In U.S., 44 Percent Say Restrict Muslims

ITHACA, 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.


Wow. Just wow.

*Vomits*

Which just goes to show a large portion of the country doesn't understand the idea of applying all laws equally to all parties.

I would like to see the exact wording of the questionnaire before I gave an opinion. It seems like more and more journalists like to try to make headlines by exagerating surveys.

Considering Ihaca is the most liberal city in america, the Ithicans must be totally embarrassed that this survey was conducted on thier turf. It's a disgrace. They could have at least done the survery in some racist area ... Georgia, Texas, Florida all come to mind.

None of this surprises me. The republican christian fundy whack jobs have an agenda which is to rid the earth of all that don't subsribe to their way of life.

Wait til Arnold is president ... you haven't seen anything yet. The republican congress and the evangelicals will embolden him with all the power of 1930's Hitler.

Heil Bushler.

Dop

What is wrong with racial profiling? Nothing.

Originally posted by TheGreat Gatsby
What is wrong with racial profiling? Nothing.

While I agree generally with you, this isn't about racial profiling. It's about removing the rights of American citizens - an entirely different matter.

"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."



OR..... responsible Americans within the Muslim community who have information that could be helpful to the police or the FBI could be a little more forthcoming.

With a little help all of the above could be avoided. Without their help it will be necessary.

There is now way profilling of muslims would be effective when all one has to do is dress the part and keep a low profile. That person could and would easily be taken for a hispanic.

I.E. ... you're standing on the border at Tijuana or Agua Prieta or Nogales or Jacumba and 100 Mexicans come storming across and one of them is a muslim dressed to look like a Mexican (with the intent of entering the U.S. to plot acts of terror).

Would you be able to pick out that one individual? Ain't now way Jose.

And do you know what President Bush has high on his agenda list?

Amnesty and open borders for Mexico.

Don't look at me ... I didn't vote for the guy.

ROTFLMAO

Dop