1. It is the liberals and Democrats who want to judge people based on the groups they belong to rather than the individual content of their characters. If you agree with the sentiments of this post, then you should go join them. They love to hate (or love) people based on their belonging to a group. Conservatives are supposed to respect competence, character and the rights of each individual. Whether someone belongs to a group should not matter.
2. I am not a Muslim, but, being of Arabic descent in America, I have known a few. As far as I can tell, the vast majority of Muslims in this country support the war on terror and want nothing to do with radical Islam. They are helping our government covertly, turning in strangers who show up at their mosques and otherwise lending a hand where they can. The fact that there have been no terrorists attacks in the US since 9/11 is somewhat of a tribute to American Muslims being willing to do some housecleaning. The reason they are not more public with their condemnation is that THEY ARE AFRAID. It's not because they hate you or are rooting for the terrorists. We may wish they were more public with their outrage, but we are not faced with the cultural pressures they are, and so maybe we ought to cut them a little slack.
There have been many condemnations of terrorism in the Muslim American community, but they usually fall on deaf ears. Bigots often get hard of hearing. Maybe their blinders end up covering their ears as well as their eyes.
Today's arab-and-muslim bashers remind me of my maternal grandmother, a real Archie Bunker type who nontheless worshiped Danny Thomas (real name: Muzyad Ahoob). They probably think Spencer Abraham is either Jewish or Scots-Amish and that "Sunnunu" is a Swedish name.
There is alot of ignorance concerning American-Muslims, but what can we expect? Do Arab Muslims that come to this country really understand American culture? The problem is that we just just dont 'get' each-other. Muslims tend to be very private. That is their right, but it breeds mistrust.
You say there have been many condemnations? I have heard a few, and God bless them for being brave enough to speak out. And maybe the word isnt getting out. But also, we have heard alot of equivicating and parsed words from the Muslim community. My ears are not deaf to such things. I love to hear the truth, good or bad.
MYSELF I am sorry that I have been forced to distrust all of islam ,and muslimes and you are right ,that all muslimes are not terrorist, but the truth is that all terrorist are muslim, what do you expect of us as a nation ,when there is day after day ,brutality from the cult known as islam, and many do live right here in the US,I will not turn my back on common sense.
Interesting post massadvj. I hope you're right. All the muslim celebration on our college campuses following 911 did not inspire a lot of confidence however. Those that are here to cause problems need to be rooted out and dealt with. "Phoney" muslim schools and clerics that are indoctinating children to believe in jihad must be identified and rooted out. The "loyal" muslim community can be very helpful in this regard if willing to help. Time will tell.
"Not all Arabs are Muslims, and not all Muslims are terrorists."
Of course once upon a time most Arabs were Christians. Skipping ahead to the here and now there are many Arab Christians who are faithful to Judaeo Christian western values and this nation.
OTOH, you of all people should be aware that Muslims of any stripe cannot be trusted whether Arab or Turk of British born...etc.!