A Ramadan/Ramazan Fasting Fable -- The Fox, The Wolf, and The Leg of Deer As you may know, yesterday was the first day of Ramazan (or Ramadan as Westerners usually say) -- the lunar month of fasting in the Muslim world. And in accordance with Turkish tradition... as the light of day faded a little after 7 P.M. last evening, someone in the mountains back of Gümüdür fired off a blank cannon shot to announce the end of the fasting day -- which simultaneously initiates the nightly feasting called iftar. No sooner had we heard the cannon's muffled discharge, than we chanced upon the following Ramadan/Ramazan 'fast food' fable in Rahmi Turan's Gözcü Gazetesi newspaper column. It's a folk tale that Rahmi Bey attributes to Eyüp Karadayı, the author of 'Ayıptır Söylemesini' (If you'll excuse the expression). [Paraphrased Quote] An especially shrewd fox was wandering through the forest one day during Ramazan -- when his eyes fell upon an extremely appetizing sight. Hanging from the limb of a nearby tree, he saw a deliciously-plump freshly-cut leg of deer. But although the fox was quite hungry, he was also cautiously suspicious. And when he looked closer he saw that it was a trap. The deer's thigh was attached by a thin string... to a bomb. "This is probably the work of terrorists," he said to himself -- and backed away. At a safe distance, he laid himself down in a comfortable position... and waited. Before long a swell-headed wolf showed up -- who saw both the hanging deer-thigh and the comfortably reclining fox. And, he shouted out to the fox, "There's a tasty deer-thigh over here." "Yes, I know," came back the fox's reply. "If that's so, then why didn't you eat it?" The fox answered calmly, "It should be obvious that I'm fasting for Ramazan during the daylight hours." "Well, I'm not!" blurted the incautious wolf. "And I just love fresh meat!!" But as soon as the wolf reached out and grabbed the deer-thigh, there was an horrific explosion. And when the dust settled, the badly wounded wolf lay motionless. The fox came over then, and began to leisurely eat the remains of the deer-thigh. Slowly, the severely injured wolf began to regain consciousness -- and he even got one of his eyes to open. But when he saw the fox a' feasting, he could only manage a weakened, barely audible snarl. "You are completely without honor, you sneaky lying fox. Where's your precious Ramazan fasting now, eh?" With a brazen flip of his long sleek tail the fox answered slyly, "Just a moment ago, I heard the iftar cannon-shot discharge. Didn't you hear it, stupid wolf?" [End Quote] That's a fine folk tale for any time of year, we reckon. But if you have a Muslim friend, and you bring it to his/her attention this lunar month... it's sure to bring an appreciative smile.