This is a copy/paste of an article on Yahoo news I just read.... I just can't believe the ignorance in this country.... well, I can, actually, but it disheartens me so . When will the nonsense stop??? When will education come thru???

In U.S., fear and distrust of Muslims runs deep

By Bernd Debusmann, Special Correspondent Fri Dec 1, 9:05 AM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters)- When radio host Jerry Klein suggested that all Muslims in the United States should be identified with a crescent-shape tattoo or a distinctive arm band, the phone lines jammed instantly.
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The first caller to the station in Washington said that Klein must be "off his rocker." The second congratulated him and added: "Not only do you tattoo them in the middle of their forehead but you ship them out of this country ... they are here to kill us."

Another said that tattoos, armbands and other identifying markers such as crescent marks on driver's licenses, passports and birth certificates did not go far enough. "What good is identifying them?" he asked. "You have to set up encampments like during World War Two with the Japanese and Germans."

At the end of the one-hour show, rich with arguments on why visual identification of "the threat in our midst" would alleviate the public's fears, Klein revealed that he had staged a hoax. It drew out reactions that are not uncommon in post-9/11 America.

"I can't believe any of you are sick enough to have agreed for one second with anything I said," he told his audience on the AM station 630 WMAL (http://www.wmal.com/), which covers Washington, Northern Virginia and Maryland

"For me to suggest to tattoo marks on people's bodies, have them wear armbands, put a crescent moon on their driver's license on their passport or birth certificate is disgusting. It's beyond disgusting.

"Because basically what you just did was show me how the German people allowed what happened to the Jews to happen ... We need to separate them, we need to tattoo their arms, we need to make them wear the yellow Star of David, we need to put them in concentration camps, we basically just need to kill them all because they are dangerous."

The show aired on November 26, the Sunday after the Thanksgiving holiday, and Klein said in an interview afterwards he had been surprised by the response.

"The switchboard went from empty to totally jammed within minutes," said Klein. "There were plenty of callers angry with me, but there were plenty who agreed."

POLLS SHOW WIDESPREAD ANTI-MUSLIM SENTIMENT

Those in agreement are not a fringe minority: A Gallup poll this summer of more than 1,000 Americans showed that 39 percent were in favor of requiring Muslims in the United States, including American citizens, to carry special identification.

Roughly a quarter of those polled said they would not want to live next door to a Muslim and a third thought that Muslims in the United States sympathized with al Qaeda, the extremist group behind the September 11, 2001, attacks on New York and Washington.

A poll carried out by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), an advocacy group, found that for one in three Americans, the word Islam triggers negative connotations such as "war," "hatred" and "terrorist." The war in
Iraq has contributed to such perceptions.

Klein's show followed a week of heated discussions on talk radio, including his own, and online forums over an incident on November 22 involving six Muslim clerics. They were handcuffed and taken off a US Airways flight after passengers reported "suspicious behavior" that included praying in the departure gate area.

The clerics, on their way to a meeting of the North American Imams Federation, were detained in a holding cell, questioned by police and
FBI agents, and released. Muslim community leaders saw the incident as yet more evidence of anti-Muslim prejudice.

IGNORANCE SEEN AS KEY PROBLEM

Several American Muslims interviewed on the subject of prejudice over the past few weeks said ignorance was at the core of the problem.

"The level of knowledge is very, very low," said Mohamed Esa, a U.S. Muslim of Arab descent who teaches a course on Islam at McDaniel College in Maryland. "There are 1.3 billion Muslims in the world and some people think they are all terrorists."

Hossam Ahmed, a retired Air Force Reserve colonel who occasionally leads prayer meetings for the small Muslim congregation at the
Pentagon, agreed. "Ignorance is the number one problem. Education is of the essence."

There are no hard figures on how many Muslims have been subject to harassment or prejudice and community leaders say that ugly incidents can prompt spontaneous expressions of support. Such as the e-mail a Minneapolis woman sent to CAIR after the imams were taken off their flight.

"I would like to ... help," the e-mail said. "While I cannot offer plane tickets, I would be happy to drive at least 2 or 3 of them. My car is small, but at least some of our hearts in this land of the free are large."

And optimists saw signs of change in the November 4 election of the first Muslim to the U.S. House of Representatives, which has 435 members.

Democrat Keith Ellison, a 43-year-old African-American lawyer, did not stress his religion during his campaign for a Minnesota seat, but said his victory would "signal to people who are not Muslims that Muslims have a lot to offer to the United States and the improvement of our country."

I'm willing to bet 99.9% of those suggesting Muslims carry special identification, etc have never known a Muslim personally.

And of the .05% I'm willing to bet a bad experience was the result of their own bigotted attitude toward the Muslim.

This is very disheartening. But how do you educate people who have their minds set?

My Son-in-law pretty much told me that my husband is a terrorist and is using me for a visa to come to the US for the purpose of terrorist activities. Of course the rest of the family think he is off his rocker, so I am glad it isn't my entire family. He was in the military, and sometimes I think that the military breeds this kind of hatred. It appears to me that they are taught to obey orders and never question authority.

I have hope though that future generations will change things. With access to the internet people are starting to have access to information previously unavailable to us. The increasing lack of support for the war in Iraq is a strong indicator that people are starting to lose their blind faith in our leaders. Hopefully what I am seeing is reality not just a dream.

I don't blame them for being fearful and distrustful. Every mode of the mainstream media promotes and sensationalizes terrorists, apostates, "jihad experts", Muslim malcontents, persecuted Christians and Jews from Muslim countries, and angry anti-American protesters in foreign lands while showing a near absense of balance and the excruciating ignorance of Islam and Muslims held by most journalists and commentators. That prism of interpretation is simply transferred onto the public groupthink. Our perceived silence as American Muslims is cited as acquiesense. Being that that is the framework from which information is disseminated, there is no reason to expect that the outcome would be otherwise. So, I'm not surprised at all.

Very disturbing and sad. I'm beginning to think (actually I DO think) that the ignorance of this country is getting worse. Our media has distorted things so badly and so many take this informatin as the gospel. Just wish this hatred would end.

JP said basically the same thing a few weeks ago "she doesn't blame them" because of what the media shows. She received a lot of criticism. It will be interesting to see if your statement opens the same can of worms.

Yes, that statement rubs me the wrong way, much like it did before. I find it interesting that many of the same people (not specifically szsz) who share this viewpoint are the same ones who make a big deal out of "personal responsibility". I believe the media is biased, but it's not completely one-sided. It's not like the opposing viewpoint isn't out there. People hear it and discount it.

I couldn't remember who objected. After I posted I started thinking about it and I thought it may have been a member who has since left.

You're right. It was VP.

Yes, that statement rubs me the wrong way, much like it did before. I find it interesting that many of the same people (not specifically szsz) who share this viewpoint are the same ones who make a big deal out of "personal responsibility". I believe the media is biased, but it's not completely one-sided. It's not like the opposing viewpoint isn't out there. People hear it and discount it.

I don't get the connection between people believing what they're told and personal responsibility? People believe what they're told all the time (ie, boyfriend Islam). The only difference is that when "you" (the GENERIC "you") do so, it's ok. When the other guy is doing so, it's because s/he's ignorant (read: They don't agree with "you").

Why should I expect most Americans to know or care to be educated about Islam and Muslims? Most of them are ignorant about Christianity and Judaism, too, just not hostile to them.

You know what would be interesting? To find and post mainstream articles that DON'T present Muslims or Islam as "the other", and see what we come up with. I lived thru the slow transformation of black people in the media from "the other" to more mainstream and I can tell you, Muslims and Islam are still depicted in the media as exotic, foreign, unAmerican outsiders far more often than not. Hence, the belief of us as exotic, foreign, unAmerican outsiders. No surprise!

Anyone game?

What I meant by personal repsonsibility is that I'm always hearing people gripe about others making excuses for their behavior. I see placing the blame solely on the media as making excuses for people.

I can appreciate that people disagree. But I'm not going to go far as to say that I don't blame someone for their prejudices just because they formed their opinions based on what the media has told them.

BTW, what is boyfriend Islam?

I get what you are saying Jenn. If someone said "I am not surprised that most people believe these things being what they see on television and the fact that most don't bother to look deeper for information", I would agree with the statement. However, I think people are responsible for the information they choose to seek and believe, so I hold them responsible for their opinions.

I'm a realist, not an idealist. Personal responsibility may be desirable in deducing opinions, but it isn't what most human perceptions are based upon. Muslims don't even agree about Muslims or Islam, and most of them only know what they're told, too. The fact is opinions are often based on feelings and personal experience, not study and empircal evidence (if such a thing exists re the issue).

Boyfriend Islam is believing whatever your Muslim boyfriend tells you about Islam without checking it out for yourself.

Or, they have known Muslims, but they have no clue, because how can you tell in normal life? Muslims work and go to school like anyone else, and there are far more that do not wear hijab or pray conspicuously than do, so these people....gasp!!!.....have probably lived next to or worked with a Muslim and have no idea.



I would say your SIL needs a lesson in how to speak to the mother of his wife. This makes me so upset. I'm sure he'd never think it's his place to discuss your mortgage with you or the city you choose to live. If you were Christian and chose to do something out of the norm, say, give up music and pants, would he think the preacher was using you? Somehow when it comes to Islam, people think it's a free-for-all to spout their ignorance & stereotypes.

Oh he never had the courage to say it to my face, but rather behind my back for my daughter to tell me. Not only that but he said if I become Muslim he will never allow his children around me. Again, not to my face.

The interesting thing here is that after all was said and done, and he decided not to re-inlist in the military he actually had my daughter as me if they could move in with me until he found a job. I said no. I am not going to subject my husband, when he gets here, to people with such a bigotted attitude. Not only that, some of the things he has done to my daughter since they have been married have been quite despicable. So I did say she could move in with me if she files for a divorce. They are now living with his parents, and have been for almost a year.

This is the type of ignorance that I find absolutely horrible. The assumption, based on religion only, not that he had ever taken the time to get to know my husband, is what he bases his opinions on. He doesn't now, or never has ever known a Muslim. He is a Mormon, which has many similarities to Islam, and I can tell you that I respect my husband, and the way he follows his religion over my SIL, and how he follows his. I was raised Mormon, and I know what they stand for. He is only a shell of the religion for appearance sake. Drives me insane.

I do not mean to jump the gun because I did not read the entire post but, the military does not breed this behavior. The military is the only place hat will allow you to freely worship. Everyone is allowed time to go to worshipand me I get every Jumah off or a least the rest of the day if I have to work. I for one thing that I have not made the effort to do dawah and I think that more people should come out of hiding! The one thing that makes discourages me is tha when you wear hijib. It does not matter what is going on people want to point to religion. I was taking a math class and when you wear hijib it is obvious you are muslim however peple still wen off topic to discuss religion. I was taking a communications course and we where talking about preception/enthonic aditudes and it makes me angry when the people how where just talking about fake hair clubs turn around and tell you that when they mee people from different religious they do not want to hear anything you have to say. FUNNY, we had to work on a project together. But it just gets on my nerves. I should awnser dumb questions but they get on my nerves. And I will be the firist to admitt tha this time coming to Morocco I did not wear hijib in the airport until I got to Morocco las time I did I had to do a million secrutiy checks. This was a great post and I was trying to explain to my fiance somehings but he not understand until he is in America or if he ever gets here. However, the miitary has enhanced my practice of islam, and I am sorry but I had to defend us. Because we are taught that we are ambassdors of the united sates and that what we do has a big effect on the realtionships between the countries. In soe places the host country has banned the military because of he behavior. So they make sure that we do not embrass them. Also, the military is a global force and the need for a global minded person has become of great demand. I made a complaint one time and even though it was not that big they stopped operatins and gave training, which was all tha we need from the beginning. Sorry to go on and on. Have a good Sunday and I leave Morroco tomorrow.

You see what you see from the inside. What I am seeing is from an outsiders perspective. Have you ever thought that maybe you don't hear what they say behind your back? I am not saying that it is the military philosopy but rather the beliefs of many of the officers that pass this on. I have known too many in the military that believe exactly as my SIL. I have noticed this since desert storm some 15 years ago.

very interesting, i never heard one single officer say anything negative in regards to muslims in my 20 years in the army.......

I don't know about the Army, but everyone in Colorado is aware of the recurring problems at the Air Force Academy in the Springs.

Air Force probes religious bias charges at academy

Christianity case against Air Force Academy dismissed

Having been to the campus many times and seeing for myself their shameless promotion of evangelical Christianity over the years, the finding of no harm is like the Supreme Court deciding that Christmas is a secular holiday.

Interesting!!! My niece was thinking of attending the Air Force Academy but decided on Texas A&M instead as she thought they have a better program for aeronautical engineering. I was happy with her decision because of the problems they have up there with sexual harassment against female cadets . . . now I think I am happy because she doesn't need to go to a narrow minded bigoted place like this . . . she is already a bit narrowly focused due to my sister being an ultra-conservative Catholic (yes, I love her even for all of that and I was raised a Catholic . . . so how can 2 ppl so close together end up being such polar opposites???) . . . and I am sure giving my whole family something to think about by bringing a muslim into the mix.

WOW that article was unbelievable. It is so sad with the level of highly educated people in our country,to still be so close minded and arrogant. Thank god there are people like us who have spent time with Muslims and seen how beautiful they are and the religion. We just need to keep educating people and hopefully some day everyone will be treated fairly and equal.

Morocco you are right about what they say behind your back but what does that matter. I am in the Navy and what made me want to practice more and learn about islam was the nasty things that I heard. For a while I was afriad to come out of the closet. However, the determination to be you is what matters in the end. Can you do this and still be you. A lot of people get lost in the military, they do not do school or anything thinking that hard work "phyiscal" is the only way to get somewhere. However, when you do college course and other things you actually come out better in the end. As far as what they say about me, trust my thougts and words about them are not that clean either. And I really feel in my heart that I have made a difference no matter small it is. To change something you have to be a part is what I always say.

Sorry it made me laugh when you said "come out of the closet".