During Ramadan, Attending Class on an Empty Stomach

[struggle4progress]

Local Muslim students balance the demands of school with their religion.
By Leidhra Johnson

... This year Ramadan began Aug. 1 and will end Aug. 29 ...

“There are good things and bad things about this,” said 15-year-old Belal Ahmad who starts 10th grade at Cosumnes Oaks High School on Monday. “It’s easier to focus on school work than focusing on the fact that you can’t eat. But sometimes it’s hard to focus when you’re too hungry.”

Nabilah Fareed, a 21-year-old Elk Grove resident and student at Sacramento State University, agreed attending school while fasting can be challenging. She said because she attended St. Francis High School, a private high school in Sacramento, she may have had an easier time than public school students.

“My teachers would excuse me from P.E. during this month. I’m not sure if public schools do that,” Fareed said ...

http://elkgrove.patch.com/articles/during-ramadan-attending-class-on-an-empty-stomach

[frazzled]

1. When my son was in high school ...

he had a number of Muslim friends (math nerds, you know). I remember him coming home one day and amusedly telling us how two of his friends had cadged food from the other kids at the table at lunch, making them swear they wouldn't tell their parents they'd broken Ramadan fast. They just really couldn't quite get through the day.

My other good Ramadan story has to do with a trip to New York a few years back. We were having trouble getting a taxi to get to an evening event my husband had to be at. We finally saw an empty taxi, but the cabbie said he didn't want to take us, he was done for the day. Please, we begged him, we need to be downtown by 6:15. It was only 30 blocks or so. He finally agreed and, boy, were we ever sorry. The traffic got horridly tied up (what else is new) and he started blowing a gasket--driving worse than your usual insane NY cabbie and cursing all the way. We didn't know if we were going to be killed in an accident or just be late. Finally, at 6 on the dot, he pulls over and jumps out of the cab, just leaving us there, still far from our destination. We were totally perplexed. He comes back with a big can of Coke, gets in the cab and guzzles it. He sighs and apologizes to us: it was Ramadan, he was having a total low blood sugar attack, and just couldn't take it any more. We got there in the nick of time, and gave him an extra tip for his trouble.

[struggle4progress]

2. That's good to bear in mind

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

3. What sad, pointless self-torture. -nt

[LAGC]

4. Yep, religious fasting is one of the stupidest human inventions.

Kind of like self-flagellation.

Just more good ol' fashioned pain and suffering to bring you closer to a sadistic God...

[darkstar3]

5. I had the same reaction to Lent and Passover week.

I also found it shallow. Far more often than not, those I knew who engaged in such "religious observances" simply used them as diet kickstarts. But more importantly, I always had to wonder at the arrogance of the idea that God gives a good goddamn what you put in your mouth.

[provis99]

6. A Muslim goes to St. Francis private high school?

It's a frickin' Catholic school? What does she do for the required daily Catholic prayers?:crazy:

And by the way, Muslims generally gain weight over the length of Ramadan. That's because while eating during daylight hours is not allowed, they compensate by gobbling down buckets of food once night time sets in.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

7. ...proving, once again, that religion can be bad for your health. -nt