25% of American Muslims under 30 Say Suicide Bombings Acceptable
I'm not our there beating the war gong like P4B. I also live in an area with a large Muslim population and pretty much everyone I know seem to be good people. But when I read a story like this, I got to admit it disturbs me.
"Young U.S. Muslims More Open to Violence?
CBNNews.com
May 22, 2007
CBNNews.com - Do young American Muslims consider suicide bombings acceptable? A recent poll by the Pew Research Center identified some support, mainly among those under 30.
One in four younger U.S. Muslims say suicide bombings to defend their religion are acceptable in some circumstances, though most Muslim Americans overwhelmingly reject the tactic and are critical of Islamic extremism and al-Qaeda.
Two percent of those under 30 years old said it can often be justified, 13 percent said sometimes, and 11 percent said rarely.
"It is a hair-raising number," said Radwan Masmoudi, president of the Washington-based Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy, which promotes the compatibility of Islam with democracy.
U.S. Muslims have growing Internet and TV access to extreme ideologies, Masmoudi said. "People, especially younger people, are susceptible to these ideas."
Masmoudi said most supporters of the attacks likely assumed the context was a fight against occupation - a term Muslims often use to describe the conflict with Israel. Eighty percent of U.S. Muslims say suicide bombings of civilians to defend Islam cannot be justified.
The poll briefly described the rationales for and against "suicide bombing and other forms of violence against civilian targets." It then asked, "Do you personally feel that this kind of violence is often justified to defend Islam, sometimes justified, rarely justified, or never justified?"
The question did not specify where a suicide attack might occur, who might carry it out or what was meant by using a bombing to "defend Islam."
Andrew Kohut, Pew director, said in an interview that support for the attacks represented "one of the few trouble spots" in the survey.
At a later news conference, he said much of that support could be attributed to age because the findings were consistent with numerous other surveys showing young people more inclined to violence and to support wars.
Homegrown Terrorism
Federal officials have warned that the U.S. must be on guard against homegrown terrorism, as the British suffered with the London transit bombings in 2005.
"We have crazies just like other faiths have them," said Eide Alawan, who directs interfaith outreach at the Islamic Center of America in Dearborn, Mich., one of the nation's largest mosques. He said killing innocent people contradicts Islam.
However, the survey mostly revealed a community that blends comfortably into society. Its largely mainstream members express nearly as much happiness with their lives and communities as the general public does, show a broad willingness to adopt American customs, and have income and education levels similar to others in the U.S.
U.S. Muslims are far less accepting of suicide attacks than Muslims in many other nations. In surveys Pew conducted last year, support in some Muslim countries exceeded 50 percent, while it was considered justifiable by about one in four Muslims in Britain and Spain, and one in three in France.
Source: Associated Press "
25% of American Muslims under 30 Say Suicide Bombings Acceptable
Well disturbing or not, it makes sense to me. I'm not a Muslim by any means, but I can be empathetic with them. If you are confronted with the most powerful military might on the planet, what can you do to fight back? Obviously your AK47s are no match for tanks and Helicoptor gun ships. But if you are willing to give up your life for your convictions, then you are a force to be reckoned with. Those people are without hope in this life but are offered paradise for martyrdom. I can understand exactly where they are coming from. Approval is the understanding of their situation. I don't like the results being foisted mostly on civilians, but in their thinking they are making a difference and putting pressure on the governments they oppose. I'd much rather see them blowing themselves up in the white house and halls of congress, where their animosity is really directed. A few dozen in the pentagon would be OK with me also!
25% of American Muslims under 30 Say Suicide Bombings Acceptable
I can understand what your saying med. But defending your homeland against a foreign invader is a different case. What they are saying is that bombings are acceptable " to defend their religion". So where do they draw the line on what "defending their religion" is? What if a woman walks into my little girls school wearing a full burkah and is told she can't teach their unless she takes off the veil? The next thing you know people are screaming discrimination and someone blows the place up in the name of "defending their religion"? This is what scares me.
Incidentally, there is a Muslim teacher at my daughter's school who wears a head scarf. I don't have a problem with it.
25% of American Muslims under 30 Say Suicide Bombings Acceptable
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fengzi
I can understand what your saying med. But defending your homeland against a foreign invader is a different case. What they are saying is that bombings are acceptable " to defend their religion". So where do they draw the line on what "defending their religion" is? What if a woman walks into my little girls school wearing a full burkah and is told she can't teach their unless she takes off the veil? The next thing you know people are screaming discrimination and someone blows the place up in the name of "defending their religion"? This is what scares me.
Incidentally, there is a Muslim teacher at my daughter's school who wears a head scarf. I don't have a problem with it.
I agree it's un-nerving thinking about the possibilities, and I'm against it domestically, unless as I've said, they direct it against the perpetrators, the US govt. As far as religious fanatics, I doubt the ones in fatland, (America) are as desperate as those in say Palestine or Iraq. There are always a few crazies. I wouldn't lose a minutes sleep if they blew up the White house, The walls of congress and the pentagon. Those are inherently evil places. I would sure hope that Dick and George were in the house at the time.
25% of American Muslims under 30 Say Suicide Bombings Acceptable
Quote:
Originally Posted by Psycho4Bud
I posted about this in another thread and UNLIKE a couple of neo-con war drum beaters that I see here I gave them the benefit of the doubt! :thumbsup:
Can't we just try to understand what people that aren't like us feel on issues and try to work for a peacefull resolution?:D
Have a good one!:s4:
25% of American Muslims under 30 Say Suicide Bombings Acceptable
...it's time to ditch this "suicide bomber" term. I think it's time to call it "homicide bomber".
25% of American Muslims under 30 Say Suicide Bombings Acceptable
Its time to end the war on terror and call it what it really is a Crusade
