You know, the sad thing is that there's a really simple way around this...
First off, rather than loud speakers, the mosque could simply purchase a low or medium powered radio transmitter, and they could sell radio receivers to their congregation. Then, they could broadcast the call to prayers to their hearts content, without offending or bothering anyone else.
Since this simple idea was never brought up, it goes to reason that this isn't simply a way to notify believers that it's time to pray. It's a way to demonstrate their political power, and probably to intimidate the "infidels" too.
Mark
The "Public Call to Prayer" is a Statement of "Dominance."
Allowed to Persist, this "Islamic Tool of Intimidation" will be used to Dominate other American communities.
ALAS, Christian acts of Respect for Their God are expected to be Personal & Private, whereas "Muslim" "Acts of Obedience" are REQUIRED TO BE PUBLIC, & LOUD--&, Often, VIOLENT & HOMICIDAL!!
The Contrast between the "Precepts of" "Islam," & "Christianity" is Both PROFOUND & PROPHETIC!!
EITHER RATIONAL HUMANKIND "REPUDIATES & DESTROYS CONTEMPORARY ISLAM," or the "Psychopathology called 'Islam'" engulfs Contemporary Human Culture--and Humankind enters another Protracted "Dark Ages" from which we may NEVER Recover.
"Islam" is the "Dark Path" which will plunge "Humankind" into a "Redux of" the Twelfth Century.
There is NO, "Islamic Path" to Humanity's Future; "Islam" believes ONLY in our Past.
Doc
BINGO!