In The Days

• Source: Musllims for a Safe America

Muslims For A Safe America conducted a survey at the Islamic Society of North America’s 43rd Annual Convention in Chicago from September 1, 2006 to September 4, 2006.

“And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;”
—Luk 21:25

“But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth.”
—Luke11:17

307 Muslims who are American citizens participated in the survey at the Muslims For A Safe America booth at ISNA.

The purpose of the survey was to better understand the views of American Muslims on issues relating to Islam, Muslims, and American national security. It is important to let Muslims articulate their varied opinions on these issues in order to encourage dialogue within the Muslim community and with the rest of American society.

However, this was NOT a scientific survey, because ISNA Convention attendees who visited the Muslims For A Safe America booth are not necessarily representative of the American Muslim community as a whole.

The responses are as follows:

1. Are you a U.S. Citizen? (If no, then don’t fill out survey.)
YES 307
NO 0

2. Do you consider yourself to be a Muslim first, an American first, or both equally?
MUSLIM FIRST 214
AMERICAN FIRST 4
BOTH EQUALLY 86
UNDECIDED 3

3. Is the American government at war with the religion of Islam?
YES 208
NO 79
UNDECIDED 20

4. Can a good Muslim be a good American?
YES 292
NO 11
UNDECIDED 4

5. Did Muslims hijack planes and fly them into buildings on 9/11?
YES 117
NO 139
UNDECIDED 51

6. Did the U.S. government have advance knowledge of the 9/11 attacks, and allow the attacks to occur?
YES 200
NO 70
UNDECIDED 37

7. Did the U.S. government organize the 9/11 attacks?
YES 106
NO 151
UNDECIDED 50

8. Are the tapes of Osama Bin Laden, claiming responsibility for the 9/11 attacks and threatening future attacks, real or fake?
REAL 126
FAKE 129
UNDECIDED 52

9. Did Muslims commit the July 2005 train and bus bombings in London?
YES 140
NO 104
UNDECIDED 63

10. The Canadian government says it stopped a plot by Canadian Muslims in June 2006 to attack targets in Canada. Do you believe there was a real plot by Muslims?
YES 61
NO 202
UNDECIDED 44

11. The British government says it stopped a plot by British Muslims in August 2006 to bomb planes flying to America. Do you believe there was a real plot by Muslims?
YES 66
NO 191
UNDECIDED 50

12. Is Al Qaeda a real organization, operated by Muslims who are trying to attack America?
YES 149
NO 109
UNDECIDED 49

13. Is Al Qaeda attacking America because Al Qaeda hates American freedoms?
YES 17
NO 269
UNDECIDED 21

14. Is Al Qaeda attacking America because Al Qaeda hates American involvement in the Muslim world?
YES 228
NO 54
UNDECIDED 25

15. Is it justifiable for the U.S. government to do any of the following in an attempt to prevent terrorist attacks in America:

a. taking religion and ethnicity into account as one factor when deciding whom to interview and search at airports?
YES 37
NO 258
UNDECIDED 12

b. monitoring activities at American mosques?
YES 43
NO 255
UNDECIDED 9

c. listening to phone calls of people in America whom the government claims are connected in some way with Al Qaeda?
YES 64
NO 232
UNDECIDED 11

d. having an informer pretend to support or encourage violence against America, to see if the targeted Muslims will decide to attack American targets?
YES 35
NO 258
UNDECIDED 14

e. monitoring Muslim charities in America, in the hopes of preventing funding for possible terrorist attacks?
YES 52
NO 242
UNDECIDED 13

f. focusing Immigration & Customs Enforcement resources on deporting Muslim illegal aliens, who have not been convicted of terrorism, in the hopes of disrupting possible Al Qaeda attacks?
YES 29
NO 263
UNDECIDED 15

g. allowing Muslim illegal aliens to stay in America if they agree to work as informants, monitoring the Muslim community for the government?
YES 21
NO 277
UNDECIDED 9

h. torturing suspected Al Qaeda members to get information about possible planned attacks?
YES 14
NO 278
UNDECIDED 15

16. Do you believe that your local mosque is being monitored by wiretaps, government agents, or informants?
YES 227
NO 59
UNDECIDED 21

17. Do you believe that your personal phone calls are being listened to, or that your personal mail or email is being read, by the U.S. government?
YES 205
NO 78
UNDECIDED 24

18. Do you believe that your home is bugged by the U.S. government?
YES 97
NO 189
UNDECIDED 21

19. Do you believe that the U.S. government has secretly searched your home?
YES 43
NO 245
UNDECIDED 19

20. If you, or a member of your family, have been questioned by the federal government at any time after 9/11, how were you treated during the interview?
TREATED WELL 65
TREATED BADLY 25
NOT APPLICABLE 217

21. Should Iran develop nuclear weapons?
YES 161
NO 123
UNDECIDED 23

22. Should America attack Iran to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons?
YES 10
NO 292
UNDECIDED 5

23. Was America justified in invading Iraq in 2003?
YES 8
NO 294
UNDECIDED 5

24. Should American troops leave Iraq immediately, or stay there until the Iraqi government and Iraqi military are stronger?
LEAVE NOW 199
LEAVE LATER 86
UNDECIDED 22

25. Was America justified in invading Afghanistan after 9/11?
YES 51
NO 248
UNDECIDED 8

26. Is violence by Muslims against American civilians acceptable, in retaliation for the American government’s actions in the Muslim world?
YES 23
NO 274
UNDECIDED 10

27. Is violence by Muslims against the American military overseas acceptable, in retaliation for the American government’s actions in the Muslim world?
YES 134
NO 154
UNDECIDED 19

28. Is violence by Muslims against the American military in the U.S. acceptable, in retaliation for the American government’s actions in the Muslim world?
YES 73
NO 211
UNDECIDED 23

29. Is violence by Muslims against American government officials acceptable, in retaliation for the American government’s actions in the Muslim world?
YES 51
NO 231
UNDECIDED 25

30. If you learned about a plot by Muslims to attack targets inside America, would you tell law enforcement authorities?
YES 234
NO 39
UNDECIDED 34

These survey results are based on 307 responses from American Muslims (Muslims who are U.S. citizens) who visited the booth of Muslims for A Safe America during 2006 ISNA Annual Convention.

This entry was posted on Saturday, September 9th, 2006 at 2:42 am and is filed under Surveys. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

54 Responses to “Survey Conducted At 2006 ISNA Convention”
matt wade Says:
September 18th, 2006 at 10:30 am
this was informative, i hope it’s not fake data created either by the american govt. or by muslims trying to create disinformation… just kidding… i think this is authentic but i guess i’ll have to do some further research

Abu Noor al-Irlandee Says:
September 19th, 2006 at 3:19 am
Mr. Wade,

I don’t think these results were skewed to fulfill any purpose.

At the same time, this was not a random sample so the results reflect a certain segment of the Muslim community…those that might attend the ISNA convention and volunteer to fill out such a survey.

As a Muslim, I think many of the results are fairly remarkable, but I have my own biases and I am not shocked by any of the results since I am familiar with discussion in the community.

I would think (but I could be wrong) that many non-Muslims would be shocked by some of the results, and would love to hear reactions of non-Muslims, both those familiar and not so familiar with the Muslim community.

May God reward Kamran and everyone else who assisted with this project. Honest discussion of these issues is quite difficult for many Muslims right now, and I think allowing open honest discussion is in the best interests of everyone so I hope that Muslims for a Safe America continues to promote such discussion.

steve Says:
September 22nd, 2006 at 3:27 pm
Why wasnt this question asked?

‘Is the religion of Islam at war with the American government and it’s people ?’

Abu Noor al-Irlandee Says:
September 27th, 2006 at 8:21 pm
Steve,

I can’t answer for why it wasn’t asked, but I can tell you what the answer would be. (most likely).

I don’t think any Muslim would say the religion of Islam is at war with the American people. Some might say it is at war with the government of U.S., but all of those would say that the war was started by the U.S. government. Most would probably answer your question no.

Although this might seem illogical to you at first, it actually does make sense.

A few individuals (or even a few hundred or thousand individuals) doing something cannot fairly be attributed to the “religion of Islam.” Actually, even if every single Muslim did something one can not fairly attribute it to the “religion of Islam.”

On the other hand, if a few individuals who have authority in the government of the U.S. decide they wish to wage war against the religion of Islam, they can direct all the forces of the U.S. government to do so.

Peace.

Abu Noor al-Irlandee Says:
September 27th, 2006 at 8:28 pm
So, just to be clear Steve, if you want to say that there are some Muslims who are at war with the American government, undoubtedly you are correct. Even if you want to say that some Muslims are at war with the American people, that is also true.

I know that most Americans think that those Muslims started this war. If you look at the history this is not true. And it is also not true that this war was started because Muslims cannot accept Americans being ‘free’ or having a ‘democracy.’

The grievances started due to American foreign policy, primarily the U.S. government for support of tyrannies in the Muslim world and the U.S. government support of Israel.

The spark that lit the fire was the presence of U.S. troops in Saudi Arabia — Gulf War I.

There are many books those who wish to understand what happened can read to understand this.

This is not to say whether those Muslims at war with the American people are correct or justified and it is certainly not to agree with their tactics, some of which are against the teachings of Islam.

God the Most High knows best.

Robert Says:
October 1st, 2006 at 4:02 am
The results of this survey are chilling – especially considering that these views are held by American citizens. How can there be any hope for the Muslim world when so many refuse to face these unpleasant facts about Islam’s extremist elements? There was a time, long ago, when the spread of Islam heralded learning, tolerance and enlightenment. Now all it seems to offer is a new dark age, along with an ocean of blood, ignorance and severed heads. I can only pray that the God our peoples share will not permit it.

Sarah Says:
October 1st, 2006 at 8:25 am
As an American Muslim, I find these results terrifying. Why do so many Muslims present themselves as paranoid, ill-informed individuals? While it is certainly true that the community has endured many injustices since September 11th, it is also unequivocally true that men with a grossly misinformed interpretation of Islam carried out this attack. The only way to prevent further injustices, both by and against the Muslim community, is to face up to past wrongs and educate ourselves so that we can shape a better future.

Azam Says:
October 1st, 2006 at 8:27 am
>30. If you learned about a plot by Muslims to attack targets >inside America, would you tell law enforcement authorities?
>YES 234
>NO 39

39 persons said NO. Now that’s scary…!

Nadja Says:
October 1st, 2006 at 11:55 am
As-Salaamu-Aleikum, Sarah:

I’m with you 100%. What is even scarier is how many non-Muslim Americans are paranoid and scared.

I think that to put this survey in the proper context, it should be conducted in other countries as well. I wonder what the reaction would be if Muslims in other countries were asked if they considered themselves to be Muslims first or members of the following nationalities, Muslims, or both: UK, Pakistan, Saudi, Germany, France, Turkey, etc. I think the results of such a survey would come as a major revelation to we Muslims, and to Americans as well and put some of these results in their proper context. Equally useful would be asking Christians and Jews what their priorities are – because without context this survey question is simply alarmist.

I think it is well past the time that we knock off the denial and recognize that Muslim extremists, like any other extremists, do pose a threat to human beings. We need to remember and be aware that as long as we are silent about the extremists and their murders, our silence is taken as assent or agreement with their actions. Many people say we shouldn’t “wash our dirty laundry in public” – the reality is our dirty laundry is now spread all over the world and stinking to high heaven.

What bothers me as an American Muslim is the number of people who expect the US and the American people to cater them while refusing to recognize that extremists kill; don’t these people realize that the extremists don’t care whom they kill? Would they be so much in denial if it were their relatives in Jordan, the WTC, or elsewhere who had been murdered?

Lee Stevens Says:
October 14th, 2006 at 9:28 pm
My next door neighbor has a very large dog. I have visited my neighbor many times and his dog comes up to me and with a weary eye sniffs me up and down and then watches me very carefully until I leave. Now my neighbor and I get along well and have eaten at each others house many times but no matter how many times I visit him the dog goes thru the same routine. His dog has never shown agresstion toward me, but I have seen him go mad toward other people. Now the real problem is this; when anyone ask my neighbor if his dog is mean or dangerous he always says no, but anyone that has seen his dog has a hard time beliveing that the dog is not dangerous and I too know that given the chance the dog would rip you to shreds. All it would take is for you to make a suden movement toward the dogs owner. Because my neighbor loves his dog he cannot see that his dog could be a real danger.
The world is like that, people cannot see something is dangerous if it is part of their life. Muslims, americans, or any group of people, cannot see any danger in things that they have a personal tie to.
Until we all can stand back, and look thru the eyes of another man, we will never get along, and we will only hide behind our little circle of living, never really finding peace.

Prashanth Says:
October 15th, 2006 at 4:52 pm
Hi,
I am a Hindu. There are 150 million muslims in India where 800 people are Hindus. The majority of muslims are peace loving and abide by the law. If there is a virus in a persons body, we attack the virus with medication. It is the same with any group of people. There is a virus in the muslim community. Attack the virus not the body of Islam.

NoParty Says:
October 24th, 2006 at 9:09 pm
All the ‘peaceful’ talk from Muslims would be fine, if it weren’t for the Koran being a manual for terrorism. Even going as far as to tell it’s followers it is perfectly acceptable to lie to infiltrate the infidels. In the end, it’s either convert to Islam, die by the sword, or pay a tax.

None of our ‘choices’ appeal to me. If I want the truth about how things ‘really’ are, all I have to do is look at Europe and Great Britain, to see what your ‘normal’ Islam does to a country and a society. As much as I hate to admit it, I don’t think Islam allows itself to ‘play well with others’. I didn’t think that a mindset such as that was possible for such a large group of people, but they have come to ‘prove’ it.

The way the Muslim community in the US rallied to support the good that we are trying to do for their relatives in the middle east is a good sign that they are no different here than in Europe.

If Islam is so great, and ‘peaceful’, then why did all these Muslims come here? Go back and help your brothers become something good, rather than the ignorant cave dwellers they been for centuries, rather than trying to change the US into what it isn’t.

jack Says:
October 25th, 2006 at 2:04 am
If there is a virus in a persons body, we attack the virus with medication.

Sure … but the carrier of this virus is “Islam” itself!

My Own Thoughts » American Muslims Think WHAT!? Says:
October 25th, 2006 at 8:38 am
[…] Muslims for America has a survey of 317 American Muslims. […]

Saddened Says:
October 25th, 2006 at 11:38 am
After looking through this survey, I am even more depressed at the views held by american muslims. I cannot fathom how any sensible muslim can look at the destruction muslims are causing around the world and still not believe that their fellow muslims carried out the 9/11 terrorist acts. It’s not as if 9/11 was an isolated incident. There were terrorist attacks before 9/11 and there were/are terrorist attacks after 9/11. I don’t get why they’re not seeing the pattern here.

Thousands of muslims showed up for a rally against Israel, but only a small handful showed up for a rally against islamic terrorism.

As an american, I am saddened that people like me who have been very patient with our muslim population are slowly being dragged to the point where we are forced to lump all Muslims into one group and dismiss them as a hopeless cause.

We desperately need a miracle here.

Right Voices » Blog Archive » National Security Opinion Survey of American Muslims Conducted at the 2006 ISNA Convention Says:
October 25th, 2006 at 6:26 pm
[…] Muslims For A Safe America conducted a survey at the Islamic Society of North America’s 43rd Annual Convention in Chicago from September 1, 2006 to September 4, 2006. […]

Steve Says:
October 25th, 2006 at 9:48 pm
This is very disappointing. Somewhere between 10% and 30% of the respondents justify violence; therein lies the problem.

Minion Says:
October 25th, 2006 at 9:51 pm
To build on the analogy Lee Stevens presented.

The potentially vicious dog is the radical element of Islam. The owner is the overall Muslim community. They don’t want to warn their neighbors that their dog has vicious tendencies because he’s a part of the family and they’d hate to have to have him put down. When the dog does bite the neighbor they act shocked and claim he’s never behaved like that before and go so far as to wonder what the neighbor did to provoke the dog.

When Muslim Americans openly denounce terror, suicide bombing, and beheadings in the name of Islam WITHOUT stopping to ponder just why their dog was provoked into the attack, then we can move forward. Until then, don’t wonder too long why it is that I cross the street to walk on the other side when I see you and your dog walking towards me.

Jack Moore Says:
October 25th, 2006 at 10:01 pm
Judging from these responses, it is obvious that Islam is a religion comprised of conspiracy theorists. The very name “American Muslim” is an oxymoron. The two can not coexist. This survey is yet another confirmation as to why there is never an outcry by the Muslim community over autrocities committed in the name of Allah. Quite a nice peaceful religion you got there. I will not submit.

An American Infidel

chris Says:
October 25th, 2006 at 10:03 pm
The simple and plain fact is that muslims represent a threat to non-muslims worldwide.

We are reminded by this survey that high percentages of muslims subscribe to conspiracy theories, and blame America for their own status and condition.

There is nothing to be gained from being “saddened” by this.

What we as Americans must do is wake up our sleeping media and left wing apologists to a religous cult that threatens us all. Just as the Nazis did.

For “Abu Noor” to write…

“I know that most Americans think that those Muslims started this war. If you look at the history this is not true. And it is also not true that this war was started because Muslims cannot accept Americans being ‘free’ or having a ‘democracy.’

The grievances started due to American foreign policy, primarily the U.S. government for support of tyrannies in the Muslim world and the U.S. government support of Israel.”

… we must understand that we are subject to being attacked by him and his cult simply for existing, and for stopping them from wiping Israel off the map.

This guy walks among us.

Bill K Says:
October 25th, 2006 at 10:07 pm
Lee Stevens:

I too had an issue with a neighbor that bought a Rottweiler and refused to confine it in a kennel or to a chain. At the time, my son was about 4 and loved to play in the yard. And, of course, my neighbor’s Rottweiler had equal access to my yard as well. My primary responsibility of protecting my son not the feelings of my neighbor. I offered him two choices, either confine his Rottweiler or I would kill it. He chose to sell the animal instead.

My point is this, our first obligation as a nation, is to provide for the security and well being of our citizens. If this steps of a few toes or hurts a few feelings, I could care less. Islam is a religion in crisis – and surveys like this do little to show that members of that religion feel the same.

We will be over the hump and “equal” with Muslims when:

The Koran can be soaked in a jar of urine without the “artist” being murdered.

When the Muslim world stands shoulder to shoulder with Israelis declaring Israel’s sovereignty and defending them from all enemies.

When Christian, Muslim, Hindu – all the world’s religions – are welcomed to Saudi Arabia with open arms.

But, for Islam to continue down it’s current road of radicalization will bring the clash of civilizations countries like Iran seem to crave.

There is a dog in our neighborhood – both Christian and Muslim – that needs to be reigned in or killed.

Jake Baker Says:
October 25th, 2006 at 10:16 pm
If these results are accurate, they are quite disturbing. I hope they don’t represent the North American Muslim population.

Spork Says:
October 25th, 2006 at 10:34 pm
Many thanks to Muslims For A Safe America and the Islamic Society of North America for publishing these results. It was very brave to show that the Muslim population poses a serious danger to us all.
Thank you, keep up the good work.

Nals Rawna Says:
October 25th, 2006 at 10:56 pm
Let’s see…white Christians in the last half century have:

*Killed 8 million Gypsies, Jews, and homosexuals for the crime of being born;
*Invented the most efficient means of death and destruction known to man;
*Begun numerous wars of choice, including Iraq, which has killed at least half a million Iraqi civilians…

…and yet it is Muslims who are somehow a threat to the world. What a curious worldview to have.

martin h Says:
October 25th, 2006 at 11:10 pm
If 10% of muslims in the US are supportive of terrorism against US civilians, and almost half support violence against the US military overseas, and a quarter supporting it in the US, then we have a problem.

For normal people planning a crime, getting away with it is the hard part, certainly the hardest part to plan, and often leads to misdeeds being undone. As Islamic terrorists don’t really care about that part, it makes our free society very open to bloodshed.

With these high numbers, we must either pretty much eliminate our freedoms and have a police state (unacceptable), or we must stop muslims from coming to the US and seriously weed out the ones here.

Seriously, Imagine standing at customs at the airport, counting off the muslims coming here. “1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10, we just let in one probable suicide bombing supporter, and one or two others willing to kill servicemen here, 2 or 3 more who wouldn’t mind seeing our troops abroad get killed.”

Tell me please, what makes the 6 “normal” muslims we let in worth it?

We can discriminate against muslims not yet citizens now in self defence, or we can all lose our freedoms. Or face civil war, and trust me, start killing Christians in rural areas, and the game of “Cowboys and Indians” will happen again, and us cowboys will win, even with our gov’t effectivly on the side of the muslims.

martin h Says:
October 25th, 2006 at 11:14 pm
Nals,

Muslims would kill more people and more brutally, if only your nations weren’t so backwards and illiterate. Besides, mulsim armies/mobs seem to prefer brutality to efficiency.

But regarding wars of choice, how about Muslim agression in Somolia, Sudan, Ethiopia, Spain, Iraq vs Kuwait, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, Lebanon (civil war), etc?

If muslims want peace, they need to shut guys like nals up, and replace him with sane people

Miles Says:
October 25th, 2006 at 11:23 pm
[quote=Naws Rawlna]Let’s see…white Christians in the last half century have:

*Killed 8 million Gypsies, Jews, and homosexuals for the crime of being born;
*Invented the most efficient means of death and destruction known to man;
*Begun numerous wars of choice, including Iraq, which has killed at least half a million Iraqi civilians…

…and yet it is Muslims who are somehow a threat to the world. What a curious worldview to have. [/quote]

Nice strawman there, but you forgot to include President Bush’s mad plan for global domination.

When the elderly blue-haired ladies begin gathering together to knit bomb vests after church, I might reconsider my allegiance.

Jason Says:
October 25th, 2006 at 11:34 pm
These results are disturbing to say the least and only give reason to continue to look at Muslims with suspicion.

The current situation the world and our nation is dealing with is a direct result of the Muslim population living in a state of denial and never holding those who use their faith as a banner for violence accountable. Until that day happens Muslims will continued to be profiled and continue to be discriminated against, and quite honestly I don’t have a problem with that.

desertdink Says:
October 25th, 2006 at 11:51 pm
In response to Nals Rawna regarding Christians:

“*Killed 8 million Gypsies, Jews, and homosexuals for the crime of being born;”

So Christian = Nazi? Uhh….it is widely known Nazis were utterly pagan to anyone without an agenda to so such lies. If anything, Christians were an unknowing tool of fascism (for a limited time), not a willing accomplice, since by FAR the largest segment of those who sheltered those who would be exterminated were devout Christians. Anyway, since when do Muslims care a hill of beans about Jews anyway? Here I thought Muslims didn’t believe the Holocaust even happened? Go figure…you learn something every day.

“*Invented the most efficient means of death and destruction known to man;”

If we both consider our temporal life and death as but a fleeting moment in what will either be an eternity of life or death, perhaps you should focus on which God is a false God, as they are NOT the same. Moreover, I would say those who sow falsehood about the true nature of God do more damage to souls than a world full of nuclear weapons. Besides…who is more apt to use them indiscriminately in near future…America against the Islamic Republic of Iran, or Iran against Israel?

“*Begun numerous wars of choice, including Iraq, which has killed at least half a million Iraqi civilians…”

Nice. Keep defending the throat-cutting Taliban, and the murderer of 100s of thousands of Kurds and Shia Muslims by Saddam Hussein, and denounce the sacrificial work of the American military to gain Afghani and Iraqi freedom paid for with the blood of our soldiers. Keep defending the terrorists in Iraq and Afghanistan who justify the murder far more Iraqis and Afghanis than members of our own military.

“…and yet it is Muslims who are somehow a threat to the world. What a curious worldview to have.”

Americans didn’t fly airplanes into symbols of Islam in the Middle East, killing thousands of innocent people. Then again, you are probably with the majority of Muslims who think Mohammed Atta was an Irish boy from Boston, with a fair complexion and wavy red hair.

So….how is the boat ride down your river of denial?

Gussie Says:
October 26th, 2006 at 12:04 am
Frightening but not surprising. I’m a Jew but am AMERICAN FIRST. Unless one is willing to call themselves AMERICAN FIRST they have no business being in this country. The same goes for Muslims from France, Holland, Italt etc. Anyone who believes that the US Government was behind 9-11 is stupid. FACT.

Richard W Says:
October 26th, 2006 at 12:05 am
The somewhat contradictory statistics in the answers to questions 12 and 14, as well as a few of the other questions left me pondering whether or not a large number of the Muslims questioned hold to a belief that I have heard expressed in conversations with both American-Muslims and non-citizen Muslims: That the those who committed the 9-11 attacks are not ‘real’ Muslims, thus using the term ‘Muslim’ to refer to them is a misnomer and makes a question like ‘Did Muslims highjack planes and fly them into buildings on 9/11′ much easier to answer in the negative. I say this not to excuse them (I don’t) but to point out that what appears to be a flat endorsement for conspiracy theories may actually be a matter of using semantics to avoid acknowledging that those who committed the 9/11 atrocity were of the same religion as them. This refusal to recognize a very real problem for the religion of Islam is still extremely worrying, but I guess I’m to much of an optimist to believe that more than half of American-Muslims are completely divorced from reality.

Bill H Says:
October 26th, 2006 at 12:10 am
Nals Rawna Says:
Let’s see…white Christians in the last half century have:

*Killed 8 million Gypsies, Jews, and homosexuals for the crime of being born;

…and yet it is Muslims who are somehow a threat to the world. What a curious worldview to have.

Nals, you aren’t talking about Hitler are you? If so, you need to do some homework before you post something like this again for the world to see. In fact he aligned himself with the Mufti of Egypt and had mass support from Muslims who actually wore the nazi uniform.

All religions have had blood on their hands, but it should be obvious to most that today’s threat comes from radical Islam. They’ll kill you for simply rejecting Islam to become a Christian.

A quote from Hitler below:

“The best thing is to let Christianity die a natural death…. When understanding of the universe has become widespread… Christian doctrine will be convicted of absurdity…. Christianity has reached the peak of absurdity…. And that’s why someday its structure will collapse…. …the only way to get rid of Christianity is to allow it to die little by little…. Christianity the liar…. We’ll see to it that the Churches cannot spread abroad teachings in conflict with the interests of the State.”

Adolph Hitler
Oct 14th, 1941

desertdink Says:
October 26th, 2006 at 12:49 am
I, for one, wish people would quit floating the word “peace” between Christians and Muslims, and even by atheists or secular humanists, as if it even remotely means the same thing. As for the argument over whether Islam means “peace” or “submission”, it is easily answered…it means BOTH to Muslims.

Since, by Allah’s own definition, there is no peace in Islam without submission to Allah, there will never be true “peace” (i.e. non-violence) by Islam until the entire world is Islamified. Therefore Muslims can say they are an advocate of “peace”, just as much as they are an advocate of the entire world submitting to Allah. Moreover, and as you have clearly seen, non-violence has nothing to do whatsoever with winning peace in Islam.

“Peace” to Christians, on the other hand, means assurance of salvation in Christ through faith, the aptly named, “peace that passes all undestanding” in being an heir to the kingdom. Christians are also to commit to personal non-violence, in modelling Christ, and to personally show sacrificial love of both friend and enemy alike as Christ did. Wars are to be left to the decision of governments and principalities as an arm of God’s judgment for defensive purposes only, and to be participated in by Christians with the aim of future peace and mercy, not conquest and forced submission. Yet Christ was quite direct in His words about our world NEVER being peaceful so long as sin against God exists, and how having a faith in Him would bring upon the sword against those who follow Him (and how right He was). However, submitting to God was to be done by free will, as the TRUE God desires us come to Him willingly, and on our own accord.

Peace to the secular humanists and atheists simply means non-violence or a lack of war, which I would add, has no moral basis whatsoever in their religion of “enlightenment” or a natural selection of evolution.

Clearly, all three are talking about something completely different, and moreover, Islam is clearly incongruent with the highest of virtues in America…that of our right to a free will to exercise the worship the God of our choice as endowed by God Himself…and not for any man, or government, or even RELIGION to say or force us to submit otherwise, or be subject to the jizya tax.

Alex Says:
October 26th, 2006 at 1:12 am
Abu Noor,

You say that:

A few individuals (or even a few hundred or thousand individuals) doing something cannot fairly be attributed to the “religion of Islam.” Actually, even if every single Muslim did something one can not fairly attribute it to the “religion of Islam.”

What CAN be attributed to the “religion” of Islam, if not the actions of the “ummah”?
If there are 400 million muslims who support violent jihad, that cannot be attributed to the “religion” of Islam?
Why?

Fact: Islam is at war with the “other”.
Fact: Islam is a cancer.
Fact: Radiation therapy has a good chance of stumping out cancer.

James Guerami Says:
October 26th, 2006 at 1:21 am
39 out of 307 Muslims in this country would not report a plot to authorities of an imminent attack. This is almost 13% of the population, assuming the respondents were truthful enough. My experience with Muslims tells me that even this number is too short; Muslims generally try to save face and hence are not as truthful as Westerners think they are. But assuming it is, how should the rest of us look at the general Muslims population? How should we go about weeding out the plotters and those 39 people who corroborate with them before another disaster is upon us? How could the Muslim population claim to be peaceful?
American people in general, and Democrats in particular, should wake up and take these numbers seriously. This group who are bound together thru this ideology have a major character flaw that, if allowed, will destroy this country.

In the Bullpen » We Live in a Glass House Says:
October 26th, 2006 at 1:27 am
[…] And that brings me to a survey conducted at the Islamic Society of North America’s 43rd Annual Convention in Chicago of 307 of the attendees, all U.S. citizens. It is important to note the Islamic Society of North America is an Islamist organization, therefore it is more than reasonable to assume most attendees ride the Islamist bandwagon which will skew the results quite considerably. […]

Abu Noor al-Irlandee Says:
October 26th, 2006 at 2:10 am
Alex,

What can be attributed to the religion of Islam are things that are in the Qur’an and Sunnah — the textual sources which Muslims believe to be revealed by God and which define what the religion of Islaam stands for.

Muslims are human beings and they can do anything. Many people who are considered Muslims do not pray five times a day — could you say Islam does not teach prayer five times a day? This is an obvious distinction.

If you want to look at the actions of Muslims and draw conclusions, then just say “some Muslims do such and such…”

I hope that helps.

Interesting Survery regarding select Muslims – VolNation Says:
October 26th, 2006 at 2:35 am
[…] 30. If you learned about a plot by Muslims to attack targets inside America, would you tell law enforcement authorities? YES 234 NO 39 UNDECIDED 34 Muslims For A Safe America � Blog Archive � Survey Conducted At 2006 ISNA Convention Oh, before I forget, all of these responses came from Muslims who volunteerily stopped by the “Muslims for a safe America” booth during the 2006 ISNA Convention. […]

Chuck Martel Says:
October 26th, 2006 at 3:04 am
“The spark that lit the fire was the presence of U.S. troops in Saudi Arabia — Gulf War I. ”

Actually, the spark was burning long before 1989/1990. I distinctly remember 1979 when Iranian Shites were protesting against the Great Satan in the streets of Tehran. Khomeini’s devotees claimed they weren’t protesting against the people of Amerikkka — only its government and President Jimmy Carter.

The followers of Mohammad have been waging an imperialistic war of aggression against Christians, Hindus, Buddhists and Jews for the past 1300 years. This current war is nothing new.

JR Says:
October 26th, 2006 at 3:17 am
Islam is at war with the non-Muslim world. It is a central tenet of their faith.

The Qura’n instructs Muslims that:

Polytheists (Hindus) and idolaters (buddhists) are worthy of death if they don’t convert to Islam.

Jew and Christians are subject to death unless they convert to Islam or accept secondary status as a dhimmi and pay the jizya.

Muslims are obligated to wage jihad in an effort to establish Islam as a global religion to the exclusion of all others.

Muslims are forbidden from entering into alliances with non-Muslims against other Muslims.

Women and children are religiously-sanctioned war booty.

Apostasy is punishable by death.

Adultery is punishable by death by stoning.

Muslims are permitted to lie (taqiyya) in order to advance the cause of Islam.

The Islamic world’s belief system and culture is fundamentally incompatible with Western notions of free speech, individuality, religious freedom and gender equality. Stop kidding yourselves.

LB Says:
October 26th, 2006 at 4:05 am
Every privious group of immigrants to America has found it’s new nation at war with the place from which they came, and earned its citizenship by fighting and dying for their new nation against their old–even in the face of suspicion, discrimination, and in the case of the Japanese, internment–until now. From this group of new “citizens” we see anti-american conspiracy theories and betrayel. The only prominent military volunteer they give us is a deserter and traitor.

American Muslims are not, as group, earning their citizenship in America and many, if naturalized, are showing their oaths of alliegience to have been a fraud. Muslims want to be accepted as full citizens in the US, but that will require more than paper or a birth certificate. It will require, as it has with all new groups in America, that the nations military cemetaries show a fair share of Muslims who have paid the ultimate price for American freedom. Until then, their place here is frankly provisional.

Mr. Andy Says:
October 26th, 2006 at 4:32 am
A question to those on here who seem to believe that the 9/11 attacks and similar terrorist activities were not religiously-motivated or somehow not directly related to the Qu’ran and Sunnah:

If Osama Bin Laden and his ilk are not true Muslims, if they are, as you believe, distorting a beautiful religion of peace, then why in the world do they quote Islamic texts to justify their actions? Why does OBL feel the need to consult with a Muslim Cleric before carrying out further attacks on America? Why are these attacks done in the name and defense of all Muslims everywhere, for the glory of Allah and to shouts of “Allah hu’akbar”? Why have no prominent Muslim religious leaders dissected the “radical interpretation” of Islam and shown it to be false (if that is indeed possible)?

The sad and sobering fact, as I see it, is that the MAINSTREAM interpretation of Islam, according to the Quran, the Sunnah, the ahahdith, hundreds of years of interpretation and the example of Muhammad himself, justify and encourage acts of barbarity both towards fellow Muslims (honor killings, stonings, etc.) and especially towards the infidel dogs. The stated goal of Islam is to subdue and conquer the entire world, through force.

For those who want to try to draw some sort of equivalency to Christian or Jewish violence, ask yourselves this: How many acts of violence by Christians are accompanied by cries of “Allah is NOT the greatest!” or “Jesus is the best!”? How many acts of terrorism are justified by excerpts from the Torah or Bible? How many priests or rabbis issue public statements in support of killing civilians?

Islam is a religion of war. Look at the example of those who knew Mohammed best and carried on in his footsteps, and there you will find years and years of war, slavery, deceit and conquest. Not so with the (immediate) followers of Jesus and Moses. Early Christians were pacifists, excused from service in the pagan Roman war machine. The Jews conquered a tiny sliver of land and stopped there. The only thing that stopped the Muslim hordes of Mohammed from overrunning the entire civilized world was the military might of Christian Europe and the Crusades. Yes, yes, I know. The Crusades this, the Crusades that, blah blah blah Christians are no better than Osama. Keep in mind that the Crusades were a DEFENSIVE RESPONSE to Muslim empire-building. The brutality and violence of the Crusades is an example of what can happen when soldiers have to throw away their Judeo-Christian ethics of war (notice that nobody ever talks about Judeo-Christian-Muslim ethics) and fight the Jihadi hordes on their own level.

I plead with all concerned American muslims reading my words to recognize the violent element of their religion and to become a voice of true moderation and reform by working to eliminate these undesirable elements. Without reform from within, Islam will recieve a rebuke from without, and all followers of Muhammad will be painted with the same bloody brush. The only question is when.

Abu Noor al-Irlandee Says:
October 26th, 2006 at 4:45 am
Mr. Martel,

You’re right Mr. Martel — how dare the Iranians be upset at the US government for supporting a tyrant king in their country!

That proves that there’s been a 1300 year war going on, right? Are you for real or are you guys all just a parody of ignorant LGF bozos?

Also, while you’re perhaps reading a book or two about history, maybe you’ll pick up the English language. When someone uses the expression the spark that lit the fire it refers to the fact that there were many prior grievances which created a dangerous situation (the kindling or fuel for the fire was already laid out) but that no actual fire had started (there hadn’t been attacks) until the next action (which is the spark) then started the fire.

The analysis I presented is nothing to be angry about nor is it even controversial nor is it even pro-Muslim. This is the analysis of those who know the facts, regardless of where their sympathies lie (read Michael Scheuer, Olivier Roy, Gilles Kepel, Lawrence Wright, Peter Bergen) anyone with a cogent thought and research. It does no one any good to spread ignorant myths about how we got to where we are now. (well, maybe it helps the U.S. to get war support since no intelligent person who knew the history and had U.S. interests at heart would support something like the Iraq invasion.

God knows best.

Alex Says:
October 26th, 2006 at 4:51 am
Abu Noor,

So if one were to find verses in the Qu’ran that would incite believers to violence against unbelievers (9:73, 9:111 for starters) then would you say these verses represent true Islam?

If one were to find verses in the Qu’ran that would value a woman as that of half a man (2:282, 4:11 for starters) then would you say these verses represent true Islam?

And what if one were to find verses in the Qu’ran that would guide muslims not to befriend unbelievers but rather slay them (4:89) then would you say these verses represent true Islam?

Awaiting your reply,
Alex B.

thegrandmufti Says:
October 26th, 2006 at 7:09 am
You put down a rabid dog. You don’t create a paranoid fantasy that the “Jews” and the CIA are to blame for infecting the dog with rabies in the first place.

Hank Says:
October 26th, 2006 at 7:40 am
The Nazis were left-wing humanists. Don’t lay their crimes against humanity at the feet of Christendom. I think that point was adequately explained by a previous poster, thank you. R.J. Rummel’s death by government documents the nearly 200 million innocent civilians who perished under hyper-secular, atheistic governments in less than a century. So let’s not go down that road of bashing Christendom, or more precisely the Roman Catholic Church.

Now the way I see this as average American Joe, I see Muslim fundamentalists murdering Hindus, Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Taoists, atheists, pagans, and garden variety seculars explicitly in the name of the Koran, Allah, Islam and/or Mohammed. Heck, Muslims even murder each other in the name of their religion despite the fact the Koran explicitly denounces such fratricides. But its made all the easier by one side or the other declaring it apostate.

Now tell me, in the last 100 years where are there armed conflicts involving Christians and Buddhists expressly in the name of their religion? Jews and Hindus? Atheists and pagans? Nay, most of the other conflicts in the world are grounded either in political civil war, secular nationalism, geo-political squabbles, etc. We don’t see any religious movement other than Islam engaged in expanding its reach through violence. That doesn’t mean Christians or Jews haven’t killed anyone of a different faith during war, what it does mean is that we aren’t killing anyone in the name of Jesus, the Bible or Jehovah. There is a difference here.

What makes Islam so dangerous is that the mosque is the state. Islam is essentially a political movement which evolved into a “religion”, a way of life. Mohammed was a man of violence throughout the latter part of his life and I find it very difficult to believe that such a man can originate a “religion of peace.” At its very core Islam is political and tribal and thus in regions where it is practiced by the majority of its adherents the governments are invariably Islamic. There is no such thing as separation of church and state under Islam.

Andrea Says:
October 26th, 2006 at 8:34 am
Hi there,

desertdink wrote the following:

“Peace to the secular humanists and atheists simply means non-violence or a lack of war, which I would add, has no moral basis whatsoever in their religion of “enlightenment” or a natural selection of evolution.”

you couldn’t be more wrong about this, you ignorant fool. have you ever met an atheist or a person who calls himself a humanist? you should be ashamed of yourself!

this is enraging! i can’t believe that human beings are capable of passing judgement about something they don’t know…

why do you feel the urge to voice an uninformed opinion about something you have absolutely no clue of whatsoever?!

why, oh why do i have to live in a world full of ignorant Christians who spoil the term ‘Christian’ for the good Christians?

it is outrageous!

Andrea

» A Modest Proposal: End All Further Muslim Immigration Into This Country And Deport All Muslim Non-Citizens Release the Hounds!: Cry “Havoc!” and let slip the Hounds of W.A.R. Says:
October 26th, 2006 at 11:27 am
[…] The following are some of the results of a poll of 307 American citizens who also happen to be Muslim: […]

Blogger News Network » A Modest Proposal: End All Further Muslim Immigration Into This Country And Deport All Muslim Non-Citizens Says:
October 26th, 2006 at 11:34 am
[…] October 25, 2006 The following are some of the results of a poll of 307 American citizens who also happen to be Muslim: […]

ric ottaiano Says:
October 26th, 2006 at 11:42 am
anyone who believes as the majority do in this survey have no business living in this country or being American citizens…please do us all a favor and leave for someplace else where you can live out the rest of your misplaced lives among others who feel and think similarly…why are you here?

World Reader Says:
October 26th, 2006 at 1:22 pm
“We don’t see any religious movement other than Islam engaged in expanding its reach through violence.”

FYI: Zionists founded Israel at least in part through violence and yes, ever terrorism against British civillians. Although this is routinely denied by neo-cons and American jewery, you can read about this on the Israeli government website under “History of Israel.”

To some extent this is nitpicking, however, as the Zionists just wanted Israel and not the world.

Regarding spreading Islam by the sword, however, I think you would find that although there may be a great many Muslims who are in favor of this, they still remain in the minority.

Over the years I have had dozens of Muslim coworkers, and I’ve never had any serious compliants. I also used to live a block from a mosque without any troubles.

If I may offer my opion, the problem is:
(1) There is a longing for the days when the islamic Ottoman empire was one of the foremost powers in the world. Many people in Middle East forget that their ancestors were not so much part of this great empire as conquered subjects longing for freedom from the Turkish Ottomans.

(2) The pan-arabists (secular Baathists and religious Islamists) play on this longing for past greatness by proposing a new empire. With each pan-arabist leader picturing HIMSELF as king over the other pan-arabists, of course.

(3) The pan-arabists need to invent a reason for why the Islamic empire crumbled, and the blame it on the West, on Zionism, on whatever. The truth is the thing crumbled from within and the European powers just picked apart the bones like crows on carrion. This truth is embarassing for anyone longing for past greatness, hence the emphasis on a scapegoat.

(4) The dictators running most of the Middle East need an excuse for why their people are impoverished, despite this rich history. Again, the European powers trampled through the Middle East 100 years ago and made a great mess. Jockeying for position by the Soviets and the West during the cold war made another great mess 50 to 30 years ago. And general meddling by America in the last decade hasn’t helped any.

Given all these REAL grievences, it is EASY for a dictator to come up with enough IMAGINED grievences to convince his people that all their troubles come at the hands of the West.

(We’ll ignore for the moment that the Ottomans made a huge bloody mess building their empire in the first place. The only crimes that matter are ones against the Islamic state, not the one BY the Islamic state. )

(5) The intrusion of western media and western clothing and western products and western ideas creates a real fear of losing the local culture. This is a common fear all over the world, and is hardly unique to the Middle East.

(6) The stereotype of Middle eastern culture has much in common with the sterotype of “hot-headed Itallians” or “hot blodded Latinos” or other macho ideals. The only bad experiences I have have *personally* had with Muslims were actually bad experiences with self-important, chauvinistic , hot-headed ethnic ARABs who could NOT be told they were wrong. Apparently, being wrong = being weak. That they were probably Muslim most likely had nothing to do with this.

To sum up:
There is a longing for an idealized vision of past greatness.
There are real historic and recent grievences against the West.
There is a real fear of cultural extinction.
The real grievences are used to create imagined ones.
Muslim leaders of all stripes gain by blaming the current situation on the West.
A machismo culture helps feed this cycle of induced rage.

And in general, it is always preferable to believe you are being held down than to put in the effort to get up.

Chuck Martel Says:
October 26th, 2006 at 5:48 pm
“ignorant LGF bozos”

When you can’t win the battle w/ ideas, you instantly resort to name calling. Coming from you, I consider being called an ignorant bozo to be a great compliment.

Face it, you and your so-called “spiritual ancestors” have been trying to impose the caliphate upon the rest of the world for the past 1300 years. Your spiritual ancestors crushed Jewish and Christian cultures in the Middle East, North Africa, Iberia, Anatolia, Sicily, and Central Asia. They crushed Buddhist and Hindu cultures in Asia and on the Indian Subcontinent. You and yours today continue this drive of theocratic imperialist aggression. You and yours continue to attempt, by terroristic means, to impose the caliphate upon the rest of us.

I’m sure you will understand if we don’t accede to your terroristic attempts to run our lives.

Job Says:
October 26th, 2006 at 6:45 pm
This study only shows most muslims are delusional, and are not concerned with the truth. Quite sad really, but not unexpected.

Art A. Says:
October 26th, 2006 at 8:02 pm
Funny how Muslims are so quick to forget America saving their asses in Bosnia in the late 90’s.