Holy Cow

Another email came today encouraging me to send my web address to another group opposing the military on campus. This one, however, also included, a warning that I had seen before, that the title of this web site, nonviolentworm, “scares some people into thinking it carries a viral danger and therefore they don’t want to go to it.” Normally, a champion of those stigmatized and rejected, I skip over these responses. But ears that have been considering a change of name heard this notice.

Ever since returning from India I have looked on a cow as a better symbol than the worm for Growing Renewable Affordable Food G.R.A.F.. In India where some cows run free and many are important livestock for sustainable living, a cow goes more with the spirit of nonviolence than a worm. In India cow waste, manure, is the main product of the cow and used for anything from fertilizer, bio fuel, medicine, and toothpaste and to make vermi-compost, castings or ‘black gold’ as we call it. Milk is a secondary product.

In Gandhi’s writings he talks almost as much about the holy role of the cow in culture as he does of nonviolence. Also I intend to explore the role of cows, particularly cow manure, in urban gardening. In the USA the cow may not be a sacred symbol as it is in India, but no one worrying about computer viruses will be concerned about a nonviolent cow as some are with a nonviolent worm.

I am prepared to make the switch; the web site will remain the same, just have a new name. Personally I do not think anyone will dismiss me and this way of sustainable growing and practicing nonviolence by calling me the “cow guy” as they now do by calling me the ‘worm guy.’ The worm is a lowly creature and, although I will keep that name also, cow dung is also lowly and more repulsive. But it might be more symbolic of what this domain is all about.

I think Peter Maurin, the co-founder of the Catholic Worker with Dorothy Day, would like it better. He called for farmers, intellectuals, factory workers and all people to join in building community.
What do you think, the Nonviolent Cow?

Comments

(:commentboxchrono:)