I got your conservatism! ;)

**fulloflead** · 12-20-2004, 08:04 PM

Nearly Half in U.S. Say Restrict Muslims

By WILLIAM KATES
Associated Press Writer

ITHACA, N.Y. (AP) -- 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.

---

----------------

:devil:

**007** · 12-20-2004, 10:54 PM

You should move to Ontario, Fullofit, they are planning to start using Muslim law in family disputes instead of Canadian law. After all, we can't be prejudiced about these things.

**fulloflead** · 12-21-2004, 12:19 AM

Originally Posted by 007

You should move to Ontario, Fullofit, they are planning to start using Muslim law in family disputes instead of Canadian law. After all, we can't be prejudiced about these things.

:cool: What makes you think I'd like that? I dislike all religions equally and think we should fear them equally. :-D Besides, I like the secular government we have here in the good ole' US of A.

**Roadrunner** · 12-21-2004, 12:20 AM

Sorry, all I got out of that is that there are plenty of stupid people in this world, and they like to talk to pollsters. Stupidity transcends party affiliation.

**007** · 12-22-2004, 09:47 PM

Originally Posted by fulloflead

I dislike all religions equally and think we should fear them equally. :-D

Why, they don't all preach jihad against the West.

**Guillermo** · 12-23-2004, 03:24 AM

Originally Posted by fulloflead

Originally Posted by 007

You should move to Ontario, Fullofit, they are planning to start using Muslim law in family disputes instead of Canadian law. After all, we can't be prejudiced about these things.

:cool: What makes you think I'd like that? I dislike all religions equally and think we should fear them equally. :-D Besides, I like the secular government we have here in the good ole' US of A.

Muslim law is fucked. For example if I hit your parked car you will share part of the responsibility because it is reasoned that there would not have been an accident if you were not parked there.

US of A, our laws started with the Jewish Law in the Bible as we were created as a Christian society. I can't say that I know much about law but I have read the Bible and can see where we get our ideas of justice from. I have talked to my uncle and he confirmed this. He is a retired judge and has taught law at the University of Tennessee.

**grover_cephas** · 12-23-2004, 08:40 AM

Originally Posted by Guillermo

US of A, our laws started with the Jewish Law in the Bible as we were created as a Christian society.

Well... Kinda.

But anyhow, Christian morality is Judaism through the lens of a radical reformer, Jesus. And Islam is Judeo-Christian morality through the lens of a radical reformer, Muhammed.

Don't make the mistake of judging all of Islam based on the fundamentalist assholes who rule most of the middle East. That'd be like the bitter knee-jerk-atheists who judge all of Christianity based on the Crusades and the Spanish Inquisition.

THe problem is fundamentalism, intolerance, and an attempt to force society backward into a less tolerant past. That's a trend in all societies. The fact that the asshole backward-forcers tend to use religion to justify their actions doesn't necessarily reflect badly on the religion.

**fulloflead** · 12-23-2004, 01:12 PM

Originally Posted by Guillermo

US of A, our laws started with the Jewish Law in the Bible as we were created as a Christian society. I can't say that I know much about law but I have read the Bible and can see where we get our ideas of justice from. I have talked to my uncle and he confirmed this. He is a retired judge and has taught law at the University of Tennessee.

I don't know what a Christian society is unless you mean a society OF christians which would be correct since new polls show the population to be about 75% christian. As for our government, it's a secular one. It is (or is supposed to be) neutral in regard to religion. If it wasn't than what chance would an atheist have of getting a fair trial in a court of law?

Conservatives complain about the Seperation of Church and State and a bunch of other BS saying that we're supposed to have a Christian Government (which is what I think you're saying when you say it's a Christian Society). In Florida there's now a movement to change the state constitution to REMOVE the Seperation of Church and State in Florida. I hope they do it so Conservatives get what they ask for and can see what happens. From then on, when ever they bitch that teachers can't lead a classroom in prayer, we'll just point to the flaming tarpit of religion-run government sespool that is Florida and say, "SEE. We told you so!"

No Christians don't call for violence against anyone, but my personal opinion is that ALL religions do more harm than good to society and we'd be better off without them. If you don't agree with me; fine. But you're not going to change my mind by pointing out what I already know about Muslum extremists.

And I was joking about fearing them equally.

**Guillermo** · 12-23-2004, 02:27 PM

Well I stand corrected. It is just that our nations founders were for the most part Christian but religion was not to be forced on the people.

**fulloflead** · 12-23-2004, 04:32 PM

Originally Posted by Guillermo

It is just that our nations founders were for the most part Christian but religion was not to be forced on the people.

Alright! Common ground in RECORD time!

**Mr.LaBella** · 12-23-2004, 05:45 PM

hey, were "making progress every day"

-james earl jones-

**beelzy** · 12-23-2004, 06:52 PM

Wow, I feel more informed now!
To think, I thought religon was developed by the rich to keep the poor
in their place, for in the afterlife they are supoosed to get their payback.
The most fascinating thing is they actually believe it.
We have not come that far after all. :devil:

**007** · 12-23-2004, 10:40 PM

Originally Posted by grover_cephas

Don't make the mistake of judging all of Islam based on the fundamentalist assholes who rule most of the middle East. That'd be like the bitter knee-jerk-atheists who judge all of Christianity based on the Crusades and the Spanish Inquisition.

Except that The Inquisition was in the past. So were the Crusades, but I don't see the problem with them. :-D

Originally Posted by fulloflead

, but my personal opinion is that ALL religions do more harm than good to society and we'd be better off without them.

This opinion is indefensible. It's ludicrous to say such a thing whether you believe in God or not.

**Guillermo** · 12-24-2004, 02:53 AM

Originally Posted by LaBella

hey, were "making progress every day"

-james earl jones-

No, soon I will have to spend 5 days with my ex-wife so I can see our two sons. I am trying to be nice. We are free to think what we want but the Big Three all agree on a day of judgement. Glad I have my faith, guess some will be happy to rot in a ditch like a dog. I had a boy tell me that if God walked up he would ask for some I.D. I asked why? He said that he could not see God. I then asked him if he could see electricity, smell or taste it? I gave him a fork and asked him to put it into the socked. He was confused and I explained to him, will you believe others just because they say it will shock you?