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R.Wreck
SFN Regular
USA
1191 Posts |
 Posted - 04/23/2004 : 15:14:01
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Dateline Hamtramck Michigan: The local muslims want to broadcast calls to prayer over loudspeakers. Stories in the Detroit news:
http://www.detnews.com/2004/religion/0404/20/b01-127888.htm
and Chicago Tribune (you have to register, but its free):
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0404210290apr21,1,1527966.story
Reactions from Hamtramck christians are priceless:
""I object to the content of the Arabic call to prayer. . . . It says Allah is the only God," said Bob Golen, of Hamtramck, whose remarks were greeted with applause and amens. "A U.S. citizen should not be subjected to the tenets of someone else's religion.""
I guess he's in favor of removing "under god" from the pledge too.
"Mary Urbanski, a lifelong resident of Hamtramck, said the nation was founded on Judeo-Christian principles and the "bells are music." The chant, she said, "is not just a call to prayer . . . and I don't want to hear it five times a day.""
As if the line about "Judeo-Christian principles" were either true or had anything to do with the issue. Oh, and I find those bells to be pretty annoying too.
"“They can believe whatever they want to, but I'm against them pushing their content into my head like brainwashing,” said Joanne Golen, 68"
I'll let that one stand on its own merits.
I don't live in or anywhere near Hamtramck, but for the sake of argument I have to say that although I hate to admit it, I have to come down on the side of the bible thumpers here, but for totally different reasons. I just wouldn't want to have the sound of someone calling prayers, calling races, calling hogs, or calling balls & strikes piped into my neighborhood.
Besides, is it really necessary to be called to pray? Do the prayers not count if you do them on your own? I could see that back before timepieces were common, if you were supposed to do something at a certain time, you might need someone to call you to do it. Thanks to modern science, though, now everybody can afford their own personal digital, alarm capable timepiece, lightweight enough to wear right on your arm. No need to open a window and listen for the chant. Hell, maybe I'll patent a "mullah-rm" clock for those that need to hear the magic words!
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The foundation of morality is to . . . give up pretending to believe that for which there is no evidence, and repeating unintelligible propositions about things beyond the possibliities of knowledge.
T. H. Huxley
The Cattle Prod of Enlightened Compassion
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Renae
SFN Regular
543 Posts |
Posted - 04/23/2004 : 17:20:58 [Permalink]
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Aside from the unintentional hilarity of the Christian reaction...
I'd find it annoying and intrusive to hear calls to Allah or any God any time of day. Aren't people, legally and logically, entitled to a semblance of peace and quiet? |
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Dave W.
Info Junkie
USA
26022 Posts |
Posted - 04/23/2004 : 18:08:49 [Permalink]
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If Hamtramck doesn't already have secular laws prohibiting excessive noise, they've got nobody to blame but themselves. Ah, silly me for not reading the story first (I heard bits and pieces on NPR yesterday):The City Council is expected today to pass a noise ordinance amendment permitting mosques to issue the traditional call to prayer over loud speakers. Complaints based upon the particular religion are clearly contrary to both the spirit and letter of the First Amendment. Of course, if the current ordinances already allow church bells, then allowing the calls to prayer is only fair. |
- Dave W. (Private Msg, EMail)
Evidently, I rock!
Why not question something for a change?
Visit Dave's Psoriasis Info, too. |
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R.Wreck
SFN Regular
USA
1191 Posts |
Posted - 04/24/2004 : 13:29:35 [Permalink]
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quote:
Aren't people, legally and logically, entitled to a semblance of peace and quiet?
Not according to the morons on my block who seem to think that just because it's legal to by a dirt bike and an ATV, it's OK to let your 10 year old kid ride them up and down the sidewalks! |
The foundation of morality is to . . . give up pretending to believe that for which there is no evidence, and repeating unintelligible propositions about things beyond the possibliities of knowledge.
T. H. Huxley
The Cattle Prod of Enlightened Compassion
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Woody D
Skeptic Friend
Thailand
285 Posts |
Posted - 04/24/2004 : 13:57:59 [Permalink]
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quote:
Originally posted by R.Wreck
quote:
Aren't people, legally and logically, entitled to a semblance of peace and quiet?
Not according to the morons on my block who seem to think that just because it's legal to by a dirt bike and an ATV, it's OK to let your 10 year old kid ride them up and down the sidewalks!
Don't you have laws against that. Noise, if the bike is too loud or motor veichles on pedestrain walkways? Something that you can call the police about.
My idiot neighbores think it's OK to play loud 'music' BEFORE 10pm. HA! Little do they know you can call the police any damn time of the day if something is a disturbance.
Things are a bit better here now.........Now that they found out, he, heh. But still in a lousy dirty awful city like Los Angeles it's difficult to get the police or anything else done.
Wish the city council here in LA would act as quickly as the Hamtramck people are. |
www.Carabao.net
As long as there's, you know, sex and drugs, I can do without the rock and roll.
Mick Shrimpton
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Badger
Skeptic Friend
Canada
257 Posts |
Posted - 04/24/2004 : 17:56:44 [Permalink]
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Do they ring church bells on Sundays, prior to services? I know a lot of the churches around here do.
If so, they don't have a leg to stand on. |
If you think it's work, you're doing it wrong. |
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