Islam in America

This article in the Huffington Post highlights a most interesting Newsweeks poll.

• 24% of Americans think Obama is a Muslim. What is interesting is that this is almost double the percentage of those who thought he was a Muslim 2 years ago, during the election (only 13% during the election) ! (question 17)
• If you look at republicans in particular, 52% believe Obama to be trying to impose global Islam !! (A full 14 percent of Republicans said that it was “definitely true” that Obama sympathized with the fundamentalists and wanted to impose Islamic law across the globe. An additional 38 percent said that it was probably true — bringing the total percentage of believers to 52 percent.)
• 58% of Americans today do NOT know a Muslim at all. But this is lower than 2 years ago (63% did not know a Muslim in 2008). (question 18)
• Compared to 2 years ago, there are more Americans today (60%) who have a more favorable view of Muslims (about 7% more) (question 19)
• 23% say that they would NOT want a mosque in their neighborhood (question 20)
• 52% are worried about radicals within the US Muslim community (question 21)
• In a different poll (Pew Research), 85% of Americans say that they do not know much (or at all) about Islam

Reflections on these numbers:

• Some in America are looking for a way to blame a foreign evil enemy on our domestic problems (economy, wars, etc..). It seems that the best way to rally the troops, so to speak, is to blame a minority group (oh where have we seen this before?). In fact, these people will tell you, the reason Obama is so bad, and should be replaced as soon as possible, is that he is a closet Muslim! An African American leader recently said: they cannot call him the “N” word, so they will call him the new “M” word!
• It seems that there are more people today who are against Muslims (because they need to pin point an enemy, and find a something to blame) ; but also there are more people who are standing with Muslims (because of the tolerant values upon which our society and our constitution is built).
• There is a definite need for Muslims to reach out more. Muslims must come out of the closet and open their homes, houses of worship, and hearts to the larger society. It is not acceptable that 58% of society do not know a Muslim. Most likely one of these people is your neighbor.
• Most people who personally know a Muslim have a much more favorable view of Islam and Muslims.(this is from a different poll). This highlights the importance of Muslims reaching out.
• The worry about radical Muslims is a genuine worry. In fact, American Muslims are worried (or should be worried) about radical Muslims. However, it is obvious that this worry is currently inflated for political reasons. What should we do as American Muslims? 1) combat radicalism in our community: not in the Name of Islam! And 2) be much more inviting of the larger society into our community in order for them to know Islam and Muslims
• The bottom line is this : American Muslims are caught in the middle of a battle not of their own doing. Some in America need an enemy to “rally the troops”. They are positioning Islam/Muslims as this new enemy. Anything Muslim is bad for America. With the small microphone that we have, American Muslims are yelling out: this is not true. This is not what Islam is about at all. American Muslims must not get caught in this political fight though. We need to focus on reaching out to others – even if it is done individually and one on one. We need to decrease the chance that this hype would play in the hands of the extremists in either side. Because this is the stuff that extremism, on both sides, thrives on.

Your thoughts?