The Hamtramck City Council voted unanimously to allow a Muslim call to prayer to be broadcast from a loudspeaker five times a day. This call will be sang in Arabic over loudspeakers filling the city with words of prayer to Allah. Some have compared this to the ringing of a bell of a church or have defended this by declaring it to be a part of Freedom of Speech. For residents of Hamtramack, they have to hear Arabic chants billowing throughout their streets.

Do you think this is a noise disturbance for those who practice other religions or do you think it would promote peace in the community?

I would like to know how you would feel about an ordinance such as this one passing in your city.

see article here

At first I think it would drive me nuts, much like the bells that chime every hour from 6 am-9pm at the church beside my house. Even though I am christian, I really don't think its necessary, and it made me crazy the first few months I lived here. I think the muslim call to prayer would have the same effect.

However, having lived here 4 years, I rarely even notice the chimes anymore, and I am sure the same will happen for the towns people in Michigan.

If I am going to continue to want the Pledge of Allegience to be said "One nation, under God", then it shouldn't bother me when other religions also want to express their beliefs.

The only problem that I see with it is the noise. I hate noise. If the prayers were displayed on the streets for people to read, then that would be fine. Just like the Pledge, the words are not hurting anything but a person's pride.

Bottom line, the only thing about it that would bother me is the noise.

It would not bother me. I actually live near a mosque here in Dublin, and they do the prayer call publicly too. But it isn't very loud- a bit like someone playing music on their stereo at a reasonable volume and having the windows open. It can be annoying when I am trying to have an afternoon nap with my windows open too, but it's not too bad.

I do not see it as an interference with my beliefs anymore than I see someone wearing a cross or listening to pagan music on their car stereo as interference.

No. The problem can be when one or two start killing chickens or other food creatures in the street and using the gutter by the pavement (=sidewalk ) as a drain for the blood ! Now that has caused a little trouble in isolated cases; somebody had to have a quiet word about our local practices ( e.g compare the Jews and their butchers here )

As to the noise,so long as they keep within the laws concerning noise nuisance it's fine. As they are only likely to upset the people around with the first call of the day ( far too early for many of us) this should not ever be a problem.