WHY I'M OBSERVING THE RAMADAN FAST
As I have the past several years, I'm doing a modified version of the Ramadan fast- drinking juice during the period from sunrise to sunset rather than abstaining totally from food and drink. I invite others to join me, even for a day or two- Ramadan is a month long, so there's plenty of opportunity. Why should you? Why am I doing this?
As a Jew entering upon the High Holy Days, the days of atonement, I am fasting to atone for the sins which my country and the country of my tribe have committed against Muslims, in Iraq, Palestine, Afghanistan, and many other places. We, the Americans and Israelis, are the aggressors. We have murdered, tortured, humiliated, raped, looted, slandered, blasphemed, against Muslim people and their beliefs. In observing the Ramadan fast, I'm asserting my solidarity with them, and sharing some of their suffering. I pray that my sacrifice be acceptable to the Almighty, to Allah/Yahweh, and help bring about peace on earth.
As a Christian committed to loving my neighbor, I am expressing my love for my Muslim brothers and sisters. By fasting, I am becoming closer to them in spirit, more aware of their godliness and willingness to sacrifice self in order to serve God. Islam means "peace", and Muslim means "peacemaker- servant of peace". The true spirit of Islam, as of Christianity, is peace, is the striving toward peace on earth by practicing truth and justice at all times.
The warmongers in all three Abrahamic religions are off the track. The scriptures of all three religions make it clear that the will of the Creator of life is for life to continue, on earth, in peace. All three religions are based on love, charity, kindness, benevolence. Fanatics in all three- the Zionists who are gobbling up Palestinian land, the right wing "Christians" who are calling for the nuking of Iran, the jihadists who are killing innocent citizens, are acting contrary to the will of the divine, which is that we all live together in peace.
As a mother who cares about the future of the planet for my children and grandchildren, I am fasting for the seventh generation. Like many other Americans, I am fasting to protest the insane killing and spreading of radioactivity around the globe that is being perpetrated by the government that claims to represent me. I am fasting to protest the lack of cooperation by the US in the global effort to deal with warming and climate change. I am fasting in the hope that fasting will bring me closer to God, and to understanding what else I can do preserve and perpetuate life.
In the name of the Prince of Peace, Carol Wolman
