News & Politics - Report: Muslim World Largely Anti-American

ColorMist · 05-18-2005, 10:32 PM

I don't think the title of this thread (and the report) should come as any surprise. What stunned me are a couple of the details of the article.

Link

Quote:

Report: Muslim World Largely Anti-American

By KAREN MATTHEWS, Associated Press Writer Wed May 18, 7:28 PM ET

NEW YORK - Anti-American feelings are widespread in the Muslim world and extend to U.S. consumer brands, according to a report released Wednesday. It suggested the U.S. burnish its image with a change in tone and by publicizing aid programs.

The United States should emphasize its development aid to Muslim countries rather than try to persuade Muslims to support U.S. policies in Iraq or in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, according to the Council on Foreign Relations report.

The report, by Charney Research, is based on 14 focus groups conducted last December and January among college-educated men and women in Egypt, Morocco and Indonesia.

Anger at U.S. foreign policy and at the U.S. government dominated spontaneous reactions in all three countries.

Many young Muslims said they admired Osama bin Laden, while views of
President Bush were uniformly negative. All focus group members rejected U.S. views of the war in Iraq, saying the United States invaded on a false premise to further its own regional goals.

Anti-Semitic stereotypes also were noted. Focus group members saw the United States and Israel as synonymous and estimated the proportion of Jews in the U.S. population at up to 85 percent; it is 2 percent.

The report found negative opinions of the United States are taking a toll on U.S. companies, and that amounts of U.S. aid were massively underestimated; not one person in any focus group knew the U.S. is the world's largest donor by dollar amount.

"Most Egyptians and Indonesians put U.S. support for their countries over 10 years in millions; the correct figures were $7.3 billion and $1 billion, respectively," the authors said.

When asked what they wanted from the United States, focus group members said respect and aid to develop as their countries choose.

The Council on Foreign Relations, founded in 1921, is a nonpartisan center for scholars dedicated to helping members and policy-makers better understand the world and governmental policy choices, according to its Web site. The council has headquarters in New York and an office in Washington, D.C.

Charney Research is a private consulting firm in New York that offers opinion polling and market research.

Focus groups thought the Jewish population in the United States was as high as 85%? That boggles the mind.

The researchers seem to think that better publicizing the U.S.'s aid programs would do some good -- but I don't know about that. If people already hate the U.S., what's going to make them think that such publicity would even be the truth?

But on the other hand, I guess it couldn't hurt.

Anyway...I know I'm never here anymore (and rarely at FanForum in general) but I thought this was interesting enough to come and post. ::shrugs::
-[-*colormist*-]-

mh67511 · 05-18-2005, 10:45 PM

That was interesting. But even if we WERE 85% Jew, who cares? I mean hello, what percentage MUSLIM are they?

Probably at least 50% or more in some countries! As far as "aid to develop their countries as they choose." So basically they want us to write them a blank check and leave them alone. Unfortunantely that's not how it works.

AlexEvans · 05-19-2005, 08:35 AM

That's extremely interesting.

They think we're mostly Jews (and hate us for that) and, contrary to the conventional wisdom, hate us for not giving them enough money. You usually hear that they hate us for giving money to their governments, but they think we don't - even in Egypt.

*Lauren · 05-19-2005, 10:02 AM

Unfotuntly a lot of the Muslim countries (GENRLISATION ALERT) have a distrust of Jews and Israel in particuler (not without reason) I don't think even Israel has 85% Jews (who live there, not citizens)

In Fair Verona · 05-21-2005, 12:59 PM

That's interesting, though I'm not going to trust it completely. The fact that they're putting in seemingly unnecessary statements like "young Muslims look up to Bin Laden" and that they hate Bush is a very blatant contrast. The way it's put in the article is, I'm certain, for more than informative purposes. The reason it is unnecessary is because it is not even statistically stated. "Many" look up to him. No percentage, so it's hard to determine the accuracy of that assumption.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1

All focus group members rejected U.S. views of the war in Iraq, saying the United States invaded on a false premise to further its own regional goals.

Hmm. Well, they aren't the only ones who believe that. A good proportion of Americans would agree.

The Jewish thing is a little shocking. I mean, honestly... eighty-five percent, huh? It's probably fueled by American involvement with Israel.

What I really want to see is a report on what Americans think of Muslims since we all pretty much knew what Muslims think of Americans.

Elizajoey · 05-22-2005, 04:48 AM

Quote:

What I really want to see is a report on what Americans think of Muslims since we all pretty much knew what Muslims think of Americans.

After reading the article, I was going to post the exact same thing.
There is constantly, probably every two to three months that an article comes out about how "those Muslims can't stand America" but it would be interesting to see the extent that it goes the other way.

mh67511 · 05-22-2005, 12:43 PM

Well I personally think there is a big difference between American Muslims and Middle-Eastern Muslims. Some people probably think the same of all of them, but I think there are some pretty clear distinctions, at least in my eyes.

Lexis · 05-22-2005, 03:27 PM

Out of interest, what would you say the distinctions are?

Maybe its because the media has changed its coverage of the Muslim community since 9/11 but I've never been more aware of the radical British Muslims here. The other day there was a demonstration outside the American Embassy at which protestors expressed support for Bin Laden and shouted slogans to the effect "Bomb New York, Bomb New York". I don't believe that they are representative of the Muslim population as a whole but its quite shocking too hear that kind of stuff here.

I too would love to see studies done on the attitdues of Americans (and Brits too) towards Islam - I think it would make very interesting reading.

Elizajoey · 05-23-2005, 01:32 AM

Quote:

Well I personally think there is a big difference between American Muslims and Middle-Eastern Muslims. Some people probably think the same of all of them, but I think there are some pretty clear distinctions, at least in my eyes.

I didnt mean it like that - I meant that we always hear about how "those Muslims hate Americans" but do we ever see any surveys like that that shows American's attitudes towards Muslims as Lexis described.

I also dont think there are distinctions in the way that you are thinking - they are not religious distinctions but rather cultural differences.

In Fair Verona · 05-23-2005, 07:52 PM

I also dont think there are distinctions in the way that you are thinking - they are not religious distinctions but rather cultural differences.

Exactly. There are religious distinctions amongst Muslims, but not between American Muslims and Middle Eastern Muslims. Faithfully, they have the same beliefs, the distinction between them in regards to their attitudes is a geographic or locational distinction...

Meaning, really, being Muslim shouldn't even be a factor at all. It's more like... American or Middle-Eastern that determines the attitude.

mh67511 · 05-23-2005, 08:06 PM

The American Muslims have always seemed more peaceful to me. They don't have as much hate in them it seems, but then again the news probably shows the extremes on both sides when they show Muslims in the Middle East.

GhostWriter · 05-23-2005, 08:26 PM

I would like you all to go to Talkingworld.com and read the political post by a gut named Blaz520 entitled: The Monroe Doctrine. May help clear things up( if anything's murky).

WalkingOnSunshine · 05-24-2005, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elizajoey

I didnt mean it like that - I meant that we always hear about how "those Muslims hate Americans" but do we ever see any surveys like that that shows American's attitudes towards Muslims as Lexis described.

We won't see those type of surveys conducted either, because it would be deemed too risky. Risky because it could serve as a cause or reason if the surveys showed Americans view Muslims in a negative light. We don't need to add fuel to a fire that cannot seem to be contained.

Papri · 05-25-2005, 01:06 AM

I thought this might be of interest to those who wondering about American attitudes towards Muslims (although just typing that sentance makes me feel ick, because you can be both....but whatever)

Quote:

From CAIR

(WASHINGTON, DC - 10/4/2004) - According to a poll released today by a prominent national Islamic civil rights and advocacy group, 1-in-4 Americans believes a number of anti-Muslim stereotypes and negative images of Muslims are 16 times more prevalent than positive ones.

The poll, sponsored by the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and conducted by an independent research firm, was designed to understand what Americans think about Muslims, identify variables associated with anti-Muslim prejudice and to seek out ways in which to combat the Islamophobic prejudice that often leads to discrimination or even hate crimes.

Poll results include:

* More than one-fourth of survey respondents agreed with stereotypes such
as "Muslims teach their children to hate" and "Muslims value life less than
other people."

* When asked what comes to mind when they hear "Muslim," 32 percent of
respondents made negative comments. Only two percent had a positive response.

* Those with the most negative attitudes toward Islam and Muslims tend to
be less-educated white males who are politically conservative.

* General knowledge of Islam is low but the presence of Muslim friends and
colleagues drives more enlightened attitudes.

* African-Americans hold more favorable attitudes about Muslims than do whites.

* While half of respondents believed that American Muslims are
"cooperating" in the war on terror, 50 percent did not believe that they
are actively "condemning" terrorist acts.

* Most Americans believe that the terrorists are misusing the teachings of
Islam.

* About half of Americans hold one or more favorable attitudes about
Muslims, such as "Muslims have family-oriented values" and "Muslims have
contributed to civilization."

* Those who believe they are knowledgeable about Islam tend to have more
positive attitudes.

"As a nation that values tolerance and equality, we need to recognize the
growing anti-Muslim prejudice in our society and join together as Americans
to combat this divisive phenomenon," said CAIR Board Chairman Omar Ahmad.
"It is clear from the results of this survey that we have our work cut out
for us in terms of educating other Americans about Islam and providing
opportunities for positive interactions with the Muslim community."

Ahmad said that CAIR will be encouraging local Muslim communities across
the United States to hold open houses for people of other faiths during
Ramadan, the Islamic fast that begins in mid-October.

Survey results were based on 1000 telephone interviews conducted by
California-based Genesis Research Associates
(http://www.genesisresearch.net ) between June 23 and July 2, 2004.
Interviewers spoke with a gender-balanced random sample of respondents
across the continental United States. Margin of error for the poll (with 95
percent confidence) is +/-3.1 percent. CAIR, America's largest Islamic
civil liberties group, has 29 regional offices and chapters nationwide and
in Canada.

- END -

In Fair Verona · 05-25-2005, 07:50 PM

Thanks for posting that. Half of my family is Muslim so based on my own observation, I'd agree with most of those assertions. Having friends that are Muslim really does have an impact on ones' opinion of it, I've realized. That's one of the great things about getting to grow up in a diverse environment and allowing yourself to befriend different people, you learn so much more.

I don't deny that African Americans hold a more positive view on Muslims than Whites because African Americans are much more likely to be Muslim themselves.

Definitely the best thing to do is get out there and befriend somebody and learn about their lifestyle to better understand it and have more tolerance.


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