In my mind my senses are more attuned to irony during the month of Ramadan than it is during the rest of the year.
A devout muslim I am not, in the way a stereotypically devout muslim might define the word, but I am sensitised to the values of the religion and ultra-sensitised to see the ironies in reality that those values uncover.
While it may not necessarily be the 'official' version, my interpretation of the month of ramadan is 30 days for reminding oneself to remove all impure thoughts, be thankful for all that one enjoys, and see the simple pleasures of life as the miracle they are.
(Oh, and also a month to practise greater control over ones' movement, nourishment, thought and speech).
In my case particularly the senses are heightened during the month of Ramadan and I see the irony and duplicity around me all to quickly (it is also safe to say that, alas, humility is not one of my stronger suits in this time of abstinence and moderation).
But enough of me and my wise old ways.
In a news report that caught my eye recently, the mayor of Sheboygan, a small town in Wisconsin, USA, is a self-professed alcoholic and has admitted to drinking, getting in a fight and passing out in a tavern over the weekend.
While the mayor apologized for his loss of inebriation and his overindulgence in the 'holiday spirit,' he refused to step down from his job.
The Sheboygan City Council, however, is not so sure and have considered a resolution asking for the mayor's resignation. However, no one living in Sheboygan has filed a formal complaint against the mayor, which would be a necessary step for the Common Council to be able to remove him from office.
The common council members have said that if no resident launches such a complaint, they, as taxpayers, stand ready to act.
The mayor has said while that he understands the council's position and admits to being an alcoholic, he is quick to add that "I've been successful in spite of it, and I will continue to be successful."
Basically the mayor went out to dinner on a Friday night, had a few drinks but didn't stop for three days. In that time he passed out in a bar, and had a scuffle with some other patrons (although, he pointed out, he didn't start it).
Alcohol has apparently never affected his job he claims (but admits that his personal life isn't doing so well).
The mayor has said that he is working on treatment to tackling his demons, including group counselling, and meetings with doctors and psychologists. And that he would continue to do so in the evenings and weekends while he continued to run the city as its mayor.
Something tells me he has not considered moderation or abstinence.
Nonetheless residents have begun to say that it's about time for the mayor to battle his demons in private. Scott Kautzer of Sheboygan sums it up "If [the story is] as it appears on its face, a change needs to be made, because Sheboygan is bigger and better than this story is making us look."
In another part of the world the Lithuanian mayor of capital Vilnius took an extreme approach to express his displeasure with motorists who park their cars with impunity around the Lithuanian capital.
According to a newspaper report, the frustrated mayor, “seeking to reassure residents that the city will not let drivers park illegally without punishment, hopped in an armoured personnel carrier and drove over a Mercedes-Benz.”
A video of the publicity stunt — posted on the mayor's YouTube page — shows the grinning lawmaker and a handful of men riding the tank as it slowly rolls over, then partially crushes, an old Mercedes-Benz S-Class parked in a bus lane.
Narrating the video the mayor explained that "In the past few days, expensive cars have been illegally parked in almost this exact place – a Rolls Royce and a Ferrari."
"I want to point out that if you have a car and more money it doesn’t mean that you can park it everywhere. Recently, there’s been an increase in this type of parking violations, and it shows a lack of respect for others," the mayor continued.
He is hoping that people will get the message loud and clear, but has added theh he had no reservations to do it all again.
The mayor's spokeswoman pointed out to reporters that the Mercedes-Benz was purchased specifically for the video. No word as to how he got the armoured personnel carrier, but I expect that such 'out of job' vehicles are quite the ordinary in the former Russian state.
The mayor could have used a little bit of moderation, but I believe the message has been made very clear... only cheap cars are allowed parking on the bus lanes.
A devout muslim I am not, in the way a stereotypically devout muslim might define the word, but I am sensitised to the values of the religion and ultra-sensitised to see the ironies in reality that those values uncover.
While it may not necessarily be the 'official' version, my interpretation of the month of ramadan is 30 days for reminding oneself to remove all impure thoughts, be thankful for all that one enjoys, and see the simple pleasures of life as the miracle they are.
(Oh, and also a month to practise greater control over ones' movement, nourishment, thought and speech).
In my case particularly the senses are heightened during the month of Ramadan and I see the irony and duplicity around me all to quickly (it is also safe to say that, alas, humility is not one of my stronger suits in this time of abstinence and moderation).
But enough of me and my wise old ways.
In a news report that caught my eye recently, the mayor of Sheboygan, a small town in Wisconsin, USA, is a self-professed alcoholic and has admitted to drinking, getting in a fight and passing out in a tavern over the weekend.
 |
| The mayor passed out on a table, with a Coke handy. |
The Sheboygan City Council, however, is not so sure and have considered a resolution asking for the mayor's resignation. However, no one living in Sheboygan has filed a formal complaint against the mayor, which would be a necessary step for the Common Council to be able to remove him from office.
The common council members have said that if no resident launches such a complaint, they, as taxpayers, stand ready to act.
The mayor has said while that he understands the council's position and admits to being an alcoholic, he is quick to add that "I've been successful in spite of it, and I will continue to be successful."
Basically the mayor went out to dinner on a Friday night, had a few drinks but didn't stop for three days. In that time he passed out in a bar, and had a scuffle with some other patrons (although, he pointed out, he didn't start it).
Alcohol has apparently never affected his job he claims (but admits that his personal life isn't doing so well).
The mayor has said that he is working on treatment to tackling his demons, including group counselling, and meetings with doctors and psychologists. And that he would continue to do so in the evenings and weekends while he continued to run the city as its mayor.
Something tells me he has not considered moderation or abstinence.
Nonetheless residents have begun to say that it's about time for the mayor to battle his demons in private. Scott Kautzer of Sheboygan sums it up "If [the story is] as it appears on its face, a change needs to be made, because Sheboygan is bigger and better than this story is making us look."
In another part of the world the Lithuanian mayor of capital Vilnius took an extreme approach to express his displeasure with motorists who park their cars with impunity around the Lithuanian capital.
According to a newspaper report, the frustrated mayor, “seeking to reassure residents that the city will not let drivers park illegally without punishment, hopped in an armoured personnel carrier and drove over a Mercedes-Benz.”
A video of the publicity stunt — posted on the mayor's YouTube page — shows the grinning lawmaker and a handful of men riding the tank as it slowly rolls over, then partially crushes, an old Mercedes-Benz S-Class parked in a bus lane.
Narrating the video the mayor explained that "In the past few days, expensive cars have been illegally parked in almost this exact place – a Rolls Royce and a Ferrari."
"I want to point out that if you have a car and more money it doesn’t mean that you can park it everywhere. Recently, there’s been an increase in this type of parking violations, and it shows a lack of respect for others," the mayor continued.
He is hoping that people will get the message loud and clear, but has added theh he had no reservations to do it all again.
The mayor's spokeswoman pointed out to reporters that the Mercedes-Benz was purchased specifically for the video. No word as to how he got the armoured personnel carrier, but I expect that such 'out of job' vehicles are quite the ordinary in the former Russian state.
The mayor could have used a little bit of moderation, but I believe the message has been made very clear... only cheap cars are allowed parking on the bus lanes.
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