Thursday, March 09, 2006

Now, Why Would People Increasingly Not Like Islam?

This is rich. Today's Washington Post ran an article entitled Negative Perception of Islam Increasing. Goodness, I can't imagine why that would be. Let's hear what Ronald Stockton, a political science professor at the University of Michigan, Dearborn has to say about the reason for this "negative perception of Islam":

"You're getting [from the media], a constant drumbeat of negative information about Islam."

Oh! I see. What is making Americans think negatively about Islam is not the beheadings, burnings, stabbings, shootings, rioting over cartoons, flying planes into buildings, blowing up of children in pizza parlors, brutal subjugation of women, and all the other violent acts committed on a daily basis all over the world in the name of Allah. No, it is the fact that the media actually reports it (not enough of it I might add).

Talk about putting the cart before the horse. If Muslims would stop brutalizing their neighbors, then the media wouldn't have any "negative information" to report. And please spare me the whole bit about how most Muslims are peaceful and how all the violence is being committed by a small number of extremists who have hijacked the peaceful religion of Islam. I am so tired of that pap. Even President Bush repeats that nonsense. Sorry folks, but read your history. Islam has been an unusually violent religion since Muhammad stepped out of his cave on Mount Hira. Here is some homework for you: look up a list of all the shooting wars taking place in the world as we speak, and find out how many involve Muslims as belligerents.

Newspaper stories like this make me want to just shake my head and cluck my tongue.

Good Day to You, Sir

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

wait.. were you making a joke? because you just perfectly exemplified what the professor said. the media has portrayed islam negatively. all you know is the media and if the media is negative, your viewpoint will be negative. what you dont realize is its not all muslims. old-hat example, but thats like saying the ira represents all catholics and the missionaries all christians. you shouldnt simplify.

W.R. Chandler said...

When the IRA committed a bombing, I didn't see hundreds of thousands to millions of Catholics all over the world dance in the streets in celebration. You cannot say the same of the "Arab Street" in the wake of the September 11 attacks.

I also remind you that I am speaking of today, where almost all of the world's terrorist attacks are committed by Muslims. The whole Christian missionary thing is at least 100 years ago. You can speak of the past if you like, but I am worried about today.

Thank you for reading my blog,
Chanman