I live in a Muslim country with low levels of crime, peaceful and friendly citizens and hospitality second to none. Most of the people don't like Americans. Why not? They tell me they don't like Americans because Americans "tar them all with the same brush", i.e. all Muslims are regarded as terrorists. They do not like being compared to terrorists. And, I can tell you,the majority abhor terrorist acts.

As usual, people lose sight of the SOURCE of problems and concentrate solely on the RESULTS of those problems. The Middle East and Mediterranean areas are hotbeds of racism and have been for the rememberable history of mankind. It's NOT going to ever change! Greeks will ALWAYS hate Turks (thanks to Ottoman Empire), Arabs will ALWAYS hate JEWS! There are lots and lots of historical factors that have contributed to both sides of the "problems", pro and con; but, the "problems" are still around aren't they?! And will, I suppose, always be and a television program portraying "evil" as Islamic-like terrorists is just another in a long line of factors contributing to an already existing problem which has no solution. Life has afforded me the opportunity to spend most of that life living in the Middle East and Mediterranean regions and to experience, on a first-hand basis, the struggles of peoples of Greek, Turkish, Arab, Jewish, and Christian descents who, even today, with all the information available, STILL believe in the myths and biases of their forefathers! Some, on all sides, are trying to adapt and change their ways and that, I guess, is a good thing. Others, well, others just are stuck in the ways of the past and there is nothing on the face of this earth that will change their particular bias. All I'd point out is that for Muslims, one of the very first "policies" of the Quran is to "go out and convert the infidel"! Extremeists are just adding the phrase "with prejudice" to the end of that "rule"; but, regardless, the "rule" exists as one of the mainstays of that particular "religion". Christians still maintain the belief that it is up to them to go out and convert the "pagan". Extremeists added "with prejudice" to their doctrine as well and events like the "Crusades" ensued and plagued the area for centuries and is STILL affecting the area today. Go to Beirut and see how well the Lebanese Christians and Lebanese Muslims get along! Actually, just watch CNN, you'll see how well!
Until the world is made of entirely only the "haves", there will ALWAYS be conflict! As Karl Marx once very accurately stated, "religion is the opiate of the people". And it truly is. Look at the Madrasas in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia (where there is ZERO TOLERANCE FOR ANY OTHER RELIGION OR POLITICAL BELIEF), the Gaza Strip, SUDAN, Bangladesh or any other area of the world where POVERTY is KING and you'll immediately see that religion, and only religion is what keeps these people alive/hopeful and is the breeding ground of hatred of the "haves", NOT necessarily because of their beliefs; but, defintely because of their "wealth" relative to the HAVE NOT! It is very, very, easy to make that "have not" believe that strapping a bomb to him/herself and blowing up the "haves" will ENSURE his place in "heaven/Nirvana/or anyother paradise", because, after all, what's he got to live for???? Drug smugglers going into Saudi Arabia from Pakistan and Bangladesh have the same theory. If they get caught, they KNOW the Saudis will behead them on a Friday in the Square! They know this, it is fact!!! They also know that IF they're able to get their drugs in and sold, they'll have more wealth than they could EVER POSSIBLY have in their homeland! So, something to Live for drives them to what they try. Just another form of terrorism! Cause? Poverty and lack of any chance EVER of bettering one's position in the "Haves" world! My firm belief, based on life experience, is that humankind bases most, if not all, of their responses to events as a result of their upbringing, religious belief, homeland, or home area. Failure is inevitable!! Let the terrorists have access to nukes. Let Pakistan and India start a nuclear war because of a "religious" belief. Let Osama Bin Laden become a hero to millions of DIRT-POOR, illiterate, and maleable peoples of the world! Why? Because the end result will be that all of the aforementioned will eventually annihilate ALL of humanity, and, then, and only then, maybe humanity could START OVER and become a place where the beliefs are shared by all, where all people would be equally "wealthy", so there would be no jealousy or envy of the possessions of others. The place could be called "UTOPIA" or NOT!  

Most of the people don't like Americans. Why not? They tell me they don't like Americans because Americans "tar them all with the same brush", i.e. all Muslims are regarded as terrorists.

The funny thing is, due to the Hollywood media, most Americans do not think of Egyptians as Arabs. Too much Omar Sharif?

"They do not like being compared to terrorists. And, I can tell you,the majority abhor terrorist acts."

Just as we don't like being called 'little eichmanns'. When I did a thing on 'Kurtlar Vadisi Irak', Americans felt pretty strongly about it. Is 24 more accurate than 'valley of the wolves'? Probably, but the entertainment industry, and now even the news, is all about handing our preconceptions back to us nicely dramatized.

If Americans didn't have a few of those, Rightwinger wouldn't have asked me if I wondered whether the Muslims in my neighborhood are building bombs. To me, there's no difference between that and asking whether you wonder if the black guy down the street is selling crack or raping white women.

To me, there's no difference between that and asking whether you wonder if the black guy down the street is selling crack or raping white women.

But didn't you know, ALL whites are racist devils, ALL blacks are up to no good, ALL latinos are here illegally, ALL muslims are bomb building terrorists and the list goes on and on in the minds of some. If you don't look like me, think like me, walk or talk like me then you must be the boogeyman in disguise. Good grief!

You gotta love those stereotypes...

@ maggot: Well thought out and written.

steroeotypes tend to be ugly things...anyone think of a "good" stereotype? The only ones that I can come up w/ are that the amish and mennonites around where I live are a honest and peaceful people...but I'm not sure if even that is completely accurate...people are people, regardless of race, religion and/or any other external factors.

You gotta love those stereotypes...

You forgot skinners in there somewhere

Dang, glad you reminded me, Troy...and ALL skinners are unemployed web designers!

I don't believe that everyone hates Americans or America. Really if people asked more in depth questions they would find out that there's a lot more to it. Part of the issue with many people was the "you're with us or against us" comment that in itself is a form of economic terrorism. Many people here in Canada lost jobs at that time because of the ignorance of a few.

What I do know is that over 800 Canadian trained soldiers signed up with US forces. I also know that SJ2 has been active in Iraq just as they were in Bosnia like many US special ops units. What is official and public is often not what is happening behind the scenes. On a regular basis from my American friends I hear of family members/friends and the emotional horrors. One friend's son, a Lt. has done four tours & lost only 8 of his 96 men. From a military perspective this is amazing; however, to him it is unforgivable and he's paying a price with his sleep and soul.

The thing holding back American leadership is also the primary cause of inactivity within the United Nations. All leaders are bound by the laws of their own country. There was no problem reaching consensus on Afghanistan within the UN because direct evidence was there.

If President Bush had made the decision to go to Iraq because of human rights concerns & the many violations of the UN sanctions, it's sad to say but he would easily be impeachable. However, since the decision to go to war was made at the time a defensive action then under the law it's fine.

You forgot skinners in there somewhere

oops!  

To anyone who might be reading this my wish as an American is that you have a long, prosperous and productive life no matter who you are or where you live

If Americans didn't have a few of those, Rightwinger wouldn't have asked me if I wondered whether the Muslims in my neighborhood are building bombs. To me, there's no difference between that and asking whether you wonder if the black guy down the street is selling crack or raping white women.

I make a distinction between race and religion/ideology.

Replace the word Muslim with Nazi and does it seem so implausible?

If President Bush had made the decision to go to Iraq because of human rights concerns & the many violations of the UN sanctions, it's sad to say but he would easily be impeachable. However, since the decision to go to war was made at the time a defensive action then under the law it's fine.

The actual reason the US invaded Iraq was in the resolution that passed congress -- violation of the 1991 cease fire agreement. That's all that was required. It was not considered a defensive action.

If President Bush had made the decision to go to Iraq because of human rights concerns & the many violations of the UN sanctions, it's sad to say but he would easily be impeachable. However, since the decision to go to war was made at the time a defensive action then under the law it's fine.

Actually, no. As long as congress approved it, it is not an impeachable action, regardless of the justification. And Congress did, including the clowns that are now saying they are against it. In the matter of public record, there is no such thing as "take back".

I'm more worried about ignorant fearmongers like Rightwinger than I am 99.999% of the world's muslim population.

After all, who's orders have killed more innocent civilians, Osama bin Laden or George W. Bush?

If you guessed the latter, you'd be right.