WASHINGTON – One in four younger U.S. Muslims say suicide bombings to defend their religion are acceptable at least in some circumstances, though most Muslim Americans overwhelmingly reject the tactic and are critical of Islamic extremism and al-Qaida, a poll says.
The survey by the Pew Research Center, one of the most exhaustive ever of the country’s Muslims, revealed a community that in many ways 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.
Even so, the survey revealed noteworthy pockets of discontent.
While nearly 80 percent of U.S. Muslims say suicide bombings of civilians to defend Islam can not be justified, 13 percent say they can be, at least rarely.
That sentiment is strongest among those younger than 30. Two percent of them say it can often be justified, 13 percent say sometimes and 11 percent say 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.
He 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.
(Article and photo from MSNBC)
May 23, 2007 at 7:54 pm
This goes to the heart of the neocons politics. Making other countries strong, safe and economically viable makes the USA stronger and safer. The Muslims in the USA fit in well here and are not oppressed, are not afraid to walk the streets, are allowed religious freedoms and are given economic viability.
This makes them content. That percentage of respondents who believe in more aggressive responses would probably be the norm for average non Muslim Americans as well.
Get these countries to thrive and prosper and have no reason to kill each other and it makes America safer. The question is how to do it. Ronald Reagan did not believe in blowing stuff up, Just posturing. Lets hope Bush has learned his lesson and begins to change course here and do some redeploying.