Posted on 08/21/2009 5:15:49 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
CAIRO — For the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, Egyptian fruit sellers have named their best dates of the year after President Barack Obama in a sweet tribute to the American leader for his outreach to the Muslim world.
Dates are a traditional food for Ramadan — which begins Saturday in most of the Islamic world — since the Prophet Muhammad is said to have used them to break the month's sunrise-to-sunset fast each evening.
In Egypt, shops have created a new tradition of naming their best and worst dates to catch attention and boost sales — giving a little reflection of the political mood.
Obama's vault to the top of the Egyptian date-scale comes after he delivered a landmark address in Cairo in June, saying he wants to improve American ties with Muslims around the world. Those ties were deeply strained under his predecessor, George W. Bush, who was widely resented in the Arab world — and whose name was given to the worst quality dates in Egypt in past Ramadans.
"We love Obama and so we named our best dates for him," said Atif Hashim at his busy shop in downtown Cairo.
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Sounds like Egyptians are sort of like the useful idiots in America, which is to say, give ‘em a big speech telling them what they want to hear and they love you, regardless of what your actions actually are.
I guess Iran lost out. Egypt has already declared the mighty madhi.
I sincerely hope that if dates are ever named after me in the Arab world, they are the worst quality dates. Don’t you name a sweet date after me.
Not the same kinda dates we get at Kroger or Piggly Wiggly or Publix.
Or King Sooper and Safeway for the Northerners.
I guess it is just coincidence that Obama Starts his Vacation on the first Day Of Ramadan
I thought the same thing. Let’s see him light the White House Christmas tree to make any final judgements,hummm.
“I guess it is just coincidence that Obama Starts his Vacation on the first Day Of Ramadan”
Has this guy done anything BUT vacation since he got here? Jeeze, Louise!
Interesting coincidence though, Eh? *SHIVER*
We’re so screwed...
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