In U.S., 44 Percent Say Restrict Muslims


As much as I am weary of the politics of most people around me, I still find this poll's results shocking. How in the hell can most Americans believe this! This country is not just for white Americans, sorry! Jesus, this is clearly a sign of the times. All I can say is that everyone who participated in the sentiment that interned Japanese-Americans and hunted Communists in history are now seen as the stupidly inhumane people that they were. The same will happen when people in the future look back on this period in history. Nothing good can come when you dehumanize and scapegoat one group of people. Oppression will only lead to a fierce blowback. I stand for the rights of everyone and this poll just angers me and makes me disheartened for the future of our society. I clutch my heart and thank my good senses that I support the ACLU whenever I hear about shit like this. On another note, I'm not surprised that the more religious you are the more repressive you are. Nice one, all you good Christian folks!

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20041218/ap_on_re_us/muslims_civil_liberties_4

In U.S., 44 Percent Say Restrict Muslims

Fri Dec 17,10:08 PM ET

By WILLIAM KATES, Associated Press Writer

ITHACA, N.Y. - Nearly half of all Americans believe the U.S. government should restrict the civil liberties of Muslim Americans, according to a nationwide poll.



The survey conducted by Cornell University also found that Republicans and people who described themselves as highly religious were more apt to support curtailing Muslims' civil liberties than Democrats or people who are less religious.


Researchers also found that respondents who paid more attention to television news were more likely to fear terrorist attacks and support limiting the rights of Muslim Americans.


"It's sad news. It's disturbing news. But it's not unpredictable," said Mahdi Bray, executive director of the Muslim American Society. "The nation is at war, even if it's not a traditional war. We just have to remain vigilant and continue to interface."


The survey found 44 percent favored at least some restrictions on the civil liberties of Muslim Americans. Forty-eight percent said liberties should not be restricted in any way.


The survey showed that 27 percent of respondents supported requiring all Muslim Americans to register where they lived with the federal government. Twenty-two percent favored racial profiling to identify potential terrorist threats. And 29 percent thought undercover agents should infiltrate Muslim civic and volunteer organizations to keep tabs on their activities and fund-raising.


Cornell student researchers questioned 715 people in the nationwide telephone poll conducted this fall. The margin of error was 3.6 percentage points.


James Shanahan, an associate professor of communications who helped organize the survey, said the results indicate "the need for continued dialogue about issues of civil liberties" in a time of war.


While researchers said they were not surprised by the overall level of support for curtailing civil liberties, they were startled by the correlation with religion and exposure to television news.


"We need to explore why these two very important channels of discourse may nurture fear rather than understanding," Shanahan said.


According to the survey, 37 percent believe a terrorist attack in the United States is still likely within the next 12 months. In a similar poll conducted by Cornell in November 2002, that number stood at 90 percent.


___


On the Net:


Cornell University: www.news.cornell.edu/releases/Dec04/Muslim.Poll.bpf.html


Muslim American Society: www.masnet.org