Negative American views about Islam ‘worrying’Published: Saturday, 15 April, 2006, 12:31 PM Doha Time

Negative American views about Islam ‘worrying’Published: Saturday, 15 April, 2006, 12:31 PM Doha Time


Dr Samer S Shehata

By Bonnie James

ATTITUDES towards Arabs, Muslims and Islam in the US are troubling and have not been improving over the last few years, Arab-American academic Dr Samer S Shehata has stated, quoting results of a number of opinion polls conducted in the US. “A high percentage of Americans hold negative attitudes toward Islam, and many Americans believe that Islam - more than other religions - encourages violence,” he told Gulf Times.

An Assistant Professor of Arab Politics at the Centre for Contemporary Arab Studies in the Edmund A Walsh School of Foreign Service (SFS) at Georgetown University, Washington DC, Dr Shehata had given a presentation on Thursday at the inaugural symposium of SFS in Qatar.

“Americans are generally more willing to impose extra security measures on Arab and Muslim-Americans and limit Arab and Muslim immigration into the US,” he explained.

The academic pointed out that although survey data about American attitudes towards Arabs, Muslims and Islam before September 11, 2001, is not readily available, one could reasonably assume that there has been a significant increase in negative feelings toward these groups and religion since 9/11.

According to the Pew Research Centre for the People and the Press, attitudes toward Islam have been holding relatively stable during the last three years with about 33-36% of respondents saying they hold unfavourable attitudes towards Islam compared with 38-40% who hold favourable attitudes toward the religion. Pew is a highly respected and non-partisan research organisation that provides information on the issues, attitudes and trends shaping America and the world.

More @ http://tinyurl.com/kr7az gulf-times

So the rags are worried about American attitudes toward them and their bloodthirsty cult are they!

1. Most Americans learned all they need to know about Islam on 09/11/01
2. If Americans didn't learn all they needed to know about Islam on 09/11/01 then the daily round of murders, beheadings, rapes, and suicide bombers has filled in the gaps.
3. I dispute Pew and their poll figures. IMO, 75% to 80% of American hold Islam, Muslims, and Arabs in poor regard.
4. If Islam, Muslims, and Arabs in general want to improve their image then they should look to their own behavior and the bloodthirsty cult they belong to.
5. Personally I have no use for people who are so closed minded that the publication of cartoons depicting their non-existent god sends them into a frenzy of destruction and wanton acts of violence.