Hamtramck City Council Now Majority Muslim

[Lowell]

I caught notice of this landmark event on WDET this morning. Following Tuesday's election 4 of the 6 council members are of the Muslim faith. It was also noted that the population of Hamtramck has tipped to majority Muslim.

I don't find this surprising. In fact it is just another chapter in Hamtramck's storied history of receiving and assimilating immigrant populations.

The move to Muslim majority has been fed by Bosnians from the Balkan wars of the 90's, the movement of Bengalis from Brooklyn, and an influx of Yemeni's.

The result is a Hamtramck as vibrant and colorful as ever.

Time for the band The Polish Muslims to revive?

[Hypestyles]

Hopefully this won’t be spun in certain social circles as “Sharia law comes to the Heartland” or something along those lines. There was already that nutty feature recently on Fox/The O'Reilly Factor.

[Danny]

Welcome to Hamtramckstan!

[detroitsgwenivere]

I attended a few neighborhood meetings while doing some work in Hamtramck a few years back. Racially mixed crowds with elderly and children. People got along fine, and most of the Muslim folks present were of the Americanized sort [[or still working on it). They were discussing neighborhood patrols, economic development, and youth programs.

I want to believe that it will remain this way. Regardless of a few immigrants who continue to view politics through the lens of the countries they left behind.

I did meet a small group during the last election, however, that openly discussed making it illegal to sell alcohol within the city limits. They are of the same ilk that are talking about showing the Polish what time it is now that the Muslims hold the majority.

Lets keep an eye on these folks, and not paint everyone with a broad a brush.

[Honky Tonk]

I did meet a small group during the last election, however, that openly discussed making it illegal to sell alcohol within the city limits. They are of the same ilk that are talking about showing the Polish what time it is now that the Muslims hold the majority.

And so it begins.

[Dan Wesson]

And so it begins.

Resistance is Futile...

[Danny]

Hamtramck can than the GM Hamtramck Assembly plant built in 1980 for saving that small town, the luring of eastern Europeans, Middle Easterners and East Indians. The plant doomed Poletown and wipe out Detroit's lower east side, but it saved small town from becoming like Highland Park. Without the plant, Hamtramck will absolutely die. There is however surrounding industry at the Detroit-Hamtramck border, but they're too old and can't retool to modern industry levels. So most of them closed and or being into lofts and bazaars.

[Pam]

http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/h...uncil/36260616

"My concern is to give the people, everybody, equal opportunity and be fair for everybody," said Musa.

"We are going to represent everybody. We are going to serve everybody, Christians, Jewish, Muslims, everybody," said Almasmari.

[gazhekwe]

It is interesting how banning alcohol sales is seen by some as Sharia law. There are whole counties in Kentucky and Texas [[to name just two that I have actually traveled through) which are dry. No booze. In Marshall, Texas, you can only order beer and wine in a restaurant if you join a private club for an extra ten dollars. Yet if you accused any of these fine people of enacting Sharia Law, you would likely be shown the door in a very unfriendly way.

[SDCC]

It is interesting how banning alcohol sales is seen by some as Sharia law. There are whole counties in Kentucky and Texas [[to name just two that I have actually traveled through) which are dry. No booze. In Marshall, Texas, you can only order beer and wine in a restaurant if you join a private club for an extra ten dollars. Yet if you accused any of these fine people of enacting Sharia Law, you would likely be shown the door in a very unfriendly way.

Jack Daniels [[Tennessee) home county of Moore is a dry county, so no Tennessee Tea is available for sipping in stores or restaurants within the county.

“While federal prohibition ended in 1933 with the repeal of the Eighteenth Amendment, state prohibition laws remain in effect. All Tennessee counties are dry by default, though any county can become "wet" by passing a county-wide "local option" referendum. Moore County has yet to pass such a referendum”.

Wikipedia

[Richard]

Jack Daniels [[Tennessee) home county of Moore is a dry county, so no Tennessee Tea is available for sipping in stores or restaurants within the county.

“While federal prohibition ended in 1933 with the repeal of the Eighteenth Amendment, state prohibition laws remain in effect. All Tennessee counties are dry by default, though any county can become "wet" by passing a county-wide "local option" referendum. Moore County has yet to pass such a referendum”.

Wikipedia

But yet you can buy some of the best shine in the country so who's end game does a dry county serve.

In the early 80s Orlando was a no liquor sales on Sunday city,but yet it was less then a 10 minute drive to the county border and plenty of stores willing to sell,all they were really accomplishing was to throttle their own bars and restaurants and losing that revenue.

Maybe it works with a small town out in the middle of nowhere but if somebody wants a cold beer or a sip they are going to find it.

Mormon dominated cities follow Mormon rules if it applies to you or not.

[Gpwrangler]

Mormon dominated cities follow Mormon rules if it applies to you or not.

They still have bars.

[Richard]

They still have bars.

Sure they do,but when a area becomes a majority everybody else becomes a minority.

Try Fla,sections that would dwarf Hamtown have become micro countries and if you do not speak the language you need to move,because it will be impossible to even do simple tasks like daily shopping.

Kissimmiee used to be redneck town 20 years ago now if you do not speak Spanish it becomes a rough way to go,even major brand stores have to be prodded to employ at least one person in management that speaks English,the local vo-tech does offer free Spanish lessons but not English,if you are not bilingual you will be hard pressed to find work,you will not graduate from high school without taking a mandatory Spanish language class.

That is how it works when a majority rules,they do not need to assimilate,you either need to assimilate into their culture or move,it is not paranoia,it is a proven fact.

[coracle]

It is interesting how banning alcohol sales is seen by some as Sharia law. There are whole counties in Kentucky and Texas [[to name just two that I have actually traveled through) which are dry. No booze. In Marshall, Texas, you can only order beer and wine in a restaurant if you join a private club for an extra ten dollars. Yet if you accused any of these fine people of enacting Sharia Law, you would likely be shown the door in a very unfriendly way.

It isn't interesting. Your equivalency with Marshall Texas is irrelevant and is the type of dangerous bogus argument that allows undesirable rules gradually to gain acceptance. BANNING alcohol in a majority muslim city is directly associated with sharia and should itself be BANNED. We don't want any part of sharia in our country. If they want to live under sharia law let them go and live in a sharia country not bring it here. Watch Europe and see it go down the tubes.

[Hamtragedy]

It isn't interesting. Your equivalency with Marshall Texas is irrelevant and is the type of dangerous bogus argument that allows undesirable rules gradually to gain acceptance. BANNING alcohol in a majority muslim city is directly associated with sharia and should itself be BANNED. We don't want any part of sharia in our country. If they want to live under sharia law let them go and live in a sharia country not bring it here. Watch Europe and see it go down the tubes.

This is some funny $hirt right here.

Stepped foot into Hamtown lately? South of 8 Mile even? Any idea who's selling the booze? Been in any of those bars? Ever met a Muslim? Ever talked to one? Ever met one in a Hamtramck bar? My guess is no no no no no. Enjoy your paranoia.

[ConantNHolbrook]

I'm not sure where Bham gets the idea that the south end is increasingly abandoned. Its actually pretty crowded around here.

[Bham1982]

I'm not sure where Bham gets the idea that the south end is increasingly abandoned. Its actually pretty crowded around here.

U.S. Census data > Internet booster

[G-DDT]

This is some funny $hirt right here.

Stepped foot into Hamtown lately? South of 8 Mile even? Any idea who's selling the booze? Been in any of those bars? Ever met a Muslim? Ever talked to one? Ever met one in a Hamtramck bar? My guess is no no no no no. Enjoy your paranoia.

You are going to find that this is the disappointing case with most of the posters on DY which aren't even Wayne County residents.

[coracle]

This is some funny $hirt right here.

Stepped foot into Hamtown lately? South of 8 Mile even? Any idea who's selling the booze? Been in any of those bars? Ever met a Muslim? Ever talked to one? Ever met one in a Hamtramck bar? My guess is no no no no no. Enjoy your paranoia.

Another irrelevance. Nobody goes to places they don't want to go to. I wouldn't go to North Africa to find out that I didn't want to go there. The discussion was about muslims/sharia not Hamtown. You can make up as many silly questions as you like, it doesn't change the thrust of the observation re the Marshall Texas argument floated by gazhekwe. And it seems you're the one with the paranoia, not me. Go and get a beer while they'll still allow it, and don't forget to wear your Hijab.

[Danny]

Hamtramck went from a polish town to a Muslim city in less in 20 years. Unbelievable. There will be a Muslim mayor coming soon.

[AlanF]

I remember a few years ago there was some controversy about calls to prayer from the mosques, their timing, volume, intrusiveness, etc. Is that still an active issue and could this new majority potentially change the rules on this?

[Bham1982]

It is interesting how banning alcohol sales is seen by some as Sharia law. There are whole counties in Kentucky and Texas [[to name just two that I have actually traveled through) which are dry. No booze. In Marshall, Texas, you can only order beer and wine in a restaurant if you join a private club for an extra ten dollars. Yet if you accused any of these fine people of enacting Sharia Law, you would likely be shown the door in a very unfriendly way.

There's a huge difference between not changing a century-old law, and actively enacting a new law that bans the same behavior.

There are still parts of the U.S. with zoning laws and covenants outlawing nonwhites. They would never hold up in court but they exist. That's very different than some community trying to pass a law in 2015 banning certain races from buying homes. In much of the country, certain commonly practiced "marital" acts are still forbidden but if you tried to do that now it would be batshit crazy.

Also, almost all the dry counties in the U.S are rural backwaters who don't want to police bars and the like. It would be very odd to have an urban city "dry", especially one with many bars, and in the middle of a major metropolitan area.

[gazhekwe]

Bham, as usual you are going along picking at straws. Those dry laws were enacted for the exact same reason, religious zealotry wanting to enforce its beliefs on everyone. The results are exactly the same. Those laws may be able to be challenged, but the population supports them, exactly as would be the case should such a law pass in Hamtramck, for exactly the same reason, religious zealotry trying to enforce its beliefs on everyone. There is no difference.

[canuck]

Bham, as usual you are going along picking at straws. Those dry laws were enacted for the exact same reason, religious zealotry wanting to enforce its beliefs on everyone. The results are exactly the same. Those laws may be able to be challenged, but the population supports them, exactly as would be the case should such a law pass in Hamtramck, for exactly the same reason, religious zealotry trying to enforce its beliefs on everyone. There is no difference.

Yes, and that is why I say, if an individual owner of a grocery superette whatever sells no liquor because of his beliefs, then all the power to him, you can always pick another business to frequent. There is a guy around the corner from where I live that does just that and caters to his muslim customers and whoever else comes in, his store is well stocked, well-kept and he was brought up despising alcohol, so he doesn't sell it; fine.

But a city council or county banning the sale of alcohol is nutty.

Anyways, I always believed those who had the teetotalling bug were probably some of the worst abusers, much like the sexually repressed in politics and preaching. There was a famous Canadian Prime Minister, Thomas D'arcy McGee who ran on a platform that promised to curb alcohol consumption and he himself was a notorious alcoholic.

[canuck]

It is interesting how banning alcohol sales is seen by some as Sharia law. There are whole counties in Kentucky and Texas [[to name just two that I have actually traveled through) which are dry. No booze. In Marshall, Texas, you can only order beer and wine in a restaurant if you join a private club for an extra ten dollars. Yet if you accused any of these fine people of enacting Sharia Law, you would likely be shown the door in a very unfriendly way.

Interesting, I didn't know that. In Canada, I think only Native communities have enacted laws to prohibit the sale of alcohol to the population. In Montreal, restrictions are on a municipal level where posh cities like Westmount and Outremont [[now an after merger borough) ban bars from operating. Restaurants are not restricted and liquor stores keep going. I think that on an individual basis, if a Muslim shop owner like the one around the corner here decides to be truly kosher, his decision is OK. If a city were to ban alcohol altogether, it would smack of holy imposition. I doubt that Hamtramckers are going to swallow that soon.