44% of Americans are racist assholes

The Kernel · Post by **The Kernel** » 2004-12-17 08:26pm

Yahoo News wrote:THACA, N.Y. - Nearly half of all Americans believe the U.S. government should restrict the civil liberties of Muslim Americans, according to a nationwide poll.

The survey conducted by Cornell University also found that Republicans and people who described themselves as highly religious were more apt to support curtailing Muslims' civil liberties than Democrats or people who are less religious.

Researchers also found that respondents who paid more attention to television news were more likely to fear terrorist attacks and support limiting the rights of Muslim Americans.

"It's sad news. It's disturbing news. But it's not unpredictable," said Mahdi Bray, executive director of the Muslim American Society. "The nation is at war, even if it's not a traditional war. We just have to remain vigilant and continue to interface."

The survey found 44 percent favored at least some restrictions on the civil liberties of Muslim Americans. Forty-eight percent said liberties should not be restricted in any way.

The survey showed that 27 percent of respondents supported requiring all Muslim Americans to register where they lived with the federal government. Twenty-two percent favored racial profiling to identify potential terrorist threats. And 29 percent thought undercover agents should infiltrate Muslim civic and volunteer organizations to keep tabs on their activities and fund-raising.

Cornell student researchers questioned 715 people in the nationwide telephone poll conducted this fall. The margin of error was 3.6 percentage points.

James Shanahan, an associate professor of communications who helped organize the survey, said the results indicate "the need for continued dialogue about issues of civil liberties" in a time of war.

While researchers said they were not surprised by the overall level of support for curtailing civil liberties, they were startled by the correlation with religion and exposure to television news.

"We need to explore why these two very important channels of discourse may nurture fear rather than understanding," Shanahan said.

According to the survey, 37 percent believe a terrorist attack in the United States is still likely within the next 12 months. In a similar poll conducted by Cornell in November 2002, that number stood at 90 percent.

Read it and weep ladies and gents.

Mitth`raw`nuruodo · Post by **Mitth`raw`nuruodo** » 2004-12-17 08:29pm

Not suprising. Nice to have data to show to people though.

Durandal · Post by **Durandal** » 2004-12-17 08:29pm

While researchers said they were not surprised by the overall level of support for curtailing civil liberties, they were startled by the correlation with religion and exposure to television news.

Ignorance correlates with religious belief? What a shock!

Post by **Coyote** » 2004-12-17 08:31pm

People are still alarmed and scared. This should ebb in time. But that it has still gathered this amount of steam so long after 9-11 is disturbing.

America is becoming more... I dunno what the word is... closed minded, exclusive, whatever. It's sad to see. (Insular, perhaps...?)

White Haven · Post by **White Haven** » 2004-12-17 08:36pm

I was thinking more 'pathetically whimpering,' myself.

Grow a pair, countrymen.

Stuart Mackey · Post by **Stuart Mackey** » 2004-12-17 08:56pm

Coyote wrote:
America is becoming more... I dunno what the word is... closed minded, exclusive, whatever. It's sad to see. (Insular, perhaps...?)

easy to manipulate? easily led? either way its born from ignorance.

Durandal · Post by **Durandal** » 2004-12-17 09:03pm

Coyote wrote:America is becoming more... I dunno what the word is... closed minded, exclusive, whatever. It's sad to see. (Insular, perhaps...?)

Paranoid? "Crazy for killin' dem dare sand niggers"?

Falkenhayn · Post by **Falkenhayn** » 2004-12-17 09:11pm

So the will to oppress is there, now to see if anyone will exercise a means to do so.

Then call the ACLU and hope SCOTUS retains a level head.

Galvatron · Post by **Galvatron** » 2004-12-17 09:12pm

What, didn't our president say Islam was a religion of peace?

Durandal · Post by **Durandal** » 2004-12-17 10:00pm

Galvatron wrote:What, didn't our president say Islam was a religion of peace?

Everyone says that, except of course, the Muslims who are killing thousands of people because their holy book told them to.

egyptfrk · Post by **egyptfrk** » 2004-12-17 10:06pm

Durandal wrote:
Galvatron wrote:What, didn't our president say Islam was a religion of peace?
Everyone says that, except of course, the Muslims who are killing thousands of people because their holy book told them to.

That's not all of the Muslims. Those that do are the radicals who are not supported by the majority of Muslims.

Enforcer Talen · Post by **Enforcer Talen** » 2004-12-17 10:06pm

they tend to be more noticeable.

egyptfrk · Post by **egyptfrk** » 2004-12-17 10:12pm

Enforcer Talen wrote:they tend to be more noticeable.

aren't all fundie radicals?

Galvatron · Post by **Galvatron** » 2004-12-17 10:36pm

Isn't this rougly the same percentage of people who believe in Biblical literalist Creationism?

Coincidence?

HemlockGrey · Post by **HemlockGrey** » 2004-12-17 10:42pm

Isn't this rougly the same percentage of people who believe in Biblical literalist Creationism?

Coincidence?

I doubt it, it just confirms that nearly half of all Americans are complete fucking idiots, as the recent election showed.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2004-12-17 11:40pm

This only reaffirms my committment to not watch TV news.

Durandal · Post by **Durandal** » 2004-12-18 12:23am

Mrs. CmdrWilkens wrote:
Durandal wrote:
Galvatron wrote:What, didn't our president say Islam was a religion of peace?
Everyone says that, except of course, the Muslims who are killing thousands of people because their holy book told them to.
That's not all of the Muslims. Those that do are the radicals who are not supported by the majority of Muslims.

What's your point? Are the majority of Muslims murderers? No. Does that make Islam a "religion of peace"? No.

dr. what · Post by **dr. what** » 2004-12-18 01:01am

So I gather that the Bill of Rights apply more equally to some than others?

egyptfrk · Post by **egyptfrk** » 2004-12-18 01:08am

Durandal wrote:
Mrs. CmdrWilkens wrote:
Durandal wrote: Everyone says that, except of course, the Muslims who are killing thousands of people because their holy book told them to.
That's not all of the Muslims. Those that do are the radicals who are not supported by the majority of Muslims.
What's your point? Are the majority of Muslims murderers? No. Does that make Islam a "religion of peace"? No.

The Islamic religion itself promotes peace. The actions of radical groups have not changed the teachings of the religion.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2004-12-18 01:11am

It would be more appropriate to say that the actions of moderate practitioners of the faith have not changed its inherently violent, hateful nature.

Illuminatus Primus · Post by **Illuminatus Primus** » 2004-12-18 01:13am

Say it with me kids: Culture of Fear.

The Bush Administration. Proudly regressing the United States of America.

egyptfrk · Post by **egyptfrk** » 2004-12-18 01:18am

Joe wrote:It would be more appropriate to say that the actions of moderate practitioners of the faith have not changed its inherently violent, hateful nature.

How is it inherently violent and hateful?

Ma Deuce · Post by **Ma Deuce** » 2004-12-18 01:18am

The Islamic religion itself promotes peace. The actions of radical groups have not changed the teachings of the religion.

I fail to see how the commandment "slay the idolaters wherever ye find them" (Quran 9:5) is promoting peace...

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2004-12-18 01:31am

Mrs. CmdrWilkens wrote:
Joe wrote:It would be more appropriate to say that the actions of moderate practitioners of the faith have not changed its inherently violent, hateful nature.
How is it inherently violent and hateful?

http://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/q ... /long.html

Durandal · Post by **Durandal** » 2004-12-18 02:56am

Mrs. CmdrWilkens wrote:
Joe wrote:It would be more appropriate to say that the actions of moderate practitioners of the faith have not changed its inherently violent, hateful nature.
How is it inherently violent and hateful?

It's a religion which commands its followers to fight holy wars against infidels if they feel they're being attacked. Well guess what? They are. America's unwavering support of Israel combined with what they see as cultural imperialism is every bit as bad as an actual military invasion to these people.