Dearbornistan

Ack ! !............Update:

Just when I thought I'd never have to deal with Detroit again, I find myself headed for Dearborn, Michigan. Oh well, like I told my wife, there's got to be a blessing laying around in there somewhere. So, within a few days, I was able to share my faith with someone who had a very different idea of what an independent protestant Christian was.

After a couple of weeks here, I've had some pretty positive experiences. Before arriving, my perception of Dearborn was pretty grim, simply because it, like many places I've been to, were for the most part a sum of rumors and fear or reluctance of the unknown.

Dearborn is where Ford Motor Company is headquartered and streets reflect the city's dedication to the company. Streets and roads such as Ford Road, Fairlane and Mercury Drives are only a few examples. Had Henry Ford been born in Amarillo, Texas, Detroit would be a defunct fur trading outpost.

Part of my reluctance for coming here was knowing this was one of, if not the biggest centers of Arab/Muslim culture in the United States. Yes, the place is running over with ladies (and sometimes gentlemen) dressed in Arab garb and restaurants, stores and signs on cars are first hand evidence that make it the norm here. That being said, no one has held me down and forced a felafel into my mouth or have been discourteous to me at all. I've even heard Arabs calling into talk radio (yes, I'm one of those listeners) with American views to the right of Karl Rove. After all, many families have been here for 4 and 5 generations who came here to work on Henry Ford's moving assembly line. I've met a few people here and in many respects, they're just like me, trying to hack out a living and pursue wealth and happiness and grow old around their grand-kids.

Do I necessarily find Dearborn charming and have thoughts of moving here? Absolutely not but Arabs and Muslims are here and not going away. Like the Jews, Irish, Italians and Asians before them, they too will eventually place an indelible mark on the culture of the USA. It is what it is.

Ironically, Rima Fakih of Dearborn is the new Miss USA in Las Vegas, May 15. Fakih, 24, formerly from New York was raised in Dearborn, Michigan. She beat out 50 other contestants, including runner-up Miss Oklahoma, for the grand prize. It is said that the local Muslims are divided on her winning Miss USA, particularly the swimsuit division.

Probably the pole dancing video doesn't help either.

Irony indeed.