Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Ryan Seymour Current event
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/04/21/americans-who-distrust-muslims-are-likelier-to-back-the-war-on-terror/
A recent study was held to see how Americans feel about different racial groups. The groups were Muslims, Muslim-Americans, blacks, whites, Hispanic Americans, and Asian Americans. They were given a survey and people filled it out on a scale of 1-7, 3.5 being neutral. The four categories assessed were the following: Peaceful-Violent, Trustworthy-Untrustworthy, Hardworking-Lazy, and Intelligent-Unintelligent. After collecting data, it was discovered that Americans view Muslims to be the most violent group of people, as well as being hardworking, intelligent, and untrustworthy. It was also found that Americans do not distinguish between those who are Muslim and Muslim-American. This is largely due to the stories we hear from the media, that gives us only bad stories about Muslims. The media has created a stereotype of Muslims, that being that they are all violent.
The recent Boston Marathon Bombings are an event that only reinforces Americans stereotype that Muslims are violent, because at least one of the bombers practiced Islam. Following the bombing, game show host Chuck Woolery tweeted, "One thing for sure. Muslims can't seem to live in peace with anyone. Even each other. FACT." This tweet shows the growing stereotype, and some people are even saying that these stereotypes are affecting our policies targeted at terrorism.
Why do you think that Americans do not distinguish between Muslims and Muslim-Americans? How much of an impact does the media have on this stereotype? To what extent do you think this stereotype is affecting our foreign policy regarding terrorism?
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I think that Americans don't distinguish between Muslims and Muslim-Americans because we don't see them as true Americans. We have developed this hateful feeling towards Muslims due to 9/11 and the Boston Bombings.
ReplyDeleteI think the media places an enormous role on the stereotype that all Muslims are violent. The media only shows us the bad and hides the fact that out of the 1 billion people that are considered Muslim, maybe 1 percent are actually violent extremists. But the media doesn't say that. The media tells us how awful they are and that all of them are terrorists and want to blow up the country.
I think it does affect our foreign policy regarding terrorism because we are probably focusing a lot on stopping Muslims from entering the country.
I think that people don't distinguish between Muslims and Muslim-Americans because they probably see the two as the same thing. We focus on only the big, scary things we hear about a certain group and (like David said) we forget that those cases don't define an entire group of people. The media tells people not to trust Muslims and to always be scared of these people, which really just keeps making the stereotype worse because Muslims aren't usually shown in good light. I think this makes our foreign policy focus on keeping anyone who could "look" like a terrorist out of the country.
ReplyDeleteAmericans most likely do not distinguish between Muslims and Muslim Americans because most Americans do not have very much personal experience with Muslims. Many people may only know about the Muslim religion and culture through second-hand accounts. The media tends to worsen this issue by, on average, pointing out negative events involving Muslims more often than positive events.
ReplyDeleteAlthough, I think that most politicians do, or at least should understand that only a small minority of Muslims are terrorists; politicians would rather not take the chance and just make sure the majority of people are safe. Also, politicians for smaller towns may not have as much experience with dealing with Muslim issues and may make the wrong decision.
I think that people do not distinguish between Muslims and Muslim-Americans because they probably see them as the same group of people. I think media greatly impacts this because events like 911 and the Boston Bombing are associated with Muslim terrorists immediately. Terrorism is usually always associated with Muslims in some way because of how media has represented them. I agree with David that it is effecting our foreign policy because now, others will focus on trying to keep Muslims out of the country. I fully agree with Sasha when she says that we only focus on the negatives of this group of people and because of media, we forget that those things do not define the entire group of people.
ReplyDeleteI agree with David, most Americans do not distinguish Muslims and Muslim Americans. Media has a big impact on this, when there is a Muslim American who commits a crime the media says they are Muslim. If a Muslim commits a crime the media also distinguishes them as Muslim. The media influences our stereotypes, and blocks us from making a distinguishing between a Muslim and a Muslim American. This also affects our foreign policy because it makes it seem that all Muslims are bad people when in reality it is only a select few.
ReplyDeleteAs well as Hannah, I agree that we view Muslims and Muslim-Americans as the same group of people. Even though they are born into American Society, most of our society view Muslim-Americans as smart, dangerous and terroists against the United States. I think that we distinguish between the two different racial groups because to us, they are still Muslims either way. Media has protrayed all Muslims as smart terrorists we should be afriad of. When in reality, most Muslims in America are not here as terrorists, they are here to take the advantages we have in American and strive for exellence. So I think that media plays a huge roll in how we stereotype Muslims and Muslim Americans. All of the stereotypes that we as Americans have made makes us scared of other races. This in the end will turn in us voting for leaders that will keep these people away, not helping our foreign policy at all.
ReplyDeleteI think Americans judge people by their skin tones and when they see someone who is Caucasian they consider them an American. Americans now identify people of an alternative race or non English speaking as immigrant or Americans. Plus Muslims and Muslims-American most likely look similar so Americans might not be able to tell the difference. I personally believe the media is very influential because most Americans watch the news and however the news portrays people, we start to judge them in a similar way. Ever since the bombings the news negatively affects this stereotype because now they are known as dangerous. I personally believe that this stereotype wont affect our policy because our government cant judge people on what others think. Because of the bombings the government will probably keep a close look at the Muslims and their actions
ReplyDeleteI think that Americans don't distinguish between Muslims and Muslim-Americans is because they view them solely as one group, due to them both having the word Muslim. I also think that Americans don't distinguish between the two different groups because it's easier to just blame an entire group versus a few select people. This I personally think is due to the media and how information is delivered to citizens. Media is able to construe a bad stereotype of anyone with a relation to a racial group, such as Muslim. When an act of terrorism occurs, like the Boston Bombing, the terrorists and their background is a fact that the media doesn't miss in reporting and this negatively focuses on that ethnic group. The media like Nicole said, reinforces a negative stereotype on this group of people. The media affects how we see this group of people, because of the few who committed bad acts we see the whole as bad. Americans are unable to see how the entire racial group is good, with the few bad due to fear that is portrayed in the media. I think the stereotype of Muslims being bad people or terrorists affects foreign policies because when threatened and in a fearful position extreme measures can be taken. It also doesn't allow people to see the situation clearly. Americans fear the region and country terrorists come from, and in an attempt to stop future violent acts, policies are placed directly on that entire region. Events like the bombing also give cause to the government to watching a certain racial group closer.
ReplyDeleteThe average American doesn't distinguish between Muslims and Muslim-Americans because I think it is almost a part of human nature. When society is put under threat and acts of terror, especially if it is reoccurring by the same race, it is easy for the victim of the attacks to become fearful and automatically blend Muslim Americans and Muslims into the same innate sense of danger towards that group of people. Also, the media plays a big role in enhancing this fear by putting emphasis on the negatives of the attacks made on innocent people. Yes, there exists extremist groups out there that will harm others, but that is also extremely rare. It is a shame that these two different groups of people don't have a great distinguishing factor when seen through the eyes of another person of a differing race.
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