Meaning
Something too highly regarded to be open to
criticism or curtailment.
Origin
This
term is an allusion to the Hindu reverence for cows. The first use
in English that I have found of the term 'sacred cow' as a
description of the recipient of that long-standing Hindu veneration
is in an American newspaper from the 1850s. This is a reprint of a
letter that was sent by Wady Jahed, an Indian emigre, living in
Janesville, Wisconsin, to The Calcutta Times. Mr Jahed sent
the letter on the'17th day of the 6th Moon' and The Janesville
Free Press printed it in January 1854:
To the most eminent Kaali Ramon, High
Brahmin, at Benares, India.
The religion of the Hindoo is now well
established here, but I find many things to correct. For
instance the grain which they bring as an offering to the
goddess Bhavani, which they pronounce brewery, they work up into
a liquor which they drink in honor of the gods, instead of
feeding it to the sacred bulls and cows; they also eat the flesh
of animals, and do other vile things.
Kiss the sacred cow for me, and may Doorgha
bless you at all times.
From your Slave,
WADY JAHED.
Evansville, fortunately, escaped damage from
the recent flooding. Our neighboring UUs, however, have not, and
three area districts are set up to accept donations for UU families and
congregations affected by the flooding.
Heartland District (www.heartlanduu.org)
Terre Haute: members had to shovel mud and dirt
from the church driveway to make it accessible for Sunday service (an
installation service for Rev. Amy Kindred). Some congregants
experienced damage, including retired minister Rev. Doddie Stone.
Columbus: At least 4 UU families have lost
everything.
Central MidWest District (www.cmwd-uua.org)
Fond du Lac: 6 inches of water in the lower
level of the new church building. Several members with water in
their basements.
Prairie Star District (www.psduua.org)
Cedar Rapids: Water came to within a block of
the church. The congregation met for worship in an Episcopal
church that let them use the space. They were able to get into
their own church for a couple of hours, escorted in by the National
Guard.
Iowa City: The congregation met for worship,
then spent a couple of hours carrying things from the basement up to a
higher level and sandbagging around the building. About 15 UU
families lost their homes to floodwater, including their minister, Nancy
Haley.
Please help! Many of you
may remember when my basement flooded and I lost many personal mementos
and furniture - and many of you helped me by lugging all that
waterlogged stuff upstairs and outside, and offering me moral support.
That experience had a major emotional impact on me, and I can't
even imagine the depth of the devastation these recent flood victims are
experiencing. I lived in Iowa City for several years, and seeing
the flood photos on their newspaper's website moved me to tears, so I
sent my donation to the Prairie Star District. Please help, if you can,
by sending a donation to one of the three UU districts listed above.
Thank you. Jan Steinmark
