Respect during Ramadan

I have to say that I always enjoy the Holy month of Ramadan. Even though it's pretty much business as usual for me, it's nice to see others getting a bit of a break from the long hard slog and life slowing down just a little.

But what should be a time of reflection, forgiveness, tolerance and kindness towards one another, very often turns people into more selfish human beings.

There's enough information well in advance to the start of Ramadan, so I cannot fathom why you still see people wearing skimpy clothes in shopping malls, sneaking food and drinks in public and other disrespectful behaviour. People crying because they can't go and have a sundowner drink - what you can't give your liver a break for just a month? You know it'll thank you in the end.

Being on the roads, you take your life into your own hands even more than usual, as people drive like maniacs once they've finished work and the 45 or so minutes before Iftar are the most deadly - I can't count how many accidents I've seen so far. Wouldn't it be better to make it home safe and sound, rather than not at all? Plus queuing traffic goes much faster when others don't push in - patience is a virtue, or so I've been told.

Then there's the lavish Iftar buffets all the hotels put on, trying to out-do one another. Sadly people tend to eat with their eyes and even more so when they've been fasting all day, so the sheer amount of food that goes to waste is pretty disgraceful. Aren't we supposed to be feeling solidarity for those less fortunate? Who don't even get one daily meal? Yet I've seen people piling their plates high, then leaving half of what they've taken - it's such a shame.

This is a time for reflection, to be thankful for what you have and to think of those less fortunate. I do hope well all remember that at some point.