you all have to be patient with another, there's misinformation everywhere apparantly and some ppl. are getting frusturated with one another because their sources of info are contradicting others. As a Muslim myself I am pretty much unaware of any huge penalty if a non-Muslim is eating. When ppl are saying be respectful...use your common sense...they are not asking you to fast with them...they are just saying be discreet if you are eating in front of ppl who are fasting. Ie. in Canada I would have friends who would be taking part in lent (which you have to abstain from something you really enjoy ie. chocolate sweets) they also do some sort of fast as well. anywho, we would try not indulge infront of the person if we were having what they were abstaining from. Not because I was forced too, but just out of respect of the person. that's all.

cheers and Happy Ramadan to those fasting and not. It's a charitable month in which we remember and thank God. It's a month with great food, friends/family and making extra time for prayer.