Mosque's request splits Michigan city

Washington Times ^ | 4/20/04 | AP

[kattracks]

HAMTRAMCK, Mich. (AP) — Long known for pierogi and polka, this bustling city is now debating whether to add an amplified Arabic chant to the local sights and sounds.

In a sign of the deep changes in this once-predominantly Polish town, the City Council is expected today to pass a noise-ordinance amendment that would permit mosques to issue the traditional Islamic call to prayer over loudspeakers.

[MEG33]

Muslims have been treated very well in America,considering their brothers attacked us,hate us,preach hatred.

It might be wise for them to keep a low profile and not remind everyone with their annoying calls to prayer just what religion hates infidels.

[wingster]

Oh good night! Are we headed for a civil war of some sort, or what now!

[MEG33]

No,they'll get their call to prayer,and people will seethe.

[wingster]

See, ya give these people an inch and they want a mile! It's gonna be really interesting when they become a larger share of the voting base. Muslims have absolutely no qualms about mixing government and religion! I see bad things down the road.

Once again, Islam is fully incompatible with any form of civilized westernized society!

[Mike Darancette]

... would permit mosques to issue the traditional Islamic call to prayer over loudspeakers.

And this while Christian Churches across the country are being enjoined against playing hymns on their bells. Where is the ACLU on this.

If I hear that caterwauling in my town five times a day I will personally file for injunctive relief in Federal court.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

In the age of the alarm clock and the wrist watch calls to prayer are obsolete.
These people need to join the Twenty first century!

[wingster]

Meanwhile, some christian putting a nativity scene in his front yard will get shot and beheaded one of these days!

[WSGilcrest]

5 times a day? you'd think they'd remember when to pray.

[NYer]

  "We are not inviting" non-Muslims, he said. "We are calling our Muslim people, reminding them they are obligated to come to pray."

This is the 21st century. People wear watches. Muslims know when they are supposed to pray - and have done so for centuries, without the assistance of loudspeakers.

The purpose here is clearly intended to offend non-Muslims. It is one more reminder that they are gradually infiltrating our society. Today the loudspeaker; tomorrow the minaret. Wake up America!

Catholic Ping - let me know if you want on/off this list

[Dec31,1999]

This is a ridiculous issue. Of course, Muslim chants should not be allowed to permeate any town. Only traditional Christian church bells should be allowed to sound, and only once a day.

How many Church bells are permitted to ring in predominately Muslim countries? Zero. Hell, you can't even build churches in those countries. We really are a bunch of dummies for falling for this.

[MEG33]

Perhaps wristwatches with alarms would be a nice subtitute.

We can take up a collection/sarcasm.

[MEG33]

substitute

[kattracks]

There are complaints when Nativity Scenes are on display on public grounds. If you don't happen to be in the vicinity of these displays you wouldn't even know they were there. If they are offensive to anyone, they can be avoided, but they are banned.

The sound of amplified Arabic chants would be unavoidable for most people. Isn't this imposing one's religious beliefs on the public? Doesn't the air, through which these sounds must travel, belong to everyone. The rules concerning religious displays, whether visual or audio should be the same for everyone.

[wingster]

How many christians are allowed to live peacably in Muslim nations? Not too many, and if they are, it's usually short lived and with much harassment.

[the_Watchman]

Do you suppose they would notice the extra wires to the accessory "road flare" attached? :)

[XBob]

9 - "5 times a day? you'd think they'd remember when to pray."

That is sort of hard to do because in islam, the time of day varies.

The day begins when at the local mosque, they can determine the difference between a white and a black thread held up to the dawn light, and the day ends when this can no longer be done. So time varies every day.

[MEG33]

Even the ACLU should embrace your reasoning...but one never knows.

[Sunnyvale CA Eng.]

The purpose here is clearly intended to offend non-Muslims. It is one more reminder that they are gradually infiltrating our society. Today the loudspeaker; tomorrow the minaret. Wake up America!

It is definitely intended to be an in-your-face / "it's our neighborhood now" kind of move. Churches in the area should buy their own giga-watt amp and speakers and follow the call to prayer with a bible reading, 5x per day. It will end up in court either way.

[MEG33]

They might want to adjust to the 19th century.

[Savage Beast]

This is probably a silly question, but can't the Muslims just use their watches?

[Cindy]

And in Spain:

BR>

SMH.com.au - SYDNEY MORNING HERALD: "MUSLIMS WANT TO PRAY IN CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Muslims across Spain are lobbying the Catholic church in Cordoba to make a symbolic gesture of reconciliation between faiths by allowing them to pray in the city's cathedral.") (April 20, 2004) (Read More...)

[Dec31,1999]

It is definitely intended to be an in-your-face / "it's our neighborhood now" kind of move.

Gee, turns out the Japanese were smart. They had lots of Muslims in the late 80's and early 90's, but just deported them all.

As Nancy would say: Just say NO!

It's not a personal thing, mind you. I've met many fine Muslims, but, basically, the ones who are not citizens should be deported immediately, if not sooner, and no others should be allowed to enter.

[jaykay]

On the bright side, it will be easier to find them after the next big wave of terrorism. Just follow the noise.

[Dec31,1999]

I'm still waiting to hear the moderates denounce other Muslims' violence against innocents.

Tap, tap tap....

[weegee]

THREAD HERE (with comments):

Córdoba, Spain; Cathedral May See Return of Muslims (The camel's nose!)

As I point out in the thread, this Catholic Church was formerly a mosque which was formerly a Catholic Church. The church became a mosque because of violent conquest. I see no reason to hand it back over even for only part of a day.

[DCBurgess58]

I just returned from 4 months in the Saudi peninsula, and I can't tell you how much I hated hearing that sh!t blasting over loud amplifiers 5 times a day.

[dsc]

"Gee, turns out the Japanese were smart. They had lots of Muslims in the late 80's and early 90's, but just deported them all."

Got a source on that?

[dsc]

"Muslims want to pray in Catholic cathedral"

Sure. They can say the Ave Maria, the Anima Christi, the Pater Noster, the Te Deum, the Symbolum Apostolorum, the Salve Regina, the Magnificat...

And they can come back when they're done with those and I'll give them some more.

[My Dog Likes Me]

Does this mean I can broadcast my bathroom noises over a loudspeaker attached to my house??!! Great!

Sounds like this will end up at the US Supreme Court.

[sweetliberty]

"Islam is fully incompatible with any form of civilized westernized society"

Yeah. Too bad that our idiot "representative/leaders" either can't see it or choose not to concern themselves with that fact.

[sweetliberty]

"Where is the ACLU on this."

Where they always are; on the anti-American side.

[zip]

ping

[Diogenesis]

[OpusatFR]

How many church bells have you heard recently?

I've heard none. The churches built today do not have carillons.

[Mamzelle]

Like the hijab (women in blankets), these calls to prayer are a way for the Muslims to assert themselves against the infidel in Dar al Islam. The more blankets, the more noise, the bolder the Muslims will get.

Allowing them to do so is crazy!

[MEG33]

I am incensed!

[Snidely Whiplash]

I've heard none. The churches built today do not have carillons.

Funny, many of the churches being built round here do have bell towers (or a functional equivalent). My own church has in fact just completed a bell tower.

I suppose it's harder to cultivate a persecution complex in light of that, but I'm sure you can find something else to complain about.

SW

[Snidely Whiplash]

This is a ridiculous issue.

Well, you've got that much right...

Of course, Muslim chants should not be allowed to permeate any town. Only traditional Christian church bells should be allowed to sound, and only once a day.

So...how would you square that with Amendment I? One faith can't do a practice quite central to their faith, while another is able to, but only when you want them to?

How many Church bells are permitted to ring in predominately Muslim countries? Zero. Hell, you can't even build churches in those countries.

Basically, what you're saying is that since Christians are persecuted in other areas of the world, we should persecute people from those areas here, solely on the basis of their religious affiliation? Rather unAmerican of you. Pretty stupid, too.

SW

[OpusatFR]

"I suppose it's harder to cultivate a persecution complex in light of that, but I'm sure you can find something else to complain about."

Was that in response to my statement that most churches being built do not have carillons or that they should?

I'm confused. Your ad hominem appears to address something that isn't stated or implied.

I can assure you that I don't feel persecuted because chruches in our area do not have bells. On the other hand, I wouldn't feel persecuted coming to your quaint neck of the woods and hearing bells. Perhaps you don't need belfrys to hear them yourself.

[netmilsmom]

>>The purpose here is clearly intended to offend non-Muslims. It is one more reminder that they are gradually infiltrating our society. Today the loudspeaker; tomorrow the minaret. Wake up America!<<

IMO, it's to drive the last of the Poles out of Hamtramck. This would make it another Dearborn.
Some beautiful churches down there. St.Hyacynth and St. Florian could easily go the way of St. Ann's in NY.

[tob2]

Yeah, not only that, but I would not want to live anywhere near where the call to prayers were being broadcast any more than I would want to live next to church bells. Our society is way to noisy as it is. And if the Muslims are as faithful and devout as they claim, surely they know when to go into prayer mode.

[steve8714]

Patience, patience my brothers..they will show themselves for what they are.
Islam demands submission, brooks no moderation.
There is no "Religion of Peace" there...eventually American society will realize this. Else, why not allow Kali cults or mini-Manson families?

[mtbopfuyn]

9/11 was nothing, just a mere drop in the bucket compared to what's coming. The Religion of Peace has declared war on the infidels and they are winning. Very soon, much sooner than any of us suspect, the Islamaniacs will be the majority.

[quantim]

These people need to join the Twenty first century!

Even the nineteenth century would be an improvement beyond imagination.  They had clocks then, too.

[quantim]

Doesn't the air, through which these sounds must travel, belong to everyone.

Perhaps this frequency is regulated by the FCC?  Surely if your neighbor's radio is too loud, you have a defective muffler, your dog won't shut up, you can be ticketed just about anywhere.   The question is will the inevitable complaints be addressed or will the cops be afraid?

[libstripper]

It's much like the high-pitched yeowling of a tom cat in perpetual heat.

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

"Arabic call to prayer" from a mosque...in the United States of America?

This is a problem of immigration policies. The INS and the Federal Government, under the influence of secular humanist, anti-Christian cultural relativism and moral relativism, adopted the wacky idea that all cultures and civilizations are equal (which is why there are so many free, civilized societies in Muslim parts of the world - IRONY). They might as well allow the local Manson Family groups blast a call to prayer.

[Guillermo]

They deported scores of Bangladeshi's.

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

Is this the kind of cult that will issue fatwas calling upon Muslins to kill Americans of "the Great Satan"? How could any such organization of collective psychotic insanity be tolerated in a civilized society?