[Dean's World] Dean: American Attitudes Toward Muslim Nations

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Posted by Dean:
American Attitudes Toward Muslim Nations
http://www.deanesmay.com/posts/1143115760.shtml


   Gallup reports that [1]American attitudes about Muslim countries are
   not particularly negative, and furthermore, that they haven't (have
   not) changed appreciably in the last four years.

   So much for the notion that whipping people into a frenzy of
   anti-Muslim hatred has been the norm in America since 9/11, or is some
   sort of political trump card people can play.

   On the other hand, I think it brings up something obvious: is it
   Americans who have to get a better impression of Muslim nations, or do
   Muslim nations need to work harder to make it clear that they don't
   hate America?

   I'll tell you what gave me hope on that score: [2]this story on Muslim
   televangelist Amr Khaled who is out there in places like Bahrain,
   Egypt, and yes, Denmark, saying point-blank "that Muslims aren't
   blameless in the tensions, that the West is not always bad and that
   dialogue is better than confrontation." Good, good. And unlike some,
   this guy really is a serious practicing Muslim, not a self-described
   "refusenik" or outright atheist.

   (Last link via [3]Bill.)

References

   1. http://poll.gallup.com/content/?ci=22021
   2. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060320/ap_on_re_mi_ea/egypt_reform_preacher;_ylt=AkiXACb0H2Qgr23YaUs.2TwLewgF;_ylu=X3oDMTBjMHVqMTQ4BHNlYwN5bnN1YmNhdA--
   3. http://www.indcjournal.com/archives/002424.php