I am very sad that so many Americans are prejudiced about Islam?

Question

Yes, it is true that there are fanatics and terrorists who identify themselves as Muslim, but there are economic and political issues which have more to do with this than religion.
Islam is not the only religion to have followers who practice hatred and violence in history. Christianity has a similar history (maybe even worse), it's just that Muslim fanaticism is in the forefront for now.
The majority of Americans who say they hate Muslims probably never got to know a Muslim. Most Muslims who live in America are highly educated and hard working people. The majority of Muslims known to me are medical doctors who just want their kids to go college and find good wives and husbands.
Do we wish to repeat the idiocy of WWII, when the USA forced innocent Japanese Americans to live in prison camps?
It's easy to claim this group or that group are a bunch of devils. The truth is that most people are pretty much the same and have the same motivations and desires.

To Norm D: sorry, but I disagree with some of your points. Christians from Europe killed huge numbers of people and took over their countries, right here in the USA and all over the world--how many Navajos and Apaches do you know? . It's easy to say they "weren't real Christians" but Muslims could say the Middle Eastern terrorists "aren't real Muslims." The Quran does condone fighting in defense, but it does not support "slaughtering people." What translation did you read?

To Mr. Marbles: I am not Muslim. I am a white American who coverted to the Baha'i Faith. Baha'is are often persecuted in Iran and other Muslim countries.
I have never been to Brooklyn, but everybody says it's a rough neighborhood. If there are Muslims there, they are probably tough guys too. Yeah, you definitely need to be careful in a bad neighborhood.

To Tink: You gave a very good answer. It's human nature to a judge a group of people by the behavior of the worst people in their group. I was scared of black people when I was a kid but I got over it.

To Professor: Yes I made something of a blanket statement about "most Muslims being highly educated" but I really meant among people I know--I thought I quantified that in the next sentence, but, yes, I could have done better. People from foreign countries have better luck of getting Visas, Green Cards, etc., in the USA if they are educated or going to college.
Japanese Interment Camps of USA during WWII: try this link www.pbs.org/childofcamp
I may not know your American history, but I do know mine, my Dad is a WWII American veteran.
Nor do I excuse terrorism, those people need to be stopped.
The last part about most people have "pretty much the same desires and motivations" is just common sense. Human beings do not automatically become one dimensional because they belong to a certain religion.
I have limited space, so I will answer more in another "details" section.

To Professor: The "political and economic issues:" I refer to are corrupt governments, poor distribution of wealth, poverty, ignorance. The political despots and fanatical religious leaders exploit the ignorance of the poor to blame a history of British colonization of Muslim countries, and the state of Israel for their internal problems. If you want sources you can look for them on any search engine. I don't suppose I get any credit for this.

To Professor: I just noticed where you said you "don't need to look for sources because you write the sources", either you are a narcissistic megalomaniac or maybe you're just putting me on. When I was in college, I had a professor of religion tell me "Muhammad was mad" (his actual source for this was American fiction writer Washington Irving, better known for "The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow")--he said my Muslim sources "didn't count"; apparently he only accepted sources written by White Christians ever if they were fiction writers. Salaam Aleykum, Professor.

Thank you everyone for your answers. I did not expect to change anyone's mind, but I hope I encouraged someone to think. To Notorious Dr. Zoom Zoom: Sorry, but I just don't believe my Muslim eye doctor wants to be a suicide bomber--his parent would be sooooo disappointed. I suppose my Italian friend is in the Mafia and my Jewish sister in law killed Christ. Yeah, right.

Answer 1

I couldn't agree with you more........ they are blaming the actions of MEN against God's religion. God never said to do those things, Islam is not at fault, it's the men who USE the religion for their own evil agendas. Ignorant people will always hate a whole group for the actions of a few, even when the majority does not agree with those actions.

Answer 2

I'm already sorry...

<< but there are economic and political issues which have more to do with this than religion.>>

Such as?

<< Christianity has a similar history (maybe even worse). >>

So, pointing out one bad behavior is to excuse another?

<< Most Muslims who live in America are highly educated and hard working people. >>

And we know this how?

<< Do we wish to repeat the idiocy of WWII, when the USA forced innocent Japanese Americans to live in prison camps? >>

Clearly, you do not know my American history. But to answer your question, yes.

<< The truth is that most people are pretty much the same and have the same motivations and desires. >>

Please cite your reference for this.

20070216: REVISED NOTES IN RESPONSE:

<< Japanese Interment Camps of USA during WWII: try this link www.pbs.org/childofcamp >>

These were not prison camps, and your characterization of them as such is (perhaps unintentionally) inflammatory. There's also your calling it idiocy, but to pursue that would likely lead to an unintentional flame.

<< I may not know your American history, but I do know mine, my Dad is a WWII American veteran. >>

My dad was a veteran of Korea (multiple tours) and 'Nam and I am a Vietnam-era veteran myself. Please excuse me for being sensitive.

<< Nor do I excuse terrorism, those people need to be stopped. >>

We agree about the what, but probably disagree about the how.

You excuse terrorism when you cite "...corrupt governments, poor distribution of wealth, poverty, ignorance. ..." as reasons for behaving badly.

<< If you want sources you can look for them on any search engine. >>

FWIW, I don't have to go looking for sources: I write the sources.

Answer 3

If a group of fanatical Christians had crashed a plane into a Muslim building in a country, say like Turkey, on 9-11-01, every Christian in that country would have been immediately rounded up and killed. Americans have done nothing to Muslims...if anything it's politically incorrect to even think of a Muslim as anything but "peacloving".

Now one iis goingto round you up and put you in a concentration camp and you know it. And frankly, if you're really that scared it's going to happen, then go live in another country. I know I would.

It's not about "economic and politcal issues", it's about hatred for Christians and Jews. Frankly sir or madam, you people are the Nazis, not us!

I didn't see ANY Muslims protesting the acts of 9-11-01. Instead, I saw people dancing in the streets of Palestine and firing guns in the air. So don't give me that bullcrap!

Answer 4

It is sad. However, Christianity does not have a similar history. There were things done by people that said they were Christians, but no where in the Bible does God say it is okay to slaughter people. It occurred in the Old Testament and is included in there as history, but there is no legitimate way to expand and spread the Word of God.

I read the Holy Koran, and I know what is in there. I know spreading the Muslim faith by the sword is a legitimate Islamic missionary tactic.

I am not prejudice against Muslims, nor do I hate them. I think people of all faith should stand together against those of no faith, however, too my knowledge, a Christian has never strapped a bomb to themselves to kill innocent people.

Answer 5

"Do we wish to repeat the idiocy of WWII"

No, but Muslims seem to want to. They want to try to kill every last Jew and Christian.

"The truth is that most people are pretty much the same and have the same motivations and desires."

LOL! I saw on the news about how Muslims are instilled with hate from practically birth to kill Americans. They watch cartoons about Jihadist killing Israeli soldiers where as our kids watch Power Rangers. I saw a video of a 5 year old Arab girl at her birthday party (and she obviously want poor) who was saying she hoped to be a suicide bomber some day. No, we are nothing alike. We want to live, you seem to crave death more than anything. Try your lies on someone who will believe them.

"Christians from Europe killed huge numbers of people and took over their countries, right here in the USA and all over the world--how many Navajos and Apaches do you know?"

So clearly in your mind this is about Christians vs Muslims, not about how Americans (who belong to many different religions) perceive Muslims. You try to point to unrelated things in history centuries ago to justify acts of terrorism going on right now.
Muslims are no less guilty of things such as Genocide and slavery. The Genocide of Armenian Christians by Muslim turks is estimated to be 15 Million. When Muslim slave traders would find an African village they wanted to raid for slaves, they would make certain not to convert anyone in the village to Islam, so they would not be enslaving Muslims.

I don't hate Muslims, but I find your whining irritating. Muslims are treated very well in the USA, so stop complaining. Rather, do something about Christians being persecuted in other countries by your fellow Muslims.
http://www.persecution.org

Answer 6

The real religion of Islam is actually peaceful. There is nothing in Islam that states become a terrorist or a suicide bomber. As a Muslim myself, I am shocked and sad by the people who are twisting this religion. I wish that people would take the time to find out what Islam really stands for. BTW, I agree with what Nickie wrote. America is the real terrorist.

Answer 7

I am sorry it makes you sad, though I will not stop. It is not because I want to be filled with hate, rather I feel I am defending myself and now is not the time to put my hate aside, rather the time is to amp it up. I am not religious, so you will not hear me defending Christianity either. I don't hate Muslims, but am weary of them all, and don't trust them farther than I can throw them. (Which isn't far, I only weigh 115lbs)
I was best friends with an entire Iranian family whom came to America in the late 80's because of the Iraq/Iran war. The one I was closest to went back to Iran in 2003, and came back calling all of us infidels, and living off America's freedom while bashing it all the while. We are no longer friends, and as far as I'm concerned he can go back to Iran - and stay there.
This religion's leaders are corrupt, and brainwash the masses, not just the extremists, or fanatics. Muhammed has committed mass murder, where Jesus has had mass murder carried out in his name. Big difference. Until it's leaders denounce Jihad, and the bloody path it leaves, I have no choice but to feel they are the enemy, and I am just defending myself. I refuse to be politically correct when mine and other fellow Americans, and British etc. lives are at risk, doing so may result in there death's and I'm not o.k. with that.

Answer 8

Quote from the prophet of Islam. "Islam is not spread by the sword". The very word Islam means peace.
I think most of my fellow americans and westerners have absolutley no idea at all about Islam, except the "crack" they wanna hear and know and believe so that they can bash Islam. Huh. Most americans dosn't have absolutley any idea about whats going on in the rest of the world.
Today, i have to admit with great sorrow, Americans are the biggest hypocrites, prejuideced, racists, terrorists and ignorant people on earth. But then again i think im just flattering myself. We have always been that and worse.
Americans don't know anything about Islam and they don't want to either because they are afraid they might find out its not a "facist" religion afterall. We are running out of excuses to bomb the rest of the world, and we don't wanna give up this one yet. "Islam" is just a excuse to serve our selfish agenda. Our country, our economy is built on the blood of millions of innocent lives. We ARE THE TERRORISTS!

Answer 9

It's a phase. Here is a chronology of American prejudice:
-Native Americans
-Eastern Europeans
-African-Americans (reoccuring phase)
-Japanese Americans
-Hispancis
And now Muslims. Today just so happens to be your day in the sun, but don't worry it'll change (someday).

Answer 10

I agree with you. The Americans who hate Muslims are basing their opinions on what they see on TV. I don't think that they have ever met any.

I have lived in Muslim countries. The people were very nice, in fact, nicer than a lot of Americans (sad to say). They never expressed any hostility toward Christians.

The media created hostility toward Muslims just goes to show how stupid some of us are. We should know by know that what you see on TV is about as truthful, as what comes out of a politicians mouth.