Ramadan Kareem

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With a 50 years old song, a 1000 years old lantern, a 24 years old regime, some 2 weeks old commercials, some wacky bloggers, some wackier drivers, a punch of learned men with short pants, a Nobel Prize, and lots and lots of fool, we welcomed Ramadan.

It takes a lot of effort to put the matter into perspective. On one hand there is the tempting, and indeed comforting urge to delve into a nostalgic, pseudo-Sufi rambling about the merits of Ramadan. On the other hand, being a blogger (a not very active one I might add) there is always the bitchy-option. What I would like to share however is a simple thought I had while sitting in the balcony enjoying the refreshing breezes of the "black cloud", and waiting dreamingly for fitar. It hit me that for one whole month, the whole of the Egyptian society is animated by one spirit. I am not talking religiously here; instead I am referring to the insane driving just before sunset, the incredible shopping sprees just before Ramadan and just before eid, the 24 hour shifts in front of the TV, etc… For one whole month the whole of Egypt is doing the same things at the same time. That’s why the only recent Egyptian victory (yes, I believe it was indeed a victory) was in Ramadan, and that's why I believe that if Egyptians decided at one point in time that the current situation was, you know, stinky they will march to Abdeen gates after el Tarawih and before Sohor.

Very happy Ramadan.