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Personal Reflections on the Month of Ramadan

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Personal Reflections on the Month of Ramadan FREE EACH VOLUME 32 MONTH ISSUE 8 A community-based newspaper serving the Puget Sound area since 1981 August 2013 Articles translated into six languages The newspaperTheThe of Neighborhood House VoiceVoice — visit our website at www.voicenewspaper.org Personal reflections on the Primary election set for Aug. 6 Loaded field for Seattle month of Ramadan mayor tops the ballot; city, Around the world, Muslims are observing the holy month of county council spots also Ramadan. These are the stories of just a few of them. contested BY TYLER ROUSH reflections of the month of Ramadan, its BY TYLER ROUSH The Voice editor meaning and its significance in their lives. The Voice editor The holy month of Ramadan, the ninth Malyun Yusuf Voters in King County have until Aug. includes incumbent Richard Conlin and month of the Islamic calendar, is observed A refugee from Somalia who came to 6 to cast their ballots in this month’s pri- challengers Brian Carver and Kshama by Muslims worldwide as a period of fast- the United States as a girl, Malyun Yusuf mary election. Sawant. The Position No. 8 primary ing, charity and personal reflection. The lives in Seattle with her husband and their The race for Seattle mayor is a highlight includes incumbent Mike O’Brien and month is observed as the month that the two children. She is a Neighborhood House of the ballot. Nine candidates are vying for challengers David Ishii and Albert Shen. Prophet Muhammad received the revela- employee. the top job in the City of Seattle; the top In county races, the King County Ex- tions of the Quran. Ramadan begins with two vote-getters in the Aug. 6 primary will ecutive primary includes incumbent Dow the first sighting of the crescent moon and advance to November’s general election. Constantine and challengers Goodspace- continues for 29 or 30 days. At its conclu- The field includes incumbent mayor guy, Alan Lodbell and Everett Stewart. sion is the holiday Eid al-Fitr, a feast day cel- Mike McGinn and eight challengers. They King County Council Position No. 1 ebrating the breaking of the Ramadan fast. are: Joey Gray, environmental activist features incumbent Rod Dembowski, who During Ramadan, Muslims do not eat or and librarian; Bruce Harrell, Seattle City replaced Bob Ferguson when the latter drink from sunrise to sunset. After sunset, Councilmember; Kate Martin, neighbor- was elected state attorney general; and they break their fast with iftar, an evening hood activist and designer; Mary Martin, challengers John Fray and Naomi Wilson. meal that is often taken together as a fam- working class activist and factory worker; In King County Council Position No. 9, ily or with a larger community. Fasting is Doug McQuaid, West Seattle attorney; incumbent Reagan Dunn faces challengers obligatory for Muslims during Ramadan, Ed Murray, state senator, 43rd Legislative Kristina Macomber and Shari Song. although children, pregnant women, those District; Charlie Staadecker, real estate Elsewhere in King County, three can- who are ill and those who are traveling are Malyun Yusuf broker and former Vashon Island School didates will vie to be the next mayor of not required to do so. Board member; and Peter Steinbrueck, Auburn. Those candidates include Auburn Ramadan began on Tuesday, July 9 and is architect and former Seattle City Coun- Deputy Mayor and City Councilmember expected to end Thursday, Aug. 8. During “Ramadan is a month of forgiveness; a cilmember. Nancy Backus, Auburn City Councilmem- this month, The Voice spoke with several month of reflection; a month to do char- Primary races are also set for two Se- ber John Partridge and U.S. Army veteran people locally who are observing Ramadan. attle City Council positions, Nos. 2 and 8. What follows are their personal stories and Please see “Ramadan” on Page 2 The Council Position No. 2 primary Please see “Primary” on Page 3 Remembering Terry McLlarky, King County Housing resident, commissioner BY KING COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITY STAFF Hampshire College, now called Southern New Hampshire University. King County Housing Authority commissioner Terry County Executive Dow Constantine appointed McLlarky McLlarky died July 6 at the Redmond Care and Rehabilita- to KCHA’s Board of Commissioners in 2010. McLlarky tion Center. He was 76. also served as a member of KCHA’s Resident Advisory For the past decade, McLlarky was a resident and the Committee since 2005. Both roles enabled McLlarky to key keeper of Casa Juanita, an 80-unit public housing help guide the Authority’s programs and policies. complex for seniors and persons with disabilities located “Terry stood out for his intelligence, humor, commitment in Kirkland, Wash. McLlarky moved to Kirkland in 2003 and compassion,” said KCHA Executive Director Stephen to live closer to his daughter Jennifer Wittenberg and her Norman. “He believed that without public housing, many family. From 1995-2002, McLlarky was active as a civic senior citizens who depend on small fixed incomes from volunteer in the Town of Hudson, N.H., where he served on Social Security would be living on the street, and was proud the sewer utility, conservation and budget committees. He of the role he played in ensuring that they could live out retired from careers in material control and management their lives in dignity. Terry McLlarky, May 13, 1937 – July 6, 2013. Terry is information systems. McLlarky received a bachelor’s de- seen here with Murphy, his daughter’s English bulldog gree in computer science, graduating cum laude from New Please see “McLlarky” on Page 2 and one of his favorite companions. Neighborhood House Nonprofit org. In this issue Jesse Epstein Building U.S. postage PAID 905 Spruce Street Seattle, WA Be Safe Page 3 Seattle, WA 98104 Permit #8887 911 INFORMATION Health Notes Page 3 THE DELICIOUS JOYS OF A VEGETARIAN DIET Public Transit Page 3 FORUM SHEDS LIGHT ON TRANSIT USAGE FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES Translations Page 4 2 – lOCAL AND NATIONAL NEws AUGUST 2013 Kharhash says that the purpose of Ra- Muslims all join in observing a period of For Hamam and her family, Ramadan is a Ramadan madan is one of humility, “to know what it heightened spiritual awareness. time of prayer and a time to read the Quran. Continued from Page 1 is like when you don’t have food, or when “Ramadan is not only an important time During the course of the month, Hamam ity; a month of remembrance … of what you were poor.” for me, but for a billion people around the says she will read each of the 30 ajiza, or you have,” Yusuf said. It’s also a time of charity and of help- world,” he says. sections, of the Quran. During Ramadan, It’s an important reminder, Yusuf said, ing those who are in need. Kharhash says Like other families, Mohamed takes iftar it’s a common practice to read and study that in some parts of the world people have he often sends extra money to family in each night following the evening prayers. In the book in its entirety. no choice but to fast. Afghanistan who are in need. He also de- that evening meal, Mohamed says he sees Of course, it is also a time to fast. “In other countries, some people are not scribes a small gift of wheat or money to be what might be one of the few differences “We don’t eat from dawn until sunset, able to break their fast — they are fasting given to the poor by the end of Ramadan. between the way in which Ramadan is ob- so of course you feel hungry, and thirsty,” constantly,” she said. The couple’s children do not yet fast dur- served by those one billion people around she says. Each year, she looks forward to observ- ing Ramadan, but Kharhash says they read the world. But those feelings have a powerful ef- ing the monthlong fast. and study the Quran with them each day. In “I think the only difference would be the fect, she notes. “Most Muslim people are excited about that way, they learn more about Islam and food that you eat when you’re done fasting,” “To feel hunger, that’s what every poor the month of Ramadan,” Yusuf said. “It’s the holy month of Ramadan, Kharhash says. Mohamed says. person feels. It helps me to sympathize with for a good cause and a good reason — it’s Despite the demonstrations of charity As a boy, Mohamed recalls competing other people,” she says. your duty as a Muslim to be fasting.” and humility throughout the month of Ra- with other youth his age to see who could Fasting is also a way of observing self- The month is also a time to gather with madan, Kharhash laments that the religion fast for the longest or for the most days. control and of limiting one’s desires. family. For Yusuf, that means her husband has been distorted and blamed for violence (Though children aren’t required to fast, “(It) prevents us from committing any- and two children, ages 2 and 3. Yusuf’s chil- committed by terrorists. He looks to his many will try for a certain period of time thing unlawful, both during and after fast- dren are too young to practice the daily fast home country of Afghanistan, where the during Ramadan, Mohamed says.) He also ing,” she says. and don’t yet understand the full meaning Taliban, citing Islamic law, prohibit girls looked forward to Eid al-Fitr, the feast The daily fast also builds community of Ramadan. But they’re learning through from going to school. He calls such claims day and celebration that marks the end of among Muslims around the world, as to- the nightly practice of iftar, the meal that “nonsense.” Ramadan.
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