via I come from a village right next to Abra and I don’t recall ever being advised not to eat in public during Ramadan. In fact, I have a lot of Muslim friends and colleagues and I never had an issue with them during Ramadan. Unless you are being disrespectful by stuffing food to their face or sending them food pictures, there’s no need to tell people where and when to eat or not.
I think that was a meaningless thing to do from the municipality, and even though the mayor, who’s Christian, probably had good intentions, this act will cause more harm than good.
Dear Najib,
You must have noticed an escalade in recent years of incidents linked to islamic laws (alcohol selling shops set on fire, targeted with bombs, a 3achoura2 in almost every street now). This is also true in politics where religion is more than ever implicated in every decision as well as in economic ….
Being a Christian now, you have to respect our Muslim fellows feelings during Ramadan and avoid eating, dressing the way you want and …. During Christians celebrations, you also have to respect our Muslim Fellows feeling by not over-celebrating ….
Well respect is mutual, and thus they should respect Christian freedom of doing what they want, during their celebrations …. The notice should have been addressed to both !!!
ma b7ayeteh sme3t hal chi 2ella bl KSA,
this is not KSA.
Last year I (Christian) was in Akkar during Ramadan visiting a friend (Christian) in a Christian village. We went together for some sightseeing in the surrounding villages. I was super hungry around noon so I bought a Snickers and a can of 7-Up. I devoured my Snickers in a second. While walking by the road drinking my 7-Up, a car suddenly drove fast and almost ran us down, and then went away. I asked my friend: “Why is he driving like crazy on this narrow road?”. He replied: “Maybe because he saw you drinking in Ramadan”.
The problem (which I believe is a good thing) with us Christians is that we don’t mind if someone ate during the fasting hours of Lent, whether they’re Christians or Muslims or whatever. We believe that it’s a personal matter. However, Muslims don’t think it is.
So when in Rome do as the Romans do, otherwise you could be run down by a Roman chariot 🙂
The problem is actually when you generalize and consider that ALL Christians are this and ALL Muslims are that.
Fasting is an act of SELF DISCIPLINE. The real effort is done when someone sees others eating / sees food commercials on tv / sees other people drink water etc. , without being weak enough to eat and or drink. Preventing all others to eat and drink in public is meaningless. We live in a religiously mixed society, and no one, absolutely no one, has the right to dictate to others what they are supposed to do. The only authority is the Lebanese CONSTITUTION. Not the Bible nor the Koran.
i just dont understand that im a muslim and i never feel insulted seeing anyone eating or drinking during ramadan. its just stupid to force people to respect each other religions. if the respect is not implemented within us then its useless.