Phil and Macy

Phil and Macy

Tuesday, August 2, 2016

Muslim Population – Cedar Rapids Iowa


The subject of Muslims is a big thing in the news lately. One candidate for president is proposing a halt to any new immigration of Muslims. He is also proposing a registry of those who live in the US. This is made me think about this subject a lot I started thinking about my experience with the Muslim religion and Muslim people.

As many of you know I live in Cedar Rapids Iowa. Cedar Rapids is home to the oldest mosque west of the Mississippi. That means Cedar Rapids's has had a Muslim population for very long time. Longer than I've been alive. I started thinking the other day about violence and these people. I can't say I've known very many Muslims but for my entire life there is never been one case of Muslim violence in this town. The only times I've seen this subject in the news is when someone spray-painted obscenities and racial insults on the mosque. Same thing with a man who was trying to update a flood house on the northwest side. People vandalize this property.

From my point of view there is never been a Muslim terrorist attack or anything racially motivated that would make me fear this people. If Sharia law were to be implemented wouldn't Cedar Rapids be one of the first places it was fought for?

According to the latest political rhetoric I'm supposed to be afraid. I am not. I have met two Muslims and work with them in the past. Both were very kind and gentle people. I'm not seeing either of them practicing violence for any reason. So if this political rhetoric was true shouldn't there be an outbreak of violence in Cedar Rapids due to its long time Muslim population? I don't see this so I think it's a bunch of malarkey
 I do agree background checks are in order before people can immigrate. This does not mean a ban or registration but just some common sense. I think part of it is the immigration service is terribly underfunded. They need more resources and it has been like this for decades. Right now the Republicans control the Senate, both houses. Don't they establish funding? Shouldn't they have already dealt with this issue? It's important to remember the US is a nation of immigrants. I am the grandson of four separate immigrants. If my great-grandparents or grandparents had been turned away I would not be a proud American that I am today.

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