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This could prove to be an eye-opening website in that it will deal with one American's view of how it feels to have what look like Muslim neighbors moving in just above us.
We live in the upper middle class section of North Dallas. The area is virtually crime free and our apartment overlooks a stream and golf course plus a view of the pool. We're on the 2nd floor.
It's 11:30pm and I can still hear them moving stuff. Maybe they don't understand just how loud they are. Or maybe they are on a different clock or something. I wanna give them the benefit of the doubt. I do not want to get started off on the wrong foot with any neighbor no matter what their skin color or religious beliefs. Laura (the girlfriend) has seen them. I have not. She said an older woman was wrapped up in all those garments the Muslim women wear. Their were two guys doing the moving for her but they were wearing regular "American" clothes like jeans, etc.
Laura has to get up at 4:00 in the morning to be on the air at 5am. It's 11:36 and it still sounds like they are dropping elephants on the floor upstairs.

About an hour ago ago Laura asked me if I thought we should go upstairs and just kindly ask them if they could be a little quieter or maybe finish up tomorrow. I didn't feel comfortable about that. Maybe that would have been the thing to do, but it just didn't seem right to me. It's not that I'm afraid of them. I would rather just give it a little more time and stretch the benefit of the doubt as far as it will go in their direction.

They continued moving and Laura asked if I would call the office and ask them to do something about it. I asked her to give it until 11pm and I would. Eleven came and went and the noise continued, so I called. I had to leave a message. Within a few minutes I got a return call. I explained the problem and the man said that he was not on the property tonight but would be happy to call 911 for me. It was good to speak to the actual person who would normally handle the call instead of some answering service. But I was kind of shocked that he would suggest 911. The police? I explained to him that I did not want to call the police on them. I just didn't see it as a matter for the police. The people are just moving into their new home and we all know how much fun moving is. They may be paying a moving company by the hour until it's all moved in. I have no idea what their situation is. So, I'm gonna give them the benefit of the doubt. I told him that. It was only then that I added, "Besides, I believe they are Arabic or Muslim or something and I don't want to get off to a bad start." He told me he was a police officer as well and their race should have anything to do with whether or not I wanted him to call 911. I agreed with him but was very clear that I did not want 911 called. He assured me that the officers would be polite and I have no doubt that they would. I told him I would call him back if it kept up much longer, he agreed and that was the end of that.

11:54: I haven't heard anything from upstairs in the past 10 minutes or so. Hopefully they are done for the night.

If I had to err, I would rather err on the side of giving them the benefit of the doubt rather than have them remember the police coming to their new home the night they moved in.

If they were having some huge party upstairs and vibrating the ceiling, I'd ask that the apartments handle it from within but if it were necessary to call 911, I'd do it myself if I had to. I honestly believe that Dallas police officers have more impending matters to attend to on a Friday night about this time than to ask people to please stop bumping the furniture.

When I think back on it, it wouldn't matter what their race or color or belief. If they turn out to be noisy neighbors, one of us will be moving and I don't think it will be us. If they are respectful to us as we will be respectful to them, we will live in harmony and won't even know the other exists unless we make a special effort.

Now, ask yourself: If you were us, would you feel more comfortable or less comfortable living just under our new Muslim neighbors?

Why?

People say "Well, I can't help it. I feel uncomfortable around them (Arabics in the Muslim attire). I associate them with terrorists or Bin Laden or something." Then they kind of cringe as if to shake away the bad vibes.

I perfectly understand those feelings. I have them myself. It's something we can't avoid coming in contact with if we watch the news or go to the movies. We have come to associate all Arabic people with a group of radicals. That would be like imagining all Christians are KKK members.

Yet, in the back of my mind I can't help but wonder how many people are going to be living above us besides the woman, what kind of neighbors they will be over time, and are they terrorists?

Okay. I can't help it. My mind bounces back and forth. One minute I respect the woman for her beliefs and for the fact that she is covering herself in public. To us, covering it ALL seems extreme. To them, barring it all like Americans do on the covers of magazines you see in the checkout line in the grocery store - The current "Sports Illustrated" Swimsuit Edition comes to mind - would be considered what it was in America only a few years ago.

So, we look at the females in their society and think it's funny that they're wearing so many clothes and they look at our females and, if they are really as deeply into their faith as Right-Wing Christians are in this country they consider it "obscene."

Well, that about wraps up the first night.

Here is where our experiment begins. I am going to get Laura to go out and get them some little "Welcome" gift. I'm not good at picking out stuff like that. Maybe a fruit basket. Can't exactly leave 'em a good Texas batch of beef jerky. What is it that they don't like? Pigs? Why? I was in New Orleans last week and ate a big plate of alligator. Pig? Chicken? Cow? Alligator? Dog? In Korea they eat dogs. Some people cringe at the thought but they don't see it that way. And we're all in this together.

End of night one.

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