takes a lot of conviction to believe in something so deeply and live by it everyday. It requires a level of sincerely that is simply not achieved by being deceptive. I say cowpower, fight the man damnit!!
Hmm, how did a bunch of white dude in NY become Hindu?
Oh, now I get it.
Cows on the street are cool. I like cows. a LOT. They’re beautiful and peaceful, not like yapping dogs, for example. yes, they (NY Courts) went too far. This is a VILLAGE they were talking about, 80 MILES from a proper “city” and I think the voiths should appeal.
But you see how if you hadn’t given your explanation in #33, I may have misinterpreted this?
Re: apology– thanks. But I already feel very bad and ashamed at my comment (#23).
Something that no one has commented on, but that I think is very important.
BOBBY JINDAL DRINKS COW URINE EVERY MORNING BEFORE HE GOES TO HIS OFFICE. Disclaimer: But you didn’t hear it from me.
Re: above post #36
MAYBE he does. I would like to stress the hypothetical nature of this assertion.
I don’t want a pissed off Bobby Jindal posting a comment on SM, and then trying to nab me with a lawsuit for defaming his name. I ain’t no Enquirer or Star reporter who’s about to be taken to court for ruining the good name of politicians, like Gary Hart, due to their investigative skills.
I don’t know enough about American constitution to say that whether the ruling is a violation. But shouldn’t it be kind of violation of right to private property ?
However itsn’t neccessary for Hindus to keep cows. I am really wary of framing Hinduism in terms of a finite & static pictures of dogmas and rituals.
1) For some reason last few posts of about by Abhi which are about Hindusism is filed under Humour 2) Add this with the disclaimer that I read once on the line of “I am not really a Hindu despite what my name may suggest”.What is … ?
yes, it must mean that Abhi is anti-hindu or something. You know, those abCds are at it again.
Abhi (38#)
Your words
Again Your words, by the way I didn’t know that you represented whole of second generation.
Regards
At least have the balls to say what you were implying. Once it is down in print you will see how lame it actually reads.
Abhi (40#)
1) Those were observations, they can be refuted. Implication is open ended. 2) It doesn’t take much balls to do anything on internet. 3) You are free to claim victimhood, I have no desire to be cause of your martyrdom though.
Regards
you know GAURAV,
you really crack me up. no, really.
you’re writing is like no-one else’s i’ve read before on blog comments.
not only do you:
a) write in poncy full capital letters and sentences, which always stands out among the lazy net typing of people such as myself
b) write ‘Regards’ after comments which often contain personal insults…
you also seem to have no sense of humour! lighten up dude, don’tcha know that brown people who live in white countries just wanna have fun and be as foreign as we can, lyin in the sun and laughing about the loss of constitutional rights! we don’t give a sh** about culture or religion man…
ugh. maybe it was just an interesting post and we should take it as that. people don’t have to ‘reprazent’ what they were born into every second of the day, they can also just represent their own views and personalities, which are just as important.
Tashie Uncleji–
Check out “Not Brown” over at “Kaavya, Innocent Until Proven Guilty”. Have fun—
CAD # 16 The guy who used to drink was the erswhile Finance Minister and PM Morarji Desai.
If there is a real nuisance in the whole planet it would be the french dogs peeing and shitting on the sidewalks all over the country
CAD # 16 The guy who used to drink urine was the erstwhile Finance Minister and PM Morarji Desai.
If there is a real nuisance in the whole planet it would be the french dogs peeing and shitting on the sidewalks all over the country
The Hindu cows won’t be coming home … In 2001, after Chintamani was impregnated by one of the farmerÂ’s bulls, the Voiths took her and her offspring to their house and leased a 12-acre field down the street for grazing. …
ROFL.. I was imagining a “riot” between White folks, because a “Hindu” cow has been violated by the Christian(??) bull …
Lallu Prasad Yadav is the maha go’rakshak among all Indian politicians. Madras has a serious problem with stray cattle. Every now and then when the government has tried to shift the cattle sheds out of the city the konars (who dominate the small dairy business) have turned to Lallu who has smooth talked the administration out of it. Maybe the Voiths should do the same. Lallu of course is bound to be a hit in the farm belt anywhere in the US.
Shiva (47#)
Lalu smooth talking chennai local administration ! Certainly one of the most ridiculous statements I have ever encountered.
Or is it because you want to find blame with “others” for every issue chennai might or might not have been facing.
Gaurav (#37):
Right on. Although keeping a cow isn’t a part of any actual dogma or ritual with which I’m familiar. Seems to me like someone in Bumblefuck, NY materializing an abstract concept (because they can only conceptualize their religion in material terms), and for some reason which I can’t fathom, the HAF and VHP-A coming to their defense.
Gaurav, where are these posts on Hinduism which are filed under humor? I can’t find any of them…
Gaurav (#41):
Normally agreed, but these guys have their names and pictures up on their blog. They make themselves available in person from time to time. Therefore they are somewhat accountable. The best the rest of us can do is provide our e-mail addresses. Ahem.
MV(49#)
Me too, but I do remember one other post which was in similar vein. That is why I said it was open ended.
1) I was talking about taking positions during argument. 2) I visit this site for posts and disccusion on the thread.I am not sure that life of paricipants outside the context has any relevance. 3) My e-mail id will mean nothing. My identity is irrelevant.
Regards
Regards