.... Efforts to build Islamic centers and mosques in New York, Wisconsin, Kentucky and Tennessee have been equated with building monuments to terrorism. Prominent American public figures and politicians -- including Bill O'Reilly, Sarah Palin, Rep. Peter King and Newt Gingrich -- openly spoke against Muslims and encouraged unfounded social suspicion of them.
The net result is an increase in anti-Islam and anti-Muslim bashing, witnessed in the hysteria that has led to a movement across some 20 states in America to ban sharia.
.... According to the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, large minorities said they could not think of anything positive to say about Islam. In one study, 38 percent of Americans have an unfavorable view of Islam, compared to 30 percent who reported a positive view.
Another study conducted by The Washington Post found Islam's unfavorable image creeping up to 49 percent among Americans. [The Huffington Post] Read more
