When I first saw this article, I groaned and thought “those poor Muslims getting harassed in the Bible Belt”.
Then I read it, and remembered why I carefully plan my Friday driving to avoid mosque parking and traffic if at all possible. Double, triple parking at times renders even one-way traffic impossible.
Now my old neighbor in Hashmi Shemali told me that a good Muslim walks to the mosque. That it was time for reflection and preparation of the mind for the message. He also said there should be one within a 20 minute walk of every Muslim, so that the walk is not hard on the worshipper, and that Muslims should attend the mosque closest to home to keep the community spirit strong and local.Why then, do we have so many cars overflowing the streets on Fridays?
So in this article, it seems the dear folks who run the mosque in this small American city park like they do in Jordan on Fridays: on other people’s property, driveways, etc.If there is anything that will make a mid-American mad, it is parking on his property. It just flies in the face of the social contract, of being good neighbors. It is also a violation of the law.
Then, it also seems they are not building with permits or getting proper inspections done, and even kept animals in pens outside! And, the area looks pretty unkept and cut-n-pasted together. Whoa, yet another violation of both social contract and the law. Of course neighbors are complaining, and the guy next door is complaining the loudest.
And it isn’t about discrimination, or harassment, it’s that these leaders don’t think they need to do what the law says. It’s making them seem like bad neighbors, and reflects poorly on the umma. Their lawyer doesn’t seem to be helping, saying they ‘will not change their behavior’ (both the lawyer and the newscaster gave me the willies).
These guys need image consultants, fast.
i’d hate to have that mosque in my neighbourhood…it is an eye sore…why does a mosque need live stock?
Muslims in name only
Sam, maybe for a fresh BBQ post salah? This was so disheartening, the mosques in Jordan can be beautiful and tasteful, this one was just as you said. I’d be complaining too.
Joe, who can know their hearts?
Why does the newscaster give you the willies? Talk about a clash of cultures!
I have seen that problem in the US and Jordan, it’s not Islamic at all! but nothing is said, sadly. I have seen some mosques doing an awesome job at this in the US but some don’t. We usually don’t hear about the good things that Mosques do in the media or for that matter, any religious institutions.
DM, she just seemed unknowledgable and unprofessional to me. Maybe not the willies of the lawyer, but that embarrassment you feel when a Westerner reoprts on Eastern stuff she doesn’t know about? Yea, clash indeed!
Samar, it isn’t Islamic, but cultural – and human nature in selfishness. Most people come late to church or mosque, then park badly so as not to be embarrassingly obvious. My church in Cali had signs saying “Thou Shalt Not Park Here”. With you, media loves to shame us.
Very true! I do like the sign your church had, very creative
Media is talented at shaming, to say the least.
Yes, such behavior won’t win them any friends, and with Muslims continually being arrested on terrorism charges, you’d think the mosque-goers would be doubly image conscious.