The Humanity of Devotion

I just finished the project...ok, two weeks ago. I had a very rewarding time getting to know Faisal and Sophia Ahmed, their family, and the Muslim community in the valley. When I went to the Ahmed's home for the last time, their granmother; "Nani" gave me a kiss on the cheek and said I was a "good boy." Guess I can't be that bad. Probably the highlight while covering the story was speaking at the Muslim Student Association's event at the University of Utah. I was asked to fast with them and share some of my experiences while covering Ramadan this year. This is from that speech.
-I hugged the wall, the Ahmed family was scurrying around with giant jugs of lime green liquid, piled bags of flat bread and foil topped dishes whose scents were wafting up towards their noses. I made a photo here and there, tried to show the rush to get everything ready for the rest of the congregation. I tried to show Aliza and Umair dodging the legs of adults as they weaseled into the group to try and be assigned a job to help. Nani (grandma), sat on the sofa near the kitchen, she would inately know when she would be needed to help, she didn't have to ask, a life time of Ramadan observance must teach you that. At times having two cameras hanging from your shoulders can make you look a little strange. Then those you are hoping to just observe and catch some tender candid moment, are so freaked out by your presence that they don't even get comfortable to act natural. Sofie's niece and nephew were officially weirded out by my presence. A trick I have learned is to shoot a picture of the kid, then show them, they love to see their face. I hadn't gotten a name or a smile out of 5 year old Umair, so I tried my old trick, shot a photo from a little ways back and then walked towards him and asked him if he wanted to see, a little grin grew on his face, and his sister Aliza gingerly crept across the Nani's lap to see as well. He looked and then turned away to hid his growing smile and then pulled two swedish fish from his pocket and gave them to me, then gave me a look like, "dude if you sell me out,..... I'm trusting you " I took the small contraband candies and quickly put them in my mouth so Nani wouldn't see, I'd like to think I am somewhat of a journalist who knows how to protect my sources. A few seconds later, Nani looked around to see who was watching then thrust a couple more into my hands and gave me a satisfied smile; Umair's source revealed. I kept the secret the whole night...until now.
What this taught me is perhaps not how Sofie and Faisal, the Ahmed family or Imam Shuaib really planned to teach me about Ramadan, but it gave me the point. I came to the conclusion that Ramadan is a few things, it is religion, it is devotion, it is sacrifice, but most importantly it is human. And if there is anything for a non muslim to take away from this holy month that would be it.

PLEASE CHECK THE MULTIMEDIA ON THIS ONE, IT IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE MULTIMEDIA PIECES I HAVE MADE.

http://www.deseretnews.com/video/1,5563,546,00.html