http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apus_story.asp?category=1110&slug=Muslims%20Civil%20Liberties
In U.S., 44 percent say restrict Muslims
By WILLIAM KATES
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER
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.
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On the Net:
Cornell University: www.news.cornell.edu/releases/Dec04/Muslim.Poll.bpf.html
Muslim American Society: www.masnet.org
The cultists are insanely eager to start herding innocent people
into the camps and gassing them.
Remember them, today and every day:
http://www.accuracy.org/press_releases/PR092701.htm
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