{"id":4436,"date":"2011-08-30T21:45:37","date_gmt":"2011-08-31T02:45:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/altmuslim\/?p=4436"},"modified":"2011-08-30T21:45:37","modified_gmt":"2011-08-31T02:45:37","slug":"taking_stock_of_muslims_in_america","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/altmuslim\/2011\/08\/taking_stock_of_muslims_in_america\/","title":{"rendered":"Poll analysis: Taking stock of Muslims in America"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>\n\n\n
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Don\u2019t worry, be happy<\/div>\n

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Last year, during a raging controversy over the building of an Islamic centre in Lower Manhattan, Time Magazine ran a cover story titled, \u201cIs America Islamophobic?<\/a>\u201d Shortly thereafter, a poll released by Time showed nearly six in ten Americans held an unfavorable view<\/a> of Muslims. A Gallup poll released the same year revealed four in ten Americans admitting to \u201cfeeling at least \u2018a little\u2019 prejudice<\/a>\u201d towards Muslims. <\/p>\n

The Gallup poll indicated that these adverse attitudes are likely the result of most Americans (62 per cent) personally not knowing anyone who is Muslim. The incessant headlines about violence in the name of Islam have led nearly one in two Americans to erroneously conclude that the faith of Islam is more likely than other religions to encourage violence.<\/p>\n

But beyond the headlines lurks another reality.<\/p>\n

A recent study by the newly established Abu Dhabi Gallup Center concluded<\/a>, \u201cMuslim Americans are satisfied with their current lives and are more optimistic than other faith groups that things are getting better.\u201d Muslims in America continue to profess a positive attitude despite being misunderstood by many and demonised by a few.<\/p>\n

The Southern Poverty Law Center, an American non-profit civil rights organisation dedicated to combating bigotry, wrote in a recent report that \u201c\u2026certain Americans, [who have been] prodded into paranoia by clever activists, opportunistic politicians and guileful media players, seem downright eager to deny Muslims the guarantees of religious freedom and the presumption of innocence.\u201d In New York, educator Debbie Almontaser<\/a> was compelled to resign from a secular Arabic-English public school after she was misquoted in the New York Post , which \u201cclever activists\u201d exploited to insidiously imply she supported violence. However, when a similar cast of characters tried to rile up a controversy by selectively misquoting me to derail my nomination to the Jacksonville Human Rights Commission, they were effectively thwarted after influential leaders stood up to condemn the witch-hunt, which lead to the City Council voting in favour of my candidacy.<\/p>\n

This year, extreme right-wing activists rallied voters in Oklahoma to pass a constitutional amendment prohibiting judges from making rulings based on sharia, the source of Islam\u2019s religious and moral laws. A federal judge blocked the implementation of this referendum, but more than a dozen states are considering \u201cbanning\u201d sharia. Meanwhile Congressman Peter King of New York continues his series of unbalanced congressional hearings about the \u201cradicalisation\u201d of American Muslims, which negatively stereotype the Muslim community with the imprimatur of the US government.<\/p>\n

Despite the efforts to marginalise this community, Muslim life in America remains vibrant, youthful and nuanced. According to Gallup, the average age of American Muslims is significantly lower than people of other faiths. This youthfulness explains why Muslims are least likely to vote despite having the most positive attitude towards American democracy, although they also have the least positive view of law enforcement and US military engagement abroad.<\/p>\n

One of the most common complaints about Muslims is that they do not condemn terrorism as much as they ought to. Following the London bombings in 2005, New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman wrote, \u201cTo this day, no major Muslim cleric or religious body has ever issued a fatwa [a non-binding religious opinion] condemning Osama bin Laden.\u201d Such spurious statements help solidify the misperception of Muslims being sympathetic to terrorism. University of Michigan Professor Juan Cole and Professor Charles Kurzman from the University of North Carolina have documented many fatwas and statements from Muslim scholars and groups condemning terrorism. One only need enter the phrases, \u201cMuslims Condemn Terrorism\u201d or \u201cIslamic Statements Against Terrorism\u201d, in any online search engine to read the multitude of statements<\/a> against terrorism. <\/p>\n

In fact the latest Gallup survey shows nine out of ten American Muslims saying that they do not sympathise with Al Qaeda and view themselves as loyal Americans. Survey results also show that Muslims are the least likely of all religious groups to say that there is ever any justification for attacking civilians. However, most of their fellow Americans do not see Muslims as being patriotic. To win the hearts and minds of their fellow Americans, Muslims must spend more time not only educating others about their faith but also increase their commitment to endeavors that promote the common good.<\/p>\n

Recently, mainstream media and civic groups have begun to question the means and motives of the anti-Muslim network. A report from the Center for American Progress, a progressive research and advocacy organisation, shows that from 2001 to 2007 a handful of wealthy donors<\/a> poured nearly $42 million in financing anti-Muslim activities. Although the money trail is unprecedented, in many respects the challenges facing Muslims are no different from those faced by other religious minorities as they struggled to integrate in America. This gives hope because eventually these marginalised groups found acceptance and respect in mainstream society.<\/p>\n

Parvez Ahmed is a Fulbright Scholar and Associate Professor of Finance at the University of North Florida. This article was written for the Common Ground News Service (CGNews).
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