Re: Holy Cows In A Small Town

[Guest guest]

I must side with and . Vedas pass on very detailed guidelines about environmental hygiene and sanitation, specifically with cows kept almost like pets. The entire organic movement is an affirmation of the role cows play in sustainability of the environments.If people in the neighborhood do not feel threatened by pets like cats and dogs and what not, they should feel more safe with cows in the near vicinity.I must also point out that Vedas do not propagate a religion. Vedas show an environmentally sustainable life for man on this planet. Cow assumes a pivotal role in this scheme. Tradition has rendered this the name of a religion.Thanks Subodh Kumar"Gordon S. " wrote: Here's the test case we've been expecting. Haven't figured out which side I'm on yet. By Rich KellmanSenior CorrespondentIf you are Hindu and believe cows are especially holy, should you be able to have cows on your property? How about if that property is a house and yard on Main Street in a rural village?"In this circumstance, it's ridiculous not to allow animals," says Voith of the Allegany County Village of . She and her husband practice the Hindu religion and believe it is their right to keep cows on their property and in their house. For several years, they boarded six cows at a nearby beef farm but occasionally brought them to their home and to Village civic events."America is the land of freedom of religion," says. The Voiths moved to

in 1999. In 2003, a State Supreme Court judge ordered their cows removed from the Village. tells us, "I think people are unfamiliar with the holy cow, and wonder what does it mean." says the cow is symbolic of motherhood. "We're trying to keep a couple of cows, according to the Veda epistemology, to show the sanctity of all life," he says.But the cows in the yard led to antagonism with many neighbors. What began as religious expression became a source of irritation to some in the Village who saw a danger to public health. "This is not about religion," Mayor tells us. "We had a lot of complaints about the smells, the proximity to the neighbors."The Voiths complied with the 2003 court order and removed their cows from the Village. But they say they will appeal the ruling. We asked , "Have

you considered moving to a more appropriate place?""We have," he replies, "but it wouldn't be a good idea in the middle of a court case.""The case would become moot," says .We ask , "Do you think and you might have done anything to aggravate the situation?""I think there were times when we went downtown chanting Hare Krishna, that wasn't favorably viewed," she says. "But there was so much deprivation that went on before that, we didn't know what else to do."What they'll do now is follow through with their court appeal, in a case which they say is a matter of religious freedom, but which the Village contends is an issue involving public health.

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