Why racism against all muslims?

Question

Is it a lack of common sense? A fear of those who may appear different? A belief that all people of one faith intend all others harm?

Statistically speaking, you're many times more likely to suffer harm at the hands of one of your own countrymen than by citizens of a different nation, so why the hostility against Muslims?

And yes, all views are welcome, but please reply using logic, not sheer uninformed bigotry...

sorry, 2nd paragraph tends to suggest that muslims don't live in all societies. My apologies.

And it should really read "bigotry" not racism...

Lots of good stuff coming!

Levi: point taken!

And I meant responses on Yahoo answers: no intention to be narrow minded.

Answer 1

Granted the rash of terrorism that has risen all over the world shouldn’t cause most sensible and rational people to vilify all Muslims, most of who are peace loving, productive citizens. I think most people who bother to stop and think for a minute know that the militant actions in the name of Islam, isn’t the result of a concerted effort by the majority of adherents to Islam, but merely the result of a vocal and strident fringe movement within the ranks of the global Muslim community.

With that said, I think we can dismiss a good portion of the bigotry and religious prejudice to narrow minded people, who are too mired in their own myopic worldview to see the big picture. However, let me offer a small caveat to this assertion. Notice I said we can dismiss a “good portion” of this demonizing of Muslims to ignorance. I cannot, in good conscience, say that some apprehension of Muslims is not warranted. Why? Well, much fear concerning Muslim could be abated if moderate Muslims were more vocal in their denunciation of terrorist actions under the banner of their religion. Sure, there are a few among the Muslim community which vehemently decry the actions taken by their more radical brethren, but for the most part we see either silence from the majority of Muslims concerning these despicable actions or, much to our chagrin, we see equivocation. The echoes of this silence and ambivalence resonate terribly within Western societies. This naturally causes many to be suspicious as to the motives and loyalties of many Muslims.

If moderate Muslims want to eliminate the stigma that is associated with their kind and their religion they must work to accentuate the differences between them and those who seek to use their faith to commit atrocities. Secondly, they must be candid with the community at large and acknowledge that a literal reading of their faith does lend itself more readily to violence than most others, but they have skirted this literal understanding of the Qu’ran and the Hadith.

Answer 2

I really hope that most Americans are not racist against Muslims. I think like anything else, the biased ones who are being blatantly biased and asking stupid racist questions on Yahoo Answers - not yours but the others - and making racist remarks on other forums and the media tend to get all the attention, while the people who are able to distinguish between the Muslim terrorists and the ordinary Muslim are quiet.

Some Americans are extremely intolerant of anyone who looks differently than them, who has a different religion, or who has a different culture. That's because they're unable to distinguish between the actions of a terrible few versus the good works of the many. They're bigots, and you should just ignore them. They don't represent tolerant people anywhere!

And Kenzie, the questioner is not being small minded to ask such a question. When one is the brunt of racism and cultural bias, even a few bad experiences can really color one's experiences. It can feel as if the whole world is against you, even though intellectually you know it's not true.

And scottythecomic, you must realize that as a Westerner (American or Canadian or European) that we've gotten an extremely biased view of the Islamic faith. And an extremely biased view of what some Western nations, particularly the United States, has done to Islamic peoples. It's a two way street - violence begets violence. For an unbiased view of American foreign policy, try reading something written from a different perspective and see what they say (International Herald Tribune, The Economist, etc.) It's quite an eye opener to see that the whole world doesn't think the U.S. is the greatest country in the world.

Answer 3

I think it's the fact that we tend to lump people of different beliefs or values into a nice neat package and treat them as one and the same.

So, because we hear so much about Muslim Terrorists, we start to have the mindset that being Muslim is the reason for the terrorism.

I live in Michigan and we have a lot of Muslims in our area. I've personally seen a lot of acts of kindness by many many Muslims so I've learned to appreciate that their religion is as diverse as the Christian faith. A good analogy would be to say that because Catholics and Latter Day Saints are part of the Christian religion, that Warren Jeffs and Mother Theresa have the same beliefs!!

Answer 4

Statistically there are a very small number of Muslims in Australia vs non-Muslims, that explains the likelihood factor. If you were to view the issue on a per capita basis I assure you the strike rate is not favourable for Muslims, nor is the type of crime committed by a very particular demographic within the muslim community. The young blokes have to start towing the line (especially the hard liners).

People who are rascist against Muslims, just for being Muslims, are ignorant and there are plenty of those types of people out there.

The sooner everyone gets over themselves and their religious ideals, the sooner we will all be able to coexist and maintain our individual cultural identities, no matter what part of the world we live in.

Answer 5

You're point is well taken, especially since in America and England the REAL terrorists don't go around look like, well, let's be honest and say it, rag heads or towel heads.

They shave their beards, they wear Tommy Helfinger, Nike's,etc.

The only thing that gives them away is their names, you know Abdual, Mohammad, Mustafa, Osama, etc.

If anything we need to take a fine look at a Mohammad who is clean cut, wearing Western clothes and listening to a Walkman and probably pay less attention to the person in a turbin or robe.

But I will tell you, I have NO big problems with anyone giving Mustafa the once, twice and three times over before letting him board or plane, train or bus!

And the fear is not someone who looks different, but of someone who believes in a philosophy and lifestyle of CONVERT OR DIE.

If Christians did that, we'd be profling people who wear suits, ties and walk on the city sidewalks with books in their hands and I would be in favor of giving them a once, twice and three times over before letting them on a plane, train or bus if THEY started bombing things in the name of JEsus!

I am at the point where I say NO packages or baggage or even back packs allowed on any public vehicle for say, the next few years until we sort this out and maybe having armed guards on all public transportations.

You know in Mexico a dozen or more "Federalies" ride the trains with the AK47s right in their arms all the time. NO ONE every takes over a train in Mexico. No one has ever hijacked a train, blown one up or taken it over in Mexico.

Answer 6

It's out of fear, I think. Fear of someone different. Look at the history of th eUnited States...the Native Americans were feared, so they were killed...the slaves were feared, so they kept them illiterate, so they couldn't get smarter and get an education and they were abused and suppressed. Since 9/11, the media has made all Muslims appear to be hardened, evil people. I have met several people online, that disprove that to me. You can never judge a whole group of people by the color of their skin, or their beliefs. I wish society was more tolerant if differences instead of afraid of it~

Answer 7

People seem to forget that there are over one billion Muslims.
Of course some of these people are evil, but the other 9,000,000 probably are not.

All Americans hear about is the evil that extreme Muslims do. Why don't we hear of the good stuff the good Muslims do?

Answer 8

Read the Koran Yourself and you will see why most people don't trust Muslims.

There is NO concept of the separation of church and state in the Muslim religion! Their religious And their political goals are one in the same! This above All else makes them the most Intolerant and Dangerous group of people on the planet!

Add the fact that those few Muslims who "say" that they are tolerant of others and are against the violence caused by their brothers keep Very quiet and do Not publicly challenge those who preach violence and hatred against any who isn't Muslim.

You libs need to realize that Tolerance is a Two-Way street. They have to be tolerant of us before we can be tolerant of them!

PS: I think its funny that there are so many females expressing sympathy and inexperienced, spoon-fed political correctness BS without regards to a society that views their women as Not much more than slaves!

Answer 9

I personally love Egyptian, Iraqi, UAE, and Palistinian men. They are usually strikingly gorgeous.

And as for any person who singles out muslims as a source of agony in this world - **** 'em. They need to get to know the person before judging them.

And if they do perform hate crimes on muslims - then they are doing exactly as they assume a totally innocent, although perhaps differently religious person, might do to them.

We are all humans here - let's embrace the differences. Especially when they are hot and Egyptian.

Emma

Answer 10

The media tends to over-exaggerate the scope of racism. It's no more prevalent than any other form of racism. Just like any other news report, they seek out the worst people to comment on things so that it ups their ratings.