Garbanzo Toons

A Warning?

HAMTRAMCK -- This small city of immigrants is quickly regaining its reputation.

Once a refuge for Catholic immigrants mostly from Poland and Ukraine, who staked their claim to the American dream in this 2.2-square-mile municipality, Hamtramck is now providing the same haven for Muslims from Bangladesh, Bosnia and Yemen.

And the dream is coming to fruition, again. There is a chance that, for the first time in the United States, a majority of members of the legislative body of a municipality will be Muslims, according to national Muslim and Arab organizations.

Four Muslims are in the Tuesday primary. If they are among the six of 12 candidates to emerge for the general election in November, they would have a chance of joining a fifth Muslim, Councilman Abdul Algazali, who is up for re-election in 2009, on the six-member council.

According to the writer, this is a good thing, but if you read his past articles, he's always been an apologist for islamists.

"This is not about Muslims, alone," Mafuz said. "This is about representing all people. That's my mission. I want to build a relationship with all people to unite, to create opportunities and the sort of city we all want to have."

Indeed, observers are quick to point out that the candidates who are Muslim are not generally allied.

Right, for now. Forgive my skepticism but I'm going to keep my eye on Hamtramck, because none of my local papers are going to run articles that are unfavorable to Muslims, even if they attempt the popular "creeping sharia" gambit. There are a lot of little corner bars in that city. It used to be the place to go to hear local rock bands. It still may be. I don't get out like I used to. Will there be any problem with their continued operation (recalling Somali cabdrivers in Minnisota)?

Like I said, I'm going to be watching.

Labels: Hamtramck, Muslims

posted by Harry @ 8:02 PM