mcgees.org

I don’t know if you have heard the story of the Masai tribespeople learning of the September 11 attacks on  the world Trade Center.  It was only after one of their own returned from his studies abroad in the U.S. that they learned of the tragedy.  In proper oral history tradition, he sat down with them and told them tales of the attack.

The Masai could not comprehend of a building so high that a man would die if he jumped from the top, but the returned Stanford University student, Mr. Naiyomah, explained that these were buildings stretching high into the clouds, that there were giant fires, and that men with special tools and equipment went into the buildings to try to save lives.

The tribespeople were relieved that their friend was unscathed, and they were angry.  The village’s chief warrior, Mr. Oltetia, explained that if they got ahold of Osama bin Laden they surely would have to kill him.  They recognized, however, that bin Laden must be a powerful man to have caused this devastation, so he could not be killed directly.  Instead, the warriors would surround him in the bush and strike with spears and arrows.

Mostly, however, the villagers were saddened.  They asked Mr. Naiyomah to help find an important American.  Mr. Naiyomah contacted William Brancick, the deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi.  This past Sunday, he flew to a game preserve and then was driven two hours over very rugged roads to reach the village.  The villagers were waiting for him.  At a ceremony in a grassy clearing, the village bestowed a gift of fourteen blessed cows to help the United States.

This put Brancick in a difficult position, and he explained that it would be very difficult to transport a small herd of cows to America.  He told them he would probably sell the cows, use the money to buy Masai jewelry, and give the jewelry to America.  I have no indication about whether this was a faux pas.  Cattle are very important to the Masai, who believe that all cattle in the world belong to them.  Their exhaustive use of the cattle parallels the Native Americans of the Plains’ use of bison.  The animals are tapped for blood and milk, which are mixed together and drunk (this is, one would expect, highly nutritious.)  When the animal is killed the meat is eaten and all the parts used.  As Mr. Naiyomah explains, “It [the cow] is sacred.  It’s more than property.  You give it a name.  You talk to it.  You perform rituals with it.  I don’t know if you have any sacred food in America, something that has a supernatural feel as you eat it.  That’s the cow for us.”

I am touched by this gesture, but I cannot figure out how to write this post so that it does not sound condescending to the Masai.  Their act was so generous, so naïve, it reminds one of the gift of a child.  What an uplifting tale.

The New York Times has more info (registration required; you know the drill.)  Also, an American has set up a fine “thank you” site.

Tue, 04 Jun 2002 14:35:30 -0500
Under cool, politics
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