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

[Lost-in-FL]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061201/us_nm/usa_muslims_fear_dc

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."

_________________

Sad to hear but not surprised. Feel free to substitute any minority for the word Muslim and you would get the same reaction from a lot of people.

[Deja Q]

1. I don't distrust all muslims...

But I still have vivid memories from the one who gave me a death threat (this was back in 1998, before scapegoating of muslims became popular by politicians and the media.)

Either way, I keep the memory of that person only. I don't stereotype it for all.

It all doesn't mean I'm not going to be apprehensive of people...

The sad part is, while some foreigners are baaaaaaaaaad, others are gooooooooood and get to come in with H1B nonsense and a virtual free ride before they get shipped back. Don't Republicans talk about pulling one's self up by their bootstraps? Why the free ride for some via taxpayer dollars? Especially when their ultimate goal, as IBM would put it on their own website, is to "nourish (their own) community". What happened to America for Americans?

It seems more political than anything else for selective-fear-of-outsiders. It makes no sense to say "protectionism of America" while "globalization must not stop". Why the non-sequitur?

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

6. I'm sorry you got a death threat

but I'm glad you didn't decide that every Muslim was like that sick individual. I think you can find sick people like that in nearly every group.

The fear of outsiders goes way way back in our country-I remember seeing a political cartoon from the antebellum days showing Uncle Sam being overrun by Irish and Germans--they were the "outsiders" that were going to "ruin" the US at that time.

[etherealtruth]

9. I was married to a person that is a Muslim ...

He was a an a$$ (and that's being kind).

Was it because he was a Muslim? Absolutely NOT. He would have been an a$$ regardless of religion, ethnicity ... Some people are just "bad" (or at least bad for me).

I am of Irish Catholic heritage ... I do recall that during the turn of the last century Irish Catholics were described as "Apes" and the "Irish race."

When hearing bigotted remarks my 13 year old daughter often comments: You might as well put me down as an alcoholic terrorist.

[ulysses]

2. fucking sick country.

:grr:

[annabanana]

3. No it doesn't..

This has been carefully manufactured and nurtured in the wake of 9/11 to a fever pitch. Prior to the media push, American's primary images of Muslims were from Lawrence of Arabia and old Bugs Bunny cartoons, with maybe a passing flash of those fancy indigenous Turkish outfits.

Muslims were "exotic", not especially dangerous. They were (according to stereotype) sly businessmen, (taking the place of the former "yankee peddler",) but not intrinsically "evil".

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

7. You are right on the manufacturing

I know that time and time again, I hear of ecumenical/peace councils and events taking place via my Sufi email groups, and yet the events are hardly ever publicized. A year or so ago, one of them was held in Dallas in July; I remember posting it here and hearing back from Texan DUers from that area who had no idea it was going on! As far as I can tell, there was one article, after the event, buried on a back page in the Sunday paper. Interestingly enough, even though there was little publicity, apparently the Dallas police had gotten death threats - from some unnamed Christian fundamentalist group- and the participants had police protection for the duration of the conference (found this out from one of the participants).

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

4. I've heard similar things from people who should know better

I'm white and look WASP-y, and don't shout out my religious affiliation, so I hear all sorts of things, sometimes from so-called "educated" people. And what is nuts is that the obvious Muslims in the area are all doctors--heart specialists and the like that are needed here! And yet it's "ship 'em back to where they came from" or "kill them before they kill us". And the news media doesn't help--you have to really search to find out about the 600 imams in America who issued a fatwa denouncing terrorism, or the many, MANY ecumenical councils for peace that various Sufi groups have offered up since 911. And it amazes me how many people do not understand that Islam is not structured like Christian churches. You can be a good Muslim and never set foot in a mosque--the relationship with a Muslim is with God, not some intermediary like a mullah or an imam. The mullahs that have so many followers are political with some religious trappings, but those mullahs cannot excommunicate someone who decides they don't like what the mullah is saying. There is no one grand head of Islam who is like, say, the Pope. And anyone can issue a fatwa--it doesn't mean that they have any greater spiritual authority than anyone else.

Most Muslims I know try to blend in, be good citizens, practice charity, patience, and kindness towards others. Whenever I am with fellow Muslims I feel right at home-no judgement, only welcoming arms. This is the Islam that I call home. The terrorists are using Islam as an excuse for their vile acts-much like the IRA used religion to justify their murderous activities.

[leftyladyfrommo]

5. I'm going to get flamed here - but after what has happened in the UK

by home grown Muslims we may have good reason to be careful.

We have lots of Muslims here in Kansas City that wear the veil and I don't think most people pay any attention beyond just being curious.

But I don't think it is being racist to be careful of the militant groups out there. We are careful of the white supremist groups, too.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

8. Your last line says it all

I know the local Muslim population here in Arkansas, and they are either professionals (meaning doctors) or old ex-hippie converts. I take seriously the passage in the Qur'an that says to dress modestly so as not to draw attention to yourself. That's why I don't wear a veil. But those from other countries probably feel that it is proper to do so.

And anyway, I wouldn't worry about Muslim women who are obviously Muslim being "terrorists". A true terrorist is going to try their best to "blend in". Kindly remember that the 911 hijackers were doing very un-Islamic activities before they boarded those planes-drinking, going to strip clubs, etc--which means either they weren't really Muslim or they were trying to blend in. Personally, I've never considered them to be Muslim because their actions (killing innocents) is condemned in the Qur'an.

[leftyladyfrommo]

11. I don't understand the big deal over head scarves.

I have no problem with women wanting to wear head scarves. Or to dress modestly. Not sure how I feel about a burqua.

I know that I never feel threatened by the Muslim women I see here. But I think a large part of our Muslim population is black - I know there is a really big complex not far from our city center and I don't think anyone has a problem with it or the people that go there.

But militant anything is very scary to me. Especially when they are all out there screaming "death to Americans."

[INDIA]

10. I'm not going to flame you...

for saying we should be "careful." By being careful, I'm assuming that you mean be realistic, and yes I agree with you. If two people buy a hundred pounds of explosive fertilizer, one being a 65 year old Catholic farmer from Indiana, one being a 23 year old muslim male from Detroit, yes, we should investigate further based on his profile, both his age, gender, and religion. I'm not saying throw the cuffs on him immediately, but discreet increased surveillance is certainly reasonable.

But American muslims are a peaceful and well indoctrinated bunch compared the the Europeans. American Muslims seem to have indoctrinated nicely into our culture, are peaceful and hardworking members of our society, and are only rarely extremist. In the UK and Europe, it's a different story unfortunately.

European culture has basically made outcasts and "have nots" of the muslim immigrants arriving from the ME and North Africa, which tends to increase the chances of extremist views. There are dozens of high profile Imams all over Britain that were espousing violent and extremist views, and a couple got deported. (lol) I'm not even going to start on the problems they have back in the ME and North Africa.

I'd argue that a serious attack from a homegrown terrorist is far less likely than that of a 9-11 attack from outside foreigners.

[leftyladyfrommo]

12. Look at the Oklahoma bombing? Homegrown. White Supremist Crazy.

That was pretty bad.

[INDIA]

13. That was in the back of my mind while I was typing my post.

The "Unabomber" too. In a country of 300 million, there is going to be an anomaly wacko every once in a while, I guess you could even call Columbine a terrorist attack if you framed it right. Plus the OC attacks basically killed the entire right wing anti-American militia movement, none of the militia members wanted to be associated with such an act, most disbanded or left.

But then think of the attacks the U.S endured in the lead up to 9-11 by non-American Islamic Extremists. '93 World Trade, '96 Barracks in Saudi Arabia, USS Cole, Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, 9-11 of course. All direct attacks on American interests, both in the US and abroad, all carried out by foreign muslim extremists.

The pattern and political climate make it far more likely, IMO, that the next attack will come from a foreign muslim extremist, rather from a homegrown dumbass like McVeigh.

Back to my original argument though, I think that the U.S. muslim population have shown themselves to be moderate, indoctrinated, and American. :) I feel that the real threat is posed by foreigners, not our own. The climate in Europe and the U.S. are just too different to compare.

[leftyladyfrommo]

14. Oh, I agree with you. That is certainly true here in the Midwest.

I have no idea what is going on on the coasts - the coasts seem to be a lot more radical in lots of ways than we are here.

I wish we could just come up with a sane way to deal with this new world we find ourselves in. A way to bring sanity back in the midst of all of this insanity.

[annabanana]

18. (perhaps you should spend more time on "the coasts")

It's no less American than the Midwest . . Probably moreso. . "E Pluribus Unum" and all that, you know.

[leftyladyfrommo]

20. I didn't mean "less American" just not so conservative.

People here in the midwest are generally pretty conservative about most things. And liberals have to be careful what they say - especially where you work. It's just a fact of life here. You simply can't say exactly what you think and hold on to your job.

But it has seemed to me that people living on the coasts are a lot more outspoken and diversified in their opinions.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

15. We could just make them wear yellow stars on their clothes.

Oh, wait, that's been done.

[Igel]

19. Or special identifying belts.

That's been done, too.

[originalpckelly]

16. We will not let this happen here. America is not Nazi Germany...

and it should be fairly clear now that these people are Nazis.

[originalpckelly]

17. This might be a good thing to put on the front page of DU...

more people will see it.