Searching for Sharia

Flickr user <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sidehike/164088356/sizes/l/in/photostream/">sidehike</a> via Creative Commons

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In early October, Sharron Angle stoked fears that sharia law was overtaking American cities, notably Dearborn, Michigan and Frankford, Texas. The mayor of Dearborn refuted these claims, telling CNN “There is no sharia law in Dearborn… it isn’t even talked about in Dearborn.” Frankford, Texas, will have a harder time denying Angle’s claims, as it doesn’t technically exist anymore, having been incorporated into Dallas in the 1970s. But two brave men, Joe and Mike, drove to former Frankford to see for themselves what it’s like to live under sharia law. What they found was a notable lack of rocks (for stonings, obviously), a grave marked Sheriff (or as they pronounce it, sha-REEF’), and minarets cunningly disguised as Episcopalian bell towers. Video is worth watching if you have the time. If you don’t, some of my favorite quotes, below.

0:47 “Very insidious of these Muslims to bring sharia to a town that doesn’t exist”

3:50 “We thought we’d go to the cemetery to see if they’ve buried any terrorists..” “Or nuclear weapons..” “Oh, I didn’t think of that.”

6:15 “This is the absolute worst sharia law-led municipality in the United States.”

6:54 “Perhaps Ms. Angle has done us a great favor, here in Texas, by scaring away the sharia people. So they went back to where they belong and where they come from: Dearborn, Michigan.”

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“Lying.” “Disgusting.” “Scum.” “Slime.” “Corrupt.” “Enemy of the people.” Donald Trump has always made clear what he thinks of journalists. And it’s plain now that his administration intends to do everything it can to stop journalists from reporting things it doesn’t like—which is most things that are true.

We’ll say it loud and clear: At Mother Jones, no one gets to tell us what to publish or not publish, because no one owns our fiercely independent newsroom. But that also means we need to directly raise the resources it takes to keep our journalism alive. There’s only one way for that to happen, and it’s readers like you stepping up. The deadline’s almost here. Please help us reach our $150k membership goal by May 31.

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