Posted on 06/03/2004 3:25:50 PM PDT by missyme
HAMTRAMCK, Michigan -- Hamtramck, Michigan is a blue-collar town surrounded by the city of Detroit. Its downtown storefronts reflect the diversity of immigrants who settled here. But an influx of immigrants from the Middle East has transformed Hamtramck from a melting pot into a political powder keg. New Muslim residents are adopting American habits, driving SUVs and talking on cell phones. But many still cling to old customs, wearing traditional dress, and shopping at markets that sell "halal," or meat slaughtered according to Islamic law. Now one Bangladeshi mosque wants to revive a controversial ritual.
The Islamic call to prayer is a 1,400-year-old tradition, sung in most U.S. mosques within the walls. But the Al Islah Islamic Center says they should be able to broadcast over public loudspeakers in Arabic, five times a day, from 6am to 10pm.
The call to prayer states, "Allah is great…Mohammed is Allah's prophet…come to prayer. There is no god but Allah."
Mosque president Ahmed Motlib asked the city's permission to broadcast from rooftop loudspeakers. Motlib says, "Some people, they don't know what time is our congregation, only for congregation coming and participating. That's why we want to call prayer outside."
But the request has split the community. Hundreds signed a petition to block the broadcasts as a public annoyance.
Hamtramck resident Jerry Radziszewski says, "To me, this is disturbing the peace. They understand what it is. We don't. To us it's just a bunch of noise."
Mosque supporters say the Azan can already be heard from mosques in nearby Detroit No different, they say, from Christian church bells.
Motlib comments, "Azan is only two minutes, less than two minutes is noise. Every hour church bell, more than five minutes their bell make belling. So we don't feel anything bad."
Bob Zwollack is a former city clerk who led the petition drive. He says it is an issue of noise.
"Even if they got up on their towers and did it like they did 1,400 years ago," says Zwollack, "where you just had a call to prayer like before, there's not a problem. Who's going to object to that? Yes, they have a right to free speech, but the overall objection was an amplified sound, amplified religious statement."
But the dispute has escalated into a national controversy over religious freedom. The press converged on heated city council meetings, which exploded with calls for tolerance and charges of discrimination.
Hafiz Mohammed of the Islamic Association of Michigan, says, "Those people who are opposing Azan, our position is not a new phenomenon. They are racist! "
Council member Scott Klein says, "The folks I've seen leading this have nothing on the boys from Montgomery, the boys from Birmingham, the boys from Mississippi."
Hamtramck resident Bob Golen protests, "I am not a racist! My wife is not a racist."
Joanna and Bob Golen are life-long residents of this neighborhood, now largely owned by Bangladeshi newcomers. The Golens say they have been demonized for signing the petition.
Bob Golen says, "I don't tell them to believe in Jesus, I don't want them to tell me to believe in Mohommed. The call to prayer is fine, but don't evangelize me where I can't turn you off five times a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. They're going to tell me their god is the only true god? I don't have to listen to that."
The Golens say the mosque is forcing a foreign religion right onto their front porch, proselytizing on public airwaves.
Joanne Golen says, "Why is it wrong for them to practice their religion the way they want to? They can do it any way they want in their mosque, like we do in our churches, in their homes, like we do. I can even sit on my porch and pray silently. I'm all for them practicing their religion, but I do not want to hear over loudspeakers their god being praised in my ears five times a day."
Even if I were to grant, as true, the arbitrary percentage you state, how would you explain the huge popularity of Al Jazeera among Arabs in this country?
Even if I were to grant, as true, the arbitrary percentage you state, how would you explain the huge popularity of Al Jazeera among Arabs in this country?>>
The fact that Al Jazeera transmit in their native language.
I think the word "duh" needs to be emphasized here.
The Klan?! Hehe! Now I know you're a troll.
Laugh. The Klan burned down my Grandmother's church.
You may have heard of it. The Shrine of the Little Flower, Royal Oak, Michigan.
It later became home of a Catholic equivalent to a Klansman, Father Charles Coughlin, whom I also despise.
The fact that I am actually arguing the right of an unpopular (yet perfectly legal) religion to be practiced in the United States shows that the ghost of the Klan lives, indeed thrives, right here. If you can't see it, look in a mirror.
They're coming to take the ones of North America as well.
OHMYGOD! YOU'RE TELLING ME MARS NEEDS OUR WOMEN!!!?!!?!
Look, they could be howling for the immediate and complete nuclear destruction of the United States. How does that justify burning down the neighborhood mosque?
I should add that the North Koreans have been howling precisely that for 50 years, and yet I don't see you calling for Koreans to be shipped back overseas. Or do you?
"OHMYGOD! YOU'RE TELLING ME MARS NEEDS OUR WOMEN!!!?!!?!"
Congratulations for being so far ahead of the curve. I'd never heard anyone even imply that
Muslims are from Mars.
Guess I'll have to check the JPL/NASA websites.
The religion of Islam is an enemy to the freedom we enjoy in this great country. If you don't believe me, check out the state of affairs for the ordinary citizen in any Arab nation in the Middle East.
Did I advocate the destruction of a mosque? Or the killing of Muslims living in this country?
When they allow Christian Missionaries to witness on the streets of Rahed, Tehran and Baghdad the Mozzis can broadcast their call to prayer.
Please stop the fumbling and grasping at straws, and present a coherent argument.
Spot on, oyez. However, I have heard that thanks to the efforts of our military, there is a small window of opportunity open in Baghdad for Christian missionaries. Only God knows how long that window will remain open, and I am sure the danger is considerable, but there is an opportunity nonetheless.
ALLAHU AKBAR! = HEIL HITLER!
MEIN KORAN = MEIN KAMPF
Oh, really now? Couldn't you say the same about Germans or Japanese in 1942?
"Allahu Akbar" is the Muslim call to murder.
Just ask Nick Berg, Danny Pearl, or the other millions who had to hear the Muslim call to murder as their throats were slit in the name of their insane moon-god.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.