When Americans think of Muslims, do they only see discrimination?
956436
It depends.\n\nThose of us who actually know people who are muslims, indeed see that a spectrum exists and that they are normal people.\n\nI believe that these are the majority but I don't know.\n\nPersonally, I do have a problem with some conservative islamic values. Wearing the veil or burka (hajib is fine in my view as long as its voluntary), killing people for apostacy (making a faith choice to leave islam), not allowing a woman a say in court (7 woman to counter one man), laws based on peoples religious standing and sex (for example blood money in Saudi Arabia), \nstoning rape victims for adultery, beating up women for not covering their head, etc ...\n\nMost of the muslims I personally know don't seem to do these things at all tho. Some of them are conservative by western standards but not by way of imposing on others as much as themselves.
183732
The United States is a pluralisitc society.  I would argue there is no such thing as an 'average' American in any ethnic or cultural sense.  I'm sure there are those Americans, by virtue of racism or their own bad experiences, who harbor negative feelings about immigrants of any background.  America has had a mixed history of racial interaction, but, by in large, I have found Americans to be a tolerant people.  In most major cities you can also find large groups of ethnic Iranians to ease your transition.  There will always be bigots, and terrorism has focused the attention of bigots on people from the Middle East, but bigots are the minority.  You will likely find ignorance to be much more frustrating than maliciousness.  For example, most Americans don't know that Iranians are generally Persian, not Arab.  If you have patience, I think you can overcome these difficulties and make a successful, free life in America if you so choose.
581830
My friend K-9,\nWhat in the world remains that you do like. \nFirst its the US Military you Hate. \nThen Its the Black People you Hate. \nNow it seems to be the turn of the Gay community. \nTsk Tsk. \nOH i just remembered You do admire the Insurgents in Iraq, and come to think of it, there has not been anything bad from you on the Muslim front Either. \nOn your question, Why would they not be Entitled, In to-days world i would guess they would be. \nBack then the world was not as open about things. \nSo anyhow nice to know you can be so Versatile in your opinions of not liking people.
908851
Something to consider about Islam is that they lack any central leadership, unlike Christianity.  When people are looking for a blanket Christian statement, they typically look to the Catholic church, as it is the most organized.  Islam is far more factionalized.\n\nI admit that the muslim mainstream hasn't responded quite in the way that I had hoped.  It seems that non-american, or at least non-western muslims are curiously silent when islamic terrorists strike against the west and it's interests abroad.  Some, like Pakistan in 2001, rejoiced at it.  \n\nIt's difficult to make any broad assertions regarding Islam, because you risk alienating the few who do have respect for the west, and christianity.  It is perhaps up to these few to provide the extinction of the terrorist mindset that for some reason inflames much of the middle east:  That Israel needs to be destroyed, and the West represents pure evil.\n\nRegarding democrats, I think the party has been misled by people like Michael Moore.  I get the idea that if he had been born in Saudi Arabia, it would've been he who piloted one of the jets on 911.\n\nActors, for some reason, become successful and therefore feel entitled to be political analysts.  Of course, we all have the right to protest, but they take it too far.  The media is the most powerful mover of minds of our time, and they weild it like a nuclear weapon.\n\nI believe firmly that whatever the Right's faults, they've got an innate advantage over the Left, in that they cater more to national security than civil liberties, and with good reason.  With terrorists eternally seeking our destruction, there need to be some sacrifices to our ultimate endurance.
1145086
It is so because the rest of us let them get away with bigotry. We will gladly confront Christians, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, Liberals, Conservatives, Americans, French, Japanese, Capitalists and Communists with whatever gripe we may have with their beliefe system but when it comes to Islam, we shy away from making them uncomfortable. After 9/11, instead of being more answerable for thier baseless belief system, the wold has moved to allowing them to be more evasive. They are the "Victims" of stereotyping - not the perpetrators of more than 90% of terrorist acts in this world. They are the 'religion of peace'! Yeah right.\n\nA Christian has to struggle and give everyone a satisfactory explaination for his belief in immaculate conception or resurrection, A jew has to explain why he thinks God gave them Israel but a Muslim never has to explain why if God chose anyone for the job, why would he pick a womanizing mass-murderer to be His last prophet? A Muslim never has to explain why he thinks Jewish settlement in West Bank as occupation but why Muslims controlling all the land outside Mecca-Medina, including what is now Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan Pakistan, Jordan, Yemen and Syria not Islamic Occupation?\n\nAnd of course then there is the standard issue excuse that only 0.1% of Muslims are bad 99.9 percent of Muslims are peace loving. So here is my question: If someone gave you a glass of milk that is 99.9% milk and 0.1% cyanide, would you drink it?
349100
Religious discrimination (and it's the most acceptable not many seem to think it's wrong). Think of all those anti-Muslim emails going around since 9-11.
19133
Most Muslims are not terrorists, and most terrorists aren't Muslims. Americans react more to Islamic terrorism because it comes from an outside source, whereas domestic terrorism from militia groups or urban gangs doesn't trigger a sense of national unity or a 'fight response.'
1040731
Not all Muslims hate Americans.\n\nOf the many people in the world that hate us...I have found it is usually because of our pressure for them to conform to our ways...our society. We tend to push countries to accept stuff like: \nour restaurants (like McDonalds)\nour clothing\nour language\nour music\nour lifestyle (physically lazy, internationally inept, linguistically moronic)\nour religion\netc\n\nDo people hate us for supporting Israel? Well, I have heard they think we are pretty hypocritical in our support for Israel. For example....why was the US against the Berlin wall but a proponent for a while of Israel building one? Why is the US critical of China's "abuse" of human rights and torture when the US is NOT critical of Israel's use of the same?\n\nRe hypocricy- Why do we continue to ignore human rights abuses in Saudi Arabia but not China? Or Iran? Or Iraq? Why not just say "well, Saudi is stable, and friendly towards the US...so, we cut them more slack than we do Iran". ??\n\nAlso, our hypocrisy is wider than that. Why did we stop Iraq from abusing their citizens but not Sudan. I believe it was because of oil. And, I am fine with that explanation. For sure, we need oil....but why not just say "we need oil, and because we need oil, we need a politically stable middle east....and, because we need political stability, we are going to create 'no fly zones' in Iraq and reduce Saddam's power."\n\nAnd now...look at Iraq and North Korea. We are in Iraq to get rid of terrorists and (originally) to stop the production of Weapons of Mass Destruction. Fine. Great idea. Nobody wants WMDs in the hands of nutty extremists.\n\nBut why not go into North Korea too? And, why weren't we more critical of nuclear weapons development in Israel?\n\nI think we are critcized and laughed at and hated mostly because of our hypocrisy in international standards. And, its not just Muslims that do the laughing and hating. Believe me....brits laugh at us...french, estonians, russians, lithuanians, italians, australians....the Muslims certainly did not corner the market on seeing our fumbling ways in the international community!
543283
They don't realize that they talk about God and always say "God Bless America" and think they have the right to criticize. They are no one to judge, only God can judge. They are ignorant, God forgive me but they are. They need to realize that just like they are judging they will be judged, but not by other human beings but by God.\n\nand to imstillsandy...there is many people out there judging us by our color and race. I went to the store the other day and was denied service because of my skin. So you don't talk before you don't know. They are getting sued because I am too an American. The only thing is that my ancestors are Mexican, but that does not give people the right to try to put us down.
497389
I think it is a shame that people of ignorance judge other people because of a horrible act. People should not judge Muslims by the people who committed the horrible crimes of September 11th.
1033855
Because it's easy to do... And you have to admit, both sides are guilty of this.  How many times have we seen certain Muslims complain about Americans, yet call them all Christians and say "How Christ-Like", yet really have no idea how many of the Christians interpret their own religion.  \nThis is one battle neither side is going to win and the battle will never end, because no one has the nerve to actually say "we could be wrong".
517994
As a Norwegian I think this is the typical American way of thinking. There are extreme muslims, bust most of them have no intention of destroying anything. The American president is trying to frighten the Americans into believing exactly what you are saying, but I think this is more frightening than anything.
906118
These Muslims in London recently seem to think so!\n\nhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0yoR8R4T1w\n\nThese Muslims Too!\n\nhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1ymxQZ-DLE&mode=related&search=
680557
I'm not Muslim and I agree with your sentiment 100%. There is a two-tier structure to Muslims and tolerance. \n\nIn nations in which Muslims are a minority, they act much much different than in nations in which they are the majority.In a way, this mirrors Mohammed's attitude when he was starting out in Mecca and his behavior once he ruled in Medina. In Mecca before the "flight" Mohammed was very tolerant talking about love, peace, etc. Once he went to Medina and had his foothold, then we saw the real face of Islam.\n\nThe hope of Muslims in the west is that they show the "good" side of Islam and get enough converts to reach critical mass. Once that happens, then they can bring down the hammer of Allah.
648637
Good Lord! Another "attack" on Americans! If we are as awful as these people seem to think, than why do so many people want to immigrate here? People from other countries need to realize that they don't KNOW what Americans are like, they just hear media propaganda as to what we are really like. It is ignorant to believe everything you hear or read. Not everything is 100% truthful. It is also ignorant to assume that you know exactly what Americans or any other foreign person is like. My entire family has raised their children to treat ALL people with respect until they do something to lose that respect. I have always treated my parents with respect, and my parents treated their parents with respect etc. All the children in my family treat their parents with respect. I don't know where you got your ridiculous information from, but not ALL American kids treat their parents with disrespect. I am sure not ALL Muslim kids treat their parents with respect either. \n\nk.m.
112416
definitely. cant u see the offences & insults for: white, black, reddish ppl, asians, arabs, jews, muslims & even jesus himself? like, all the christians, us"the americans"  are wow or ew, all the jewishes are disgusting or all the muslims are terrorists or vice versa!
369823
Muslims do beleive in God, they also beleive in Jesus, just their story of what happened and what will happen, and so on, is told differently.\n\nthey are not bad as every one thinks they are, perhaps mislead? but very good people who dont fit in American cultures and perhaps that is why we are quick to judge them.