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David French, NRO: The Hidden Reason Why Americans Dislike Islam
Yesterday, YouGov and the Huffington Post released a poll showing that large majorities of Americans — and pluralities across every political demographic — have an “unfavorable opinion” of the Islamic faith. The numbers are simply not close:
There will be no doubt some hand-wringing about “Islamophobia” and further calls to continue the American elite’s fourteen-year track record of whitewashing Islamic beliefs and culture, but I wonder if the media is missing a powerful, largely-uncovered influence on America’s hearts and minds — the experience and testimony of the more than two million Americans who’ve served overseas since 9/11 and have experienced Islamic cultures up-close.
WNU Editor: The above poll focuses on American views towards Muslims. Mind you .... if the same poll was done today in Islamic countries and they were asked about the Christian/Secular West .... I suspect the result would even be more shocking .... (and they do not have Islamic soldiers returning from America in the hundreds of thousands). PEW did a large poll sample in 2013 on Muslim opinion .... those result are probably out of date, but it reveals the importance of Sharia in their beliefs, and it gives another indication on how big the cultural divide exists between predominantly Christian/secular countries, and those that follow Islam. That poll/study is here .... The World’s Muslims: Religion, Politics and Society (PEW)
On a personal note .... two of my cousins did tours in Afghanistan during the Soviet occupation in the 1980s.... their views towards Muslims are .... even to this day .... to put it politely .... openly hostile .... and I blame it on their experiences during the war. One of my closest friends in Russia has a relative who is now serving in Syria (from what I understand he is a mechanic for jet engines) .... there is no hostility or animosity there (yet). As to what is my own take on Muslims .... I try my best to look at these things from "outside the box" .... and while on an individual level I have no problems with Muslims, I do realize that on a macro level there is a terrible conflict occurring within the Muslim faith itself, and that conflict is now reaching a global level. My prediction .... while it is unfortunate that many Americans have an unfavourable view towards Muslims, that number pales when compared to the numbers in many European/African/and Asian countries right now .... and I will not be surprise if those numbers continue to increase.
