If I were a Muslim…

If I were a Muslim… September 20, 2009

…I’d be offended, too, although not for the stated reason:

[The UK] Home Office staff were officially warned not to eat in front of their fasting Muslim colleagues during Ramadan – in case it made them feel hungry.

The advice came in a taxpayer-funded internal document listing do’s and don’ts during the Muslim holy month, which ends this weekend.

The Home Office Islamic Network produced the five-page information sheet which says: ‘In practical terms, please be sensitive when eating lunch near a Muslim colleague who is fasting.

This can make an individual feel hungrier and make it more challenging to observe the fast.’

The Muslim Public Affairs Committee, which claims to be fighting a ‘political jihad against Islamophobia’, attacked the document. It said: ‘It is designed to create more hatred in the hearts of non-Muslims. We don’t care how much non-Muslims eat in front of us.’ ‘It’s never been an issue and never will be and we have never asked for any special treatment or sensitivity from non-Muslims whilst fasting.’

Bookworm writes: “…the protests came from Muslim groups, who felt as if they’d had a big target painted on them…”

In truth, this oversolicitous pandering of fasting Muslims by the UK government exposes a sort of racism: we are so afraid of you we’re going to go to unnecessary lengths to placate you.

I think the Muslims are right to be offended, but not because they are being targeted for “more hate.” They should be offended that their government thinks so little of them, that it feels the need to “help” them accomplish their fast.

This move by the UKHO is very insulting and condescending to all people of faith who engage in fasting, because it suggests that their act of faith cannot stand up to the world, that their faith is not strong enough to sustain them in their fast, that they need the “help” of the considerate nanny state in order to successfully make their sacrifice.

The state, which understands very little, does not understand that when one is fasting, the challenge of maintaining the fast while in the midst of others who are eating only makes the sacrifice that much more meaningful and valuable. The UK Nannystate is so accustomed to making everything “easier” for its citizenry, so in the habit of removing challenges from the lives of the English people, that it cannot understand the concept of purposely doing something difficult, challenging and self-abnegating.

The British Government no longer understands the noble and honorable concept of sacrifice. And whoever thought, 60 years ago, that anyone would ever write such a sentence?

As a Catholic who fasts on some holy days, I know I would be terribly offended if these silly edits came down to “help” me do that which I voluntarily do, whether duty-bound or in supplication, in order to “soften” my sacrifice, and render it both toothless and meaningless.

If I were a Muslim, I’d feel offended as hell.

INSTALANCHE!
The most beautiful word on the internet! Thanks, Glenn and welcome all – while you’re here please look around. I just noticed that both the White House and the Pope are calling on the artists, and thinking it reminds me of Stephen King’s The Stand.


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