Diversity question (Salt Lake City, Layton, Clearfield: fit in, houses, transfer)

[IForget]

Let me start out by saying that I was stationed at Hill AFB previously and therefore have lived in Utah for 3 years. I have never had a problem with anyone there and no one was ever rude, or mean to me that I remember. My problem is when I was there I was fairly young and didn't have a family with me I also knew I was leaving after a while.

Fast forward six years im married, left the military and have a kid on the way, so I am looking at Salt Lake City through a different eye. I might have an opportunity to transfer in my company to the Layton / Clearfield area, but want to live in Salt Lake City (used to a bigger city lifestyle.)

My question is this, my family and I are Indian Muslims. Many people think that I am Latino, I fit in fairly well and don't see any problems for myslef. My wife on the other hand doesn't wear a hijab, but does like to wear her Indian / Pakistani clothing and am worried about how she would be treated throughout the area. Doing research online I know that there are several Indian / Muslim business / mosques. I pretty much wanted to know if she would have any problems? do you see many Indian / Pakistani folks walking around? Any in traditional wear? How are they treated?

My background is that I was born and raised in California and moved back after I left the military, my wife on the other hand was born overseas, but living in CA for a while now. Any help would be apprecieated, thank you.

[markg91359]

[quote=IForget;8303277]Let me start out by saying that I was stationed at Hill AFB previously and therefore have lived in Utah for 3 years. I have never had a problem with anyone there and no one was ever rude, or mean to me that I remember. My problem is when I was there I was fairly young and didn't have a family with me I also knew I was leaving after a while.

Fast forward six years im married, left the military and have a kid on the way, so I am looking at Salt Lake City through a different eye. I might have an opportunity to transfer in my company to the Layton / Clearfield area, but want to live in Salt Lake City (used to a bigger city lifestyle.)

My question is this, my family and I are Indian Muslims. Many people think that I am Latino, I fit in fairly well and don't see any problems for myslef. My wife on the other hand doesn't wear a hijab, but does like to wear her Indian / Pakistani clothing and am worried about how she would be treated throughout the area. Doing research online I know that there are several Indian / Muslim business / mosques. I pretty much wanted to know if she would have any problems? do you see many Indian / Pakistani folks walking around? Any in traditional wear? How are they treated?

My background is that I was born and raised in California and moved back after I left the military, my wife on the other hand was born overseas, but living in CA for a while now. Any help would be apprecieated, thank you.

I know of at least one Hindu Temple and one Mosque in the Salt Lake area. I think people would be relatively accepting of you in the Salt Lake area. I still hear people occasionally make ignorant comments about all Muslims based on 9/11. Indian women around here may wear traditional clothing occasionally. I can't remember seeing any though doing that lately. I think you'd be smart to find a community of similar folks who attend the mosque in your area. I don't think you'd experience overt discrimination. More subtle discrimination I have a harder time commenting on. I welcome you if you move into this area. I think Utah needs more diversity. I'm a huge fan of Indian food and occasionally go to Indian restaurants.

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

I do see women in Hijabs or more completely covered walking around some areas. From about 100 South to 100 South and from about 1300 East on into the west side. I don't know if there is a name for that area. There is a mosque on 700 East, mabe 700 or 800 South. I did see several women who worked in the hospital wearing hijabs.

[x2cme]

Keep in mind that Utah is MAJORITY Mormon,,, they have quietly 'internally' made it their official goal to convert every Jew and Muslim on the planet to become Mormons... My Dad's Mormon, (not me) and he's pretty high up in his branch of churches, this is how I learned this information. In my experience with them as a whole (generally speaking, of course) I have not found them to be accepting of diversity or tolerant to thoughts not in line with their 'teachings.' That being said, each person individually has their own way of approaching their conscience vs the pressure from their peers... so while they may be wonderfully nice to your face, they will all the while continue to say things to 'convert' you or 'shame' you. There may be pockets within Utah where non-Mormons have grouped, but ask yourself why there are only 'small pockets'... is it maybe because their only solitude is away from the Majority???

I wish you the best of luck, but I don't see Utah as a promising choice for your family. If you have another option, you might want to investigate it and then weigh the pro's and con's of each location and pick the one best suited to your family.

[alexei27]

If you are going to move to Utah...I would say that Layton is among the more diverse communities because of Hill AFB. We lived there for 3 years...and during that time adopted two little girls from Haiti and China. We got some strange looks...but overall there were never problems. We moved primarily because of the schools...but overt discrimination was not a problem.

[IForget]

Like I said I have lived in Utah before, when I wrote I had no problem I was pretty much saying that I never had a problem with the Mormon community. In fact I made pretty good friends with several Mormon guys. I watched football games at a few houses regularly, nobody had ever attempted to convert me, the only time I remember someone bringing up religion was in regards to discrimination towards the LDS.

I definately don't mind living in a pocket community, I think every community has pockets, of people who associate well with others (Utah it self is a pocket community.)

My biggest concern is weather, or not you think someone might openly harass my wife due to what she wears. California is a different story, when I lived there before this subject was never a issue, so I never payed attention.

When I lived there I lived on base for half a year then continued the rest in Clearfield. Layton / Clearfield and surrounding areas are definately a option, I just like the big city life, but could live in Layton / Clearfield.

Any more opinions would be greatly appreciated.

[Mol1112]

I, personally, think you'd have no problem living in Salt Lake City proper. There's a diverse community connected with the University of Utah - and the city as a whole.

But that's one helluva commute - SLC to Layton.

[irman]

Originally Posted by x2cme

Utah is MAJORITY Mormon,,, they have quietly 'internally' made it their official goal to convert every Jew and Muslim on the planet to become Mormons...

That is true, but, if you have ever lived in majority Muslim country, you may remember that the Muslim ideas and whatever, is blasted in your ears almost all day long.

That said, I think if you do move to Utah, just be prepared to have some people try to do exactly what was mentioned. Just take it with a bag of salt, a grain does not work.

It all depends on your own outlook. If you will be outgoing, and be kind to others, it WILL come back at you. Conversely, if you treat others like they are *below you* that will come back at you also.

Just do not use the words infidels and whatever. And make sure you move into a diverse neighbourhood.

Personally, I think your wive's native clothing is rather pretty looking. Very feminine, unlike some western garb other anglos wear ....

I am often also perceived as being Latino, and the only Spanish I know is what I learned in Southern California .... Not exactly the right things to know, huh ...
*Kind* people ask me if I speak Spahneesh .... My answer is always, "nope I speak eengleesh ..."
Why do people think that speaking funny helps other people ?

Oh, commuting from SLC proper going North on 15 is not that bad. I did that for over 7 years.
You are actually traveling *against* the traffic most of the time.

[Zionide]

Originally Posted by x2cme

Keep in mind that Utah is MAJORITY Mormon,,, they have quietly 'internally' made it their official goal to convert every Jew and Muslim on the planet to become Mormons... My Dad's Mormon, (not me) and he's pretty high up in his branch of churches, this is how I learned this information. In my experience with them as a whole (generally speaking, of course) I have not found them to be accepting of diversity or tolerant to thoughts not in line with their 'teachings.' That being said, each person individually has their own way of approaching their conscience vs the pressure from their peers... so while they may be wonderfully nice to your face, they will all the while continue to say things to 'convert' you or 'shame' you. There may be pockets within Utah where non-Mormons have grouped, but ask yourself why there are only 'small pockets'... is it maybe because their only solitude is away from the Majority???

I wish you the best of luck, but I don't see Utah as a promising choice for your family. If you have another option, you might want to investigate it and then weigh the pro's and con's of each location and pick the one best suited to your family.

I'm a former Mormon, and therefore not at all prone to giving church members the benefit of the doubt, but I don't think x2cme has a clue what he/she is talking about. SLC proper is majority NON-Mormon, and the Mormons in the area are generally very open-minded. Because of the importance placed on international missionary work and international humanitarian efforts within the LDS church, many members are surprisingly more open-minded than other conservative Christians.