Why do people assume ALL Muslims are bad just by what they're seeing on T.V?

Question

Well, i'm a Muslim...I hang out with Christians...we have nothing against each other. I'm just getting annoyed at how ignorant America has become. Why do you care what religion we are? Just shutup and do your own thing. At least we don't send people to your doorstep trying to cram your religion down our throat.

Yeah sorry guys I did blow up a little :P
Didn't mean to offend any christians but i'm sitting here browing through so many questions saying "muslims cause war", "muslims are evil", etc etc etc. And just for the record, I was born and raised in America so trust me...I LOVE this place and I wouldn't want to move anywhere else. Don't look at me as a Muslim, but as an American.

Answer 1

Pretty much, yeah.

Most ppl don't like to think, it hurts them.. and most of these same ppl like to hate blindly, it makes them feel better about themselves. But this is just human nature. Think about the Romans, and how hundreds of thousands of ppl gathered each week to see ppl being eaten alive by lions and stuff. Was that necessary? Nope. Was it based on any real theory of why these ppl needed to be punished? Nope. It was just good, old-fashioned gang mentality.

Generally speaking, ppl hate what they don't understand also. And ppl have a need to defend themselves against outside forces. So, you're dealing with two specific things here.

I'm American and Christian. I had a Muslim boyfriend for 4 years, and I learned a lot about Islam. I know firsthand that all Muslims are not bad. But, don't think it wasn't difficult for me to convince my friends/family of that. Ppl are plagued by what they see on the media. Think about it-- if what you see on the media is a bunch of young Muslims running around burning flags and chanting that they hate America/ns everytime you turn on TV News, what do you think? You think that all Muslims hate America/ns. And then, you get in a situation where there is an attack on American soil, by-- surprise surprise!-- Muslims! you further think, oh yeah, they hate us. Well, you know what, we hate them too, this is war!

It's a natural reaction, especially when before this all happened, we're brainwashed into believing (and seeing) Muslims hate America/ns. It was about protecting "American Christian way of life" at first. It was all in response to the perception that the Muslims hated Americans.

Now, I don't defend any of this, and I never agreed with it. I believe you should judge ppl on an individual basis, irregardless of their religion, because there's good & bad in every religion.

But, just understand that mass media has a lot to do with the reasons ppl IN THE PAST assumed all Muslims were evil. I say in the past, because now thoughts are changing, big time. There's been more dialogue, and the defensive fervor has died down some in the last 5 years, and ppl are tired of fighting an endless war that isn't about what it was supposed to be about. If you are to blame anyone, blame the media.. and then blame the ppl who just believe without questioning. And, then learn from it, and other atrocities (like the media influence in the Rwandan genocide), and always try to think for yourself... as I see you're doing already.

Answer 2

Your statement was an overgeneralization but I understand where you're coming from. I'm guilty myself of this very thing, although I know that most muslims are peaceful people. The media has done a good job of creating significant fear where Muslims are concerned and they make it seem as if Muslims are crazy, gun-toting, bomb throwing, militants with no tolerance for anything or anyone non-Muslim. I'm sorry it's become this way but I think what would help is if more Muslims stand up and protest against the fanatics who are giving them a bad name. You don't see this enough and I think that's why some people think that, although most Muslims aren't blowing themselves up, they sit back and watch it happen.

Answer 3

Is there salvation for non muslims? Maybe muslins don't care about mankind. If everyone in the christian world in assigned to hell maybe you would be happy. Christians on the other hand don't want to see any perish. Christ died for the whole world not just the west.
Now as to why Americans see muslins as bad.. I was in shock when CNN showed the reaction of "good muslins " to the events of 9/11. Time and time again there was celebration in the streets. When the funding for terrorist groups are followed it leads back to important islamic people and group from Iran to Saudi Arabia.. Muslin leaders in Iraq blamed the hurricanes last season on Americas sinfulness. No wonder alot of Americans see islam as bad...Jim

Answer 4

I feel bad for the other Muslims who haven't done anything wrong but are just affected because of the current situation with Muslims. There is a saying that once you put a rotten apple into a basket of fresh apples, the others will be rotten apples as well. It's how the world thinks nowadays upsetting as it may be. No matter how noble you may be but because of the prejudice towards you, you become evil as well.

Answer 5

I am American. I don't believe that all Muslims are bad... but that might be because I'm educated. I feel the same way about the ignorance of the American public... but they didn't just become like this... basically people would rather play video games than read or watch the news... and when they do watch the News they watch News like Fox 5- which is basically just right-wing propaganda.... basically the media lies and filters things and people are too eager to believe the first thing that they hear rather than examining what is happening. I apologize on behalf of america...
I think this is why my friends are expatriating...

Answer 6

Well you kinda answered your own question. When people are bombarded with stereotypes from "news" sources, they tend to accept what they are told, as most have no other source of information.

Um, not ALL people assume this, as you can see from many of the answers you got.

To the people who are blaming this person for the terrorist acts of a few: KNOCK IT OFF ALREADY! Of the over 1 billion Muslims in the world, only a few committed the acts you blame them all for. It's your ignorant hatefulness that fuels the terrorists.

Grrrrrrrrrr!

Answer 7

It sounds like you too are becoming the same way of the people that are being negative towards your religion. First things first, you should not become what or whom you do not like.

I have nothing against Muslims. I am a citizen of America & have lived here all my life. I can tell you that most people are scared because of it what's going on. On top of that ppl are stereo typical, not just Americans. People in general would rather trash what they don't know of rather then try to learn. The ultimate outcome of people being scared is they try to attack or kill rather then open their eyes. Human nature I guess.

Yeah, I can't stand ppl that come to my doorstep ... and are consistent about it. It's annoying.

Answer 8

I don't assume it - but there's a lot of misinformation out there, and you've gotta admit - many Muslims are doing some pretty wacko things lately.

Maybe it's time for someone to broadcast a positive message about Muslims so that we're all better educated.

As a Christian, I love all of you, even the wackos.

Answer 9

I acctualy have to agree with you. I hate those sever people who show up at your doorstep at 4 in the morning saying "have you found Jesus?" I just want to open the door butt naked and say "No, comeon in and help me look for him!" But yes, people to to much store in Fox News and CNN. I have one thing to say to those people and the government (And I hope President Bush has some program readiong all these) DO SOME FREAKIN" RESEARCH!!!!!!!!!!!! If people would just take a moment to understand one another war wouldn't happen. But we are ignorant because we choose to be. We would rather let our government handle our afairs and tell us what's right and what's wrong.

Answer 10

I don't assume ALL Muslims are bad. Don't you also fall in your own category as an ignorant American? Anyways, you certainly are not helping your cause by telling people to shut up. Actions speak louder then words.