Posted on 04/03/2008 8:37:44 AM PDT by Alouette
Winning hearts and minds -- the Bush administration, foreign policy wonks, even the U.S. military agree that this is the key to any victory over global terrorism. Yet our public diplomacy program has made little progress on improving America's image. Few seem to recognize that American ignorance of Islam and Muslims has been the fatal flaw.
How much do Americans know about the views and beliefs of Muslims around the world? According to polls, not much. Perhaps not surprising, the majority of Americans (66%) admit to having at least some prejudice against Muslims; one in five say they have "a great deal" of prejudice. Almost half do not believe American Muslims are "loyal" to this country, and one in four do not want a Muslim as a neighbor.
Why should such anti-Muslim bias concern us? First, it undermines the war on terrorism: Situations are misdiagnosed, root causes are misidentified and bad prescriptions do more harm than good. Second, it makes our public diplomacy sound like double-talk. U.S. diplomats are trying to convince Muslims around the world that the United States respects them and that the war on terrorism is not out to destroy Islam. Their task is made infinitely more difficult by the frequent airing of anti-Muslim sentiment on right-wing call-in radio, which is then heard around the world on the Internet.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
Warning! This is a high-volume ping list.
Because the numbers aren't high enough?
Count me among the prejudiced.
Stop Jihad Now.
Well, either the opinions of American citizens are wrong, or else the policy pushed by US diplomats is wrong.
Who you gonna believe, me or your lyin' eyes? I know what Muslims believe, I see what they do. Our diplomatic approach needs to change. We need to repurpose the war on terrorism and try to destroy Islam.
Call the WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMBULANCE!
STUPID REPORTER ALERT
Well, very true. Ignorance of our enemies needs to be corrected. But we won't do that by listening to enemy propaganda, like this.
How about studying history, for instance? Not just the crusades, although that would be good, but the whole history of Muslim conquests around the world for more than a thousand years.
And how about studying the real history of slavery in the post-classical world? Who were the principle slavers during that time?
And how about studying the life of Mohammed. What kind of guy was he, anyway? If we want to understand Muslims, we need to study Mohammed, who is their chief role model. Are Muslims who want to kill, rape, enslave, and dominate their enemies violating the example of Mohammed, or are they imitating him?
Should we respect Muslims? Should we tolerate their customs? Well, do they respect and tolerate our customs? Do they allow freedom and equality of religion in their countries?
Plenty. And we don't like any of it. Next question.
Denouncing Jihad is apostasy, it is a core precept of Islam.
(Violent) Jihad must be conducted until all people of the world are converted, subjugated, or dead.
Enough to know that we must seek out and get rid of the Islamic facists wherever they are.
This is ALL I need to know. PERIOD
Islamophobia=Rejection of submitting to Islam.
If everyone would just shut up and submit, there won't be any terror.
Except between Islamic sects, of course.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Don’t scare the public about the threat of Islamic tyranny or else they will kill you!
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