Mixed Signals from Media on Muslims

(CBS/AP)

There is a new Pew Research Center poll of Muslims in America out today. What are the findings? Your answer to that question depends on where you're reading about it.

If you pick up USA Today at your local newsstand, you'll find out that "American Muslims Reject Extremes." If you check out the Washington Post, the headline there tells you "U.S. Muslims Assimilated, Opposed to Extremism." If you check out the Washington Times, however, you'll discover that "Young Muslims Defend Suicide Attacks." The Los Angeles Times says that the American Muslim community is "Mostly Moderate, Not Monolithic."

This is one of those times in hyperpoliticized 21st century America when the less catchy the headline, the more responsible the journalism. Like the Chicago Tribune's "Poll Takes Post-9/11 Pulse of Muslims in America."

The poll – as any poll attempting to quantify a constituency of 2.35 million citizens – has highs, lows and 'huh's.

The good news? Most Muslims in America believe in the American work ethic, and they don't look favorably on extremism. Muslims in America are far less sympathetic to extremists than those in England, Spain and France.

The bad news? There is a generation gap in the American Muslim population. Where Muslims over 30 are by-and-large moderate and happy to assimilate, 26% of the under-30 crowd believes that suicide bombings of civilian targets to defend Islam can be justified. (This itself is a combination of 11 percent who said "rarely" and 15 percent who said "sometimes/often.") The Los Angeles Times put it best:

Nearly 80% of all Muslim Americans say suicide bombings in defense of Islam are never justified, although one in four younger Muslims say such attacks are acceptable in some circumstances, according to a nationwide study released Tuesday.

The 'huh'? While most Muslims consider themselves Democrats, they are socially conservative – agreeing that "government should do more to promote morality." Also, American Muslims answer the poll questions very similarly to German Muslims.

The Pew Research group declined a chance to comment on the media coverage, opting to let the study speak for itself. "It is what it is," said a Pew staffer. While it's hard to argue with that statement, the headlines suggest that when we look at "it" we're not all seeing the same thing.

[Rephoel]

It doesn't matter how many are for bombing us and how many are not.The mere fact that there are some who are willing and ready to commit these acts is enough fot us to be cautious.We, do not know who is and who is not going to commit an act of violence. They aren't honest about their answers.Why is anyone here who dislikes out country?Why do they disobey our laws?WHY TAKE RISKS WITH OUR SAFETY"???

[raymo15-2009]

No, Mr. brianbwb, 'my' Muslims are yesterday's nazis.....only worse. Islam is not a 'religion, it is a cult, a death cult. Sir, I understand you are a liberal, and are thus far more intelligent than those of us on the 'right. So I'm sure you have seen the recent PEW Research Poll, that flies in the face of everything you are saying. Fully one-quarter of Muslims under the age of thirty say suicide bombings are ok, and ONLY 40% of all Muslims believe that 9/11 was perpetrated by Muslims. What in God's name, are they doing in this country ??? Answer.....they want to KILL us !!!!!

[jburdman7]

Let me, hopefully, leave the US for a minute. If they have fundamental differences with the way a country conducts itself, why do they move there?

http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/australia.asp

[brianbwb-2009]

The panic in Mr.(Ms.?) raymo's posting below is a direct result of the agitprop the mainstream media assisted in disseminating during Bush's rush to war, even if the reasons stated by Mr. Bush upon announcement had nothing whatsoever to do with religion, or the truth. The poor poster's fear is reminescent of a previous generation, his Muslims are yesterdays Russians. And it is clear that he has never been exposed to the cultures of those people accepting Islam as their religion, his information is spoon fed by those seeking to build support for a new round of fratricide. He doesn't know any better, and so is only partially to blame for his words.

[raymo15-2009]

Why do you defend Muslims?????? They want to KILL us. They are NOT loyal to the nation, the state or even to a particular political party. They are not even loyal and protective of family members...(suicide bombers, would be a case in point). THEY ARE LOYAL ONLY TO ISLAM !!!! Just as journalists put their profession above the good of the country, so do the MUSLIMS.....People like you are going to get us ALL killed !!!