Posted on 10/06/2004 10:32:47 AM PDT by Area Freeper
An Islamic civil rights group says crimes against Muslims and negative beliefs about Muslims have increased in the United States since 2001. But the U.S.-based organization also says that a recent poll it commissioned finds that a vast majority of Americans have neutral thoughts about Muslims. Allah. Islam. Mohammed. A poll commissioned by the Council on American-Islamic Relations indicates these are among the first thoughts that come to Americans' minds when they hear the word "Muslim."
In the survey of one thousand Americans conducted in June, two out of three Americans thought of a similarly neutral image when they heard the word Muslim. While the vast majority, 67 percent, thought of neutral terms, the Council on American-Islamic Relations is concerned that 32 percent thought of a negative term such as war or violence. And only two percent thought of a positive term such as good, beautiful or decent.
The founder of the research firm that conducted the poll, Jeni Sall of Genesis Research Associates, says the very first thing people think of when they hear a word indicates their attitude.
"Generally, it's considered that what you have at the top of your mind, what you will say on an open-ended basis, is the most predictive of the way that you think, so if I say, 'What comes to mind when I say the word Muslim?' and you say 'war,' you probably don't have warm, fuzzy feelings about Islam," Ms. Sall said.
One in four Americans surveyed agreed with the statements that Muslims teach their children to hate or they value life less than other people.
The council's research director, Mohamed Nimer, says this finding is troubling for the more than six million Muslims living in the United States.
"It's very uncomfortable to live thinking that it is likely that one in four of the neighbors around you think you are less human than they are," Mr. Nimer said.
But the poll also found that twice as many people, about half those polled, think of Muslims as family-oriented, honest, hospitable, or generous people who have contributed to society.
Ms. Sall explains even more Americans believe Islam is a peaceful religion.
"When we asked people whether they agreed or disagreed with the statement that the people who are using Islam to justify violence are misusing the teachings, we found that 44 percent agreed strongly with that statement, and in fact most Americans did agree at least to some degree with that statement," Ms. Sall said.
The survey finds that people who know Muslims or are knowledgeable about Islam are less likely to have negative perceptions of the faith.
The council is trying to educate more people about Islam by encouraging 100 mosques to share a meal with members of other faiths during Ramadan, the Islamic fast that begins in mid-October. It is also asking people to donate books about Islam to public libraries.
From the article:
"It's very uncomfortable to live thinking that it is likely that one in four of the neighbors around you think you are less human than they are," Mr. Nimer said.
What makes me "uncomfortable" is the fact that Islam teaches that non-Muslims are less than human.
Being Muslim is a hate crime!
I worked in thje WTC for almost eight years. I met my wife there. Whydon't these pollsters ask me what I think?
Are you sure they didn't ask whether we should neuter all Muslims?
I deal with Moos on a constant basis and mine eyes have been opened wider and wider ever since...
LOL
My views aren't neutral, they are to be fair, but on guard concerning them in this war.
Ask me what I think of Islam, Allah and Mo-ham-head, baby!
"Ms. Sall explains even more Americans believe Islam is a peaceful religion."
How quickly they forget 9-11...
When the *next shoe drops*, America had better wake-the-hell-up, dammit.
Now why would Americans be today calling Islam a "Religion of Peace"? Anyone?
Ms. Sall explains even more Americans believe Islam is a peaceful religion.
More Americans need to spend some time reading:
Radical Islam's 'plan' to take over America - Arab-American author outlines secret 20-year strategy to undermine country
The Islamic States of America?
Misunderstanding the Enemy: the Islamic Threat and the U.S. Media
No one polled me about that death cult.
Subject to immediate change.
W says that crap because he doesn't want to take on 1.2 bn of the subhuman filth, all at once. Millions parrot him. I get furious everytime he says it. But now I understand why. Americans have a very short, collective memory.
Islam isn't a religion and it sure isn't peaceful. It's a violent politico-socio-economic cult of deviants, boy-buggerers, murderers, tyrants, fanatics, liars, fascists, women-chattellers; I could go on and on.
Islam, The Cult of Death®
Not me. I despise every single one of them.
Nuke em all off the face of the planet tomorrow morning and I wouldn't care or loose any sleep. Good riddance to bad rubbish.
I think they're all primitive, barbaric, fascist scum.
and Belsan
Well said. And let us not forget that it took the Muslim world three years to condemn the 9/11 attacks. If you ask me, they were hedging their bets and hoping that the Islamofascists would destroy us. Then they got a whiff of reality as their body counts went up in our successful War on Terror and then they decided it was a good time to switch sides.
And don't forget their catchy slogan!
"Islam: we're a religion of peace and WE'LL KILL YOU TO PROVE IT!"
Beats me. The literal translation of the word "Islam" means Submission, not "peace."
There ain't nothing "peaceful" about being forced to submit to the false god of a cult of death.
It's undoubtedly true. I've learned that in real life, if I voice my concerns about muslims, I'm almost always treated like I'm the biggest bigot since Archie Bunker. Muslims are everywhere in DFW, and casual observation would lead me to believe that indeed, they are viewed with neutrality.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.