[mhking]

The Al-Islah Islamic Center asked the city three months ago to alter its noise ordinance to allow the calls to prayer. In February, the council reportedly supported the change but sought a public hearing before making any change.

"We don't want to make it a big deal," said businessman Abdul Algazali, according to the Free Press. "It's a low-pitched voice. It's not going to wake up anybody."

City Council President Karen Majewski compared the call to prayer to bells ringing on Christian churches, though other residents were said to disagree at Tuesday's meeting.

Majewski says the loudspeaker measure is likely to pass at next week's meeting, and would subsequently take effect in late May.

"Petitions have circulated among mainly white and Christian members of the community for weeks asking the council not to amend the ordinance," said Councilman Scott Klein. "Both sides have issued threats of federal lawsuits based on the constitutionality of the ban or the removal of the ban."

Several points - first, it's not a religious issue as some on both sides of this thing want to paint it. It's literally a matter of disturbing the peace.

Local residents didn't sign leases and mortgages to be subjected to undue noise, especially at off the wall hours. This is no different than the opposition that would occur if a new airport or factory were suddenly built in this suburb. The noise is not warranted nor desired, period.

And the rocket scientist who is trying to make this a racial issue ("Petitions have circulated among mainly white and Christian members of the community for weeks asking the council not to amend the ordinance," said Councilman Scott Klein.) sounds like he's more concerned with not "hurting feelings" and "being tolerant."

Well, there is a line to tolerance, and that ends at the homes of citizens. Nitwit politicians, would-be do-gooders and religious fundamentalists (of all stripes) have no right to invade the homes of people uninvited. This "call to prayer" measure would do exactly that -- invade peoples' homes.

I would be opposed to it even it were a Christian church desiring to ring bells at all hours of the day or night.

 

Double-barrelled Mega-PING! to both lists! If you want on, FReepmail me!

[FITZ]

There has to be limits on religious freedom ---- there have been religions which required human sacrifice, usually of a captured victim -- not a volunteer --- we'd have to limit their freedom of religion. Cannabalism is usually done for religious reasons --- can we limit that? Any group can just call itself a religion and then demand it be given rights to do whatever it likes.

[tiamat]

You're right!

I would not mind if the Call to Prayer or the church bells rang at a sane time...

I live in the country, and the little church down the road does it's bells, but usually only on Sunday or a holiday.

Pretty pleasant, actually, the sound coming over the fields of corn and amidst the cows.

When I lived in Ann Arbor, there wa a mosque nearby, and THAT sounded off several times a day. Had a military friend staying with us during his leave one morning, and he's sitting out back with his coffee one morning when the Call came..."Where the H3LL are we!"

[NTegraT]

"to alter its noise ordinance "

The fact that the ordinance must be altered tells ya right there that it's loud, so much for the low voice. I hear it in the background of live newsmen broadcasting from Baghdad. It's obnoxious 5 times a day and long. Just let a little pin shoot out from your watch and prick you when it's time to drop to your knees. Where's the can-do spirit.

[ConservativeMan55]

bttt