Topic: The People
Ramadan started a few days ago. Ramadan lasts for a month. During that time, all Muslims must fast during the daylight hours. Indulgence of any sort is forbidden during the fast. Muslims are also expected to put more effort into following the teachings of Islam by refraining from violence, anger, envy, greed, lust, backbiting, and are meant to try to get along with each other better than normal.

Because most Americans living in Iraq are not Muslim, Ramadan doesn't have a direct effect the life of most foreign service officers living inside the Green Zone. However, I keep here little snippets from Americans that helps them remember that Iraqis are celebrating Ramadan.

Two different guys have told me that Fashion TV, which has lingerie shows late at night, has been blacked out for the month. My drivers have one hour off starting right after sunset so they break the fast. There is no beer at one of the two restaurants Americans can visit inside the zone, and there are rumors that some of the liquor stores are closed.