Friday Night Pig Racing (next door to the mosque)

Midland Reporter-Telegram ^ | 12/06 | Shanna Sissom

[RKV]

While Muslim faithful are worshiping Allah, sounds of liquored up Texans chasing greased pigs may soon be heard outside the mosque.

"Comin' soon weekly Friday night pig racin'" reads the sign in the Houston suburb of Katy. It goes on to promote a greased pig-catching contest, the opportunity to purchase a slow pig to save its life and--of all things--a pork cook-off. Bring your own bottle, the sign also says and boasts the availability of "clean port-o-pots."

It sounds like a rowdy Friday night outing, Texas style.

But the planned pig races are wallowing in controversy. A Muslim group having just purchased adjacent property to build a mosque is not amused by the new sign and upcoming swine activities as neighbors--including parishioners at a nearby church my mother pastors--are left wondering what's going to happen to the neighborhood.

Not far from the large pig racing sign, the other group has a small placard that says "KIA Community Center coming soon," I'm told, with the acronym standing for Katy Islamic Association.

This sort of thing, of course, attracts attention from media types and the pigs have already been in the news. Our sister Hearst newspaper, the Houston Chronicle, is among those following the story.

"Pig race leads to dirty argument," the headline read. TV news crews also got onboard, interviewing the property owner who posted the sign and pig pens.

The property owner claims the religious group had asked him to leave land occupied by his family since the 1800s, while Muslims deny ever having said that. But that's apparently what prompted the pig racing idea.

Pigs, as you probably know, are considered offensive and dirty animals by the religious group. Making matters worse, Fridays are considered a holy day for followers of Islam who--unless things change--will be flocking to the mosque while pig festivities are underway.

There is other opposition, as nearby homeowners in an upscale residential area have publicly expressed concern for mosque traffic, and fear the "unknown," as the Chronicle reported, while worrying what the construction of a gold dome-covered structure would mean for their own property values.

Meanwhile, mosque members say they're puzzled by all the intense opposition. I've not seen any reports of neighbors complaining about the pigs, but this thing is far from over.

One thing's for certain: During an upcoming holiday visit I'm going to check out these pig races. Until just recently, I had never heard of such a thing.

But for now, I am left to wonder how this will all end.

The pig photos, which I meant to forward to another church friend, instead accidentally got sent to a Midland attorney in my address book, whose first letters in the e-mail are the same as hers.

Upon realizing this, I shot an explanation and apology e-mail to the lawyer friend, notified the original sender and had a laugh out loud moment. Then came her reply.

"Who knows, those pigs may need a good lawyer before it's all over."

[joebuck]

Instead of numbers those pigs should be flying pictures of the "bombhead" MuHAMmad cartoons.