Here is an interesting article I read a few days ago about the commercialization of Ramadan in recent times, namely in the Arab world and Southeast Asia.

Reminds me of seeing Muslims flocking to restaurants and ordering everything on the menu to break fast, as though they'd just spent a week starving under a tent made of rubble and debris. Way to completely defy the entire purpose of the practice. Ramadan is all about discipline and empathy and the "cleansing of one's soul".

But it's sad when one of the few holy holidays left in the world is now going the way of Christmas and Thanksgiving (not a real thing) and succumbing to Western ideals of excessive consumerism and commercialization.

Or when people like Tamara Al-Gabbani in the article above say, in regard to DKNY creating a special Ramadan collection aimed at Arabs,

"I think it is really, really important the world come together as one and the fact that an American, New York-based brand is coming to us and saying, “Hey, we acknowledge this beautiful time of year that you have, and we have made this just for you.’ I love that."

People are too blinded by gluttony, mistaking exploitation for goodwill.

I read somewhere once that the more advanced we are the stupider we actually become. Nevermind the fact that Tamara Al-Gabbani can't read between the lines, but if the world does "come together as one," especially during Ramadan, it should be for a significant, urgent, and collective purpose, like the rioting and demand for an end to the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians.

Can't wait to see DKNY's collection of cheongsams for Chinese New Year and tallits for Hanukkah.