Jews and Muslims in America: More in Common than We Think

[rug]

Contrary to common assumptions, many Jewish and Muslim Americans enjoy warm relations. Yet we are only beginning to understand how and why this is so. A Gallup report released last week goes a long way to explaining this unexpected trend and shows that the two communities have more in common than is often thought.

The report, "Muslim Americans: Faith, Freedom, and the Future", reveals that overwhelming numbers of Jewish Americans believe Muslim Americans are loyal to their country - 80 per cent to be exact. Aside from Muslims themselves, no other religious community demonstrates such confidence in the loyalty of America's Muslim citizens.

Further, it seems that Jewish and Muslim Americans share a number of common political views - even about issues as contentious as the Middle East conflict. The same study indicates that 81 per cent of Muslim Americans and 78 per cent of Jewish Americans support a two-state solution, which would enable Israel and a future independent Palestinian state to live side by side. While dialogue about the Middle East conflict remains contentious, the vision for a long-term solution appears surprisingly similar.

How could this be? Why would two communities, so often portrayed as being at each other's throats, not only have confidence in each other but have similar perspectives on even the most contentious issues?

http://www.stateofformation.org/2011/08/jews-and-muslims-in-america-more-in-common-than-we-think/

[ixion]

1. most people who aren't religious whackos can enjoy 'warm relations'

it's only the whacko fundie extremists who really aren't fun to be around, no matter what religion they ascribe to.

[no_hypocrisy]

2. My brother converted from reformed Judaism to Sufiism years ago.

Took a while for our father to accept it and not to equate Sufiism with Hamas, etc.

[edhopper]

3. As someone who grew up Jewish

I have to say, the only good American Muslim.............






is one who works hard, is good to his/her family and acts as a good citizen/resident.

:D