WHAT IS RAMADAN?

Way back 45 years ago when I was working in the U.S. Senate, I overheard Senator Scoop Jackson talking to Senator Bill Bradley about problems in the Middle East.  This was a time when the second energy crisis was at its worst, with gas lines.  I remember the look on Jackson's face exclaiming that this is Ramadan, so what can we do?

Ramadan?  What was Ramadan?  Since then I've educated myself.  My blog site has covered this topic numerous times.  In 2019 I posted on WHAT IS RAMADAN?

How many of you knew that the 1.5 billion Muslims are currently fasting, in their most sacred month, Ramadan, marking when Allah first gave chapters of the Quran to the Prophet Muhammad in 610?  The consumption of food, sex and smoking of course are allowed after sunset to  sunrise.  Mind you, not even drinking of water during daylight.  This year, it began around May 5, depending on the sighting of the moon, and will begin to end tomorrow (in the USA), when you finish the fast by eating dates during the evening meal.

To begin, Ramadan can be in any month, which is the 9th month in the Islamic lunar calendar. 

• In 2030, it will occur twice, first on January 16, then again on December 26.
• The Muslim population has increased to 1.8 billion, from the 1.5 billion I mentioned 5 years ago.
• Many look forward to this month to better interconnect with one's inner-selves as a collective with others.

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  It is a time for reflection and sacrifice.
• Negative thoughts like jealousy and anger are curbed, even swearing, complaining and gossiping.
• While sounding super serious and boring, this is actually a time of celebration and joy, to be spent with loved ones.

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  Yet, for many who observe, the focus on compassion also translates into an increased focus on social justice and activism.  Or terrorism.
• Muslims are given some liberty in making adjustments, especially during a health emergency or when traveling.
• Usually lasts for 29 or 30 days.
• The final ten nights are especially important, so night prayers will increase in length.
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  The Eid al-Fitr holiday marking the end of fasting will be April 9, although dates may vary, and could go on for three days.  All depends on where.  This is the Muslim version of Christmas, and presents are exchanged.

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  You think this could be a good month to lose weight.  However, Ramadan is notorious for causing weight gain, for they eat super large meals, both before dawn and late at night, with lowered activity during day.

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  Imagine being a Muslim around the Arctic Circle in the summer.  Fasting can be 20 hours or more.  But of course, the religion is sensible, and one can transpose their time to that of say, Mecca.
• Shia and Sunni have only very slight differences in observing Ramadan.

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  In some Muslim countries, it is a crime to eat and drink in public during Ramadan, EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT MUSLIM!
• In Oman, for example you can be arrested and imprisoned for no less than 10 days, but not exceeding 3 months.
• However, if you have a stopover at most Middle East airports, many of them are shielded from the public, so that should be fine.  
• We will be making a stopover in Dubai on March 31, so I'll need to ask about any restrictions in the Emirates First Class Lounge.
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  Conversely, in countries like the U.S., be careful about your consuming a juicy cheeseburger in the vicinity of an office mate who is a Muslim.
• How will the Hamas-Israel War change in the Gaza Strip.  If no peace agreement is reached, who knows.
• To end these bullets, how come terror attacks like ISIS and al-Queda sometimes spike during Ramadan?  To quote:  Because terrorists are assholes.

About the Academy Awards.

• Remember, we are now on Daylight Saving Time, meaning that the 7PM EDT start  on ABC is 1PM in Hawaii.  
• I predicted Cillian Murphy would win the Best Actor Oscar in my blog after seeing the film.  

However, the film is more about Robert Oppenheimer than anything else.  Cillian Murphy I predict will win the Oscar for Best Actor.  His dazzling blue eyes was as important as his commanding performance, and the real Oppie did have those eyes.

• Was supposedly paid $10 million for this film, for which he said:

"I'm really lucky. I feel embarrassed by it sometimes,” he said. “I struggle with that. I mean, actors are overpaid, you know? It's nice when you get paid, when you're young, and you've gone from having no money, but the Catholic guilt kicks in immediately, and I’m like—it's all going to go wrong. You don't deserve this. And I don’t."

You know, I'll stop here.  Since the pandemic I have avoided movie theaters.  The only time I went to one was for Barbenheimer because it was an event.  Barbie (8 nominees), well, not for me, although I'm wearing a pink shirt today.  Oppenheimer (13 nominees) will win almost everything.  I had popcorn and beer.  Hmmm, maybe I'll repeat this watching the Academy Award ceremony.

But those are the only movies I've seen in years, save for on Prime and Netflix, and the latter is showing a lot of films with picture or actor or whatever nominated for something.  Oppenheimer became available on Peacock on February 16 and Barbie is on Max.  Read this article to see where you today can watch all 10 at home.  The problem is that there are too many of these streaming stations, and I don't want to pay for all of them.

I'll end with the Razzies:

• All-time Razzie champ Sylvester Stallone won his 112th Golden Raspberry, for Worst Supporting Actor.
• Stallone's Expend4bles co-star Megan Fox, won both Worst Supporting Actress for that film, plus Worst Actress for Johnny & Clyde.
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  John Voight got the Worst Actor Razzie for Mercy.
• Fran Drescher won the Razzie Redeemer Award "for her brilliant shepherding of the actor's guild through a prolonged 2023 strike with a successful conclusion."
• See all the awards here.

Well, one more.  Here is Scarlett Johansson on Saturday Night Live last night parodying Senator Katie Britt retorting Biden's State of the Union.  Who is the real Senator Britt?

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