I am Christian and don't know how to wish you the very best for this and the next day of festivities and your future after your long journey (fast).

Imu, on this day, Muslims are encouraged to forgive and forget any differences or past animosities that may have occurred with others during the year.

I live in a suburban community which has become more and more "Muslim", their island of ethnicity in a predominately Euro-Christian city/country - I have had some rather crappy "Muslim" neighbours that simply seem intent on transfering the troubles of their arab nations and tribal conflicts to my country, but today I had an encounter with Islam! Past animosities cultivated by what I now understand as "in name only Muslims" are forgiven!

I have a new young family as neighbours from Indonesia and they brought me food...they were having a celebration with their community in their backyard and the husband came to apologise for the noise (which actually wasn't bothering me as it was relatively sedate - except for the screaming kids enjoying themselves, and that I was enjoying). At the moment we have language difficulties, so I got the impression that if I spoke Indonesian I'd have been invited to the function, but understandably they did the next best thing and included me in their special day in the most practical way the could think of...

Might seem a trivial thing to many, but it was important and special to me....

In the area I live in, the older people and those that grew up in the area, often feel like they are being pushed out and isolated by foreigners. The irony is most of these people that complain were foreigners 40-60 years ago.

The difference I guess is that in those days us Ozies (I'm 5th generation) were either more inclusive, or the new Australians in those days either made the attempt to integrate us into their community, or we accepted them into ours...I don't know which, but today made me realise my new neighbours of only a few weeks have found the middle ground...