The Sacred Cow
	Even in prehistoric times humans have apparently worshipped cattle. Paintings of huge wild bulls with their cows are found in cave paintings in France from 35,000 years ago. Shrines to bulls with pairs of horns embedded in clay were discovered in Turkey from 8000 years ago, possibly analogous to the present day mounting of bull horns on walls and the front of Cadillacs.        For the Cretans, the ultimate in sport was bull leaping in which the athlete seizes the horns of the charging bull, somersaulting over its back and landing on the ground be¬hind, as part of the cult of bull worship. This sport can be appreciated by the present day members of the bullfighting and steer wrestling cults.        The Egyptians glorified the bull as the earthly repository of the God of creation. Since there could be only one living repository, the bull was chosen according to specified qualities of coloring and markings by priests after a nationwide search. The discovery of such a bull was the occasion for nationwide rejoicing. During his life he resided in princely quarters, anointed and perfumed by priests and paraded on ceremonial occasions. His death was the occasion for national mourning. He was embalmed during a 70 day ritual on a special alabaster table and entombed in a granite vault.        The Hindus, for centuries rather than kill a reincarnated soul, allow cattle to wander freely at will, wherever they wish, analogous to open range in the U.S., destroying and soiling everything in their wake.        All this reverence for the bovine species may seem ridiculous to our age of sophistication, but is it? A more stupid, dull, hideous, filthy creature to worship cannot be imagined. Nevertheless, there are currently around one and a quarter billion cattle roaming the earth. Their combined weight exceeds that of the entire human population. No matter where one goes, to the seashore, the mountains, the foothills, the plains, and tropical rain forests, there they are soiling the earth and tramping down soil and vegetation, chewing, chewing, chewing. There is no escaping their filth and ugliness. They are a major cause of destruction of rain forest and desertification around the world. Further, by their needs, they have made necessary the destruction of many wild species. The use of large amounts of petrochemical fertilizers is necessary to produce the grain needed to make their meat an even greater risk factor for beef eating humans. The emission of huge amounts of methane by the world's cattle population is partially responsible for global warming. Consumption of beef has been linked to the leading causes of death—heart disease and cancer.        Why is this beast not only tolerated but made to increase? In the past, the cow was a symbol of religious worship. Now the cow is a symbol for the dollar sign and human greed. The dependence on cattle for various reasons: the profits made by the sale of slaughtered beef, by feed lot owners, by owners of world- wide chains of hamburger stands, by the trucking industry which hauls them and their feed, by multi-national beef corporations, by ranchers, by dairy farmers and producers; and by such diverse groups as jungle farmers trying to eke out a living for their huge families, African tribesmen and innumerable other vested interests, permit cattle to inherit the earth.        In the US West, cattle are representative of the cowboy cult, kept alive by conjuring up visions of the lone cowboy riding herd in dust, blizzard, heat and cold to protect cattle from wolves, coyotes, wildcats and rustlers. This has been portrayed in countless Hollywood movies. They are portrayed as heroes whose prowess in horseback riding, drinking, shooting and love making are those qualities most striven for and emulated by a large part of the American population. One of these "heroes" was even elected president of the United States. This image is so sacrosanct and has such power, along with beef industry lobbies, the majority of US lawmakers support the use of public lands for cattle grazing and property tax breaks for ranchers at enormous cost to tax payers without which ranching would not survive. This cult is kept alive by an anachronistic life style including countless ritual pit and back yard barbecues, rodeos, and trail rides. High heeled, pointed toed boots are worn by men, women and children from the age of 3, where possible with spurs. They are especially favored by businessmen and bankers in the Southwest. One can even see this type of boot, hand made, of course, adorning the feet of surgeons on rounds in Houston and Dallas, Texas. One can even behold a statue of Jesus in cowboy boots in a Texas cemetery .This worship is further perpetrated by idolizing the derelicts and criminals who "tamed the west" and by exclusion of anything that smacks of culture or learning.        The cow has not lost its place as an object of worship over the ages. It excludes from consideration all other species— the wolf, coyote, prairie dog, eagles, wildcat, bobcat, cougar, tropical birds and even humans—to name only a few. All must make obeisance to the sacred cow and its cult.