The Euphrates River in southern Iraq, near Basra \u00a0 \u00a0(Wikimedia Commons)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
I share with you four additional passages that caught my notice in John L. Esposito and Dalia Mogahed,\u00a0Who Speaks for Islam? What a Billion Muslims Really Think<\/em>\u00a0(New York: Gallup Press, 2007):<\/p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
When we asked respondents in 10 predominantly Muslim countries how they view a number of nations, the attributes they most associate with the United States are: ruthless (68%), scientifically and technologically advanced (68%), aggressive (66%), conceited (65%), and morally decadent (64%).\u00a0 (84)<\/span><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
When Gallup asked the open-ended question:\u00a0 \u201cIn your own words, what do you resent most about the West?\u201d the most frequent response across all [predominantly Muslim] countries among moderates and radicals is \u201csexual and cultural promiscuity,\u201d followed by \u201cethical and moral corruption\u201d and \u201chatred of Muslims.\u201d\u00a0 (88)<\/span><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
Reflecting the importance of Islam, the most frequent response given by both groups [radicals and moderates] to the questions about what the West can do to improve relations is: more respect, consideration, and understanding of Islam as a religion; not underestimating the status of Arab\/Muslim countries; being fair and less prejudiced.\u00a0 (91)<\/span><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
A recent study shows that only 46% of Americans think that \u201cbombing and other attacks intentionally aimed at civilians\u201d are \u201cnever justified,\u201d while 24% believe these attacks are \u201coften or sometimes justified.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\nContrast this with data taken the same year from some of the largest majority Muslim nations, in which 74% of respondents in Indonesia agree that terrorist acts are \u201cnever justified\u201d; in Pakistan, that figure is 86%; in Bangladesh, 81%; and in Iran, 80%.<\/span><\/p>\nSimilarly, 6% of the American public thinks that attacks in which civilians are targets are \u201ccompletely justified.\u201d\u00a0 As points of comparison, in both Lebanon and Iran, this figure is 2%, and in Saudi Arabia, it\u2019s 4%.\u00a0 In Europe, Muslims in Paris and London are no more likely than their counterparts in the general public to believe attacks on civilians are justified and are as likely to reject violence, even for a \u201cnoble cause.\u201d\u00a0 (95)<\/span><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
Diagnosing terrorism as a symptom and Islam as the problem, though popular in some circles, is flawed and has serious risks with dangerous repercussions. \u00a0It confirms radical beliefs and fears, alienates the moderate Muslim majority, and reinforces a belief that the war against global terrorism is really war against Islam. \u00a0Whether one is radical or moderate, this negative attitude is a widespread perception.<\/span><\/p>\nIn an International Herald Tribune<\/em> op-ed piece, Fawaz Gerges recounted an interview he had with an Islamic leader in Egypt, Abed al-Rahim Barakat, who echoed the pervasive perception among Muslims that the U.S. wars in Afghanistan and Iraq are wars against Islam. \u00a0\u201cPresident Bush himself used the word \u2018crusade\u2019 to describe his war on terror,\u201d Barakat told Gerges. \u00a0When Gerges responded, \u201cIt was a slip of tongue,\u201d Barakat insisted, \u201cNo, it was a Freudian slip. \u00a0He revealed what he feels deep inside.\u201d \u00a0(96)<\/span><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
***<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
I\u2019m grateful to Anne Palmieri and Nicol Sorenson-Legakis for calling this very interesting and encouraging piece to my attention:<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMuslim groups raise stunning amount of money for victims of synagogue massacre in less than 24 hours\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u00a0 \u00a0 I share with you four additional passages that caught my notice in John L. Esposito and Dalia Mogahed,\u00a0Who Speaks for Islam? What a Billion Muslims Really Think\u00a0(New York: Gallup Press, 2007): \u00a0 When we asked respondents in 10 predominantly Muslim countries how they view a number of nations, the attributes they most associate […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1019,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-66819","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n
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<\/a>