Posted on 12/02/2006 10:01:25 AM PST by LOC1
KATY — All snout and tail, the pink and brown pigs contentedly rooting in the wire pen behind Craig Baker's stone shop seem piggishly comic. They're racing pigs, after all, and that's got to be funny.
But few in the sprawling subdivisions along Baker Road are laughing.
These pigs are subtle weapons, here to show the new neighbors — the Katy Islamic Association — they aren't entirely welcome. Tension has been growing in this west Harris County community since September when the Muslim group announced it had purchased 11 acres south of Interstate 10 to build a mosque, school, community center and athletic facilities.
Hard feelings started when Baker met association officials, who, he said, advised him he should move his stone shop.
"They told me it was time for my family to pack up," said Baker, whose family has occupied its land since the early 1800s. "They said a mosque and a marble shop didn't go too good together."
Angered by the perceived insult and aware of Islamic dietary laws banning pork consumption, Baker responded by announcing he would stage weekly pig races on his Muslim neighbors' holiest day of prayer.
Since then, the conflict has escalated as residents called a town hall meeting to discuss the planned complex and an anti-mosque page featuring a cartoon pig and a running tally of terrorism victims was posted on the Internet. Numerous complaint calls have been made to county officials.
Claims and counterclaims have flown. Critics raise concerns about traffic congestion, flooding, possible adverse impact on property values and the "unknown."
(Excerpt) Read more at chron.com ...
If this mosque has only 30 members, I wonder who put up the cash for this project? Probably from our Wahhabi friends in Saudi Arabia.
... attendance at the largest services will probably not exceed 30 worshippers.
Do they get to stop the rest?
Holding pig races is freedom of speech. Surely the liberals in this country will stand up for his rights.
to build a mosque, school, community center and athletic facilities.
to build a command center, indoctrination madras, ammo dump and training facility.
What about having a gigantic Pig-In? Have air bursts of pork rinds going off amidst the festivities!
The massive hog roasts are protected under freedom of speech. Since the liberals only respect their freedoms, perhaps the responsible exercise of the 2nd amendment would protect those holding the pig roasts.
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