Gift of the Masai

Washington Times ^ | Wednesday, June 5, 2002 | Tony Blankley

[michigander]

According to the Times report

There's the whole problem, the way the story was reported.
If you read the this report (from the BBC), you may see this whole thing in a little different light.

Kenyan Masai donate cows to US

'Expression of regard'

The US national anthem played as the herdsmen handed over the cattle.

"I know that for the Masai people the cow is valued above all possessions and that the gift of a cow is the highest expression of regard and sympathy," Mr Brancick said.

"When we count the value of these cows, and when we add the value of the great spirits that gave them, we can say without doubt that you seem richer still."

The cattle will not be taken to America but will be sold at a local market and the proceeds used to buy beads.

Masai women will then fashion traditional beadwork with commemorative messages, including perhaps the Stars and Stripes of the US flag.

The Masai craftwork will then be handed over to the people of New York for display in the city.

[BOBTHENAILER]

Wonderful story and thanks for the ping. I don't know how to do it, but maybe someone who does could forward this to the NYC firefighters and police, Pentagon officials and anyone associated with the flight 93 victims.

What a tribute, coming from the most physically courageous tribe in Africa.

"We'll hunt him down in the bush".

[JMJ333]

Typical leftist ingratitude.

[Tribune7]

A "don't sell the cows" bump.

[Tribune7]

(they're not ivory)

But if they were, we would have found the ultimate elephant.

[DB]

Are we too late, have the cows already been sold?

The cows need to come to America da&% it!

[Catspaw]

Thanks, Anthony, for the perspective and mini-history lesson.

I am deeply touched with the generosity, care and consideration of the Masai.

[lodwick]

Thanks and bttt!

[dead]

When I first posted this story on another thread, I trashed William Brenick pretty good:

I do think that William Brencick, the deputy chief of the Nairobi mission, could use a few more lessons in diplomacy.

Even if we're not going to fly the cows to America, he doesn't really need to announce that our government will immediately liquidate this heartfelt gift into a more mobile commodity. Show a little tact, Billy.

But I was set straight by this post from sadimgnik. Brencick’s actions were perfectly acceptable and he was a gracious recipient of the gift.

Blankley should have researched the issue a little more.

[SpottedBeaver]

Oltetia said: "That guy [bin Laden] — surely we would have to kill him. We as the Masai have ways to kill, just using a spear and bows and arrows."

I like their spirit. And their generosity is more than appreciated. I couldn't say enough.

[Grampa Dave]

Our church is a member of the Heffer Project. We collect money and send it to the project to buy cattle, goats, llamas for people in who need livestock for breeding proposes in the world.

Would there be a place, agency or someone to contact to see if the Heffer Project could buy some cattle for the Masai? I don't even know if the cattle the Masai raise and rever can be bought for them.

[Teacher317]

These people gave the best of what they had for us. I hope our people in power truly understand just what this tribe has done.

The Little Drummer Boy comes to mind... a powerful and moving message.

[Gumlegs]

Looks like William Brancick to me.

[okimhere]

Thanks for posting this and for the ping. I have whiplash over the way the story zigzags and changes. Is Bracnick an insensitive buffoon or is he in touch with these sincere and 'simple' people? I'll wait until the dust settles.....;^)

The heartfelt gesture is soul-stirring. Heroes appear everywhere in connection with 9/11, don't they? Spetznaz, your post is educational and very much appreciated.

[HiJinx]

How do idiots like that (and classless ones...no less) get into positions of responsibility ?

The Peter Principle is alive and well in the State Department.

[Gumlegs]

This sort of post is why the net can be such a marvelous instrument. Thank you very much.

BTW, I visited Kenya in 1974 when I was in the Navy. We stayed about a week in Mombassa, a wonderful city. Your point about Oklahoma City is well taken. (Please, other freepers, don't mistake me. I mean that the view of American cities abroad is often quite distorted. People expect every place in the country to be New York City).

[Grampa Dave]

Looks enough like Rush that I'm using it to parody Rush for his latest stepping into the Bovine Bravo Sierra to blame the president.

[Gumlegs]

You know, you're right.

I feel a little like Rush myself, though, now that I've read more complete accounts of what happened.

[Grampa Dave]

You are an honest man.

Rush flunked my standard of good conservative research. He used a NY Slimes oped to attack GW without reading the report itself on his latest attack on GW.

Anyone who uses the NY Slimes, Washington Compost, Boston Globe or LA Slimes as the base of an argument is a fool and not a conservative. Rush qualified as a leader re being a fool and not a conservative in his latest hip deep venture in leftist bravo sierra.

Often, I will see an article that sounds a little weird and being touted as another way GW is going wrong or being used to slam conservatives. I will do a Google search on that article and quite often the original hit op/ed appeared in the Slimes, went to other newspapers/wire agencies and then to the tv and radio stations/nets. No one bothered to document the original Slimey article. When you look at it, the usual criminals of the left are implicated.

Like the brazen attempt to blame Mr. Mueller for the 9/11 mass murder. Mueller was sworn in as FBI Director on 9/04/2001, 7 days before the mass murder of Americans. They are running from that story now. The FBI that Jake Reno and Freeh had set up was responsible not Mueller after a week on the job!

[LibWhacker]

Masai bump.