WaPost: "Majority Say Muslims Are Disproportionately Prone to Violence"

[Dr. Jones]

Please don't take this the wrong way. I am simply posting this controversial article up for discussion. I do not subscribe to these views and do not advocate racism, etc.

As one whose background is in sociology/anthropology, I am very interested as to how people came to the conclusion that Muslims are somehow "prone to violence" more so than other ethnic/racial groups.

Negative Perception Of Islam Increasing
Poll Numbers in U.S. Higher Than in 2001

By Claudia Deane and Darryl Fears
Washington Post Staff Writers
Thursday, March 9, 2006; Page A01

As the war in Iraq grinds into its fourth year, a growing proportion of Americans are expressing unfavorable views of Islam, and a majority now say that Muslims are disproportionately prone to violence, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.

The poll found that nearly half of Americans -- 46 percent -- have a negative view of Islam, seven percentage points higher than in the tense months after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, when Muslims were often targeted for violence.

The survey comes at a time of increasing tension; the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq show little sign of ending, and members of Congress are seeking to block the Bush administration's attempt to hire an Arab company to manage operations at six of the nation's ports. Also, Americans are reading news of deadly protests by Muslims over Danish cartoons depicting the prophet Muhammad.

Conservative and liberal experts said Americans' attitudes about Islam are fueled in part by political statements and media reports that focus almost solely on the actions of Muslim extremists.

Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/08/AR2006030802221.html?referrer=email&referrer=email

[Bill McBlueState]

1. "Muslims" is actually a religious group, not ethnic or racial

So -- although probably none of the poll respondents actually did this -- one could evaluate the content of the Muslim holy book and conclude whether those who follow that book's teachings are more prone to violence.

[Malikshah]

2. See- proof positive that Propaganda and sloppy thinking works

Wow-- ignorance is such a very powerful thing.

[Sensitivity]

3. "War on terror" propaganda has worked better than expected -- U.S.

electorate intellectually defeated. Both republicans and democrats have shallowed the
hogwash. Now we just have to finish off those troublesome Sadaam loyalists and defeat alqaeda.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

4. Sounds like the MSM and the neocons have

been very successful. When was the last time you saw a group of Muslims on TV who were NOT jumping up and down and shooting guns in the air?

Plus, the whole terrorism by suicide concept really flies in the face of American culture. We don't get hit. Hence: violent people.