Does America Hate Muslims???

Last week I discussed my fear about America’s overall perspective on Muslims so I did a little research on America’s attitudes towards Muslims. Zogby Analytics did a survey for the Arab American Institute and found that “42 % of Americans believe law enforcement is justified in using profiling tactics against Muslim-Americans and Arab-Americans. What may be even more freighting is the fact of lowering overall approving ratings for Arabs and Muslims. The polls the Huffington Post stated “favorability toward Arab-Americans at 36 percent, down from 43 percent in 2010. For Muslim-Americans, favorability was just 27 percent, compared with 36 percent in 2010”. 

Public acknowledgement of anti-sharia law is also a very discouraging sign. Anti-Sharia law is legislation that would ban the application or implementation of Islamic law in courts in any jurisdiction. Although it may be illegal to have anti-Sharia law in America this has not stopped legislators to finds ways to discriminate against Muslims. Legislators in their bills use nonspecific language that is not specific to any group but in practice it effects Muslims. Although these legislators might be careful of the language they use in the bill, they show no discretion in the public eye. The Huffington Post describes this behavior in an article by Sabrina Siddiqui, she says this about the legislation and legislators, “The proponents of these laws will demonize Muslims while making the case for these measures. Yet they publicly admit there are zero instances of Muslims trying to impose Islamic law in their respective states. For example, Florida State Senator Alan Hays conceded as much but argued the anti-Sharia law legislation was needed as a “preemptive measure,” similar to when your parents would “have you vaccinated against different diseases.”

The fact that a politician in America can say something so discriminatory and get away with it is appalling. Hearing quotes like this and seeing negative coverage I believe induces an environment when Islamic hate can thrive. Some of the most gentle and kind people I have met have been Islamic, Arabic, or both. I have seen these friends of mine ridiculed and disrespected because of their region or color of their skin, instead of the content of their character.