Someone in Washington DC tells me she is nervous because she has seen none of the usual cadre of Middle Eastern street vendors, cab drivers, etc. today. Someone told her they thought it was a notable day in Islamic history. They both speculated about whether it was a matter of Middle Easterners feeling nervous about being in public, dealing with a failing economy, attending a religious observance, or having been warned to stay out of WashDC today.

Can anyone advise me as to the significant days in Islam in the coming months? What are they and what do they mark?

Not sure about today. Ramadan, a month of fasting etc., starts on Nov. 16 at sundown and ends on Dec. 17.

The calendar of Islam uses a lunar cycle and is about 12 days shorter than our 365-day calendar, so the holidays slip every year. Last year, Ramadan was Nov 28-Dec. 27, so it overlapped with Christmas.

I'm always amazed that some people think "Middle Easterners" have some secret code where they receive warnings about when and where something dangerous is going to happen. Amazing, isn't it, that people who aren't "Middle Eastern" never seem to get the secret message.

This is the kind of thing that spreads fear, racism, and unjust treatment in this country. Some facts and figures:

-- There are 1.2 billion Muslims (people practicing the religion of Islam)worldwide. South Africa, South Asia, and yes, the Middle East, have Muslim majorities. There are over 200 million Muslims in India and significant numbers in Europe and North America (4-6 million in the U.S.).

-- Only 2 out of every 10 Muslims are Arabs.

-- In the U.S., 42% of the Muslims are African Americans and 25% are South Asians. Only 3 out of every 10 Arab-Americans are Muslim.

I don't know who would spread a warning to whom to stay off the streets given this diverse population. Did Muhammad Ali get the word?

I'm sure that the advance warning to "Middle Easterners" to stay out of DC today was taken care of by the same folks who warned 4,000 Jews to stay out of the WTC on 9/11.

Seriously, Marva's worldwide and US figures look accurate, though I was surprised to read that only 3/10 of Arab-Americans are Muslim.

But it seems that the original poster was merely trying to verify or debunk a rumor, which IMHO is a reasonable thing to do (though perhaps a travel board isn't the best place to do it).

Nothing makes an Islamic fundamentalist prouder than a freaked out American. Spreading rumours, unfounded 'theories' or farfetched fears serve no other purpose but to make everyone jittery. It is very counterproductive to suggest that something is amiss because your regular felafel guy isn't there this morning, and to the small extent that I can I encourage everyone out there who has any ideas or information that has not been confirmed by a reliable source to keep it to themselves.

F.Y.I.
Last I knew, this was a travel site. People gather information regarding TRAVEL here. Now, please take your political views and desire to start trouble elsewhere.

Last you knew? LOL. You must not have been here in a while.

You're right!
Truth be known, I haven't spent much time browsing the internet as of late. Been watching CNN....

According to my Secretary's Handbook, today is Mothers Day in Malawi.

Hope this helps.

Yes, and I may add yesterday was internations boss's day... hmm... yesterday... why is it my boss is not mad today as yesterday nobody greeted him? hmmm... maybe this was the holiday widely celebrated in DC?

Very irresponsible post Pair a Noyds, look back at your post and consider the blanket generalizations you are making. If you are gripped with fear, you need to learn how to deal with it. This is not the time to be throwing more fear in the direction of the Islamic community living in the U.S who are no doubt Americans like yourself. This should be a time of Unity for all Americans not just the people in your bridge club.

Joanne; I knew several Jews killed that day, hundreds of others also perished, how hateful of you to accept that slander as fact.

I believe Joanne was using a technique known as 'sarcasm'. You see, she does not believe the statement herself but is merely using it as an example to point out the folly in Pair A Noyds thinking. Ya dig??

Mystery solved! I live in the DC area and on the way home from work tonight, the news radio station said they were inundated with callers asking where all the street vendors were. Yes, most callers thought it was something sinister. Turns out: today is the day all street vendors have to renew their licenses -- and traditionally, it takes all day, so no vendors! I suppose it appears to many that DC street vendors are primarily "Middle Eastern" -- maybe they are but in this case the generalization was one of occupation, not of culture.