Where's the Islamophobia?

Ed Lasky

The media, academics, activist groups, and a few politicians have promoted the view that Islamophobia is raging across America. The opposition to the location of the 9/11 Mosque, efforts to criticize the adoption of Sharia law in America, attempts to restrict the viewing of the anti-Semitic and anti-American Al Jazeera network on cable stations in America were seen as manifestations of Islamophobia in America. The latest and most reprehensible example of this trend has been the Center for American Progress report that there is a predominantly Jewish-funded effort to stoke prejudice towards Muslims (a report broadcast far and wide by Al Jazeera). So how goes that Islamophobia? The highly-regarded Pew Research Center decided to poll the supposed victims of Islamophobia. The findings? Muslims are very happy in America and with the communities in which they live and work.

From the Jerusalem Post:

With the 10th anniversary of the al-Qaida attacks on New York and the Pentagon approaching, the Pew Research Center found that most Muslims felt ordinary Americans were friendly or neutral toward them.

In contrast to the majority of the general public dissatisfied with the nation's direction, 56 percent of the estimated 2.75 million American Muslims said they are satisfied, the survey showed. Seven out of 10 view President Barack Obama's tenure favorably.

"On a variety of measures, Muslims in America are very content with their own lives and with the communities where they live," Pew researcher Greg Smith said in an interview.

Four out of five Muslim Americans surveyed were satisfied with the way things are going in their lives and rated their communities very positively as places to live.

If Muslim Americans felt discrimination were rampant, would they express contentment and happiness with living in America? Would they be confident about the future of America and their own personal futures? Would they feel that most Americans are friendly or neutral towards them.

Where is the Islamophobia that supposedly is proliferating across America? The charge is merely meant to line the pockets of activist groups and chill any criticism of Muslim actions, however insensitive (the 9/11 Mosque) or questionable (the adoption of aspects of Sharia law) they may be perceived to be by some Americans.