|
I guess I've already had my thoughts from this thread quoted in the Hall of Fame, but for me this isn't a question of jumping to conclusions about a place. I would think a law like this was dumb anywhere for any reason. I am perfectly fine with fasting being a part of religious observance-I was raised Jewish, I know a bit about fasting on a certain day of the year. As with basically everything in life, I'm happy for people to do what they want, so long as they're not hurting anyone else.
I know lots of people who fast while other people are eating around them. I've fasted while people have eaten around me. Does it make it harder to fast? Sure it does. But you don't fast because it's supposed to be easy or pleasant. You fast to deny yourself a worldly pleasure and to focus your thoughts to your faith. I don't think you "respect" those who are fasting by telling everyone else that they can't eat in public or that they can only eat in designated areas. People who fast are choosing to do so, and if they feel uncomfortable around people who are eating, then I think they should choose to remove themselves, as opposed to forcing everyone else to accommodate their needs.
|