A while back I was reading about Michigan’s “Huge muslim population” and the writer pointed out that we have a huge arab population that lives with the perception that they’re muslim. The reality is that most of the middle easterners in Michigan are Chaldean or Copts.
There’s a large number of Lebanese Christians, who have been in Michigan since the early 1900’s as well. Spence Abraham was one of the more well known.
I worked in Detroit for two years shortly after 9/11/01, with engineers from all over the middle east, including Iraqi Christians, Maronites, Indians, Africans, and a lot of moslems. I got the clear impression that a lot of Arabs and other middle easterners, REALLY do not like blacks. After one particular meeting, a Nigerian left the room and the two engineers (Indian and Iraqi) were merciless in their comments.
Moslem/Arab may not equal pro-Obama.
You’re exactly correct. Look at Sterling Heights, MI - large middle-east population but overwhelmingly Christian, lots of “Mary” statues in front of homes. My neighbors are from Iraq. It is also one of the safest cities in the country (w/100,000+ population) according to FBI stats. I enjoy living here and have never had a problem.
That said, they have a very deep distrust of muslims. Which is understandable, they fled their homelands because of them. In some ways Sterling Heights is the opposite of Dearborn.
it used to be that the majority of Arabs in this country were CHRISTIANS.....not sure if that has changed...
Yup, some Roman Catholics and Evangelicals as well. Spencer Abraham, former US Senator and Reagan Energy Sec was an Arab and definitely NOT a muslim.