I had the opportunity a few years back to spend a week first in Bahrain, and then later at Dubai, in the UAE during Ramadan – some of you may remember the time frame I am speaking of.
Devout Muslims fast, declining to eat or drink during the daylight hours of Ramadan, and as GCC members, both Bahrain and Dubai are relatively conservative Islamic states. Being the kind of man who tends to get crabby after a missed meal or two, I was therefore surprised and gratified to learn that special provisions had been made for non-believers behind privacy screens: There we could dine to our hearts’ content, although in deference to local sensitivities the purchase of alcohol was suspended.
In Britain, it appears that things are not quite so congenial, these days:
Muslim council chiefs ban ALL members from ‘tea and sandwiches’ in meetings during Ramadan
(H/T to Robert Spenser)
There is none so devout as the recent convert. If you don’t believe me, just listen to anyone who quit smoking.
I was surprised to see vocal opposition. I halfway expected that everybody would have rolled over.
I think the pushback in Britain is very close to starting. And I don’t think the Muslim supremacists are going to like it.
In re “sleep aids” … for years my husband and I used to take one Pyribenzamine pill a night, because we both had chronic sinus problems. Worked like a charm to give us 7-8 hours of clear-headed, restful sleep. We woke up bright-eyed and ready to rumble in the morning. No probs with memory lapses, temporary amnesia, any of that stuff that some folks get from Ambien. Then The Government took it off the market, offering us all sorts of inferior stuff which doesn’t keep one’s nose of clogging and makes for restless sleep. As for sleep medicine, forget it.
Then we discovered over-the-counter Benedryl. The pills are recommended for four hour sinus relief. They work pretty well for that. Better than that, they push us gently over the edge into restful sleep of about 6-7 hours. And even better than that, The Government can’t take them away.
But I still miss my pyribenzamine. Sigh… Ambien seems to make real memory problems for some folks, and elderlies like us have to take lower doses of most stuff if we don’t want to be found wandering on the highway in our nighties.
Marianne
Mark Steyn’s book “America Alone” is a good read on how “Eutopia” is becomming Islamophobic and caving in. We are not far behind in the US.
I was told by an Egyptian Christian awhile back that it is common practice within Egyptian Islamists to gorge themselves with food after dark, while fasting during daylight. This person also claimed the existence of stratification within Islam, with “Principal Islam” being taught and practiced by the Mullahs and very strict followers (including radicals), and “Common Islam” taught to and followed by the general populace. I have no corroboration of this, however, from anyone of the Muslim faith. Perhaps someone reading these comments can offer enlightenment.
I spent some months in Bahrain several years ago, including the whole month of Ramadan.
Not too shabby, Skippy would hate it because all the Filipino and Russian “Singers” would leave for home. I loved the IFTAR buffet at the Crowne Plaza where I was staying, and you could still get a drink if so inclined. I found the locals to be quite accomodating. The worst part was not being to drink my Diet Coke and Smoke during my drives through the “neighborhoods”. Other than that, not too bad. Again, most locals were quite understanding, had more than one offer tea during day (in the back room)