The Need for Dialogue

A recent poll (from BeliefNet)

Almost 40 percent of Americans acknowledge having some prejudice against Muslims, but those with Muslim acquaintances are more likely to show favorable attitudes, a new USA Today/Gallup Poll shows.

Given the fact that people are likely to under-report prejudice in polls (due to a lack of self-underdstanding or due to a recognition that prejudice is something that will be looked down upon), the number of Americans prejudiced agains Muslims is likely higer than the 39% found in the poll.

It is, in part, because people with Muslim acquaintances are less likely to be prejudiced that I have in the past called for integration- not isolation- of Mulims in the larger society. We have seen too many cases in the US and throughout the West where exactly the opposite is taking place- pushing Muslims out of mainstream culture through, for example, discriminatory policies at schools.

Another way that we isolate Muslims- by mean-spirited media attacks. For an example of this, turn to the object of my personal boycott- Glenn Beck of CNN Headline News. On August 10 he

warned that "[t]he world is on the brink of World War III" and that "Muslims who have sat on your frickin' hands the whole time and have not been marching in the streets" will face dire consequences. Beck made his comments toward Muslims who he claimed "have not been saying, 'Hey, you know what? There are good Muslims and bad Muslims. We need to be the first ones in the recruitment office lining up to shoot the bad Muslims in the head.'

Very helpful, don't you think? This is the mainstream media. How much worse is it when you move a little off the path?

So, here's the plan- we threaten all the moderate Muslims saying that they either follow us in our self-defeating efforts to kill all the "bad" Muslims or we will come after them too.

Complete foolishness.

No surprise that a substantial group of Americans will admit to a prejudice against Muslims.

GP