(Bernd Debusmann is a Reuters columnist. The opinions expressed are his own)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - In the summer of 2006, a Gallup poll of more than 1,000 Americans found that one out of four favoured forcing Muslims in the United States, including U.S. citizens, to carry special identification. About a third said Muslims living in the U.S. sympathized with al Qaeda.
Almost a quarter said they wouldn’t want a Muslim as a neighbour. Republicans, the poll said, saw Muslims in a more negative light than Democrats and independents, and were more opposed to having Muslim neighbours. Fewer than half those polled thought U.S. Muslims were loyal to the United States.
A few months after the poll, callers to a Washington area radio talk show suggested branding Muslims with crescent-shaped tattoos and special stamps in their identity papers, the better to spot potential terrorists.
Polls are snapshots of attitudes, and attitudes can change. But incidents during the U.S. presidential election campaign, now in its final sprint towards November 4, show that fear and suspicion of Muslims persist undiminished and are being used as a political weapon.
Former Secretary of State Colin Powell became the most prominent member of the U.S. establishment to highlight the problem when he broke with John McCain, the Republican candidate and a personal friend of decades, to endorse Barack Obama, target of a prolonged campaign by activists who portray him as a Muslim.
One of his reasons: “I’m troubled by, not what Senator McCain says, but what members of the (Republican) party say,” he told a television interviewer this week. “And it is permitted to be said such things as ‘well, you know that Mr. Obama is a Muslim.’ Well, the correct answer is, he is not a Muslim, he’s a Christian. He’s always been a Christian.
“But the really right answer is, what if he is?” Powell continued.
“Is there something wrong with being a Muslim in this country? The answer is no, that’s not America. Is there something wrong with some seven-year-old Muslim-American kid believing that he or she could be president? Yet, I have heard senior members of my own party drop the suggestion ‘He (Obama) is a Muslim and might be associated with terrorists.’ This is not the way we should be doing it in America.”
It was the first time that a senior figure of the American establishment had countered suggestions that Obama adheres to Islam by saying “So What?”, a question that should not be surprising in a country of immigrants that prides itself of its diversity. But the association is so toxic that even Obama himself has never asked that question.
FEAR AND BIGOTRY
Obama routinely denies the false notion that he is Muslim and stresses his commitment to Christianity and his regular church attendance. The website Obama has set up to rebuff a wide range of rumours notes the fact that he was sworn into the Senate on his family bible. That he finds it necessary to spell this out speaks volumes about a climate of fear and bigotry.
And about Obama’s caution: the first Muslim to win a seat in the 435-member House of Representatives, Keith Ellison, caused a storm of cyberspace criticism when he carried a Koran to his 2007 swearing-in ceremony. The hubbub subsided when it emerged that the Koran he used was once owned by an American with impeccable credentials - Thomas Jefferson.
Ellison, a Democrat from Minnesota, was the only Muslim in the House until last March, when he was joined by Andre Carson, a fellow Democrat from Indianapolis. Estimates of the number of Muslims in the United States range from 1.8 to more than 5 million. (The U.S. Census Bureau does not cover religious affiliation).
As the long election campaign neared its end, an obscure New York-based non-profit group called the Clarion Fund provided a textbook example of how fear of Muslims can be used for political ends.
The fund paid 70 newspapers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Colorado, Iowa, Florida, Wisconsin, Nevada, New Hampshire and Virginia to deliver, as an advertising insert, 28 million copies of a documentary on radical Islam. These are all swing states where the Obama vs McCain fight is close.
The one-hour documentary, entitled Obsession - Radical Islam’s War against the West — was produced almost three years ago. It intersperses scenes of violence, including the September 11, 2001, attack on New York, with footage from Nazi rallies. The film found no traditional distributor and was first screened on college campuses last year, introduced by a right-wing activist, David Horowitz.
So why is the DVD mailed out now? Purely for educational purposes, according to a spokesman for the Clarion Fund. Nothing to do with fear-mongering.
The DVD’s sleeve, however, carries a slightly different message. “The threat of radical Islam is the most important issue facing us today. But it’s a topic that neither the presidential candidates nor the media are discussing openly. It’s our responsibility to ensure we can all make an informed vote in November.”
(You can contact the author at Debusmann@Reuters.com)
Am I the only one who can mentally replace the word 'Muslims' in the first three paragraphs with the word 'Jews' and see that we've got 1930's Germany happening here in 'Good ol America'??? Powell is probably the only person associated with the Bush Administration who is worthy of respect -- Listen up!
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I am a little tired of the fear tactics of the religeous right. War is not pro-life, no muslim has ever mailed me anything about being burnt in hell by my creator…and don\’t you think it is strange that Hitlers views on marraige (and quite a few other issues) are the same as the \’conservative\’ republican party? Could it be because HITLER WAS A CATHOLIC?
This is an age-old issue, which passes on from generation to generation either with positive tone or otherwise. Can’t ever cure it in any imaginable way.
But, media and general opinion play the biggest role on promoting the issue. So it is them to whom every concerned stakeholders will need to influence.
Sadly.. general opinion -which never 100% true- drives politics, and politics drive action.
As american we believe (The First Amandment) that says equal apportunity for all american, as a muslim iam proud to vote and contribute my part as a citizen, and The Person That am ganna vote for will be Barack Obama, becouse he’ll make a real change….
Whatever happened to the foundation our forefathers built this great nation upon? Are we tearing down our Constitution piece by piece? It was religious tolerance which got the whole thing started. Yeah, so kooks in turbins flew planes into the World Trade Center. We are over being mad. That does not make all Islamics bad. What say you, if the kooks had been JEWS, huh? Ahhh. I’m not defending. I’m Christian myself. Such views got us into Iraq, instead of concentrating on Afghanistan, where the criminals dwell.
We have to see the reality that the vast majority of humanity is peace loving and caring, no matter what their religion. These kooks that hurt us should be treated as international CRIMINALS, rather than seperating out an entire religion. Even folks from the SAME religion believe they are crazy…but are afraid to speakout. The majority of Muslims are entirely reasonable.
It’s when you verbally attack the difference of religion, that a section of the world clams up, and very little progess is made containing them. WHY are we letting a very small group weld such power? You see, ignoring them is another way of containment. If we do not give them a stage, then they have no influence and will eventually die out. If you’ll notice…I think the latter is exactly what we’ve started doing. Stay vigilant, but ignore. And let our military extract them,And let our military extract them, like should of been done in 2002-2003.
My above comment is in response to Monte Doro.
So you believe that any religion that is unlike all other religions should be feared and suspected. Ok. Hindus believe in re-incarnation. Based on your argument, should everyone fear Hindus and treat them differently because their religion is so unlike all other religions? On the point of Islam and Christianity, how do you know it can’t be the other way around? What if it’s Muslims that should fear Christians instead of the other way around? I can use U.S. history and religious examples as tools to even go as far as justifying this statement. Anyone can do it. Would you believe in the statement after I prove it with facts? Anyone that lacks knowledge and understanding would easily fall prey and start believing. That’s how brainwashing works; propaganda is most effective when people are ignorant - they don’t have knowledge to base their belief on. But I won’t do such a thing here because I know it is not correct.
Please remember that it is men that commit the crimes. Religion forbids it, but corrupt people use religion to commit their crimes, and religion gets blamed. This is easy to do with Islam because the religion has roots in all aspects of life. As a consequence, it becomes difficult to separate religion’s teachings from people’s traditions, cultures, and societal norms that have been carried on since ancient times. Any Muslim that doesn’t know what Islam really is may easily and blindly follow any of the age-old traditions and assume it as his/her religion. The ignorants easily fall victims of propaganda and brainwashing. This is why education is so important, and in Islam education is mandatory for ALL (male and female). Yet, some societies/families follow traditions and take this right away from women. How can this be? Islam is your religion and yet you go against it.?. This is just one example. Of course if the woman doesn’t know her religion (Islam) has given her this birth right, not only will she believe it but she will also never fight for her right. Politicians and leaders feed on public ignorance and fear.
Differences should not be feared. They need to be understood. Diversity and differences are the fundamental elements of this country, and history shows whenever differences have been understood people live in peace and harmony. Don’t believe what others say. Do your own research and soul searching. Knowledge, knowledge, knowledge.
Personally I’d like to thank the Muslims for caring so much about America! “Kupta” It’s sad that American’s have let the most crooked leaders in the world paint such a bad picture about Muslims!
Google “The Power of Nightmares”
Equating all Muslims with terrorism is the same as equating all Christian conservatives with the KKK bombers of black churches and fringe Christian bombers of abortion clinics. It is radical ignorance and intolerance of the type that is destroying America.
Please take this with a grain of salt; it is my belief that religion - as a whole - has done more harm than it has ever done good. Something in us has always driven us to look for something bigger. I feel that it is not something bigger that we look for - but a scapegoat. Turn your back on your neighbor - it’s your religion. Segregate yourself from everyone else - it’s your religion. Kill innocent people - it’s your religion. Pass these ideologies onto your children and everyone you can - it’s your religion. Somehow we’ve made a place for this in our societies and our homes. When your a child and you tell your mother that “Jonny” told you to - she tells you that no one can make you do anything you don’t want to, spanks you and tells you to go to church and do what the bible says. Why is it that we can’t distinguish the difference? It is we - the individuals that make our own decisions. Those of you who find strength in “numbers”, Those of you that find “peace” in religion, Those of you who would kill in the name of preserving your religion - How can you not see? Is your religion providing you with vision, or blinding you with prejudice? I am a white male. I was raised in a Baptist home. I was sent to church every Sunday. I am no scholar. no visionary. I am a realist - the reality is that as long as we allow religion to control our lives the people who control religion will… The decision is yours…
-Free yourself
I guess my education was lacking. Nobody ever told me about the Jewish terrorists who were trying to destroy Germany (I thought Hitler was lying). If 9/11 wasn’t convincing enough, look at the bombings in England and Spain, and the riots in Denmark and France; Islam gives a rationale to those who want to kill infidels, and millions of Muslims consider us the “Great Satan.” I get along fine with the Muslim people I know, but it seems foolish to pretend that Islam is a religion of peace when its teachings inspire so many to violence.
I don’t have a good answer, but I don’t hear a good answer from any of you liberal pundits, either. We might well be digging our own grave.
It is fine to be respectful and have compassion for those that are worshiper of a Spiritual God, who asks for peace and love for all mankind as his rule. But when any group that identify themselves as martyrs to a particular religion or idiology practice beheading, torture, genocide, and murder and bombing of innocent children and civilians…then is it only sensible to have serious reservations about those that claim the same religion or idiology, yet who demand that they are peaceful and innocent people. As Ronald Regan used to say, “Trust, but verify”….I suspect that Americans are properly suspicious of Middle Eastern folks amongst our citizens, given that many are merely visitors, keep their own customs and do not assimilate or join with other Americans and groups, and who may also support the conduct of terrorists through money and financial support. To do otherwise would be somewhat foolish.
for me that is an unfair judgement from the ruling class of the unites states of america .
the so called greatest democracy in the world the land of the brave and home of the free .
all these advertisement slogans are all beginning to sound funny now isnt it ?
Well said Carlos. Fear of others is a longstanding theme in both U.S. and world histories. Fear of the Irish, Italians, Jews, African-Americans, Japanese, etc. It turns out that most Americans from each of these groups are top-notch citizens. Moreover, an honest appraisal of the history of white Christians doesn’t always look too pretty, including terrorism and murder. Yet, we should be equally careful about saying white Christians are terrorists and killers, not just to be politically correct
Indeed, this is not political correctness, it is objective fact. Take a look at violent crimes in the US and you will see that per capita, white Christians are fairly well represented. Let’s not let fear run our existence, it leads to bad decisions, relations, and runs counter to American values.
Too bad only 5% of Americans carry passports and rest of them have not stepped out of America and how they could profoundly acknowledge that Muslims are terrorists.Muslims are here to live and sacrifice for this beloved and adopted country.
On Monte Doro’s points:
Islam is no more an ideology than the other major monotheistic faiths, Judaism and Christianity. The oft-cited notion that Islam is a \”complete way of life\” is not necessarily at odds with these other faiths, although it may be at odds with the way contemporary Western society prefers to see them. That Christendom, for example, has failed to retain the similar place in the social and political order that it once enjoyed could just as easily be ascribed to its own failings rather than to some notion of a \’correct\’ balance of church and state.
Secondly, the idea that Islam is \”a complete way of life\” appears to rest on a very specific idea of what that way of life might entail. Throughout Islamic history there have been great periods of scientific, cultural, and philosophical innovation, a stress on social justice and civic rights, and tolerance for non-Muslims that compares favorably with other faiths. There have also been periods of persecution, religious violence, etc. This makes it difficult to see how one can paint Islam as a faith as the determining factor in any negative connotations that it conjures up.
Third, there seems to run through the argument the fear, once voiced about the first Catholic president, John F. Kennedy, and still mentioned in conjunction with Jewish Americans, that certain religious allegiances would trump duty and devotion to the United States. Thus, the argument apparently goes, a Muslim president could not serve American interests but would be beholden to a deeper, religious agenda at odds with U.S. interests. JFK\’s detractors used that same line against him, as do some critics of Joe Lieberman or other Jewish politicians.
Finally, its is a common mistake to ascribe to \”Islam\” a single, monolithic understanding. In fact, Islam today is — and has been since the death of the Prophet Muhammad — characterized by a \’Battle for the Text.\’ The consuming question for Muslims today, as it has been for centuries, is, Who gets to define what is Islam, and who is a good Muslim? Lacking the hierarchy of the Catholic Church, for example, there can be no conclusive answer to these questions.
Am I the only one who can mentally replace the word ‘Muslims’ in the first three paragraphs with the word ‘Jews’ and see that we’ve got 1930’s Germany happening here in ‘Good ol America’??? Powell is probably the only person associated with the Bush Administration who is worthy of respect — Listen up!
Subject: Is there something wrong with being a Muslim in this country?
Colin Powell is quoted as saying:
“Is there something wrong with being a Muslim in this country? The answer is no, that’s not America. ”
I must take issue with Powell’s views that a person’s being Muslim is neutral and beyond criticism. I know that it is politically correct to say that, but it does not reflect reality. The fact is that, in addition to being a religion, Islam is also an ideology, and not
just any ideology, but an ideology which, like communism and fascism, has strong totalitarian and imperialist elements. Just as not all members of the communist party were true believers in the ideology of communism, and just as not all members of the Nazi party were true
believers in the ideology of Nazism, so not all Muslims are true believers in the ideology of Islam.
Nevertheless, if a person publicly says that he or she does follow that ideology, namely Islam, we have a right to suspect that person of following that ideology until further evidence proves otherwise.
Many non-Muslims think that Islam is just another religion like Christianity or Judaism. If that were so, Powell’s views about Muslims would be correct. However, religious Muslims are the first to say that Islam is NOT like other religions, that Islam is a complete way of life which organizes all aspects of life and society and the world. That is what differentiates Islam fundamentally from other religions. This is not my personal opinion; this is the view of all Islamic scholars and religious authorities; and you can easily verify that for yourself. Therefore, if Islam is, in fact, NOT like other religions, then it would be wrong to treat Muslims like we treat members of other religions. Yes, there is reason to at least suspect Muslims of adherence to a totalitarian and imperialistic ideology whereas we would not harbor the same suspicion toward followers of other religions. The other religions do not have the ideological element that Islam has.
If Mr. Debusmann dyed his hair black, got it cut and shaved off the ends of his mustashe, he would be a perfect spokesman for the liberal socialist in this country. Political correctness has allowed unwanted and dangerous footholds in the fabric of our society. Are you looking in from outside or into from the far left? Go home or get out.
i can’t stand what religion does to people…
Mr. Debusmann, Americans have become such a bunch of scaredycats it’s unbelievable. I have lived in many places in my life, in many houses… I have a Muslim neighbor, in fact, he is my landlord. And he is probably one of the nicest ones I have ever had. For a while I had some born-again Christians, they were also ok, but only as neighbors. The worst landlords I have ever experienced were white Christians.